| Internal or External | Internal |
| Internal Form Factor | M.2 Type-2280 |
| Interface (Computer Side) | M.2 Type-2280 |
| Capacity (Tested) | 1 TB |
| NAND Type | QLC |
| Controller Maker | Phison |
| Bus Type | PCI Express 4.0 |
| NVMe Support | |
| Rated Maximum Sequential Read | 7100 MBps |
| Rated Maximum Sequential Write | 6000 MBps |
| Terabytes Written (TBW) Rating | 220 TBW |
Micron has introduced its latest high-performance solid-state drive, the Crucial P310, which utilizes PCI Express 4.0 technology. This versatile SSD is available in two configurations: a standard 80mm version suitable for upgrades in laptops and desktop computers, and a compact 30mm variant tailored for handheld gaming devices like the Steam Deck. While the P310 is primarily aimed at gamers, our evaluations indicate that it offers only average gaming performance and marginally improved general storage capabilities (starting at for the tested 1TB model). Although it is a competent drive, this DRAM-less SSD featuring QLC memory represents a worthwhile investment only if purchased significantly below its retail price. Otherwise, consider our Editors’ Choice recommendation for a budget-friendly gaming-oriented PCIe 4.0 SSD, the Addlink AddGame A93, or the slightly more premium SK Hynix Platinum P41 for enhanced gaming performance.
The P310 is a PCI Express 4×4 solid-state drive, and the model we evaluated is built on an M.2 Type-2280 (80mm in length) “gumstick” printed circuit board. Additionally, Crucial provides a more compact M.2 Type-2230 (30mm in length) version. The P310 utilizes the NVMe protocol across its PCIe 4.0 interface and features Micron’s proprietary 232-layer QLC NAND flash.
The P310 utilizes the Phison PS5027-E27T controller, initially observed in the Corsair MP600 Elite, allowing Micron to forgo a dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) cache. Instead, it employs the main memory of your PC as a host memory buffer (HMB). For clarification on any technical terminology, please refer to our glossary of SSD terms.
The P310 2280 is presently offered in capacities of 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB. Micron has indicated that a variant featuring a compact heatsink, designed to fit into the spare M.2 slot of a PS5, is under development. Meanwhile, the P310 2230 is available in 1TB and 2TB capacities, both of which do not include heatsinks.
Solid-state drives utilizing QLC NAND flash memory generally exhibit reduced durability under heavy write conditions compared to TLC or MLC drives, as evidenced by their lower terabytes written (TBW) ratings. TBW measures the total amount of data that can be written to a drive before the individual memory cells start to deteriorate. This does not imply that the entire drive will cease to operate; rather, it indicates that certain cells will be decommissioned, resulting in diminished available storage over time. QLC-based drives are most suitable for read-heavy applications where data is not frequently written to the drive. Typical users include general consumers, students, office personnel, casual gamers, and novice designers.
The durability ratings of the P310 are comparable to those of other SSDs utilizing QLC technology that we have examined. For instance, the Sabrent Rocket Q4 has a durability rating of 200TBW for its 1TB variant, 400TBW for the 2TB version, and 800TBW for the 4TB model. In contrast, the Corsair MP600 Core XT offers ratings of 250TBW for the 1TB, 450TBW for the 2TB, and 900TBW for the 4TB capacity. It is important to note that a 4TB option is not available for the P310. In comparison, TLC drives exhibit significantly higher durability ratings; for example, the ADATA Legend 850 is rated at 1,000TBW for the 1TB model and 2,000TBW for the 2TB variant.
The five-year warranty for the P310 remains effective provided that the TBW rating is not surpassed during this period. In practice, unless you frequently write and overwrite substantial volumes of data—beyond what is generally expected for consumer PC usage—it is improbable that you will reach the TBW limit of even a QLC drive before the warranty expires.
We evaluate PCIe 4.0 internal SSDs utilizing a desktop test setup featuring an MSI X570 motherboard paired with an AMD Ryzen processor, 16GB of Corsair Dominator DDR4 memory operating at 3,600MHz, and a dedicated Nvidia GeForce graphics card. The P310 undergoes our standard series of solid-state drive assessments, which include Crystal DiskMark 6.0, PCMark 10 Storage, and 3DMark Storage. Its performance is then compared against a selection of high-speed PCI Express 4.0 SSDs.
