Earlier on Face of IT, we have discussed M.2 SSDs many times before. Today, we will be comparing two of the best M.2 2280 SSDs produced by Samsung, the Samsung 970 Pro vs 970 Evo. We will go through all the little details in order to determine which one stands on the top. But before we get going, here is a little understanding about M.2 SSDs.
Samsung 970 Pro vs 970 Evo
While both of them are very similar, they sell at different price points. The devil is in the details. We will be comparing them side by side to understand better how they differ from each other.
What is M.2 SSD?
Our mobile computing devices are getting smaller. The mSATA interface helped to created thin data cards for these devices (Ultra-books, laptops), which could still communicate with the system using the standard SATA interface. However, the major issue with this solution was the limited performance of SATA 3.0 standard. Thus, a new compact card interface was introduced. Formerly referred to as NextGen Form Factor (NGFF), the new M.2 interface brings following improvements to our storage:
- Faster Speeds
- Compact size
- Command mode
- Reduce overall power consumption
- More rapid system boot times
We will discuss this stuff with details some other time. Today, our main discussion is the comparison between Samsung 970 Pro and Samsung 970 Evo. So without any more delay, here we go:
Samsung 970 Pro vs 970 Evo: Specs Comparison
To make sure we understand both of these products and their performance level accurately, we will go through all the technical details and specs divided into several categories; and discuss how these differences will impact their performance. We hope it will help you to choose the right product for yourself. So without any further discussion, here is the side by side specs comparison for Samsung 970 Pro v/s 970 Evo:
General:
| Specification | Samsung 970 Pro
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Samsung 970 Evo
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| Brand | SAMSUNG | SAMSUNG |
| Series | 970 PRO | 970 EVO |
| Model | MZ-V7P512BW | MZ-V7E500BW |
| Device Type | Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) | Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) |
| Used For | Consumer | Consumer |
We are starting with the necessary details first. Both Samsung 970 Pro and Samsung 970 Evo are Consumer level internal solid state drives (SSDs) manufactured and sold by Samsung. However, they belong to different lineups. Generally meant for mobile computing devices such as notebooks, ultrabooks, laptops, etc., they are now also used for small form factor desktops.
Platform Details:
| Specification | Samsung 970 Pro
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Samsung 970 Evo
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| Form Factor | M.2 2280 | M.2 2280 |
| Available Capacity | 512 GB
1 TB |
250 GB
500 GB 1 TB 2 TB |
| Memory Components | 64L V-NAND MLC | 64L V-NAND MLC |
| Interface | PCIe Gen3. X4
NVMe 1.3 |
PCIe Gen3. X4
NVMe 1.3 |
| Controller | Samsung Phoenix Controller | Samsung Phoenix Controller |
| Cache | 512MB LPDDR4 DRAM | 512MB LPDDR4 DRAM |
As the table above clearly implies, there is hardly any difference in the platform. They come in the same M.2 2280 form factor. As we mentioned in our previous articles all M.2 2232, M.2 2260 and M.2 2280 are M.2 SSDs only. The leading number describes their length and width. (i.e M.2 2242 is 22 x 42 mm). So in our case, both of these are 22mm x 80mm SSDs. Going further, both of them utilize the same memory components, interface, controller technology and have the same size and type of cache as well.
The only difference we see here is the available capacity variations. The Samsung 970 Pro is available in two variants of 512 GB and 1 TB only. On the other hand, Samsung Evo 970 comes with a lot of options from small to large scale, which is, in fact, a plus point. Suppose you want an SSD for installing OS, so 250 GB will be just perfect for you, rather than investing in 512 GB.
Performance:
| Specification | Samsung 970 Pro
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Samsung 970 Evo
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| Max Sequential Read | Up to 3500 MBps | Up to 3400 MBps |
| Max Sequential Write | Up to 2300 MBps | Up to 2300 MBps |
| 4KB Random Read | QD32: Up to 370,000 IOPS QD1: Up to 15,000 IOPS |
QD32: Up to 370,000 IOPS QD1: Up to 15,000 IOPS |
| 4KB Random Write | QD32: Up to 500,000 IOPS QD1: Up to 55,000 IOPS |
QD32: Up to 450,000 IOPS QD1: Up to 50,000 IOPS |
| MTBF | 1,500,000 hours | 1,500,000 hours |
Here, we can see that the performance level of Samsung 970 Pro and Samsung 970 Evo is almost identical in reading and mean time between failures. However, the Evo lacks a bit when it comes to writing performance. As the table shows, the sequential read, 4KB random read, and MTBF is similar for both the M.2 SSDs, however, Samsung 970 Pro does slightly better when it comes to Max sequential write and 4KB random write.
Environmental Measures:
| Specification | Samsung 970 Pro
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Samsung 970 Evo
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| Power Consumption (Idle) | Max. 30 mW | Max. 30 mW |
| Power Consumption (Active) | Average: 5.2W Maximum: 8.5W (Burst mode) |
Average: 5.7W Maximum: 10W (Burst mode) |
| Operating Temperature | 0°C ~ +70° C | 0°C ~ +70° C |
| Max Shock Resistance | 1,500G & 0.5 ms (Half sine) | 1,500G & 0.5 ms (Half sine) |
In idle mode, power consumption is the same for both Samsung 970 Pro and Samsung 970 Evo, which is 30 mW. Inactive state Samsung 970 Evo consumes 5.7 W on average loads and up to 10 W on peak moments. On the other hand, Samsung 970 Pro consumes only 5.2 W on average loads and 8.5 W on peak moments, which is, in fact, better than the Evo. Both drives may heat up to 70° C. Moreover, the max shock resistance capacity is similar for both M.2 SSDs as well.
Dimensions & Weight:
| Specification | Samsung 970 Pro
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Samsung 970 Evo
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| Height | 2.30 mm | 2.30 mm |
| Width | 22.10 mm | 22.10 mm |
| Depth | 80.26 mm | 80.26 mm |
| Weight | 7.94 g | 7.94 g |
As we described earlier, both of these drives have exactly the same form factor, so the dimensions and weight figures are the same as well.
Conclusion:
So after going through this side by side comparison, we can conclude following:
- Samsung 970 Evo offers more capacity variations to choose from
- Samsung 970 Pro has better writing performance
- In terms of power consumption, Samsung 970 Pro does better when compared with the 970 Evo
We hope this comparison helps you to understand these M.2 2280 SSDs by Samsung and help you to choose the right one according to your needs and requirements. If you want something small scale, Evo is best for you. However, if you are looking for performance and ready to invest some extra cash, then you can go for Samsung 970 Pro. If there are any queries or suggestions from your side, feel free to drop a comment below, we are happy to help. Make sure to subscribe face of IT for regular tech updates. See ya until next post, Thank You!