Today, we’re taking a look at the TEAMGROUP T-Force GA PRO PCIe Gen 5 SSD. This NVMe SSD comes in a compact 2280 form-factor and offers capacities of up to 8 TB. The unit we have for review is the 1 TB variant, priced at ₱5,138 PHP ($89.99 US).
Disclosure: TEAMGROUP sent the T-Force GA PRO for the purpose of this review. The company did not ask me to say anything particular about it.
Table of Contents:
Technical Specifications
TEAMGROUP states that the GA PRO SSD features the advanced PCIe Gen5 x4 interface and supports the latest NVMe 2.0 protocol, delivering impressive read speeds of up to 10,000 MB/s.
| Storage | |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 1 TB (also available in 2 TB, 4 TB, and 8 TB) |
| Flash Controller | InnoGrit IG5666 |
| Flash Memory | N/A |
| Form Factor | M.2 2280 |
| Interface | PCIe Gen 5 x4 |
| Sequential Read | 10,000 MB/s |
| Sequential Write | 8,500 MB/s |
| Random Read | N/A |
| Random Write | N/A |
| Endurance | |
| MTBF | 1,600,000 Hours |
| TBW | 600 TB |
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 80 mm |
| Width | 22 mm |
| Height | 3.9 mm |
| Weight | 7 grams |
Packaging and Accessories
The T-Force GA PRO comes in a small packaging that is appropriate for its size.
Scope of delivery are as follows:
- TEAMGROUP T-Force GA PRO 1 TB SSD
- Graphene sheet
- T-Force case badge
Design, Build and Connectivity
The T-Force GA PRO is offered in a typical M.2 2280 form factor design. It is equipped with the InnoGrit IG5666 controller and an SK Hynix DRAM cache. Each NAND flash provides around 512 GB of storage capacity.
The back end of the drive holds the warranty and information sticker. In higher capacity models, this area will also feature an additional pair of NAND flash.
The TEAMGROUP T-Force GA PRO comes with 5 year manufacturer warranty.
Throughput
The GA PRO’s read and write throughput performance has surpassed TEAMGROUP’s own data sheet, with maximum recorded read and write speeds of 10,492.692 MB/s and 9,026.789 MB/s respectively.
IOPS
The benchmark with the highest read speed is RND4KQ32T16, featuring a 1,161,125.7 IOPS. The highest write speed is also measured at the same benchmark at 598,161.6 IOPS. These are good results from the T-Force GA PRO SSD.
Access Time
Access time performance is impressive, if not exceptional. At RND4KQ1T1, the GA PRO achieved a read speed of 65.3 μs and a write speed of just 12.17 μs.
File Copy
The GA PRO is able to complete the file copy benchmarks at various sizes in due time for a PCIe Gen 5 SSD.
Compression
As for compression performance, the T-Force GA PRO saw a dip around 20% write. Another dip could be seen towards the end of the benchmark.
Cache
Now cache performance is decent. I managed to write 160 GB of data until the drive starts to slow down.
Temperature
The T-Force GA PRO’s biggest flaw is its thermal output. It runs way too hot, even with a heatsink installed. The best result I managed was 62°C under load using TEAMGROUP’s own Airflow I SSD cooler in its active cooling mode. Passively, it hit 79°C, and without a heatsink, it’s a disaster, peaking at a scorching 99°C. Insane.
Final Thoughts
The TEAMGROUP T-Force GA PRO PCIe Gen 5 SSD demonstrates strong performance metrics that align with its next-generation interface. Our testing showed that the 1 TB variant not only met but exceeded its advertised sequential read and write speeds, achieving up to 10,492.692 MB/s read and 9,026.789 MB/s write. IOPS and access time benchmarks also yielded competitive results, indicating its capability for demanding workloads and rapid data handling. The drive’s cache performance is respectable, maintaining speeds for approximately 160 GB of continuous writes before a noticeable slowdown.
However, the most significant factor to consider with the T-Force GA PRO is its thermal profile. This SSD operates at notably high temperatures under load. Even with TEAMGROUP’s dedicated active cooling solution, the drive reached 62°C. When relying on passive cooling, temperatures climbed to 79°C, and without any heatsink, it reached a concerning 99°C. These temperatures are critical, as sustained high heat can lead to thermal throttling, which would negate its impressive performance capabilities and potentially impact long-term reliability.
While the T-Force GA PRO offers compelling speed and a generous 5-year warranty, its integration into a system demands careful cooling consideration. Users with motherboards featuring robust, actively cooled M.2 slots or those willing to invest in aftermarket cooling solutions will be best positioned to extract the full performance potential of this drive. For systems with limited airflow or passive M.2 cooling, the thermal output of the GA PRO could become a limiting factor, potentially leading to performance degradation during extended heavy use.
TEAMGROUP T-Force GA PRO 1 TB SSD $89.99
Product Name: T-Force GA PRO
Product Description: The T-Force GA PRO SSD is a high-performance PCIe Gen 5 NVMe drive offered in a standard M.2 2280 form factor with a generous warranty and high capacity options.
Brand: TEAMGROUP
Summary
The TEAMGROUP T-Force GA PRO is a high-performance PCIe Gen 5 SSD that delivers excellent sequential read/write speeds, strong IOPS, and low access times, surpassing its advertised specifications. Its primary drawback is its high thermal output, requiring robust cooling solutions to maintain optimal performance and prevent thermal throttling.
Pros
- Consistently exceeded advertised sequential read and write speeds
- Achieved high IOPS and very low access times
- Maintained write speeds for approximately 160 GB of data before slowing down
- Backed by a 5-year manufacturer warranty
- Available in capacities up to 8 TB
Cons
- Runs very hot under load
- Showed some performance dips during compression benchmarks
