Samsung has introduced a wide range of SSDs, which also include reliable NVMe SSDs. Both SAMSUNG 970 EVO and SAMSUNG 970 EVO Plus are well-known NVMe SSDs in the market.
Previously, it was quite simple to choose a Samsung SSD but now it’s a bit tricky, due to more variants. The SAMSUNG 970 EVO is a little bit slower than the 970 EVO Plus if we look at the theoretical performance space.
However, there are no questions of reliability and other things. Both NVMe SSDs are reliable and durable, comparing each of them. But, this is the thing that makes this decision tough.
Both drives are not inexpensive if you are looking to buy a 1 TB or higher version. So, a prior research is important. So, don’t worry. I have done everything for you. Just go through this article and you will surely find it easy to make the final decision without any issue.
Samsung 970 EVO vs Samsung 970 EVO Plus: Best Pick?
What is the main difference between Samsung 970 EVO and Samsung 970 EVO Plus? The key difference for the SSDs is a better version of V-NAND technology. The new model Samsung 970 EVO Plus includes 96 layers of V-NAND. Whereas, the Samsung 970 EVO NVMe SSD includes 64 layers of V-NAND technology.
Comparing the features of both, it’s pretty clear that Samsung 970 EVO Plus dominates the 970 EVO model. Let’s explore the difference between both Samsung SSDs.
Storage Space
Samsung has introduced up to 2TB variants for 970 EVO & 970 EVO Plus NVMe SSDs. Currently, you can obtain any of the stated variants 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, or 2TB SSDs.
Note: If you’re intending to get an SSD for effective Read/Write speed 2 TB is the best choice. The higher variant includes impressive R/W speed. Before, investing in any NVMe SSDs consider the actual need, later on, proceed ahead to make a purchase.
Sequential Read/Write Speed (Theoretical)
The company says that these speeds are achieved through Samsung’s TurboWrite technology.
Read/Write Speed of SAMSUNG 970 EVO NVMe SSD
The Read Speed for 250GB/500GB/1TB is the same 3400 MB/s Whereas, the 2TB variant includes better Read Speed 3500 MB/s You can see an increasing Write Speed depending on the higher variant.
| Variant | Sequential Read Speed | Sequential Write Speed |
|---|---|---|
| 250 GB | 3400 MB/s | 1500 MB/s |
| 500 GB | 3400 MB/s | 2300 MB/s |
| 1 TB | 3400 MB/s | 2500 MB/s |
| 2 TB | 3500 MB/s | 2500 MB/s |
Read/Write Speed of SAMSUNG 970 EVO Plus NVMe SSD
The Read speed is stable for all the Samsung 970 EVO Plus Variants up to 3,500 MB/s. Whereas, the Write Speed increases as the capacity increases.
| Variant | Sequential Read Speed | Sequential Write Speed |
|---|---|---|
| 250 GB | 3400 MB/s | 2300 MB/s |
| 500 GB | 3400 MB/s | 3200 MB/s |
| 1 TB | 3400 MB/s | 3300 MB/s |
| 2 TB | 3500 MB/s | 3300 MB/s |
Comparing the Read/Write speed for both these products, it’s pretty clear that Samsung 970 EVO Plus is faster. Though there is no such big difference in “Read Speed”, considering the Write Speed of each variant Samsung 970 EVO Plus dominates the old model Samsung EVO 970.
Note: The Stated Read/Write might differ (Increase/decrease) depending on Operating System and your system’s processor.
Input/Output Operations Per Second (4KB Random )
Random IOPS R/W Speed of SAMSUNG 970 EVO (4K, QD32)
| Variant | Read IOPS | Write IOPS |
|---|---|---|
| 250 GB | 200,000 | 350,000 |
| 500 GB | 370,000 | 450,000 |
| 1 TB | 500,000 | 450,000 |
| 2 TB | 500,000 | 480,000 |
Random IOPS R/W Speed of SAMSUNG 970 EVO Plus (4K, QD32)
| Variant | Random Read IOPS | Random Write IOPS |
|---|---|---|
| 250 GB | 250,000 | 550,000 |
| 500 GB | 480,000 | 550,000 |
| 1 TB | 600,000 | 550,000 |
| 2 TB | 620,000 | 560,000 |
Results: Again, the random 4K, QD32 Speed is higher in the 970 EVO Plus as compared to the 970 EVO. I haven’t added the QD1 IOPS, but they are also better in the 970 EVO Plus.
Benchmark Scores
I have done these tests using CrystalDiskMark 8. The system configurations are Intel i5 8th generation with 8GB 3200 Mhz RAM.
