Info Samsung launching new 980 (non PRO) DRAMless NVMe SSD **Updated with review links**

[UsandThem]

https://www.tomshardware.com/news/samsung-980-ssds-spotted

Despite expectations, the new units are not inexpensive SSDs with a PCIe 4.0 x4 interface, but are rather unpretentious midrange PCIe 3.0 x4 drives that share some technologies with the flagship.

What is surprising is that the new Samsung 980 SSDs are slower when compared to their predecessors, the Samsung 970 Evo Plus drives in such metrics as sequential write speed (3,000 MB/s vs. 3,300 MB/s), random read speed (500,000 IOPS vs. 620,000 IOPS), and random write speed (480,000 IOPS vs. 560,000 IOPS).

Maybe instead of releasing a new budget NVMe with the 980 naming scheme (which is a little confusing), Samsung should have just secretly switched the 970 EVO Plus components to cheaper, lower performing ones in order to lower the manufacturing cost.

That would have been the way to go, right Adata?

It will be interesting to see how these perform compared to their current product lineup.

March 9, 2021
Edited for reviews:

https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/samsung-980-m2-nvme-ssd-review
https://www.anandtech.com/show/16504/the-samsung-ssd-980-500gb-1tb-review

The drive ended up performing a lot better than I originally thought it would. At $129.99 for the drive (in the 1 TB size), it's a decent value at MSRP. It's biggest issue is other DRAMless drives (like the WD SN550) are less expensive, and there are quite a few really good SSDs in the $130 range that have DRAM (so they perform more consistent performers).

If the drive would go on sale for $119.99 or lower, it could be a good choice for people who don't constantly write a lot of data (which is most users).

 

[Justinus]

This whole generation from Samsung is starting to boggle my mind more and more.

 

[coercitiv]

Samsung saw Adata get in trouble in terms of brand image, so they decided to give a brother a hand and tarnish their flagship brand a little. Just a little.

 

[Muadib]

I find this disappointing. Samsung is diluting the brand.

 

[Justinus]

I find this disappointing. Samsung is diluting the brand.

They're probably going to round the 980 series out by adding a 980 QVO and call it another 18 months.

 

[Muadib]

They're probably going to round the 980 series out by adding a 980 QVO and call it another 18 months.

Noooo!!!

 

[Shmee]

Yeah this drive I would pass on. Their older drives, or the Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus drives, seem to be the way to go.

 

[VirtualLarry]

NVMe SSD 980 | Newegg.com

Newegg's intro page for the 980.

 

[Justinus]

NVMe SSD 980 | Newegg.com

So glad I can pre-order a brand new samsung product that is more expensive yet performs the same as the SN550 that's been out for 6 months.