Corsair MP600 CORE XT NVMe M.2 SSD Review - PAGE 1

Corsair MP600 CORE XT Introduction

Corsair's MP600 CORE XT is a PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 NVMe drive which aims to be both affordable and fast, while having a good amount of storage capacity. The MP600 CORE XT is available in 1TB, 2TB (reviewed here today), and 4TB versions in the M.2 2280 form factor. All versions offer up to 5,000 MB/s sequential read and 4,400 MB/s sequential write, 450 TBW endurance, 1.5 million hours MTBF, and a 5-year warranty. The use of 3D QLC is part of what makes these MP600 CORE XT drives affordable, as QLC trades higher capacities for less speed and durability.

The 450 TBW is impressive, as you would have to intentionally fill the drive repeatedly over 200 times to get close to that. That means this drive should last a long time, outside of servers or NAS or other special write-heavy environments. If you’re after more durability and speed, there are more expensive MP600 models outside of the CORE XT lineup that leverage 3D TLC NANDs, such as the standard MP600 and MP600 PRO.

The 1TB MP600 CORE XT (SKU: CSSD-F1000GBMP600CXT) is available from Corsair or Amazon for $54.99 USD, while the 2TB is priced at $94.99 USD, and the 4TB is offered at $219.99 USD.

Corsair MP600 CORE XT Closer Look

The only detail I would say is potentially missing/under-emphasized on the packaging is the M.2 2280 form factor, which is mentioned only briefly in the legalese section on the back. Corsair also notes on the packaging rear that users can expect reduced performance on PCIe Gen3, which is one way of saying it is backwards compatible. This is normal, and users should expect to see between 3,500-4,000 MB/s sequential read and write instead. The drive itself is well protected by a folding clamshell package inside the box.

The MP600 CORE XT has a thin sticker on it which hides the controller and NANDs, but this shouldn’t interfere with cooling at all. The opposite side has a label showing ratings and capacities.

Corsair MP600 CORE XT Features

Information Courtesy of Corsair @ https://www.corsair.com/us/en/p/data-storage/cssd-f2000gbmp600cxt/mp600-core-xt-2tb-pcie-4-0-gen4-x-4-nvme-m-2-ssd-cssd-f2000gbmp600cxt

Corsair MP600 CORE XT Testing

To test the Corsair MP600 CORE XT, we will be using the latest Intel Raptor Lake i9-13900K CPU on an MSI MPG Z790 Carbon WiFi motherboard. Testing is done on the PCIe 5.0 x4 M.2 slot (with the motherboard heat sink) for maximum throughput to demonstrate what users can expect.

Testing Setup

• Case: Corsair iCUE 4000X RGB
• Motherboard: MSI MPG Z790 CARBON WIFI
• CPU: Intel i9-13900K
• CPU Cooler: Thermaltake TOUGHLIQUID Ultra 360
• GPU: EVGA GeForce RTX 3090 FTW3 Ultra Hybrid
• RAM: Lexar ARES DDR5 5200 2x16GB
• OS SSD: Silicon Power UD90 1TB M.2 PCIe Gen4 x4
• OS: Windows 11 Pro
• PSU: EVGA Supernova 1600 P+

Read and write speeds in sequential testing are right on Corsair's advertised ratings. The drive operated well with the stock M.2 cooler on the MSI Z790 Carbon WiFi, easily sustaining performance during prolonged stress tests.

Corsair MP600 CORE XT Conclusion

The MP600 CORE XT combines affordability, speed, and capacity, making it a great option for most users unless they require the absolute fastest speeds possible from a single drive. The rated 5,000 MB/s read and 4,400 MB/s write speeds are still fast for a product of this calibre.

The 1TB ($54.99 USD) and 2TB ($94.99 USD) options are price competitive with other manufacturers, all while generally being faster, and the 4TB option is still affordable at $219.99 USD.

If you want an affordable drive with fast speeds and plenty of storage capacity, the Corsair MP600 CORE XT is a great choice.