Samsung 970 EVO Benchmark Scores (Average)
| Product | Seq. Read | Seq. Write | 4K Read | 4K Write |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 970 EVO 250 GB | 2236 MB/s | 1436 MB/s | 61.4 MB/s | 142 MB/s |
| 970 EVO 500 GB | 2272 MB/s | 2033 MB/s | 60.9 MB/s | 141 MB/s |
| 970 EVO 1 TB | 2326 MB/s | 2112 MB/s | 60.6 MB/s | 141 MB/s |
| 970 EVO 2 TB | 2212 MB/s | 2040 MB/s | 49.5 MB/s | 131 MB/s |
Samsung 970 EVO Plus Benchmark Scores (Average)
| Product | Seq. Read | Seq. Write | 4K Read | 4K Write |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 970 EVO Plus 250 GB | 2195 MB/s | 1886 MB/s | 61 MB/s | 148 MB/s |
| 970 EVO Plus 500 GB | 2401 MB/s | 2123 MB/s | 63.4 MB/s | 148 MB/s |
| 970 EVO Plus 1 TB | 2376 MB/s | 2130 MB/s | 61.9 MB/s | 147 MB/s |
| 970 EVO Plus 2 TB | 2387 MB/s | 2129 MB/s | 60 MB/s | 145 MB/s |
Results: In terms of sequential read and write, there is no bid different between the performance of both but the 970 EVO Plus is winning the battle again with slightly higher speeds. If we talk about the random read and write the 970 EVO Plus 2 TB has around 8 – 10% higher speeds as compared to the same version of 970 EVO.
SSD Endurance Terabytes Written TBW
Samsung 970 EVO & Samsung 970 EVO Plus TBW (Tera-bytes Written)
| Samsung 970 EVO | TBW | Samsung 970 EVO Plus | TBW |
|---|---|---|---|
| 250 GB | 150 | 250 GB | 150 |
| 500 GB | 300 | 500 GB | 300 |
| 1 TB | 600 | 1 TB | 600 |
| 2 TB | 1200 | 2 TB | 1200 |
Above mentioned Tera-Bytes Written are common for both these SSDs. More, TBW indicates a better lifespan. Samsung NVMe SSDs are reliable & durable products. So, there are no issues with the same at all with any of these SSDs.
Note: The Mean Time Before Failure (MTBF) for both NVMe SSDs is 1.5 million hours. Reliable Lifespan period for a Solid-State Drive.
Price Difference
Other Important Information
Bus Type/Form Factor: The form factor (interface) for both NVMe SSDs is M.2. The interface is PCIe 3.0 x4. And the protocol is NVMe 1.3.
Controller: Both SSDs are using Samsung’s own Phoenix controller.
NAND Type: Samsung 970 EVO is based on Samsung’s own 64-layer TLC V-NAND Whereas, the Samsung 970 EVO Plus includes Samsung’s 92-layer TLC V-NAND.
Controller Type: Both these SSDs are using the same Samsung’s Phoenix Controller. The configurations of both are Penta-core, 8-ch, 8-CE/ch.
Cache Type: Different Cache Storage is included depending on variants. Both Samsung 970 EVO and Samsung 970 EVO Plus includes the same Cache Type.
Variant 250 GB & 500 GB includes 512MB LPDDR4 Cache Storage
Variant 1TB includes 1GB LPDDR4 Cache Storage
Variant 2TB includes 2GB LPDDR4 Cache Storage
What is the warranty period for these SSDs?
Buyers can acquire 5 Years of warranty for both “Samsung 970 EVO vs Samsung 970 EVO Plus” NVMe SSDs.
Software for SSD Routine Health Check-up
For Samsung SSDs routine health check-ups, users have to rely on Samsung Magician Software. Magician Software lets users check New Firmware Updates, perform Secure Erase, Fix Minor Bugs, Check System temperature, Drive Details, Disk Tests, S.M.A.R.T diagnostics, and so on.
Download: Samsung Magician Software
What are my Views on both (Which one should you buy?)
It’s a better choice to invest in the Samsung 970 EVO Plus because it’s the best in terms of data read/write speed, TBW, and most the things. Considering the current market price Samsung 970 EVO Plus, 250GB & 500GB variants are available at a lower value compared to 970 EVO. Moreover, there is no such massive difference in price compared to other variants too.
So, when you opt for the 970 EVO Plus, you will surely get a bit higher speed. But, the difference is not that much. So, you can also go for a lighter version (EVO 970) and be satisfied with the performance as well. But, if you ask me, I would definitely go with the SAMSUNG 970 EVO Plus.
Remember: Samsung 970 EVO Plus includes a newer version of Samsung 92-layer TLC V-NAND. Hence, it faster compared to the old Samsung 970 EVO model.
Conclusion
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Thanks for reading!