Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus 1TB NVMe SSD Review

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Nauman Siddique

At HI Digital I test and write about different hardware configurations to show other PC users what they can expect from their build. My end goal is to educate the masses to make the right decision when they are looking for new PC parts to buy

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Sabrent has been on rock ‘n roll since they got into a storage solution. There is no stopping them from continuous improvement and bringing out better and improved products with time. We earlier tested Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus 2TB NVMe SSD. This time, we are looking at a 1TB variant of the same class.

Key Takeaways

• The Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus 1TB NVMe SSD stands out with impressive sequential read speeds of up to 7000MB/s and sequential write speeds of up to 5800MB/s on PCIe4x4.
• The Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus SSD appeals to those valuing premium build and design with a single-sided design, thin copper layer for heat transfer, and components from reputable brands.
• Priced at $129.99, it may be relatively expensive for budget-conscious users despite robust performance.

Testing the Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus 1TB NVMe SSD, I found it utilizes 4x PCIe lanes as a Gen4 drive, delivering impressive sequential read speeds of 7000 MB/s and writes of 5800MB/s.

Connect it to a Gen4-based M.2 SSD port for optimal performance, though there may be reduced speeds. The SSD excels in 4K random read and write speeds, reaching up to 350k IOPS and 700k IOPS, respectively, with a discount currently available.

The salient features of this drive include the following:

• PCIe 4.0 x4 interface, NVMe 1.3 compliant. APST/ASPM/L1.2 support.
• Supports SMART and TRIM functions. Works in an enclosure.
• Wide flash compatibility. Uses TLC with DRAM.
• Advanced endurance features for a long drive lifespan.
• Upgradeable firmware and software support.
• 0-capable motherboard and M.2 heatsink are recommended, but the drive is backward compatible with PCIe 3.0 and 2.0 M.2 sockets.

Here are the specifications

Packaging

Design

Sabrent’s 1TB Rocket 4 Plus NVMe SSD employs 3D TLC NAND Flash for enhanced performance, while the Rocket Q series opts for cost-effective QLC for higher capacities. Sabrent plans to release an 8TB variant of the Rocket 4 Plus with 3D TLC NAND Flash, targeting enthusiasts, professionals, and content creators, emphasizing gaming with TLC’s efficient 3-bit per cell storage.

The 2TB and 1TB variants use a 2280 form factor with an M-Key type for M.2 ports, offering PCIe4x4 interface for Gen4 speeds but maintaining backward compatibility at reduced speeds for broader compatibility.

The Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus 1TB NVMe SSD measures 3.15×0.86×0.11 inches and weighs 0.2 oz. It lacks dedicated NVMe drivers, relying on Windows 10 and 11 for support. The top side features a copper layer for heat transfer, potentially impacting compatibility with standard-thickness SSDs.

There is a large size sticker on the back side of this unit. The part and serial numbers of this unit are printed on that sticker. The drive is rated to draw 6.3W for Read operations and 6.6W for Write operations. The power supply is rated at 3.3V. These power ratings are below what we saw on a 2TB variant.

The Rocket 4 Plus NVMe PCIe 1TB impresses me as a single-sided SSD, keeping all components neatly arranged and tidy. Sporting a Phison E18 controller akin to its 2TB counterpart, it embraces TSMC’s 12nm process.  Under the hood, it boasts a 32-bit ARM Cortex R5 microcontroller in Triple-CPU architecture.

The SSD flaunts 8 channels, a Dynamic SLC Cache, and a DDR4 DRAM support of 1600MT per channel. The Micron 3D TLC NAND chips (probably BG132 NAND) and SKHynix’s DDR4 SDRAM 8Gbit combo promise high-density, high-bandwidth performance, making this SSD a sleek powerhouse.

The above picture shows the Crystal Disk Info readout of this drive. The drive has an NVMe 1.4 interface using a PCIe4x4 connection. The unit supports S.M.A.R.T, TRIM, and VolatileCacheWrite. One keynote above is B47-based firmware making these drives even faster. Sabrent released these versions late in 2022, and it seems like these will be carried on for all Rocket 4 Plus NVMe SSDs.

Testing & Benchmarks

Testing Rig

Below mentioned configuration is used to test this drive:

• Intel i7 13700k
• GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS ELITE AX
• XPG Lancer RGB 2x16GB DDR5 kit 6000MHz, CL40
• Noctua NH-U12A
• Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus 2TB NVMe SSD [OS Drive]
• GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3060 VISION OC Rev.2
• be quiet! Straight Power 11 850W Platinum PSU
• Thermaltake Core P6 TG Snow Edition in an open frame layout

Since this is the first SSD being tested on this platform, we are showing the snapshots of the respective software run. Microsoft Windows 11 22H2 is used for the testing.

