Plextor M5 Pro Xtreme 256GB SSD Review

Manufacturer Plextor
Article number PX-256M5Pro
Capacity 256GB
Interface SATA3 6GB/s
Cache 512MB
Controller Marvell
Flash Type MLC – Multi-Level-Cell
Size 2.5″ (100 x 69.85 x 7mm)
Weight approx. 70 gramm
Speed Read up to 540 MB/s / Write up to 460 MB/s
Seek Time
Power Consumption 0.25 Watt
MTBF 2.4 million hours MTBF
Other SMART support global wear leveling, garbage collection, instant restore technology, TRIM, bad block management algorithm, NCQ, 256-bit AES encryption encryption, backup software

Here is a screenshot of Snipping the CrystalDiskInfo 4.3.0 SSD and HDD information software, where it is noticeable, that Plextor does not spend this SSD a temperature sensor:

SSD firmware update …

Before starting the tests, we’ve updated the Plextor SSD to the latest firmware version. The SSD was delivered with firmware 1.02 and at the review date, Plextor offered the firmware version 1.03. Of course a test with the previous version was made as well, but it was not as fast and not so safe like the current one. The update of the Plextor firmware is relatively simple: Download the latest firmware from Plextor, burn the px-256m5pro_1.03.iso ISO file to a CD or transfer it with a suitable software to a USB stick, boot with this CD-ROM or USB thumb drive and confirm the SSD firmware update.