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WD Blue SN570 vs Samsung 980: Which one to choose?

    Let’s hit the point directly.

    WD Blue SN570 and Samsung 980 NVMe SSDs are exactly the same if we look at their key specifications. Both run on PCIe Gen 3×4 interface. If we talk about the NAND Flash, both have TLC NAND Flash. Also, both are DRAM-Less SSDs.

    Both have the same TBW and also the read/write performance is similar. Both come with a 5-year of warranty. Both brands offer good after-sale service. There are numerous other similarities between them both. In fact, finding any difference in terms of specifications is hard.

    So, your decision for choosing the right SSD between the both will come to just two things. The first one is the brand and the second one is the price difference.

    Both brands are reputed as well. So, if you want to choose the right SSD between the SN570 and 980, just check the price and get the one that seems affordable. If you are a fan of a specific brand, just go for your favorite company because you will see no differences in performance.

    Let’s try to do some comparison below and still, see which one suits you the best.

    1. Theoretical Specifications

    First of all, let’s compare the key specifications and see what differences you may see.

    SpecificationSamsung 980WD Blue SN570
    Storage Variants250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB
    Theoretical Read Speed (Max.)3,500 MB/s3,500 MB/s
    Theoretical Write Speed (Max.)3,000 MB/s3,000 MB/s
    Form Factor/InterfaceM.2 (2280)/PCIe® Gen 3.0 x4, NVMe™ 1.4M.2 (2280)/PCIe Gen 3.0 x 4, NVMe 1.3
    MTBF (Reliability)1.50 Million Hours1.50 Million Hours
    Warranty5 Years5 Years
    T.R.I.M.SupportedSupported
    S.M.A.R.T.SupportedSupported
    EncryptionAES 256-bit EncryptionNo hardware encryption
    Heatsink OptionNot AvailableNot Available
    Image
    AvailabilityCheck PriceCheck Price

    The only difference between SN570 and Samsung 980 is Encryption. SN570 comes with no encryption at all. But, Samsung 980 is using 256-bit encryption. All other specifications are similar so we can proceed further.

    2. Synthetic Benchmark Scores

    It is good to compare the synthetic benchmark scores in order to understand the capabilities of any SSD. My test bench has utilized Intel Core i5 12600K along with a DDR5 4800 MHz (8x2GB) kit. The motherboard is MSI Pro Z690-A DDR5. The primary storage is Silicon Power UD90 Gen 4.

    I have used CrystalDiskMark software for these sequential read/write tests. The I/O size is set to 1MB and the file size is 1GB. Queue Depth is set to 32 and the number of threads is 1.

    WD Blue SN570 vs Samsung 980 (Sequential read/write speed)

    Again, I have used CrystalDiskMark software for these sequential read/write tests. The I/O size is set to 4KB and the file size is 1GB. Queue Depth is set to 1 and the number of threads is 1.

    Random Read/Write Speed Comparison bar graph (SN570 vs Samsung 980)
    AS SSD Benchmark Scores Bar Graph

    PCMark 10 is a Trace-based benchmarking software. It has numerous options available for users. But, to keep it simple and conclusive, I have compared the results from quick and full drive benchmark scores.

    PCMark10 Full Drive Benchmark
    PCMark10 Full Drive Benchmark
    anvil Storage utilities comparison bar graph

    3. Endurance and TBW

    ParameterSamsung 980WD Blue SN570
    TBW250GB: 150 TBW
    500GB: 300 TBW
    1TB: 600 TBW
    250GB: 150 TBW
    500GB: 300 TBW
    1TB: 600 TBW
    2TB: 900 TBW
    Warranty5-Years Limited Warranty5-Years Limited Warranty
    MTBF (Mean Time Between Failure)1.50 Million Hours1.50 Million Hours

    Again, these both SSDs are similar in terms of reliability specs. You can expect similar results and similar life expectancy with both the products.

    4. Technical Specifications

    Technical SpecificationSamsung 980WD Blue SN570
    NAND Flash TypeTLC NANDTLC NAND
    NAND Flash Layers128112
    ControllerSamsung Elpis ControllerWD Proprietary Controller
    Controller ConfigurationsNot SpecifiedNot Specified
    DRAMNo DRAM (HMB)No DRAM (HMB)
    Heatsink OptionNot AvailableNot Available
    WebsiteSamsung 980WD Blue SN570

    Again, these technical specifications are almost similar. Samsung 980 is having a higher number of NAND Flash Layers. All other things are the same. Both companies haven’t disclosed the controller configurations.

    5. Price

    As we discussed earlier, price is going to be the main deciding factor between both these SSDs. So, you can check on the different platforms before you make your final decision. However, I have seen that the SN570 is generally cheaper compared to the 980.

    Final Verdict: Which one should you buy?

    In my opinion, buying Samsung 980 is definitely a good option. If you see a similar price, 980 is going to give you one advantage i.e. AES-256 encryption which SN570 is missing. However, if you are capable of saving a good amount with SN570, you can go for it and miss the encryption.

    Both of these are entry-level NVMe SSDs. So, you can’t expect very much from them. The prices are also pretty affordable. So, whichever SSD you are choosing, you will not get a very high speed like other top-end NVMe SSDs. So, there is no need to get confused between these both, just get the affordable one.

    If we talk about the benchmark scores, both of these are almost equal. So, in terms of performance, these are almost equal.

    Let me know what you think about this article in the comments!

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    dave
    dave
    10 months ago

    did you have the information on which one runs cooler as it’s for a macbook air and i’ve heard some people have used the Crucial version which has overheated after a years usage
    thanks

    dave
    dave
    10 months ago
    Reply to  Anshul Rana

    ok thanks
    will this work with Samsung 980 1 TB PCIe 3.0 (up to 3.500 MB/s) NVMe M.2 (MZ-V8V1T0BW) in MacBook Air 2017 A1466

    dave
    dave
    10 months ago
    Reply to  Anshul Rana

    There isn’t a heatsink with this SSD, and as you say there is a spreader sticker underneath the drive to help

    I dont believe any SSD would fit a macbook air if adding a heatsink or was also included on top of it – plus the fan inside the macbook air is nowhere near the drive to be effective is it?

    (very interesting showing it here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KT3IKRYqEJU&t=177s)

    Last edited 10 months ago by dave
    dave
    dave
    10 months ago
    Reply to  Anshul Rana

    MY POINT is that a heatsink is NOT necessary – never has been..!!!

    Debra Cohen
    Debra Cohen
    9 months ago

    Why are the benchmarks for tow different drives?

    Milan
    Milan
    6 months ago

    Hi, there seems to be a typo in the 1. Theoretical Specifications table for WD where it says “PCIe Gen 4.0 x 4”. Am I correct?

    Boris
    Boris
    5 months ago

    Hi, there is a typo in section 4. Technical Specifications. WD Blue SN570 website is written as WD Blue SN750.

    0K1
    0K1
    3 months ago

    Fantastic – Just what I needed. Thanks