Sustained write performance of P44 Pro in a cache-heavy video workflow?

[dekelom801]

Hi everyone,

I’m currently in the process of refreshing the storage tier on my editing workstation and I’m looking for some community feedback on the Solidigm P44 Pro, specifically regarding sustained write performance.

To give a bit of context, I work primarily as a video editor dealing with 4K and 6K footage. My workflow involves ingesting massive amounts of raw footage—often 200GB to 300GB at a time—from camera media cards onto my local scratch disk. I learned the hard way with my previous budget NVMe drive that the "up to" speeds listed on the box don't mean much when the SLC cache runs out after 60 seconds. My current drive drops to HDD-level speeds during long transfers, which is agonizing when a deadline is looming.

I am planning to install this new drive into a secondary slot, possibly even using a PCIe riser card since my onboard slots are full. This relates to my question: how gracefully does the P44 Pro handle thermal management and cache saturation in a slightly restricted airflow environment? Since it might be sitting under a GPU in a riser, I’m worried about heat soaking affecting the controller.

Does anyone here use these Solid State Drives for sustained, heavy sequential writes? I’m really hoping to find a drive that maintains a respectable direct-to-TLC write speed rather than falling off a cliff. Also, if anyone has experience with the Solidigm Storage Tool for firmware updates on Linux/dual-boot systems, I’d love to hear if it’s user-friendly, as I switch between OS environments often.

Thanks for any insights!

[SolidigmJosue]

Hi dekelom801,

Thank you for contacting Solidigm Support.

I completely understand your frustration and it sounds like you’ve done your homework. In video editing, "out-of-the-box" performance is often a mirage once the SLC Cache runs out. Here is a detailed breakdown of how the P44 Pro handles your specific needs:

1. Sustained Performance (Beyond the SLC Cache)

The P44 Pro is one of the most consistent Gen4 drives on the market. Unlike budget drives that drop to 300-500 MB/s, this drive maintains an extremely high Direct-to-TLC speed.

• Behavior: Once the cache is exhausted (which is dynamic and quite large), speeds typically stabilize around 1,500 - 2,000 MB/s (on the 2TB model). It doesn't "fall off a cliff" like drives with QLC memory or DRAM-less controllers.

• For your 300GB transfer: You should be able to complete the task while maintaining an average speed far superior to any HDD or mid-range NVMe.

2. Thermal Management and the "GPU Effect"

Placing it in a riser beneath the GPU is the critical factor here. The P44 Pro’s controller is powerful, but it generates heat.

• Throttling: If the airflow is stagnant, the drive will reduce speeds to protect itself. Recommendation: Using a high-quality heatsink is imperative if you plan to use a riser.

• Efficiency: It is one of the most power-efficient Gen4 drives per watt, meaning it takes a bit longer to "heat soak" compared to a Samsung 990 Pro, for example.

3. Software and Dual-Boot (Linux/Windows)

• Solidigm Storage Tool: There is a Command Line Interface (CLI) version for Linux that is very robust. While not as "pretty" as the Windows version, it allows you to update firmware and monitor drive health seamlessly from the terminal. It’s ideal for hybrid workflows.

• The steps for SST CLI Linux installation are included in the Solidigm™ CLI Storage Tool Installation Guide Rev 10, on page 9.

Please note that this SSD has been discontinued.

Summary for Your Workflow

If you are looking for consistency during massive ingestions, the P44 Pro is the "spiritual successor" to the old enterprise-grade Intel drives. It is a safe bet, provided you don't overlook passive cooling for that PCIe riser.