TeamGroup has just announced the T-FORCE Z54E, a new PCIe 5.0 solid-state drive that, for the first time, uses Phison’s latest E28 controller. The drive targets the high-end consumer segment with sequential read speeds of up to 14,900 MB/s and write speeds reaching 14,000 MB/s in its 2TB and 4TB configurations.
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Model | T-FORCE Z54E M.2 PCIe 5.0 SSD |
| Interface | PCIe Gen5 x4 with NVMe |
| Capacity | 1TB / 2TB / 4TB |
| Form Factor | M.2 2280 |
| Dimensions | 80.0(L) x 22.0(W) x 3.9(H) mm with Graphene |
| Weight | 7g |
| DRAM Cache | Yes |
| Voltage | DC +3.3V |
| Sequential Read/Write | 1TB: up to 14,900/13,700 MB/s 2TB: up to 14,900/14,000 MB/s 4TB: up to 14,900/14,000 MB/s |
| Endurance (TBW) | 1TB: 600 TBW 2TB: 1,200 TBW 4TB: 2,400 TBW |
| MTBF | 1,600,000 Hours |
| Operating Temperature | 0°C to 70°C |
| Storage Temperature | -40°C to 85°C |
| Shock Resistance | 1,500G / 0.5ms |
| Vibration Resistance | 80Hz~2,000Hz / 20G |
| Operating System Support | Windows 11 / 10 / 8.1 / 8 / 7 / Vista macOS 10.4 or later Linux 2.6.33 or later |
| Warranty | 5-year limited warranty |
| Part Numbers | 1TB: TM8FG8001T0C129 2TB: TM8FG8002T0C129 4TB: TM8FG8004T0C129 |
The Phison PS5028-E28 controller, or E28 for short, is manufactured on TSMC’s 6nm process node, which is a significant improvement from the 12nm process used in the previous E26 controller (found in TeamGroup’s Z540 series). A high-end chip, the E28 features eight NAND channels and supports compatibility with 4200 MT/s interface flash memory, with a rated average power consumption of approximately 8.5W.
TeamGroup’s Z540 is available in 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB capacities, the drive employs high-density TLC NAND flash and integrates on-board DRAM for improved burst transfer rates. The 2TB and 4TB models reach the advertised 14,900 MB/s read and 14,000 MB/s write speeds, while the 1TB variant comes in slightly lower. The drive supports the NVMe 2.0 protocol over a PCIe Gen5 x4 interface.
Evolution from the Z540
The Z54E succeeds TeamGroup’s Z540, which launched in late 2023 with the Phison E26 controller. The Z540 delivered speeds of up to 12,400 MB/s read and 11,800 MB/s write, positioning it among the first wave of high-performance PCIe 5.0 M.2 drives. The move to the E28 platform brings a substantial performance increase of approximately 20% in sequential transfers.
Both generations feature TeamGroup’s patented ultra-thin graphene heatsink, which has been designed to work alongside motherboard cooling solutions. According to the manufacturer, the graphene material’s hexagonal structure helps with horizontal heat dissipation and adressess the thermal challenges with PCIe 5.0 drives, as many of these SSDs are known to generate significant heat during sustained operation.
Competitive Landscape
The Z54E enters a competitive market segment where several manufacturers have recently released drives with similar performance targets:
Samsung’s 9100 Pro, which launched in March 2025, utilizes the company’s proprietary Presto controller and achieves sequential read speeds of up to 14,800 MB/s. It is available in capacities all the way up to 8TB, with pricing starting at $200 for the 1TB model.
Western Digital’s WD Black SN8100, released in May 2025, reaches 14,900 MB/s read speeds using Silicon Motion’s SM2508 controller paired with Kioxia’s 218-layer BiCS8 NAND. Independent reviews have noted the drive’s strong performance in both synthetic benchmarks and real-world gaming scenarios, with notably efficient thermal management for a PCIe 5.0 device.
Crucial’s T700, T705, and T710 models occupy different positions in the market. The T700, based on the earlier Phison E26 controller, delivers 12,400 MB/s speeds at more accessible price points. The T705, utilizing the E26 with optimized NAND, reaches 14,500 MB/s and has been available since early 2024. Pricing for these drives typically ranges from $140 to $270 for 2TB configurations, depending on current promotions.
Still an Enthusiast Market
In the consumer space, PCIe 5.0 SSDs remain targeted at enthusiast/gaming systems and workstations. While the technology offers theoretical bandwidth of up to 16 GB/s over four lanes, the practical benefits vary by use case. There are modest improvements in game load times compared to high-end PCIe 4.0 drives, often in the range of 10-25% depending on the title and DirectStorage implementation.
Content creation workflows involving large file transfers, video editing with high-resolution footage, and AI model operations will see more substantial benefits from the increased bandwidth. The reduced latency characteristics of newer controllers like the E28 and SM2508 also contribute to improved overall responsiveness in certain situations.
Platform support and pricing are the main stopping blocks for broader adoption this far, but the former has expanded significantly over the past year. AMD’s AM5 platform and Intel’s 800-series and later chipsets provide native PCIe 5.0 support for M.2 storage. Nevertheless, PCIe 5.0 drives often come with a 20-40% premium over comparable PCIe 4.0 models. As of October 2025, 2TB PCIe 5.0 drives with speeds around 14,000-15,000 MB/s generally retail between $260 and $320, while high-end PCIe 4.0 alternatives with 7,000 MB/s speeds are available for $150-200.
Thermal management is another consideration that applies to PCIe 5.0 drives more than previous generations. The Z54E’s inclusion of TeamGroup’s graphene heatsink addresses basic cooling needs, though the company recommends pairing the drive with motherboard heatsinks or dedicated cooling solutions for sustained workloads. The drive’s specifications note an average power consumption of 8.5W, which is within the typical range for current-generation PCIe 5.0 controllers.