Samsung is breaking new ground with the ssd 980 M.2 NVMe. This SSD does not have an EVO or PRO name to indicate that they are top models, nor a QVO name to indicate the budget segment. An interim solution, a middle class, and also one with clear strengths and weaknesses. When is the 980 a good buy, and when is it not?
Samsung SSD 980
price € 59.99 (250 GB), € 79.99 (500 GB), € 149.99 (1 TB)
Variants 250 GB, 500 GB, 1 TB
Protocol NVMe
Maximum speed 3300 MB / s write, 2700 MB / s read
Website www.samsung.com
8 Score 80 
- Pros
- Excellent performance for normal use
- 5 years warranty
- Negatives
- Not suitable for extremely heavy duty applications
- MSRP at launch
Competition for SSDs is extreme, so manufacturers must take steps to ensure that their products remain affordable. Especially when you consider that the difference between an affordable SSD and an expensive SSD can only be noticed in a limited number of scenarios. A frequently taken step is to store more than the usual 3 bits of data per memory cell, something Samsung also does with their QVO series. However, that slightly reduces performance and lifespan. The Samsung SSD 980 does not and remains a traditional 3-bit SSD, just like most SSDs in the middle and higher segment.
Host Memory Buffer (HBM)
The savings here are in the omission of the DRAM cache, a piece of RAM that is indispensable for good daily performance on most SSDs. Samsung uses a technique called Host Memory Buffer (HBM), part of the NVMe standard, with which they can use a very small piece of your working memory to act as a cache. This is not new in itself, other SSDs used to do this sometimes, but they never really managed to come out well, so that the DRAM cache on the SSD turned out to be the logical choice.
However, Samsung seems to have succeeded in getting this to work properly, because the results in the practical tests aimed at light use (office work with documents, some photos or games loading) are just fine. And the tests aimed at somewhat more intensive use, think of an actively used home PC where the SSD serves as an OS drive for, among other things, some photo and video work, the 980 even performs very well. A PC Mark 10 (Full) Score of 380 MB / s puts it well above budget drives like the Kingston A2000 or WD SN550, and on the heels of much more expensive Gen4 SSDs like the Samsung 980 PRO.
Limitations
However, the savings chosen by Samsung also have their downside. For example, the maximum throughput speed is not exceptionally high (3300MB / s and 2700MB / s respectively for read and write). And in extremely intensive scenarios, such as server use or a really high-end workstation, the 980 drops hard in the results, below the level of a good SATA drive. This won’t be a concern for most consumer laptops and home PCs, but it is crucial information for the top end of the market.
Standard package is correct
In other ways, it’s a Samsung 980 SSD by the book. The reliability figures are in line with the market, there is a warranty period of 5 years and the necessary encryption options are built in. The SSD does not become extremely hot with a maximum temperature of about 85 degrees after a longer stress test, which makes the 980 a great option for laptop use, for example.
Conclusion
The Samsung 980 is a good drive for light to moderate use, and a moderate drive for extreme scenarios. This mainly comes down to the price, which is very high at launch in typical Samsung style. 149 euros for 1 TB is substantial for a good, but not exceptional SSD, when you consider that reasonable entry-level users cost 100 euros and real top models can be found for 180 euros. However, Samsung’s prices always drop rapidly to highly competitive price points, which in this case will be around 120 euros. At that time, the 980 will be a nice SSD for the general public that wants something solid, but does not want to invest in a pricey top model.
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