Samsung 970 Evo Plus NVMe PCIe M.2 500GB Review

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One of the largest manufacturers in the world, SAMSUNG creates high-quality products that are broken down into hundreds of different categories, whether you’re talking about TVs, home appliances, mobile devices, computer components, or anything else. In truth, SAMSUNG produces the best items in the majority of the electronic product categories.

When it comes to Solid State Drives, SAMSUNG simply can’t be beaten, at least not anytime soon. They offer top-tier performance and unsurpassed dependability, which is why practically all hardware enthusiasts utilize their drives.

The flagship mainstream SAMSUNG 900-series SSDs, which employed the M.2 form factor and had significantly better read/write performance than the 800-series SSDs, were introduced. TLC V-NAND chips were used in the Evo models, whereas MLC V-NAND chips were utilized in the Pro variants.

Since the MLC V-NAND originally only had two levels, a TLC V-NAND actually has three levels and is an MLC V-NAND. The access speeds are faster and the drive’s endurance levels are higher the lower the levels.Samsung 970 Evo Plus NVMe PCIe M.2 500GB, which we will examine today, is a newer version of the SAMSUNG 970 Evo with faster read/write rates and updated firmware.

Samsung 970 Evo Plus NVMe PCIe M.2 500GB Specs

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The EVO Plus family of drives can theoretically operate at read and write rates of up to 3,500MB/s and 3,300MB/s, respectively. Remember that read/write speeds will be slower the smaller the storage size. For instance, the EVO Plus 250GB SSD can still achieve sequential read speeds of up to 3,500MB/s, while sequential write rates can only reach a maximum of 2,300MB/s.

In contrast, the 250GB EVO SSD from the “regular” EVO range has sequential read and write rates of 1,500 MB/s and 3,400 MB/s, respectively. Although the 500GB version is only $89.99, you will have to pay more if you require extra storage space.

The 970 Pro, which only comes in 512GB and 1TB capacities and costs about $169.99 and $349.99, is another SSD to compare the 970 EVO Plus to. The Samsung 970 Pro’s Terabytes Written (TBW) warranty duration is its primary selling point, despite the Pro version’s inferior write capabilities (up to 2,700MB/s) and comparable read rates to the Plus (3,500MB/s read).

Samsung offers a five-year or a terabyte written warranty on its 970 family of drives, whichever comes first. The “regular” and Plus 970 in the 500GB line of 970 drives cover 300TBW, while the Pro cover a staggering 600TBW.

Check out the Samsung 970 EVO Plus family of drives if you’re like me and desire both blazing performance and a strong guarantee (or, really, faith in the device). Nearly all of the features of the Pro range at an excellent price.

The 970 family of NVMe M.2 SSD drives fits a M key-style interface and the 2280 form size (i.e., 22mm x 80mm). It’s critical to know whether interface—M key (or M key) or B key—your SSD supports. The Samsung 970 EVO card family only offers M key cards. The majority of more recent motherboards will contain one, if not two, M. 2 ports for plugging in drives.

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Samsung 970 Evo Plus NVMe PCIe M.2 500GB Specs & Essential information

Product TypeNVMe SSD
Storage TypeInternal
InterfacePCIe Gen 3.0 x 4, NVMe 1.3
Read/Write Speeds3,500/3,200 MB/s
Usage ApplicationClient PCs
Series970 EVO Plus
Capacity500GB
Sequential Read SpeedUp to 3,500 MB/s
Sequential Write SpeedUp to 3,200 MB/s
Random Read SpeedRandom Read (4KB, QD32): Up to 480,000 IOPS; Random Read (4KB, QD1): Up to 19,000 IOPS
Random Write SpeedRandom Write (4KB, QD32): Up to 550,000 IOPS; Random Write (4KB, QD1): Up to 60,000 IOPS
Cache MemorySamsung 512MB Low Power DDR4 SDRAM
Trim SupportSupported
S.M.A.R.T. SupportSupported
Temperature proofYes
NVMeYes
Gaming SSDsYes
M.2 2280Yes
Average Power ConsumptionAverage: 5.8 W * Maximum: 9 W (Burst mode)
Power consumption (Idle)Max. 30 mW 
Voltage3.3 V ± 5 % Allowable voltage
Operating Temperature0 – 70 ℃ Operating Temperature
Dimensions (W x H x D)3.16″ x 0.87″ x 0.09″

Samsung 970 Evo Plus NVMe PCIe M.2 500GB Performance & Tests

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We used a straightforward testing procedure to evaluate the Samsung 970 Evo Plus NVMe PCIe M.2 500GB. We installed the operating system, the majority of the daily-use programs, and after using the system for a set number of days, we ran the tests to imitate a real-world scenario.

