INTRODUCTION

   With PCIe 5.0 Gen5 M.2 NVMe SSDs pretty much absent from the global consumer market (for now at least) storage media manufacturers are currently faced with two options, developing and producing high-end PCIe 4.0 Gen4 models for demanding users and gamers or cost-effective ones (primarily DRAM-less) for the masses. Well, lately as many of you must have noticed many have opted for the 2nd option and even though DRAM-less SSDs are clearly not aimed at heavy/intense workloads they are more than sufficient for everyday use. To date BIWIN has released quite a few M.2 NVMe SSD models on behalf of Acer and today I'll be testing their latest PCIe 4.0 Gen4 one, the Predator GM7 1TB.

   Predator branded storage products are designed and manufactured by BIWIN Storage Technology company, a leading maker of quality flash memory, DRAM memory and solid-state drives (SSDs). Delivering premium products for serious gamers and overclocking enthusiasts looking for the ultimate experience, our mission is to provide best-in-class memory modules and solid-state drives that enhance overall system performance and gameplay. Defined by faster speeds and gaming-inspired design, these Predator storage products are built to be the Number One choice for gamers worldwide. Founded in 2010, BIWIN focuses on providing global customers with high-quality storage products and specializes in the research, development, manufacturing and sales of memory chip application products.

   The Predator GM7 line of PCIe 4.0 Gen4 M.2 NVMe SSDs is currently available in 512GB/1/2TB capacities (4TB is also listed on the box but as of now i don't have details like TBW) and is one of the very first models to feature the DRAM-less MAP1602 12nm quad-channel (R5) NAND flash controller by MaXio which BIWIN has paired with 2400 MT/s 128-layer 3D TLC NAND flash by YMTC. Now even though BIWIN states that this is an NVMe v1.4 drive the MaXio MAP1602 controller actually supports the latest NVMe v2.0 specification and even though at the center of its focus are enterprises and data centers getting increased performance and durability (at least on paper) is always a good thing for everyone. The MAP1602 12nm quad-channel NAND controller by MaXio also packs quite a few features including advanced wear leveling algorithms, Host Memory Buffer (HMB) architecture (uses a fraction of your PC's system memory to cache mapping tables), pseudo SLC cache, bad block management strategy, hardware error-correction, L1.2 ultra-low power state and sudden power-loss protection, TRIM, NCQ, hardware support for AES256/SM4 encryption and support for TCG OPAL2.0. BIWIN covers the entire Predator GM7 line with a 5-year limited warranty and in terms of durability they report a TBW (terabytes written) of 300 for the 512GB model, 600TB for the 1TB model and 1200 for the 2TB model.

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES

PACKAGING AND CONTENTS

At the front of the small box, we find a partial product picture surrounded by the company logo, product name, capacity and connectivity.

The product specifications are printed at the rear of the box.

Along with the Predator GM7 1TB inside the box you'll also find an M.2 mounting screw and the quick start guide (drive cloning software is also available as a download).

THE PREDATOR GM7 1TB

The Predator GM7 is a single side M.2280 SSD so at the top we find the regular sticker which contains various information about the drive including its serial number, barcode and several certifications.

Under the sticker we find the MAP1602 4-channel NAND flash controller by MaXio together with two 128-layer NAND flash modules by YMTC (2400 MT/s bus).

As expected, the opposite side of the PCB is completely empty.

TEST BED

TESTING METHODOLOGY

   Not long after I first started testing SSDs back in 2008, I concluded that it's almost impossible for any single benchmark suite to accurately measure their performance and that's why in certain benchmark suites we see amazing read/write performance numbers with some drives while in others things are quite different. The reason behind this is that some benchmarking suites are configured to read and write random chunks of data while others read and write constant (sequential) ones. So that's why i always use a very wide selection of benchmarking suites including AIDA64, HD Tach RW, HD Tune Pro, Crystal Disk Mark, Sisoftware Sandra Pro, AS SSD, IOmeter and ATTO. To get the most accurate results each test gets repeated a total of 6 times with the average performance numbers recorded into the charts*/****. Also, as of February 25th 2015 our results will also include the Storage Networking Industry Association’s (SNIA) IOMeter tests. These tests include a 12 Hour write test used to “simulate” performance degradation over time and a mixed workload test which basically shows what you can expect when using an SSD continuously for roughly two hours. Unfortunately, due to the time required for these tests they get repeated a total of 3 times and not 6 as the above.

   Many people have made inquiries about our charts in the past so once again please do keep in mind that the Charts have the average performance numbers of each drive recorded and not the peak (highest) ones. Also, although every single one of these programs can help potential buyers choose the right drive for their needs you should also remember that from any kind of benchmark up to real world usage the gap is not small (and usually most differences will go unnoticed by most people). All tests were performed in a fresh Windows 10 Pro x64 installation complete with every update up to the date of this review.

* Since November 2018 the SSD comparison charts have been divided to 2.5” and M.2 models to reduce their growing size.
** Unless stated otherwise the Ryzen 9 3950x based Test Rig used for M.2 Gen 4 SSD reviews is not located in the lab.
*** As of January 2021 for Gen 3x4 models I’ll be using the Core i9-7980XE test rig (after numerous tests the up to 6% difference in read & write performance compared to the i7-6700 system simply wasn’t enough to justify having an extra test rig around).
**** Since February 2022 M.2 NVMe Gen3 and Gen4 SSD drives are placed in different charts.

TEST RESULTS - AIDA64 / ATTO

TEST RESULTS - HD TACH RW / HD TUNE PRO

TEST RESULTS - SISOFTWARE SANDRA PRO / CRYSTAL DISK MARK

TEST RESULTS - AS SSD / IOMETER

TEST RESULTS - IOMETER SNIA

CONCLUSION

   DRAM-less M.2 NVMe SSDs may not offer the same performance levels under heavy workloads as models with DRAM on them but since they were developed to be more affordable, they never really had to. As a matter of fact, lately we’ve seen some DRAM-less models that perform extremely well in many scenarios ranging from regular daily use to gaming. MaXio (or Maxiotek) may not be the among the popular NAND controller manufacturer out there but still I have no complaints from them and their solutions, at least so far. Yes, they are not targeting the high-end segment of the market but they do extremely well in the mid-tier (their MAP1602 controller is also one of a very few that actually support the latest NVMe v2.0 specification) both in terms of performance and durability/endurance (also good in the case of the GM7, always compared to other DRAM-less models). Also, worth pointing out is that according to some early CES rumours the Predator GM7 was believed to have the latest 232-layer 3D TLC NAND flash by YMTC which is not the case, at least not according to BIWIN (using 232-layer 3D TLC would obviously boost popularity and sales so I have no reason to doubt them).

   At the time of my review the Predator GM7 line of PCIe 4.0 Gen4 M.2 NVMe SSDs by Acer is still not widely available to comment on price. Still the MSRP (manufacturer’s suggested retail price) for the 1TB model is set at USD89.99/89.99Euros so really no complaints here either (as long as this price makes it to stores). At the end of the day, I really have nothing bad to say about the Predator GM7. Yes, it can’t compete with most of its DRAM equipped PCIe 4.0 Gen4 brothers when it comes to heavy workloads and sometimes even durability/endurance but for everyday use it actually delivers everywhere it counts and for that it gets the Golden Award.

PROS

- Very Good Overall Performance (For a DRAMless Model)
- Up To 4TB Capacity
- Cloning Software Included
- 600TBW Endurance (DRAMless Model)
- 5 Year Limited Warranty
- Price (For Some)

CONS

- Thermal Throttling (During SNIA Tests)
- Current Availability