Crystal DiskMark’s sequential speed assessments offer a conventional evaluation of drive throughput, emulating optimal, linear transfers of substantial files. These throughput-speed evaluations primarily aim to verify the accuracy of manufacturers’ speed specifications, and the P310 marginally surpassed Micron’s stated read and write speeds.
The 4K read test conducted by Crystal DiskMark evaluates the time required to access a set of files organized in 4K cluster sizes. In our comparison of drives, the P310 achieved a 4K read score that positioned it in the median range. However, its 4K write score ranked as the second highest, surpassed only by the WD Black SN850X, and it performed slightly better than a considerable number of drives with comparable scores. Strong 4K write performance is particularly crucial for an SSD utilized as a boot drive, although our testing is performed with them functioning as secondary drives.
The PCMark 10 Overall Storage test evaluates a drive’s performance in executing a range of common tasks, including the initiation of Windows, the loading of games and creative applications, as well as the transfer of both small and large files. It compiles scores from these diverse activities. The P310 performed admirably in the Overall Storage test, ranking among a select group of high-scoring drives, only slightly trailing behind the Crucial T500 and TeamGroup MP44.
The PCMark 10 Overall Storage score compiles the outcomes of various tasks; however, it is also possible to examine the scores for several of the P310’s specific trace-based assessments. The performance in these traces was generally average, with its most notable achievement being a top-three ranking in the small-file copy trace, slightly trailing behind the Crucial T500 and the heatsink-equipped variant of the Samsung SSD 990 Pro.
In the 3DMark Storage benchmark, which evaluates a drive’s performance across a variety of gaming-related tasks, the P310 achieved results that fell within the central portion of a closely grouped range of scores produced by the majority of our comparison drives.
The Crucial P310 is a proficient internal SSD that utilizes QLC NAND flash memory and lacks internal DRAM, features that generally contribute to a lower price point for SSDs. Micron effectively capitalizes on these attributes in the Editors’ Choice award-winning Crucial P3, which is among our preferred PCI Express 3.0 SSDs. While it is premature to ascertain the retail pricing of the P310, an analysis of its listed price in relation to other PCIe 4.0 competitors suggests that it does not offer significant value.
QLC memory facilitates straightforward scaling to larger capacities. However, while the P3 and several other drives, regardless of being QLC or TLC based, provide 4TB options, the P310 is limited to a maximum capacity of 2TB. The Crucial P3 Plus, which is a DRAM-less PCI Express 4.0 SSD utilizing QLC memory, is available in capacities reaching up to 4TB; nevertheless, it exhibits significantly lower throughput speeds compared to the P310.
The DRAM-less design of the P310 offers energy efficiency compared to SSDs that utilize a DRAM cache in their controllers. However, it is important to note that DRAM-less drives may experience performance declines during extensive file transfers. Therefore, if you frequently transfer tens or hundreds of gigabytes or handle exceptionally large media files, this factor should be considered.
Micron highlights the gaming performance of the P310 2280, which is the full-size variant of the Crucial P310 2230, designed to accommodate handheld gaming devices. In the gaming-focused 3DMark Storage benchmark and the gaming-related traces from PCMark 10 assessments, the P310 2280 demonstrates its competence, achieving average results when compared to other PCI Express 4.0 competitors. This observation holds true across all our benchmarking tests: while it does not rank at the very top, it also does not register any significantly low scores.
Our selection for the Editors’ Choice in budget gaming-oriented PCIe 4.0 SSDs is the Addlink AddGame A93. This DRAM-less SSD utilizes TLC NAND technology, offering slightly improved performance. It is also more affordable, available in a 4TB capacity, and comes with a heatsink compatible with the PS5. For mainstream gaming, we continue to recommend the SK Hynix Platinum P41 as our top choice for an M.2 PCIe 4.0 drive. However, the Crucial P310 stands out as a reliable option for both gaming and general storage needs. We recommend monitoring its pricing closely to ensure you purchase it at a significantly reduced rate compared to its list price. Additionally, we hope that Micron will consider releasing a 4TB version of the P310 in the Type-2280 form factor in the future.
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