Have you felt that nagging lag when saving files or launching apps? Do you sit around watching update bars crawl across screens? Then my friend, your computer may need a storage upgrade from mechanical hard drives to speedy solid state drives.
Especially Samsung SSDs like the 970 EVO Plus and 980 – two of the fastest M.2 NVMe models on the market.
In this guide, I‘ll demystify Samsung‘s leading SSD contenders to help you pick the best one for your needs and budget. You‘ll learn:
- How switching to an NVMe SSD provides a speed boost
- Key differences between the 970 EVO Plus and 980
- Which SSD excels for specific usage scenarios
Let‘s crack open Samsung‘s latest to see what cutting-edge storage innovations lie within!
Welcome to the Era of NVMe SSDs
Before understanding what sets Samsung SSDs apart, it helps to know why solid state technology replaces old mechanical hard drives in the first place.
SSDs utilize flash memory chips rather than magnetic platters to store data. This delivers radical improvements in:
- Sequential speeds – For fast data transfers and loading/saving large files
- Random performance – To enhance responsiveness when opening apps and multitasking
- Reliability – More shock and vibration resistance over traditional hard drive weaknesses
Furthermore, new PCIe NVMe SSD interfaces introduce additional benefits like:
- Lower latency – More responsive command processing directly via PCIe bus
- Increased bandwidth – Breakthrough speeds over SATA connections capped at ~500 MB/s
Samsung continues pushing what‘s possible with their innovative new NVMe SSD designs. But the 970 EVO Plus and 980 represent two top contenders vying for NVMe supremacy…
Samsung SSD Tech Deep Dive
While both SSDs deliver smoking performance compared to old hard drives, Samsung tweaks underlying components which impact metrics tech geeks care about. Let‘s peel back the layers!
SSD Controller & Interfaces
The SSD controller acts as the processor – it manages all data flowing to and from the flash memory. Samsung uses internalproprietary designs fine-tuned for performance.
| 970 EVO Plus | 980 | |
|---|---|---|
| Controller | Samsung Phoenix | Samsung Elpis |
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe 1.3 | PCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe 1.4 |
| Cache Memory | Up to 2GB LPDDR4 | 512MB/1GB LpDDR4 |
With PCIe 3.0 saturating ~3,500 MB/s already, both support the same interface bandwidth. But the Elpis controller brings architectural improvements lowering write latencies on the 980.
ThePhoenix controller and DRAM cache size give the 970 EVO Plus capacity foroptimized data processing though.
3D V-NAND Memory Cells
All SSD data lives in the NAND flash memory cells. Transitioning to 3D stacking using newer manufacturing processes packs more storage density per chip.
| 970 EVO Plus | 980 | |
|---|---|---|
| 3D NAND Layers | 92 | 128 |
| Process | 64 Layer TLC | 8th Gen V-NAND TLC |
The 980‘s cutting-edge manufacturing expands vertical layering. Allowing competitive speeds from fewer components, it enhances energy efficiency.
Yet the 970 EVO Plus still outruns most rivals. Proving you can teach an old dog new tricks, firmware refinements eke out every last drop of performance.
SSD Performance Showdown
Now for the numbers you‘ve been waiting for! Comparing benchmark results reveals key performance differences:
Sustained Sequential Speeds
Sequential speeds describe maximum data transfer rates for loading/writing large continuous files. Think operating on big chunks of data.
| 970 EVO Plus | 980 | |
|---|---|---|
| Sequential Reads | 3,500 MB/s | 3,500 MB/s |
| Sequential Writes | 3,300 MB/s | 3,000 MB/s |
Based on benchmarks from Tom‘s Hardware, the 970 EVO Plus maintains write speed superiority over the 980 in a dead heat for reads.
Sustained Random Speeds
Random performance matters for launching apps, opening small files, or during OS usage. Measured in input/output operations per second (IOPS), higher is better.
| 970 EVO Plus | 980 | |
|---|---|---|
| 4K Random Read QD1 IOPS | 19,000 | 16,000 |
| 4K Random Write QD1 IOPS | 54,000 | 50,000 |
Again, the 970 EVO Plus giving the 980 SSD a beatdown. Thanks to the Phoenix controller‘s optimized block management, it storms ahead in responsiveness.
Endurance Ratings
Read/write durability is crucial for sustained performance. Endurance specs show bytes written before slowdown. This "lifespan" directly affects long-term reliability through years of uptime.
| Capacity | 970 EVO Plus | 980 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 TB | 600 TBW | 600 TBW |
| 2 TB | 1,200 TBW | N/A |
Interestingly, both are neck and neck for the 1 TB models. But the 970 EVO Plus offers a 2 TB tier doubling its durability spec. Evidence power users can push limits further!
Real-World Performance Implications
We‘ve covered the geeky stuff. Now what do all those low-level differences actually mean for your personal usage?
Blazing File Transfers & Loading
If you constantly deal with:
- Large media files like 4K video
- Giant spreadsheets
- Massive databases
The phenomenal sequential throughput of the 970 EVO Plus cuts important minutes off transfer tasks. For client demos and tight deadlines, delays add up fast!
Snappier Daily Workflow
Frustrated when Adobe apps drag or Chrome tabs stall? The 970 EVO Plus provides that smooth responsiveness we expect from modern hardware but old mechanical drives choke on.
Upgrading boot drives from HDDs, both SSDs slash load times. But the EVO pulls ahead multitasking between apps and browser with its superior random performance.
Future-Proofing & Expansion
While no consumer needs a multi-terabyte NVMe SSD today, 4K video production and VR gaming content explode in size every year.
Pairing leading-edge PCIe 4.0 platforms with the EVO Plus leaves you storage headroom for tomorrow‘s applications. Why settle for less when handling your passion projects?
And with SSD pricing continually dropping, you‘ll maximize value from advancements in NAND flash technology.
Matching Workloads to the Right SSD
I‘ve named the 970 EVO Plus champion based purely on benchmarker brawn. But your needs might fit the lighter 980 SSD just fine and pocket the savings. Let‘s cover ideal use case pairings.
970 EVO Plus – Heavy Workstation Demands
If you‘re a power user crunching big data or creating intensive multimedia content, the 970 EVO Plus has your back.
You‘ll reclaim hours lost to storage bottlenecks holding back specialized cores. Certified workstation-grade SSDs command steeper price tags too.
980 SSD – Mainstream Consumer Tasks
For most typical desktop usage like gaming, web browsing, office productivity, etc. picking the 980 hits the performance sweet spot if your budget watches pennies closer.
When handling smaller files random speeds matter most anyway. And longevity exceeds years of normal usage.
The Verdict? It Depends…
At the end of the day, Samsung flagships share more common ground than differences. Both the 970 EVO Plus and 980 offer reactive storage for next-gen computing compared to old clunky hard drives.
But评 if you Equire the highest throughput handling 4K+ video, giant databases, or intensive applications, the boosted write speeds and future-expandability of the EVO Plus merits the splurge.
Otherwise the 980 neatly fits lighter workloads that typical consumers demand at an easier price point to swallow.
Either way, joining the NVMe revolution lets you stop waiting on storage. Both SSDs deliver responsiveness to leverage multiprocessing beasts like 12th Gen Intel CPUs fully. Give your system wings and unleash performance held hostage by outdated disk drives!
