What’s the difference between the Samsung 980 and Samsung 980 Pro?

Samsung recently released the 980 Solid State Drive. So, how does this new model compare to the 980 Pro?

You can find out in this comparison guide between the two internal storage drives.

Quick Summary

When compared to the newer Samsung 980 Solid State Drive, the Samsung 980 Pro Solid State Drive is quite a bit faster when it comes to maximum sequential reading, maximum sequential writing, maximum random reading and maximum sequential writing.

The speed differences are the widest when you use both SSDs with PCIe 4.0. With PCIe 3.0, the gap is smaller but still substantial.

The two storage drives are identical when it comes to endurance and reliability.

980 vs. 980 Pro Comparison Chart

You can take a look at Seeking Tech’s comparison table for the 980 SSDs below.

Capacity Options

The 980 Pro currently comes with a 2TB capacity option while the 980 doesn’t. Both products are available in 250GB, 500GB and 1 TB.

You can check out a breakdown of the available capacities below:

Samsung 980:

• 250GB
• 500GB
• 1TB

Samsung 980 Pro:

• 250GB
• 500GB
• 1TB
• 2TB

Model Numbers

You can also find the model number for each of the capacity below:

Samsung 980:

1. 250GB: MZ-V8V250B
2. 500GB: MZ-V8V500B
3. 1TB: MZ-V8V1T0B

Samsung 980 Pro:

• 250GB: MZ-V8P250B
• 500GB: MZ-V8P500B
• 1TB: MZ-V8P1T0B
• 2TB: MZ-V8P2T0B

Form Factor

The 980 and 980 Pro are both M.2 2280 drives.

Interfaces

When it comes to the interfaces, the Samsung 980 utilize PCIe Gen 3.0 x4 and NVMe 1.4 while the Samsung 980 Pro utilize PCIe Gen 4.0 x 4 and NVMe 1.3c.

NAND Technology

For NAND, both of the solid state drives are equipped with MLC.

Flash Controller

As for the flash controller, the 980 SSD uses Samsung Pablo while the 980 Pro SSD uses Samsung Elpis.

Security

The two storage drives share the same security features, which you can find a list of below:

• AES 256-bit Full Disk Encryption
• Encrypted Drive (IEEE1667)
• TCG/Opal V2.0

Maximum Sequential Read Speed over PCIe 4.0

The 980 Pro has a big advantage over the 980 when it comes to maximum sequential reading over PCIe 4.0.

When you compare the same capacities, the 250GB 980 Pro is 3500 MB per second faster, or 120.69%, than the 250GB 980.

The 500GB 980 Pro is 3800 MB per second faster, or 122.58% faster, than the 500GB Samsung 980.

The 1TB Samsung 980 Pro is 3500 MB per second faster, or 100% faster, than the 1TB Samsung 980.

You can find the PCIe 4.0 maximum sequential read speed specifications below:

• 250GB 980: Up to 2900 MB per second
• 500GB 980: Up to 3100 MB per second
• 1TB 980: Up to 3500 MB per second

• 250GB 980 Pro: Up to 6400 MB per second
• 500GB 980 Pro: Up to 6900 MB per second
• 1TB 980 Pro: Up to 7000 MB per second
• 2TB 980 Pro: Up to 7000 MB per second

Maximum Sequential Write Speed over PCIe 4.0

The pro version of the 980 is also much better than the regular version at maximum sequential writing over PCIe 4.0.

The 250GB 980 Pro is 1400 MB per second faster, or 107.69% faster, when compared to the 250GB Samsung 980.

The 500GB 980 Pro is also 2400 MB per second faster, or 92.31% faster, when compared to the 500GB Samsung 980.

Last but not least, the 1TB 980 Pro is 2000 MB per second faster, or 66.67% faster, than the 1TB Samsung 980.

You can check out the PCIe 4.0 maximum sequential writing speeds below:

• 250GB 980: Up to 1300 MB per second
• 500GB 980: Up to 2600 MB per second
• 1TB 980: Up to 3000 MB per second

• 250GB 980 Pro: Up to 2700 MB per second
• 500GB 980 Pro: Up to 5000 MB per second
• 1TB 980 Pro: Up to 5000 MB per second
• 2TB 980 Pro: Up to 5100 MB per second

Maximum Sequential Read Speed over PCIe 3.0

The Samsung 980 Pro also has an edge over the Samsung 980 at maximum sequential reading over PCIe 3.0.

The 250GB 980 Pro is 600 MB per second faster than the 250GB 980.

Moreover, the 500GB 980 Pro is 400 MB per second faster than the 500GB 980.

On the other hand, the 1TB 980 Pro and 1TB 980 are tied in this category.

You can check out the PCIe 3.0 maximum sequential reading speeds below:

• 250GB 980: Up to 2900 MB per second
• 500GB 980: Up to 3100 MB per second
• 1TB 980: Up to 3500 MB per second

• 250GB 980 Pro: Up to 3500 MB per second
• 500GB 980 Pro: Up to 3500 MB per second
• 1 TB 980 Pro: Up to 3500 MB per second
• 2TB 980 Pro: Up to 3500 MB per second

Maximum Sequential Write Speed over PCIe 3.0

When it comes to maximum sequential writing over PCIe 3.0, the Samsung 980 Pro also comes out on top.

The 250GB 980 Pro is 1400 MB per second faster, or 107.69% faster, than the 250GB 980.

The 500GB 980 Pro is also 800 MB per second faster, or 30.77% faster, than the 500GB 980.