You would need to access the Disk Management console in the Windows environment to initialize the disk if not already initialized.

Crystal Disk Mark Benchmarks

AS SSD Benchmarks

ATTO Disk Benchmark

Next, we ran the ATTO Disk Benchmark to test the drive’s performance. We have a maximum read (sequential) speed of 6.58 GB/s, which is quite impressive. The average is above 6.54 GB/s as well on the reads. The writes remain above 5.47GB/s.

Anvils Storage Benchmarks

3DMark Storage Test

3DMark Storage test is a relatively new test bench measuring the gaming-only performance of the given drive using three games. It measures the load time of the games, records the gameplay, saves the game, and moves the game. The overall score is given in a number, whereas there is also a result for the bandwidth and access time

The Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus 1TB NVMe SSD scored 2981, which is somewhat a bit lacking, in my opinion. We have got an average of 517.21MB/s bandwidth and 61µs access time.

Real World Testing

We prepared a 110GB size folder containing multiple files and folders, including compressed files. We also prepared a 97GB compressed file separately. DiskBench was then used to observe the real-world data transfer speeds. Here are the results:

The real-world transfer rates are quite impressive.

Gaming Load Time

Gamers are very particular about these high-speed drives. This is why we have used Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers Benchmark using the Highest Preset to record the game load time on RTX 3060.

We have a load time of 6.983 seconds. Good job by Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus 1TB NVMe SSD.

Thermals

We saw a maximum temperature of 64°C at an ambient temperature of 20°C on the Rocket 4 Plus 1TB NVMe SSD. We used a custom CrystalDiskMark run for 18 minutes on sequential read and write speeds to stress the SSD for this test.

Should You Buy It?

Buy It If:

✅ You want superior performance: Sabrent’s 1TB Rocket 4 Plus NVMe SSD achieves up to high sequential read/write speeds with high IOPS for Random Read/Write, ideal for those craving superior performance..

✅ You want Versatility for Workloads: The Sabrent’s 1TB Rocket 4 Plus NVMe SSD is tailored for enthusiasts, professionals, content creators, and gamers, showcasing versatile performance.

✅ You have a knack for Premium Build and Design: Sporting a single-sided design with a thin copper layer for heat transfer, the SSD features components from reputable brands like Micron and SKHynix.

Don’t Buy It If:

❌ You want a longer product warranty: The SSD comes with a 1-year warranty, extendable to 5 years by registration, which may not align with the expectations of users seeking longer coverage.

❌ You avoid Potential Compatibility Issues: A thin copper layer may impact compatibility with standard-thickness SSDs, necessitating careful consideration in system configurations.

❌ You are on a tight budget: Priced at $129.99, it may be relatively expensive for budget-conscious users despite delivering robust performance.

Conclusion

Testing Sabrent’s 1TB Rocket 4 Plus NVMe SSD from their premium lineup, I found it powered by the Phison E18 controller and equipped with 3D TLC NAND Flash. This SSD caters to enthusiasts, professionals, content creators, and gamers.

The 1TB version, which I tested, showcases impressive sequential read speeds of up to 7000MB/s and sequential write speeds of up to 5800MB/s on PCIe4x4. With 350K IOPS for 4K Random Read and 700K for Random Write, it adopts a single-sided design housing components from Micron and SKHynix.

Noteworthy features include a thin copper layer for heat transfer and B47-based firmware updates for enhanced performance. Despite its solid performance, the SSD comes with a 1-year warranty (extendable to 5 years) and a TBW rating of 700. Priced at $129.99, it delivers robust real-world transfer speeds, making it a worthy investment for diverse workloads.

Awards Received By Sabrent’s Rocket 4 Plus SSD

Here are the Tech4Gamers Awards Sabrent’s Rocket 4 Plus SSD received after thorough testing.

• BEST SSD For Gaming
• Best Gaming PC Build Under $2000
• Best M.2 SSDs For Gaming

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Nauman Siddique

[How-To Guides Expert]

Laiba, our tech guru at HI Digital, simplifies and crafts How-To Guides with a Google IT Support Certificate. Beyond tech, she captures the city’s aesthetics through her lens. Join her journey where tech meets creativity!

Get In Touch: Laiba@hidgt.com