The Samsung PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD 980 PRO features a state-of-the-art S4LV003 controller developed through Samsung’s 8nm technology. This controller significantly enhances the queue depth by a factor of four compared to the previous 32 queues. This SSD incorporates Samsung’s latest 136-layer V-NAND technology, a triple-level cell (TLC) flash offering up to 2TB of storage capacity. Its peak sequential read speeds can reach an impressive 7000MB/s.
Key Features:
- Bus Interface: PCIe 4.0 x4
- NVMe Version: 1.3c
- Form Factor: M.2 2280
- Storage Options: 1TB and 2TB models available
- Main Controller: Elpis S4LV003
- NAND Type: 136-layer 3D V-NAND TLC
- Memory Buffer: LPDDR4 1GB for the 1TB model and 2GB for the 2TB model
- Physical Measurements: 80.15 x 22.15 x 2.38 mm
- Unit Weight: 9 grams
- Energy Usage: 35mW on standby, 6.2W average, 8.9W during peak usage
- Supporting Software: Samsung Magician for drive management
- Product Warranty: 5-year or 600TBW (terabytes written), whichever comes first.
Exclusive control chip + NAND chips | Samsung 980 PRO PCIe 4.0 SSD unboxing
Samsung’s SSDs are renowned for setting the industry standard, with the company being among the select few that have the capability to independently conduct research and development as well as manufacturing. Their SSDs, such as the 980 PRO, boast a harmonious integration of advanced hardware and software, delivering exceptional performance. This drive utilizes the PCIe 4.0 x4 interface, offering double the bandwidth of its PCIe 3.0 predecessor. The in-house Elpis S4LV003 controller expands the queue depth to 128, making the most of the increased bandwidth for faster data transfer rates.
However, the high-speed functionality comes with elevated power use and heat production. To counteract this, Samsung has integrated nickel-coated metal layers to the controller and copper thermal spreaders on the SSD’s rear. This design is meticulously engineered to enhance heat dissipation, ensuring that thermal buildup does not compromise the drive’s performance.
PCIe 4.0 x 4 interface | Samsung 980 PRO SSD 1TB performance test
In this evaluation, the Samsung 980 PRO SSD was fitted into the primary M.2 slot on the ASUS ROG Strix Z690-E GAMING WIFI motherboard. This placement links it directly to the CPU’s PCIe 4.0 x4 channel. The SSD was also tested with the motherboard’s integrated heat sink, while the operating system was installed on a separate SSD.
The test setup includes:
- CPU: Intel Core i9-13900K
- Motherboard: ASUS ROG Strix Z690-E GAMING WIFI
- RAM: T-FORCE DELTA RGB DDR5 7200MHz, 24GB x 2 modules
- Power Supply Unit: Seasonic FOCUS 1000W
- OS: Windows 11 Pro, version 22H2
Upon formatting the 1TB Samsung 980 PRO SSD, the usable storage capacity is reported to be 930GB.
By employing CrystalDiskInfo to assess the fundamental details, it has been noted that the Samsung 980 PRO SSD operates utilizing the PCIe 4.0 x4 interface, indicating its compatibility with high-speed data transfer protocols.
The results from the CrystalDiskMark benchmark using the default profile indicate that the Samsung 980 PRO SSD achieves a sequential read speed of 6967MB/s and a sequential write speed of 4921MB/s. The 4K random read speed is reported at 84MB/s, while the 4K random write speed is 300MB/s.
When tested with CrystalDiskMark’s real-world performance mode, the 1TB Samsung 980 PRO SSD recorded a sequential read speed of 3988MB/s and a sequential write speed of 4070MB/s. In terms of input/output operations per second (IOPS), it achieved 22737 IOPS for 4K random reads and 72479 IOPS for 4K random writes.
The ATTO Disk Benchmark, which tests a range of I/O sizes from 512 bytes to 64 megabytes, with a test file size of 256MB and a queue depth of 4, indicates that the 1TB Samsung 980 PRO SSD can achieve a maximum read speed of 6.44GB/s and a maximum write speed of 4.86GB/s.
The PCMARK10 Full System Drive Benchmark, which simulates a variety of everyday computing tasks like system booting, opening Adobe applications, working with Office software, and file transfers, provides a comprehensive assessment of a drive’s performance. The 1TB Samsung 980 PRO SSD scored 3052 in this benchmark, with an average bandwidth of 489 MB/s and an average access time of 55 microseconds.
The 3DMARK Storage Benchmark, designed to gauge gaming performance by testing speeds of game loading, recording, installation, and archiving, provided a score for the 1TB Samsung 980 PRO SSD of 2295. The SSD exhibited an average bandwidth of 392MB/s and an average access time of 78 microseconds in these gaming-related tasks.
During the AIDA64 Linear Read & Write test, which performs continuous read and write operations until the disk is full, the 1TB Samsung 980 PRO SSD demonstrated a stable average read speed around 5037MB/s. The write speeds began at 3700MB/s and showed a gradual decrease to a minimum of 900MB/s after approximately 100GB of data was written. This resulted in an average write speed of 2286MB/s, which stands as a commendable performance for a PCIe 4.0 SSD.
The ultimate temperature assessment involved running three consecutive rounds of benchmarks using CrystalDiskMark on the Samsung 980 PRO SSD, which is equipped with three temperature sensors. The highest recorded temperature from one of the sensors was 82 degrees Celsius, while the other two sensors reported a temperature of 67 degrees Celsius each. The temperature of 67 degrees Celsius is also the one reflected in the CrystalDiskInfo interface. In summary, employing the SSD’s heat sink that comes with the motherboard, or attaching a standard heat sink, can maintain the SSD’s temperature within a reasonable range.
Introduction to SAMSUNG Magician Software
Users of Samsung solid-state drives can download the Samsung Magician software from the official Samsung website. This specialized software suite is designed for SSD management and offers a range of features including monitoring SSD health, optimizing performance, securely erasing data, and updating firmware among other functionalities.
Secure Erase is a feature designed to safely delete data from a hard drive, effectively preventing the possibility of recovery by unauthorized individuals and thus mitigating the risk of data theft. This function is often used before disposing of or repurposing a storage device to ensure the privacy and security of previously stored information.
In summary
The Samsung 980 PRO SSD has indeed reached a benchmark status within the industry, showcasing remarkable performance credentials. It consistently maintains a read speed close to 5000MB/s across the full disk without any significant slow down. The writing performance is also notable, with a full disk average speed of 2000MB/s. Additionally, its 4K read and write performance is strong, making it an ideal choice for tech enthusiasts, PC gamers, and users who handle large volumes of data regularly.
Developed and manufactured entirely in-house by Samsung, from its controller and NAND to DRAM, the 980 PRO SSD boasts exceptional reliability and a robust hardware-software synergy. Samsung backs this product with a five-year warranty or up to 600TBW (terabytes written), whichever comes first, for the 1TB version, underscoring the company’s confidence in the SSD’s durability and performance.
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Title: Samsung 980 PRO SSD: Pioneering Speed and Capacity with PCIe 4.0 and V-NAND Technology
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