We performed the tests using the following software: SAMSUNG Magician, CrystalDiskMark, DiskBench, and ATTO Benchmark. You can examine the drive’s details in the screenshot from CrystalDiskInfo. Grand Theft Auto V was also played, and the game’s loading times were examined. We used CrystalDiskMark 64 GB tests with 9 iterations for the thermal analysis, and we recorded the temperatures while we ran the tests.

The official SAMSUNG Magician application that ships with their SSDs offers details on the disk and lets you apply its benchmark. Despite having more than 160 GB of data on it, the SAMSUNG 970 Evo Plus performed exceptionally well in the benchmark.

The write speed of 3034 MB/s and the read speed of 3267 MB/s are also comparable to official rates. Although the official specs are either rated for 4KB, QD1 or 4KB, QD32, the Read IOPS of 275k and the Write IOPS of 224k look considerably different from the original requirements, indicating that the software may be utilizing a different setting for the benchmark.

A fantastic tool for testing your drives in the real world is DiskBench. Since this is the most typical scenario, we wanted to test the drive’s performance when creating data on the drive. There were 30 blocks in all, with a block size of 1000 MB. To be really honest, the average transfer rate was just 589 MB/s, which is neither the best nor the worst.

Grand Theft Auto V is one of the most popular video games ever, while some new releases this year have overtaken it. We used to measure the loading times of this game because it is currently around 84 GBs in size. After starting the game, we launched a new one from the menu.

It took 31 seconds to get from the menu to the character screen. This may seem like a long time, but we think it was necessary to load numerous scripts and high-resolution textures. We played the game at 4K resolution with all settings at their maximum, with the exception of MSAA, which was set to 2x.

Samsung 970 Evo Plus NVMe PCIe M.2 500GB has unexpectedly greater thermal performance than previous drives, which could only withstand temperatures of up to 100 degrees Celsius. After doing the CrystalDiskMark 64 GB test nine times, we recorded the heat readings.

The image that is included shows the outcomes as well. The drive’s maximum temperature was 54 degrees Celsius, which is very normal for an SSD. 38 degrees was the minimum temperature, but the drive was significantly cooler when it was entirely at rest.

Final thoughts

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It was time for Samsung to reply in kind as NVMe SSDs just keep getting faster and less expensive, and it has done so with its finest drive yet. With affordable costs and the finest overall performance, the Samsung 970 Evo Plus has recaptured the title of best SSD.

We have a nagging sense that Samsung’s new 96-layer V-NAND technology has much more potential to offer than we currently realize. It’s entirely feasible that the business will create a 970 Pro Plus drive that is far faster and might even support the new PCIe 4.0 standard that Ryzen 3rd Generation processors will support.

Of course, this is simply conjecture. The Samsung 970 Evo Plus is currently the greatest SSD money can buy, and that is the most crucial fact you need to be aware of.

Is Samsung 970 Evo Plus NVMe PCIe M.2 500GB Good?

Samsung 970 Evo Plus NVMe PCIe M.2 500GB has taken the position of the enduringly well-liked 970 EVO as its standard NVMe SSD for professionals, ardent gamers, and tech enthusiasts. The SSD now has a nice speed improvement of up to 3.5 GB/s of sequential read throughput thanks to Samsung’s installation of V5 flash.

A five-year guarantee, durability of up to 1,200 TBW, and hardware encryption are further features of the drive. The 970 EVO Plus is one of the fastest SSDs we’ve tested overall, so it easily wins our recommendation.

Solid-state drive (SSD) Samsung 970 Evo Plus NVMe PCIe M.2 500GB is regarded as being of excellent caliber and dependability. Here are some explanations for why it is thought to be a wise decision:

Speed and Performance: The Samsung 970 Evo Plus uses PCIe Gen 3.0 interface and NVMe technology to give excellent read and write speeds. This leads to quicker system boot-up times, file transfers, and responsiveness in general.

Storage Capacity: With a 500GB capacity, it offers a respectable amount of room for your operating system, programs, and files. To make sure it satisfies your needs, you need take into account your unique storage needs.

The Samsung 970 Evo Plus uses V-NAND (Vertical NAND) technology, which offers faster performance and higher density than standard NAND, making it more dependable and efficient.

Reliability and durability: Samsung is renowned for making SSDs with excellent reliability and durability ratings. The 970 Evo Plus has a long lifespan, can handle heavy workloads, and is warranty-backed.

