Samsung 980 PRO
PCle 4.0 Interface | Intelligent TurboWrite 2.0 | Advanced Thermal Management
Introduction
The Samsung 980 PRO represents a pinnacle of consumer-grade NVMe storage technology, leveraging PCIe 4.0 interfaces to deliver unprecedented read/write speeds for gaming rigs, content creation workstations, and high-performance computing systems. Launched in late 2020, this SSD redefined expectations for direct storage solutions by pairing Samsung’s proprietary V-NAND architecture with a purpose-built controller, making it a critical upgrade path for users seeking to eliminate storage bottlenecks in modern hardware ecosystems.
Product Overview
Designed for tech enthusiasts and professionals, the Samsung 980 PRO employs an M.2 2280 form factor with backward compatibility for PCIe 3.0 systems. It utilizes Samsung’s sixth-generation 128-layer 3D TLC V-NAND flash memory and the in-house Elpis controller, engineered to maximize PCIe 4.0 bandwidth. Available in 250GB to 2TB capacities, the drive targets users requiring low-latency access for large datasets, 4K/8K video editing, and next-generation gaming workloads.
Key Features
PCIe 4.0 Interface
The 980 PRO’s PCIe 4.0 x4 interface doubles the theoretical bandwidth of PCIe 3.0, achieving sequential read speeds up to 7,000 MB/s and write speeds up to 5,100 MB/s. This positions it as a future-proof solution for systems equipped with AMD Ryzen 5000/7000 or Intel 12th/13th Gen platforms.
Intelligent TurboWrite 2.0
Samsung’s dynamic SLC caching technology allocates up to 114GB of buffer space (1TB model) to sustain high write speeds during burst transfers. This mitigates performance drops when writing large files directly to TLC NAND.
Advanced Thermal Management
A nickel-coated controller and copper foil heat spreader minimize thermal throttling under sustained loads. The optional heatsink variant (sold separately or pre-installed) ensures compatibility with Sony’s PlayStation 5 thermal requirements.
Performance Analysis
Sequential Speeds
The 980 PRO delivers up to 7,000 MB/s sequential reads and 5,100 MB/s sequential writes (2TB model), outperforming PCIe 3.0 drives by 40-60%. Real-world benchmarks show 4K video file transfers completing 2.3x faster than SATA SSDs.
Random Performance
With random read/write performance rated at 1,000,000 IOPS, the drive excels in multitasking scenarios such as database queries or simultaneous application launches. This is critical for reducing load times in open-world games and virtualized environments.
Thermal Management
The Elpis controller’s 8nm manufacturing process reduces power consumption by 15% compared to previous designs. Dynamic Thermal Guard throttles speeds only after prolonged workloads exceeding 70°C, ensuring stability in passively cooled systems.
Compatibility
PlayStation 5
The 980 PRO is fully compatible with PlayStation 5 when equipped with a sub-8.6mm heatsink. Firmware updates post-2022 resolved early speed inconsistencies, with the 1TB and 2TB models achieving PS5 benchmarked read speeds of 6,400–6,500 MB/s.
Desktops and Laptops
Compatible with all PCIe 4.0/3.0 M.2 slots, though peak speeds require Gen4 support. Laptop users should verify motherboard clearance for heatsink variants, as the 8.6mm profile may conflict with ultra-thin chassis designs.
Advantages and Limitations
Strengths
Bleeding-Edge Throughput: Outperforms 95% of consumer NVMe drives in synthetic and real-world benchmarks.
Endurance: Rated for 1,200 TBW (2TB model) with a 5-year warranty, suitable for write-intensive tasks like video rendering.
Constraints
Cost Premium: Priced 20-30% higher than competing Phison E18-based drives.
SLC Cache Limitations: Sustained writes beyond the TurboWrite buffer drop to 1,700–2,000 MB/s on 1TB/2TB models.
Conclusion
The Samsung 980 PRO remains a top-tier choice for builders prioritizing storage performance in PCIe 4.0 systems. While its price-to-capacity ratio lags behind budget TLC drives, the combination of Samsung’s vertical integration and consistent firmware support makes it ideal for gaming PCs, content creation workstations, and PS5 storage expansions. Users requiring maximum endurance may still prefer enterprise-grade SSDs, but the 980 PRO strikes an optimal balance for mainstream high-performance use cases.
Works Cited
“Samsung 980 PRO M.2 NVMe SSD Review.” Tom’s Hardware, www.tomshardware.com/reviews/samsung-980-pro-m-2-nvme-ssd-review.
“The Samsung 980 PRO PCIe 4.0 SSD Review: A Spirit of Hope.” AnandTech, www.anandtech.com/show/16087/the-samsung-980-pro-pcie-4-ssd-review.
“980 PRO PCIe® 4.0 NVMe™ SSD.” Samsung US, www.samsung.com/us/computing/memory-storage/solid-state-drives/980-pro-pcie-4-0-nvme-ssd-1tb-mz-v8p1t0b-am.
