The Samsung 970 EVO can be considered as the younger brother of the 970 Pro. But, it’s a tough competitor to the elder one because of its impressive read/write speed and other features. But, if you are looking to choose one of these but you are confused, I am here to help you.
Both Samsung 970 Evo and Samsung 970 Pro are using the same Penta-core, Samsung Phoenix controller. Both have the same Low Power DDR4 DRAM. But, the main thing that is creating a difference is the type of NAND. The Samsung 970 Pro SSD has a much reliable 3D MLC NAND as compared to the 970 Evo’s TLC 3D NAND. This is the reason the 970 Pro is capable of delivering a comparatively higher data read/write speeds.
In this article, I am going to do a clear comparison of both the SSDs so that you are able to make a perfect decision by the end of it. Now, without any further delays, let’s get started.
1. Theoretical Specifications (Comparison)
Let’s compare the theoretical specs that Samsung is promising with these products. All the information is collected from official sources.
| Specifications | Samsung 970 EVO | Samsung 970 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 250GB – 2TB | 512GB – 1TB |
| Interface/Form Factor | x4 PCIe 3.0/NVMe/M.2 2280 | x4 PCIe 3.0/NVMe/M.2 2280 |
| Seq. Read Speed | Up to 3500 MB/s | Up to 3500 MB/s |
| Seq. Write Speed | Up to 2500 MB/s | Up to 2700 MB/s |
| Random Read 4K,QD32 (IOPS) | 250GB: Up to 200K 500GB: Up to 370K 1TB, 2TB: Up to 500K | Up to 500K |
| Random Write 4K,QD32 (IOPS) | 250GB: Up to 200K 500GB: Up to 370K 1TB, 2TB: Up to 500K | Up to 500K |
| Power Consumption | 10.0 W Max | 8.5 W Average |
| Warranty Period | 5 Years | 5 Years |
| Image |  |  |
| Official Website | Samsung 970 Evo | Samsung 970 Pro |
With these specs, you can see that both the SSDs are offering pretty similar features to the users. But, let’s actually see the practical results using the benchmark scores.
The Samsung 970 Pro only has two storage variants i.e. 512GB and 1TB which is surely a disadvantage for people who are looking for a very low storage variant such as 256GB. Also, if you want a high storage space such as 2TB, the 970 Pro doesn’t have that for you.
2. Synthetic Benchmark Scores (Comparison)
Let’s compare the synthetic benchmark scores of both these SSDs and see how well they can manage the stresses. The tests were done on an Intel i5 8th Gen processor with an 8GB, 3200MHz RAM. The results may vary depending on the overall system specs and the total space filled on your SSD.
| Parameter (Avg.) | Samsung 970 Evo 1TB | Samsung 970 Pro 1TB |
|---|---|---|
| Sequential Read | 2,325 MB/s | 2,385 MB/s |
| Sequential Write | 1,967 MB/s | 2,131 MB.s |
| Random 4KB Read | 53.4 MB/s | 61.2 MB/s |
| Random 4KB Write | 147.1 MB/s | 152.2 MB/s |
| Deep Queue 4K Read | 1158.6 MB/s | 1,247.6 MB/s |
| Deep Queue 4K Write | 987.3 MB/s | 996.3 MB/s |
Note: The SSDs were 100% when the test started. I filled them completely and then calculate the average speed. The speed will decrease as the space starts to fill up.
Let’s look at the results. It’s very tough to decide a clear winner. Both the SSDs are beating each other in different areas. But, the 970 Pro is slightly better in terms of data reading.
3. OS and Software Booting Time
Now, let’s compare how well these SSDs perform in the real-time applications. I tried running my OS and several software/games with the both. Below are the results.
| OS/Software | Samsung 970 Evo | Samsung 970 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Windows 10 (Intel i5 8th Gen) | Ready to use in 26 Seconds | Ready to use in 24 Seconds |
| Google Chrome | Within 5 Seconds | Within 4 Seconds |
| Adobe Photoshop | ~18 Seconds | ~17 Seconds |
| Fortnite | ~49 Seconds | ~29 Seconds |
| Tomb Raider | ~25 Seconds | ~23 Seconds |
Again, the results are pretty similar. However, if you look closely, the 970 Pro is offering a better experience when we talk about the real-time applications. It is capable of helping you run your system and apps more efficiently.
4. Endurance
Endurance is another one of the main factor that may affect your decision. Let’s compare the total endurance offered by these both SSDs.
| Version (Capacity) | Samsung 970 Evo (TBW) | Samsung 970 Pro (TBW) |
|---|---|---|
| 250GB | 150 | 150 |
| 500GB | 300 | 300 |
| 1TB | 600 | 600 |
| 2TB | 1,200 | 1,200 |
5. NAND, Controller, DRAM, etc
Let’s the core technical aspects and compare them to have a better idea about the capabilities of these SSDs.
| Specifications | Samsung 970 Evo | Samsung 970 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| NAND Type | Samsung’s TLC 3D | Samsung’s MLC 3D |
| NAND Layers | 64 | 64 |
| Cache Type | Low Power DDR4 SDRAM | Low Power DDR4 SDRAM |
| Controller | Samsung Phoenix | Samsung Phoenix |
| Controller Configurations | Penta-Core, 8-Channels | Penta-Core, 8-Channels |
You can see that there is almost everything similar in both these SSDs. The main difference is between the type of NAND, as we discussed earlier. The 970 Pro SSD is using the MLC NAND which is more reliable and better than the 970 Evo’s TLC NAND.
6. Price
The 512GB variants of Samsung 970 Pro is cheaper than the Samsung 970 Evo. But, the 1TB variant is way expensive as compared to the Evo’s 1TB variant. However, the prices keep varying. So, I would suggest you checking the live prices for an accurate comparison.
My Opinion: Samsung 970 Pro vs Samsung 970 Evo
I would say buying any of these would be a great choice for you. But, if you really want to make single choice, the 970 Pro 1TB variant is great in terms of read/write speed, practical performance, and endurance as well. I would like to add that the 970 Pro is a perfect solution for hardcore users.
Whereas, the 970 Evo offers an impressive Price-to-performance ratio. The endurance (TBW) might be low but it is still enough for an average user and even for gamers. Also, the price is pretty affordable as compared to the 970 Pro. So, as a normal PC user, I would surely go with the 970 Evo if I have to make this decision. But, if I am about to do huge data read/write tasks, I would choose the 970 Pro for sure.