Klevv CRAS C925G 2TB SSD Review

1. Introduction2. Review Model3. Testing Methodology4. CrystalDiskMark5. ATTO Disk Benchmark6. AS SSD7. 128KB Sequential Performance8. 4K Random Read v QD Performance9. 4K Random Write v QD Performance10. 4K 70/30 Mixed Performance11. 4K Random Performance QD1-QD812. Throughput13. PCMark 10 Full System Drive Benchmark14. 3DMark Storage Benchmark 15. Final Fantasy XIV Endwalker Official Benchmark16. Temperatures17. Real Life File Testing18. Closing Thoughts19. View All Pages

The latest drive to be added to the ‘C' range of Klevv's Gen4 SSDs is the CRAS C925G, designed for 4K content creation, data-intensive AI tasks, and heavy-duty applications.

At the heart of the C925G is a Maxiotech MAP1602A 4-channel controller. A DRAM-less design, the MAP1602A uses Host Memory Buffer (HMB) 3.0 technology, which uses system memory instead of a dedicated cache chip and uses Dynamic SLC cache writing technology. Built on a 12nm process, the MAP1602A uses ARM Cortex-R5 architecture with a fast 2400 MT/s flash interface, which helps performance. For the 2TB version of the CRAS C925G, Klevv has paired the MAP1602A with two 1TB packages of Essencore-branded 238-Layer 3D TLC NAND.

Klevv rates the performance of the 2TB CRAS C925G as per the maximum speeds supported by the MAP1602A controller – up to 7,400MB/s and 6,500MB/s for sequential reads and writes, respectively, and 1M IOPS for random writes, although random reads for the drive are rated down a bit at up to 700,000 IOPS from the 1602A's 1M IOPS.

Using the default CrystalDiskMark 8 tests, we couldn't quite hit the official maximums for sequential performance; the best we saw was 7,352MB/s for reads and 6,336MB/s for writes. Switching over to the compressible data test, we could confirm the official read figure with a test result of 7,455.871MB/s, but the write performance at 5,957.31MB/s dropped back even further from both the official and default test results.

When it came to random performance, we couldn't get close to the official figures with our 4-threaded tests. The best random read figure we saw was 603,572 IOPS at QD16. Writes were even further away from the official figure at 495,124 IOPS (QD16). However, switching over to the default Peak Performance Profile in CrystalDiskMark 8, we could confirm the official random read figure and indeed better it by a decent margin with a test result of 993,696 IOPS, closer to the official stated maximum controller speed. When it came to random writes, we could also confirm the official maximums with a test result of 1,024,788 IOPS.

To help keep the CRAS C925G cool, Klevv uses a combination of enhanced thermal management and a thin graphene-copper composite heatsink, a combination which worked well, as the hottest the drive got under testing was 53° C.

The Klevv CRAS C925G comes with an official license for Acronis True Image HD, which is downloadable from the Klevv website.

We don't yet have confirmed UK pricing, but the 2TB model is listed on Amazon US for $119.99 HERE.

Pros

• Overall performance.
• Endurance.

Cons

• Write speeds in some benchmark tests.
• DRAM-less design.
• Model line-up stops at 2TB.

KitGuru says: Klevv's CRAS C925G offers decent all-around performance, and instead of the bundled aluminium heatsink that comes with the C925, the C925G comes with a preinstalled thinner graphene-copper composite heatsink that works well.

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