Software and Features: Samsung offers Samsung Magician, its SSD management program, which enables you to upgrade firmware, enable features like data encryption, and monitor and optimize the performance of the drive.

Overall, the new 970 EVO Plus from Samsung provides you with a ton of performance, endurance, and security. Additionally, it has a five-year warranty. Another great feature is the data migration program and Samsung Magician. The Samsung 970 EVO Plus is a fantastic investment if you’re prepared to take on a new NVMe SSD for your computer.

Is Samsung 970 Evo Plus NVMe PCIe M.2 500GB Good for Gaming?

The Samsung 970 Evo Plus NVMe PCIe M.2 500GB is a fantastic gaming option. This is why:

Speed: The Samsung 970 Evo Plus NVMe PCIe M.2 500GB has quick read and write speeds, which can dramatically shorten the amount of time it takes for games to load. As a result, you can start playing your games faster and have fewer loading windows, which makes for a more enjoyable gaming experience.

NVMe Interface: When compared to conventional SATA SSDs, the NVMe interface offers a substantial performance boost. It enables lower latency and higher data transmission rates, facilitating speedier access to game files and assets.

Large Capacity: The 970 Evo Plus’ 500GB of storage offers plenty of room for keeping several games. Your favorite games can be installed on the SSD so you can benefit from quicker loading times while still having room for other programs and files.

Performance You Can Rely On: Samsung SSDs are renowned for their dependability and toughness. Samsung’s V-NAND technology, which is used by the 970 Evo Plus, guarantees constant performance over time and under intense use. You can rely on the drive to provide consistent performance when you play video games.

The 970 Evo Plus is compatible with many current gaming laptops and desktops thanks to its M.2 form factor. It’s a common option for gamers who want to upgrade their storage.

Overall, because of its quick speeds, large capacity, and dependability, the Samsung 970 Evo Plus NVMe PCIe M.2 500GB is a good choice for gaming. By shortening load times and offering a more responsive system, it can improve your gaming experience. To make sure the 500GB capacity matches your expectations, it’s crucial to take into account your unique gaming preferences and the storage needs of your game library.

Does Samsung 970 Evo Plus NVMe PCIe M.2 500GB run hot?

Like many other high-performance SSDs, the Samsung 970 Evo Plus NVMe PCIe M.2 500GB can produce some heat when in use. To ensure dependable performance and longevity, it is intended to control and dissipate heat properly.

To address worries about heat, Samsung has included a number of thermal management technologies in the 970 Evo Plus. These characteristics, which aid in heat dissipation and the maintenance of ideal operating temperatures, include a nickel-coated controller and a heat spreader label on the drive.

In addition, compared to conventional 2.5-inch SSDs, the M.2 form factor enables greater airflow and heat dissipation. The Samsung 970 Evo Plus shouldn’t run overly hot if your PC has enough ventilation and airflow.

Make sure your computer’s general cooling system is functioning properly if temperature control is a problem for you. In order to achieve this, you may need to maintain adequate airflow inside your computer case, keep debris and dust out of cooling fans and vents, and if necessary, add additional cooling options such case fans or aftermarket heatsinks.

You can use monitoring software to monitor the temperature of your SSD and other components. For example, Samsung’s Magician software offers temperature alarms and monitoring for its SSDs.

Overall, the Samsung 970 Evo Plus NVMe PCIe M.2 500GB is built with thermal management capabilities to adequately control the heat that it might produce when operating. The drive should remain at ideal temperatures if your computer case’s airflow and cooling are functioning properly.

What gen is Samsung 970 Evo Plus NVMe PCIe M.2 500GB?

A third-generation (Gen3) NVMe SSD is the Samsung 970 Evo Plus NVMe PCIe M.2 500GB. It makes use of the 4-lane (x4) PCIe 3.0 interface, which offers fast data transfer speeds and minimal latency. The drive has better performance compared to earlier SATA SSD generations and may be used for a range of tasks including gaming, content creation, and general computing.

Is Samsung 970 Evo Plus NVMe PCIe M.2 500GB compatible with PS5?

User-replaceable internal storage is not supported by the Sony PlayStation 5 (PS5). Therefore, the Samsung 970 Evo Plus NVMe PCIe M.2 500GB or any other third-party SSD cannot be installed or used directly in the PS5.

In contrast, Sony has stated that it intends to release a software update that would allow users to increase the internal storage of the PS5 using M.2 SSDs that are compatible with it. Future release of this upgrade is anticipated.

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Samsung 970 Evo Plus NVMe PCIe M.2 500GB
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