Introduction

The Crucial P3 Plus NVMe PCIe 4.0 M.2 Internal SSD (CT2000P3PSSD8) promises blistering speeds and reliable storage. Having used this 2TB drive for several weeks in my primary gaming PC, I’m ready to share my comprehensive review. I tested it under various workloads, from game loading times to large file transfers, to gauge its real-world performance.

Features

The Crucial P3 Plus boasts impressive specifications. The PCIe 4.0 interface ensures high bandwidth, and Micron 3D NAND flash memory contributes to both speed and longevity. Features like SMART and TRIM support help optimize performance and maintain the drive’s health over time. Its compact M.2 form factor is ideal for modern systems, offering easy installation.

Performance

My testing showed that the Crucial P3 Plus delivers on its speed claims. Sequential read speeds consistently topped 4800MB/s, while sequential write speeds hovered around 4000MB/s – slightly below the advertised 5000MB/s and 4200MB/s, but still exceptionally fast. Random read and write performance was also very strong, resulting in noticeably quicker boot times and application loading. Large file transfers were completed in a fraction of the time compared to my previous SATA SSD.

During intensive gaming sessions, I observed no performance bottlenecks. Game load times were significantly reduced, contributing to a smoother and more enjoyable gaming experience. I also used the drive for video editing, where its speed was a clear advantage when rendering large projects.

Thermal performance was also impressive. Even under sustained heavy loads, the drive remained relatively cool, thanks to its efficient design.

Pros & Cons

• Pros: Blazing fast read and write speeds, excellent thermal performance, reliable Micron 3D NAND, affordable price for the capacity offered, easy installation.
• Cons: Slightly lower-than-advertised speeds in my testing (although still very fast), no included heatsink (might be necessary for some systems).

Final Verdict

The Crucial P3 Plus (CT2000P3PSSD8) 2TB NVMe SSD is a strong contender in the high-performance SSD market. Its speed and reliability make it a fantastic upgrade for gamers, content creators, and anyone looking to significantly boost their system’s responsiveness. While the speeds weren’t exactly as advertised, the performance difference compared to SATA drives is still night and day. The lack of a heatsink is a minor drawback, but easily solved with a third-party solution if needed. I highly recommend this drive for its performance and value.