Finally, the 1TB 980 Pro is 450 MB per second faster than the 1TB 980.

You can find the PCIe 3.0 maximum sequential writing speeds below:

• 250GB 980: Up to 1300 MB per second
• 500GB 980: Up to 2600 MB per second
• 1TB 980: Up to 3000 MB per second

• 250GB 980 Pro: Up to 2700 MB per second
• 500GB 980 Pro: Up to 3400 MB per second
• 1TB 980 Pro: Up to 3450 MB per second
• 2TB 980 Pro: Up to 3470 MB per second

Maximum Random Read Speed over PCIe 4.0

For maximum random reading over PCIe 4.0, the 250GB 980 Pro is 270,000 IOPS faster, or 117.39% faster, than the 250GB 980.

The 500GB 980 Pro is 400,000 IOPS faster, or 100% faster, than the 500GB 980.

The 1TB 980 Pro is 500,000 IOPS faster, or 100% faster, than the 500GB 980.

You can find the PCIe 4.0 maximum random read speeds below:

• 250GB 980: Up to 230,000 IOPS
• 500GB 980: Up to 400,000 IOPS
• 1TB 980: Up to 500,000 IOPS

• 250GB 980 Pro: Up to 500,000 IOPS
• 500GB 980 Pro: Up to 800,000 IOPS
• 1TB 980 Pro: Up to 1,000,000 IOPS
• 2TB 980 Pro: Up to 1,000,000 IOPS

Maximum Random Write Speed over PCIe 4.0

For PCIe 4.0 maximum random writing, the 250GB 980 Pro is 280,000 IOPS faster, or 87.5% faster, than the 250GB 980.

The 500GB 980 Pro is 530,000 IOPS faster, or 112.77% faster, than the 500GB 980.

Last but not least, the 1TB 980 Pro is 520,000 IOPS faster, or 108.33% faster, than the 1TB 980.

You can check out the PCIe 4.0 random write speed specifications below:

• 250GB 980: Up to 320,000 IOPS
• 500GB 980: Up to 470,000 IOPS
• 1TB 980: Up to 480,000 IOPS

• 250GB 980 Pro: Up to 600,000 IOPS
• 500GB 980 Pro: Up to 1,000,000 IOPS
• 1TB 980 Pro: Up to 1,000,000 IOPS
• 2TB 980 Pro: Up to 1,000,000 IOPS

Maximum Random Read Speed over PCIe 3.0

For random reading when using PCIe 3.0, the 250GB 980 Pro is 330,000 IOPS faster, or 143.48% faster, than the 250GB 980.

The 500GB 980 Pro is 290,000 IOPS faster, or 72.5% faster, than the 500GB 980.

The 1TB 980 Pro is also 190,000 IOPS faster, or 38% faster, than the 1TB 980.

You can find the PCIe 3.0 maximum random read speeds below:

• 250GB 980: Up to 230,000 IOPS
• 500GB 980: Up to 400,000 IOPS
• 1TB 980: Up to 500,000 IOPS

• 250GB 980 Pro: Up to 560,000 IOPS
• 500GB 980 Pro: Up to 690,000 IOPS
• 1TB 980 Pro: Up to 690,000 IOPS
• 2TB 980 Pro: Up to 680,000 IOPS

Maximum Random Write Speed over PCIe 3.0

For maximum random writing over PCIe 3.0, the 250GB 980 Pro is 300,000 IOPS faster, or 93.75% faster, than the 250GB 980.

The 500GB 980 Pro is 150,000 IOPS faster, or 31.91% faster, than 500GB 980.

Lastly, the 1TB 980 Pro is 180,000 IOPS faster, or 37.5% faster, than 1TB 980.

You can find the PCIe 3.0 maximum random write speeds below:

• 250GB 980: Up to 320,000 IOPS
• 500GB 980: Up to 470,000 IOPS
• 1TB 980: Up to 480,000 IOPS

• 250GB 980 Pro: Up to 620,000 IOPS
• 500GB 980 Pro: Up to 620,000 IOPS
• 1TB 980 Pro: Up to 660,000 IOPS
• 2TB 980 Pro: Up to 630,000 IOPS

Endurance

Endurance for the 980 series of SSDs is measured as Terabytes Written, which means the amount of data you can write on a drive during its expected lifespan.

The regular and pro versions are identical when it comes to endurance if you are comparing the same capacities.

You can find the TBW specs below:

• 250GB 980: 150 TBW
• 500GB 980: 300 TBW
• 1TB 980: 600 TBW

• 250GB 980 Pro: 150 TBW
• 500GB 980 Pro: 300 TBW
• 1TB 980 Pro: 600 TBW
• 2TB 980 Pro: 1200 TBW

Reliability

Reliability for these Samsung solid state drives is measured as Mean Time Between Failures, which is the estimated amount of time between two hardware failing events.

The 980 and 980 Pro have the same MTBF of 1,500,000 hours.

Warranty

The Samsung 980 Solid State Drive and Samsung 980 Pro Solid State Drive each comes with a 5-year limited warranty that could end sooner if the aforementioned TBW limit is exceeded.

Resources:

• https://www.samsung.com/us/computing/memory-storage/solid-state-drives/980-pcie-3-0-nvme-gaming-ssd-1tb-mz-v8v1t0b-am/
• https://www.samsung.com/us/computing/memory-storage/solid-state-drives/980-pro-pcie-4-0-nvme-ssd-1tb-mz-v8p1t0b-am/