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The Solidigm D7-P5520 reviewed here is a 7.68TB, 2.5-inch U.2 15mm enterprise NVMe SSD with a PCIe 4.0 x4 interface. ServeTheHome tested this specific drive across ten PCIe Gen4 CPU architectures, including x86, Arm and IBM Power9. The results indicate broad platform performance consistency in that lab, but they do not certify compatibility or identical results for every server, firmware, operating system or workload.
What was reviewed
The tested device is one precise member of the D7-P5520 family: a 7.68TB U.2 15mm drive. The family also includes other capacities and E1.S and E1.L form factors, so a listing that only says “P5520” is not enough for procurement.
| Attribute | Reviewed configuration | Family or platform qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 7.68TB | Other capacities exist; capacity-specific ratings must be checked |
| Form factor | 2.5-inch U.2, 15mm | E1.S and E1.L versions are also listed for the family |
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe | Requires a compatible NVMe bay, backplane, firmware and cooling arrangement |
| Positioning | Standard-endurance, read-intensive data-center SSD | ServeTheHome describes the P5520 at 1 DWPD and the P5620 as the higher-endurance 3 DWPD alternative |
| Security features listed by Solidigm | AES-256 and TCG Opal 2.0 | FIPS 140-3 Level 2 availability is limited to certain U.2 15mm configurations |
Solidigm’s current product information describes the P5520 family for databases, general-purpose servers and other enterprise or cloud workloads. The reviewed unit may retain Intel markings because it originated during the transition of Intel’s SSD business to SK hynix and Solidigm. Verify the exact identity and part number on any seller listing.
Does it work on x86, Arm and IBM Power9?
ServeTheHome’s July 30, 2022 review included Intel Ice Lake systems, three AMD EPYC generations, Ampere Altra and Altra Max, Huawei/HiSilicon Kunpeng 920 and IBM Power9 among its PCIe Gen4 test platforms. The review used AMD EPYC 7002 “Rome” as the comparison baseline.
#1 Best Overall
![SOLIDIGM D7-P5520 7.68 TB Solid State Drive - 2.5 Internal - U.2 [PCI Express NVMe 4.0 x4]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31fAH8G2LrL._SL160_.jpg)
- Solidigm D7 Series D7-P5520 - SSD - 7.68 TB - internal - 2.5" (6.4 cm) - PCIe 4.0 x4 (NVMe) - FIPS - FIPS (federal information processing standards)
Across its averaged four-corners comparison, the review reports results within a 6% relative range overall, with most platforms clustered closely. Kunpeng and Power9 were larger outliers than the roughly plus-or-minus 2% grouping the reviewer described for most systems. Those figures are observations from one lab configuration, not a universal platform-support statement.
What that evidence means
- The drive’s NVMe and PCIe Gen4 behavior was demonstrated on more than conventional x86 servers.
- Arm or Power9 support still depends on the server’s physical bay, PCIe wiring, backplane, firmware, operating-system NVMe stack and vendor qualification.
- A platform that exposes a PCIe slot is not automatically suitable for a hot-swap U.2 drive; the carrier and backplane must provide the correct U.2 power, signaling and cooling.
Benchmark results and what they do—and do not—prove
The reviewer wrote: “Overall the sequential and 4K random read/ write numbers were about what we would expect from a Solidigm drive and close to the rated speeds.” This is the reviewer’s assessment of the tested configuration, not a Solidigm guarantee.
Rank #2
- SSD D7-P5520 SERIES 3.84TB
- Weight: 9.000 lbs
Solidigm’s current product page lists family-level maximums of up to 1.1 million 4KB random-read IOPS, up to 220,000 4KB random-write IOPS and up to 4,200 MB/s 128KB sequential write. These are manufacturer-stated “up to” figures; they should not be treated as expected results for every capacity, queue depth, thermal condition or application.
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Raw storage tests and application throughput answer different questions. In the review’s NVIDIA T4 MobileNet V1 test, the GPU was the principal limiter, so changing the SSD had comparatively little effect. Adobe Media Encoder combined file copying with transcoding, making encoding speed a major part of the result. KVM virtualization was more storage-sensitive, particularly the second workload and a virtual-machine boot storm, where many concurrent I/O operations made the SSD more visible.
