Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus
PCle 4.0 x4 Interface with Phison E18 Controller | Active-Cooling Heatsink Design | High-Density Storage Configurations
Introduction
The Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus with Heatsink represents a pinnacle of consumer-grade PCIe 4.0 NVMe storage solutions, combining bleeding-edge sequential performance with robust thermal management. Designed for enthusiasts seeking to maximize bandwidth-intensive workflows or expand next-gen console storage, this drive leverages Phison’s E18 controller and Micron’s 176-layer TLC NAND to deliver sustained throughput exceeding 7,000 MB/s. Its integrated heatsink addresses thermal throttling risks inherent to high-density Gen4 SSDs, making it particularly relevant for constrained environments like the PlayStation 5 expansion bay.
Product Overview
Targeting power users and console gamers, the Rocket 4 Plus employs a dual-sided M.2 2280 form factor with capacities ranging from 500GB to 8TB. The preinstalled aluminum heatsink features a copper vapor chamber and graphene-coated thermal interface material, reducing peak operating temperatures by up to 15°C compared to bare drives. Compatibility spans Windows/Linux PCs, Sony PlayStation 5, and compact computing platforms requiring PCIe 4.0 x4 bandwidth.
Key Features
PCIe 4.0 x4 Interface with Phison E18 Controller
The eight-channel Phison PS5018-E18 controller coordinates data flow between the NVMe 1.4 host interface and Micron’s B47R Fortis NAND, enabling sequential reads up to 7,100 MB/s and writes reaching 6,600 MB/s. This architecture sustains 1.4M IOPS in mixed random workloads, outperforming earlier E16-based designs by 38% in 4K Q32T16 benchmarks.
Active-Cooling Heatsink Design
Sabrent’s proprietary heatsink combines 6063 aluminum fins with a nickel-plated copper base, dissipating up to 12W of thermal load. Independent testing demonstrated peak temperature reductions from 86°C to 71°C during sustained 450GB file transfers, maintaining consistent clock speeds without throttling. The low-profile 8.2mm height ensures compatibility with PS5’s 11.25mm vertical clearance limit.
High-Density Storage Configurations
Leveraging Micron’s 176-layer 3D TLC, the 8TB variant packs 16 NAND die (512GB each) across both PCB sides, achieving 1.28PB total endurance. Smaller capacities utilize single-sided layouts for ultrabook compatibility, with the 4TB model delivering 2,800TBW endurance—56% higher than QLC-based alternatives.
DirectStorage-Optimized Firmware
Sabrent’s “O₂ GO” firmware reduces queuing overhead for GPU-bound workloads, cutting asset load times by 17% in DirectStorage 1.2 benchmarks compared to stock E18 implementations.
Performance Analysis
Sequential Speeds
CrystalDiskMark 8.0.4 testing revealed sustained sequential reads of 7,048 MB/s and writes of 6,592 MB/s for the 4TB model, exceeding Sony’s 5,500 MB/s PS5 requirement by 28%. The 8TB variant exhibited slightly lower throughput (6,200/5,800 MB/s) due to 112-layer NAND constraints but maintained a 12% advantage over PCIe 3.0 alternatives.
Random Performance
Under FIO 3.33’s 4K Q32T16 random read/write stress test, the drive achieved 549K/455K IOPS at 231µs/275µs latency—sufficient for 8 simultaneous 4K video streams. VDI Monday Login simulations showed stable 26.5K IOPS at 601µs, outperforming WD Black SN850X by 14% in multi-user scenarios.
Thermal Management
FLIR thermal imaging during 30-minute sustained writes revealed maximum controller temperatures of 68°C with the heatsink versus 83°C without. The graphene thermal pad’s 8.5 W/m·K conductivity prevented NAND junction temperatures from exceeding 55°C, ensuring consistent 6,400 MB/s writes throughout testing.
Compatibility
PlayStation 5
Sabrent’s heatsink adheres to PS5’s 8.2mm height restriction, enabling direct installation in the M.2 expansion slot. The drive’s 7,000+ MB/s sequential reads eliminate texture streaming bottlenecks in titles like Horizon Forbidden West, with full 4TB capacity recognized by firmware 22.02-06.00.00. You will want to consider the PlayStation heatsink in this circumstance.
Steam Deck and Handheld PCs
While physically compatible with Steam Deck’s M.2 2230 slot using a 2280→2230 adapter, the heatsink’s 8.2mm height exceeds the Deck’s 3.5mm clearance. Users must remove the heatsink or install third-party 1mm graphene pads for handheld use.
Raspberry Pi
PCIe 4.0 x4 signaling isn’t supported on Raspberry Pi 5’s PCIe 2.0 x1 interface. However, the drive operates in Gen3 x1 mode at 985 MB/s when using a compatible M.2 HAT, albeit without heatsink clearance.
Advantages and Limitations
Strengths
PS5-Optimized Thermal Design: The integrated heatsink eliminates aftermarket cooling purchases for Sony’s console.
5-Year Endurance Warranty: 1,400 TBW rating for 2TB model surpasses Samsung 980 Pro by 40%.
DirectStorage Acceleration: Firmware-level optimizations reduce CPU load during GPU asset decompression.
Constraints
8TB Performance Tradeoffs: Older 112-layer NAND reduces write speeds to 5,800 MB/s versus 6,600 MB/s on 4TB model.
Heatsink Removal Complexity: Warranty void if label damaged during heatsink detachment for Steam Deck use.
High Queue Depth Dependency: Random read performance below 200K IOPS at QD1 impacts light database workloads.
Conclusion
The Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus establishes itself as a premium choice for PS5 upgrades and workstation builds demanding uncompromised Gen4 bandwidth. While its 8TB variant’s thermal limitations and Steam Deck incompatibility warrant consideration, the drive’s 7,000+ MB/s throughput and robust cooling solution justify its price premium over budget-oriented alternatives.
Works Cited
“Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus SSD Review (Update).” StorageReview.com, 16 Feb. 2022, storagereview.com/review/sabrent-rocket-4-plus-ssd-review-update.
Mahalingam, Paul. “Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus 8TB SSD Review.” StorageReview.com, 6 July 2022, storagereview.com/review/sabrent-rocket-4-plus-8tb-ssd-review.
“Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus Review.” PCMag, 22 Aug. 2022, pcmag.com/reviews/sabrent-rocket-4-plus.
“Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus-G SSD Review: A DirectStorage Gaming Powerhouse.” Tom’s Hardware, 30 Nov. 2022, tomshardware.com/reviews/sabrent-rocket-4-plus-g-ssd-review.
“Heat and Speed Test Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus PCIe 4.0 M.2 NVMe Drive.” YouTube, uploaded by BuildOrBuy, 19 Jan. 2021, youtube.com/watch?v=oD4zu-zP8PA.
