TeamGroup T-Create Classic PCIe 4.0 Hands-on: Affordable and fast, mid-range internal NVMe SSD
TeamGroup, a hardware company based in Taiwan and founded in 1997, is the manufacturer behind our test model. It specializes in solid state drives (SSDs) and peripheral devices such as coolers, cases, and mouse pads.
TeamGroup's range of internal SSDs is divided into three sub-categories, with the T-zone models representing the upper-class SSDs. Today we are testing the mid-range, which operates under the T-Create label.
Our T-Create TM8FPM002T (as per HWiNFO) officially bears the name T-Create Classic PCIe 4.0 DL SSD. The 2 TB model currently costs €122.63 on Amazon, which puts it at the lower end of its class. TeamGroup specifies sequential read and write rates of 5,000 MB/s and 4,500 MB/s, respectively.
Technical data: PCIe 4.0 x4, TLC NAND, and ~5,000 MB/s
The T-Create Classic is an SSD with TLC NAND and SLC cache. In addition to PCIe 4x4, TeamGroup primarily advertises the heat-dissipating and ultra-thin graphene cooling pad.
On the product data sheet for the T-Create Classic PCIe 4.0 DL the sequential read and write rates for the 2 TB model are 4,800 and 4,400 MB/s, but the packaging states 5,000 and 4,500 MB/s, respectively.
The manufacturer grants a limited warranty of 5 years.
Technical data of the TeamGroup SSD at a glance
| T-Create TM8FPM002T | |
|---|---|
| Form factor | M.2 (2280) |
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 x4 |
| Weight | 7 g |
| available capacities | 1 TB; 2 TB |
| Data transfer rates (sequential according to the manufacturer) |
up to 5,000 MB/s read up to 4,500 MB/s write |
| Load capacity | 1,200 TBW |
| average operating time | 1,500,000 h |
| Controller | Phison Electronics PS5021 PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe 1.4 SSD Controller @ x4 16.0 GT/s |
| Firmware | ELFMB0.6 |
| Warranty period | 5 years |
| Part numbers | TM8FPM002T0C329 |
Scope of delivery: 2 TB SSD with graphene cooling pad
An ultra-thin graphene cooling pad is included in the package. If you peel off the protective film on the underside, it can be stuck to the memory chips during installation. A small, square sticker with the silver-colored inscription "TC T-Create" against a black background is also included.
The package itself is made of cardboard on the outside and the SSD is in a plastic sleeve on the inside, which protects the drive from excessive shocks.
Measured values: Overall good values, no throttling
Test system
As a test system, we used the recently tested HP EliteBook 865 G10 because the business laptop supports PCIe 4 and was simply still on site. We removed the 1 TB SK-Hynix SSD and replaced it with our 2 TB SSD from T-Create. This also gives us the opportunity to compare the speed with the SSD normally found in the notebook.
Transfer rates
In CrystalDiskMark 6, the T-Create memory achieves around 4,800 MB/s for sequential read and write, which are decent values. In AS SSD, however, the values are significantly lower.
In the DiskSpd read loop, the drive shows a consistent performance, which is pretty much exactly at the level of the WD PC SN740 in the Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Fold 16. Across all our SSD tests, the T-Create Classic leaves the Western Digital mid-range drive far behind.
And although the EliteBook's standard memory from SK hynix has higher read values in the loop, the SSD from T-Create is faster overall across all sub-tests, as it also performs well in 4K. The Samsung PM9A1 is clearly faster, however.
In our SSD best list, the storage would probably at least be in the top 30 and thus cements its position as a good mid-range NVMe SSD.
* ... smaller is better
Disk throttling: DiskSpd Read Loop, Queue Depth 8
Verdict: TeamGroup SSD delivers what it promises
In our tests, the T-Create Classic PCIe 4.0 DL largely delivers on the manufacturer TeamGroup's promise. This makes it suitable for various applications, such as mass storage in consumer laptops and PCs, for example. As an external SSD in an M.2 housing, its speed depends on the USB transfer standard, but high throughput is definitely possible.
The TeamGroup T-Create Classic PCIe 4.0 DL is a fast mid-range SSD that achieves transfer rates of just under 5,000 MB/s, close to the manufacturer's specifications.
Whether the advertised ultra-thin graphene cooling sticker offers real advantages or not cannot be said with certainty, but at least the T-Create shows constant performance without dips even under continuous load.
Price and availability
The T-Create Classic PCIe 4.0 DL 2 TB can currently be purchased from Amazon for €122.63. On the "Where to buy" section of the website, TeamGroup lists lots of well-known stores, but unfortunately the reviewed model is not listed in most of the linked stores.
Transparency
The selection of devices to be reviewed is made by our editorial team. The test sample was given to the author by the manufacturer free of charge for the purposes of review. There was no third-party influence on this review, nor did the manufacturer receive a copy of this review before publication. There was no obligation to publish this review. We never accept compensation or payment in return for our reviews. As an independent media company, Notebookcheck is not subjected to the authority of manufacturers, retailers or publishers.
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