Rank #3
![SOLIDIGM D7-P5520 3.84 TB Solid State Drive - 2.5 Internal - U.2 [PCI Express NVMe 4.0 x4]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/21DGOK6X7WL._SL160_.jpg)
- Solidigm D7 Series D7-P5520 - SSD - 3.84 TB - internal - 2.5" - U.2 PCIe 4.0 x4 (NVMe)
Consequently, a higher sequential-transfer number should not be converted into the same percentage increase in application performance. Measure the application’s queue depth, read/write mix, latency sensitivity and competing PCIe devices before predicting a benefit.
PCIe Gen4 system-design implications
Moving from PCIe Gen3 to Gen4 can raise available transfer bandwidth and may provide more usable connectivity than a Gen3 x8 arrangement in a system balancing several SSDs, accelerators or network devices. The review presents this as a system-design consideration, not as a drive-only benchmark result. Actual gains depend on lane allocation, switch topology, CPU generation and whether another device is already limiting the workload.
Rank #4
- Solidigm D7-PS1010 Series - SSD - Enterprise - 7.68 TB - internal - 2.5" (6.4 cm) - U.2 PCIe 5.0 x4 (NVMe)
Endurance, capacity and workload fit
The P5520 is positioned as a standard-endurance/read-intensive product. ServeTheHome describes the family comparison as 1 DWPD for P5520 versus 3 DWPD for P5620. DWPD is a planning shorthand, not a promise that every capacity has the same rating; confirm the selected SKU’s official endurance or TBW specification and compare it with the expected daily writes, write amplification and retention requirements.
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- Read-heavy databases and general-purpose data-center services.
- Virtualization environments where storage latency and concurrent boot or login activity are measurable bottlenecks.
- Servers that can use a qualified PCIe Gen4 U.2 NVMe backplane and need multi-terabyte local capacity.
Cases requiring caution
- Write-intensive workloads whose calculated endurance exceeds the selected P5520 SKU.
- Systems designed only for M.2 devices or SATA/SAS backplanes.
- Deployments requiring FIPS 140-3 Level 2 without confirming that the exact U.2 configuration provides it.
How it compares with alternatives
The sensible comparison is not a single peak-I/O number. Evaluate the exact capacity, endurance class, form factor and qualification of each candidate.
| Comparison | Questions to answer |
|---|---|
| P5520 versus P5510 | Is the server Gen4-capable, and does the newer drive’s performance and capacity fit justify replacing the prior-generation device? |
| P5520 versus Samsung PM9A3 | Which exact U.2 or E1 variant, endurance rating, firmware and server qualification are available for your platform? |
| P5520 versus P5620 | Does the workload need the higher 3-DWPD positioning, or is the P5520’s standard-endurance class sufficient? |
Solidigm’s own comparison brief uses specified systems and workload profiles, while ServeTheHome measured a defined set of platforms and tests. Neither should be reassigned to a different server or treated as an independent, universal ranking.
Procurement checklist for the 7.68TB U.2 model
- Confirm the listing identifies the 7.68TB, 2.5-inch U.2 15mm SKU, not an E1.S, E1.L or another capacity.
- Check that the server bay, carrier and backplane support PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe, including power and hot-swap behavior where required.
- Verify server-vendor support for that drive model, firmware revision and operating-system combination.
- Check airflow and thermal limits in the intended bay; sustained enterprise workloads can be limited by cooling.
- Match the capacity-specific DWPD or TBW rating to measured or forecast writes.
- Confirm required security features, including whether FIPS 140-3 Level 2 applies to the exact U.2 configuration.
- Ask the seller or system vendor to confirm warranty, firmware provenance and the physical product identity before purchase.
Verdict
The reviewed 7.68TB D7-P5520 is a credible enterprise PCIe Gen4 U.2 SSD for read-intensive and standard-endurance deployments. ServeTheHome’s cross-architecture testing is valuable evidence that the drive can deliver broadly similar results on many x86, Arm and Power9 platforms, with larger differences on Kunpeng and Power9 in that test. It is not a substitute for validating the complete server path. Buy it when the exact U.2 SKU, endurance, cooling and platform qualification match your workload; otherwise, a different form factor or endurance class may be the safer choice.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
