TeamGroup MP44Q - M.2 PCIe Gen4 QLC NVMe SSD - 1TB

The TeamGroup MP44Q is a QLC-based Gen4 NVMe drive using a Maxio MAP1602A controller with YMTC 232-layer QLC NAND and Host Memory Buffer (no DRAM). Sequential speeds hit 7,000/5,900 MB/s read/write across all three capacities (1TB, 2TB, 4TB). Also available in 8TB. The QLC NAND means higher density and lower cost per GB, with the usual QLC trade-offs in write endurance and sustained write performance.

QLC Trade-offs

QLC stores four bits per cell. The SLC cache makes initial burst writes fast, but once that cache is exhausted during large sustained writes, performance drops substantially. For typical consumer patterns (installing games, booting an OS, copying files in normal-sized batches), the SLC cache rarely fills. Video editors and users who regularly write hundreds of gigabytes in a single session will hit the wall.

Compared to MP44 (TLC)

The MP44Q shares the same 7,000 MB/s read speed as the TLC-based MP44 but writes slightly slower (5,900 vs 6,000 MB/s). The real difference is endurance and sustained write behavior. The TLC MP44 will outlast the MP44Q in total bytes written and maintain performance better under prolonged write-heavy loads.

Endurance

500 TBW (1TB), 1,000 TBW (2TB), 2,000 TBW (4TB), 4,000 TBW (8TB). Five-year limited warranty. These numbers match the MP44 (TLC) tier for tier, which is unusually high for QLC. YMTC's 232-layer QLC is reportedly more durable than competing QLC implementations.

Best for: Large capacity storage on a budget. Game libraries, media archives, and read-heavy workloads where the 4TB or 8TB models' low cost per GB is the priority.

Avoid if: Write endurance concerns you despite the good TBW ratings. Under sustained writes, QLC still drops to lower speeds once the SLC cache fills. The TLC-based MP44 costs modestly more and handles sustained writes better.