Introduction to AGI and the AI838 Series
AGI Technology, while not a household name like Samsung or Western Digital, has been steadily gaining traction in the storage solutions industry. The brand is known for producing reliable SSDs aimed at both casual users and performance enthusiasts, delivering high-speed storage without the premium price tag.
The AGI AI838 M.2 PCIe Gen4 SSD is one of their top-tier offerings, designed to take full advantage of the PCIe Gen4 x4 interface. Marketed as a high-performance NVMe SSD, it targets gamers, content creators, and professionals who require fast load times and efficient data handling. With competitive read and write speeds, the AI838 aims to challenge more established brands in the high-speed SSD market.
Key Features and Technology
PCIe Gen4 x4 Interface
The AGI AI838 utilizes the PCIe Gen4 x4 interface, doubling the bandwidth of PCIe Gen3 SSDs. This results in significantly faster sequential read and write speeds, making it ideal for demanding applications such as video editing, 3D rendering, and gaming. PCIe Gen4 is now widely adopted in modern motherboards, particularly those supporting AMD Ryzen 3000 series and later, as well as Intel 11th Gen and newer processors.
Innogrit IG5236 Controller
At the heart of the AI838 is the Innogrit IG5236 (Rainier) controller, a high-performance PCIe 4.0 NVMe controller known for its balance between speed, power efficiency, and thermal management. Unlike Phison-based SSDs, which dominate the market, Innogrit controllers provide an alternative that can sometimes outperform mainstream solutions in certain workloads. The IG5236 offers excellent sequential and random performance while keeping latency low.
3D TLC NAND Flash Memory
The AI838 is built with 3D TLC (Triple-Level Cell) NAND, a commonly used NAND type that balances endurance, cost, and performance. While TLC is generally slower than MLC, the AI838 compensates with an efficient controller and an onboard DRAM cache, which improves sustained write speeds and reduces latency.
DRAM Cache and SLC Caching
The presence of a dedicated DRAM cache significantly enhances performance during sustained workloads, ensuring that data transfers remain consistent rather than dropping in speed over time. Additionally, SLC (Single-Level Cell) caching is employed, dynamically allocating a portion of the TLC NAND to act as an ultra-fast buffer, improving burst performance for frequently accessed data.
Thermal Management
A major concern with high-speed NVMe SSDs is heat generation. The AI838 incorporates an efficient heatsink to dissipate heat effectively, reducing thermal throttling and maintaining consistent performance under load. This ensures better longevity and stability, especially in systems with limited airflow.
Benchmark Comparison: AI838 vs. the Competition
To put the AI838 in context, we compared its performance with three major competitors in the PCIe Gen4 SSD market, including a PCIe Gen5 SSD in the mix:
Performance Analysis
- Sequential Read/Write Speeds: The AGI AI838 offers competitive speeds, surpassing the Kingston Fury Renegade and matching the MSI SPATIUM M480 PLAY. However, it lags behind the Seagate FireCuda 540, which benefits from a PCIe Gen5 interface.
- PCMark 10 Storage Score: This benchmark measures real-world system performance. The AI838 achieves a score of 3,360, indicating strong overall performance. It outperforms the Kingston Fury Renegade and MSI SPATIUM M480 PLAY but remains behind the FireCuda 540.
- Thermal Efficiency: The AI838 maintains stable temperatures under load, comparable to other Gen4 SSDs. While it does not run as cool as the MSI SPATIUM M480 PLAY, it does a good job of controlling heat without requiring aggressive cooling solutions.
Pricing and Value for Money
The AGI AI838, provides a great balance of performance and price. While not the cheapest Gen4 SSD, it offers much better performance than the Kingston Fury Renegade and matches the MSI SPATIUM M480 PLAY. The FireCuda 540 leads in performance, but its PCIe Gen5 pricing is significantly higher, making it less appealing for budget-conscious buyers. The Kingston Fury Renegade is also considered very affordable, but with lower performance, it only suitable for budget users who don’t seek out the best in terms of speed.
Conclusion
The AGI AI838 M.2 PCIe Gen4 SSD 2TB is a strong contender in the mid-to-high-end SSD market. It delivers excellent speeds, solid reliability, and a competitive price point, making it a worthy choice for gamers, professionals, and power users. While it does not quite reach the top-tier speeds of PCIe Gen5 drives, it stands as one of the best value PCIe Gen4 SSDs available today.
If you’re looking for a reliable, fast, and reasonably priced PCIe Gen4 SSD, the AGI AI838 is a solid investment.
