A Fast and Reliable NVMe SSD for Everyday Users and Gamers in 2024
The Samsung 970 EVO Plus offers high performance, excellent durability, and reliability, making it one of the best choices for gamers, creators, and professionals in 2024. This review will cover every aspect of the drive’s performance based on rigorous testing, helping you decide whether it’s the right SSD for your needs.
Design and Build Quality: Compact and Sleek, But Nothing Extraordinary
The Samsung 970 EVO Plus features a standard M.2 2280 form
factor, making it suitable for both desktops and laptops without any space
concerns.
The build quality is solid, though unremarkable, with no
added heat spreaders or advanced cooling solutions like some of its competitors.
Compared to the Kingston FURY Renegade, which includes a
graphene-aluminum heat spreader, the design here is purely functional, though
still aesthetically clean.
Installation: Simple for Most Users, But No Extras Included
Installing the Samsung 970 EVO Plus is straightforward, and
if you're familiar with M.2 drives, the process should take just a few minutes.
One downside is that Samsung doesn't include any extra
mounting screws or software in the box.
By comparison, drives like the Western Digital Black SN850
often come with more user-friendly software and tools to assist with data
migration, which could be a consideration for those who aren't tech-savvy.
Performance: Blazing Fast, But Lags Behind Gen 4.0 SSDs
The Samsung 970 EVO Plus shines in terms of performance,
with read speeds up to 3,500 MB/s and write speeds up to 3,300 MB/s.
This is more than enough for most gaming, productivity, and
creative tasks, such as video editing and large file transfers.
However, it does fall behind the newer PCIe Gen 4.0 drives
like the Samsung 980 Pro or Seagate FireCuda 530, which offer significantly
faster speeds.
For users still on PCIe Gen 3.0, the 970 EVO Plus remains
one of the best choices, but if you’re looking for future-proofing, Gen 4.0
drives will offer better long-term value.
Gaming Performance: Quick Load Times, But Not the Best for Competitive
Gaming
During gaming tests, load times for demanding AAA titles
like "Cyberpunk 2077" and "Call of Duty: Warzone" were
impressively short, and texture streaming was smooth.
However, compared to PCIe Gen 4.0 SSDs, like the WD Black
SN850, which loads games even faster, the 970 EVO Plus doesn’t quite match up.
While it's more than adequate for casual and even serious
gaming, competitive gamers looking for the absolute fastest performance may
find better alternatives in newer Gen 4.0 models.
Thermal Management: Runs Cool Under Normal Use, But Warm During Sustained
Loads
One of the main concerns with high-performance NVMe SSDs is
thermal throttling under heavy workloads.
The Samsung 970 EVO Plus performed well in this area,
staying cool during normal use like browsing, gaming, and light file transfers.
However, during prolonged heavy tasks such as large video
rendering or extended gaming sessions, the drive did heat up, though it didn’t
reach throttling levels.
Compared to the Samsung 980 Pro, which has better thermal
management, the 970 EVO Plus is slightly less efficient in dissipating heat,
especially under sustained pressure.
Software: Samsung Magician Offers
Comprehensive Control, But Basic Users Might Not Need
It
The Samsung Magician software, which is included with the
970 EVO Plus, provides a range of useful features like firmware updates, drive
health monitoring, and performance optimization.
For power users who like to tweak their system, Magician is
a highly effective tool, allowing you to get the most out of the SSD.
However, for everyday users, these features may be overkill,
as the drive performs excellently without much user intervention.
In comparison, the WD Black SSD Dashboard offers a slightly
more user-friendly experience, but Samsung’s software is still one of the best
in the industry for those who like control over their hardware.
Endurance: Excellent Lifespan for Daily Use and Intensive Tasks
One of the most impressive features of the Samsung 970 EVO
Plus is its high endurance rating of up to 600 terabytes written (TBW) for the
1TB model.
This makes it suitable for heavy workloads, such as video
editing or software development, where large amounts of data are written
regularly.
Compared to similarly priced SSDs, like the Crucial P5 Plus,
the endurance of the 970 EVO Plus is on par, ensuring that the drive will last
for years under normal to heavy use.
Value for Money: Great for PCIe Gen 3.0 Users, But Less Compelling for Gen
4.0 Adopters
When it comes to value, the Samsung 970 EVO Plus is priced
competitively for its performance, offering a balance between cost and speed
for those who are still using PCIe Gen 3.0.
For users looking for the best bang for their buck in the
PCIe Gen 3.0 category, it’s hard to beat.
However, with Gen 4.0 SSDs becoming more affordable, it’s
worth considering whether the 970 EVO Plus is the right investment if you plan
to upgrade your system in the near future.
The Samsung 980 Pro offers better performance at only a
slight increase in price, making it a more future-proof choice if your
motherboard supports Gen 4.0.
Real-World Usage: Perfect for Content Creators, Programmers, and Casual
Gamers
In day-to-day usage, the 970 EVO Plus excels in a variety of
tasks.
I tested it with content creation software like Adobe
Premiere Pro, and the SSD handled large video files and complex timelines with
ease.
Programmers will also appreciate the fast compile times and
responsiveness when working with large datasets.
For casual gamers, the SSD delivers more than enough speed
to ensure fast load times and smooth gameplay.
However, for users looking to push the absolute limits of
their system, the higher-end drives like the Seagate FireCuda 530 may offer
more headroom in extreme scenarios.
Comparison with Other Products: Competitive in PCIe Gen 3.0, But Outpaced
by Gen 4.0
The Samsung 970 EVO Plus stands out in its class for PCIe
Gen 3.0 drives, outperforming many competitors like the Crucial P5 and Kingston
A2000.
However, when stacked up against Gen 4.0 SSDs like the
Samsung 980 Pro or the WD Black SN850, it begins to show its age.
If you’re staying in the Gen 3.0 ecosystem, the 970 EVO Plus
is an excellent choice, but for those eyeing Gen 4.0 upgrades, other options
offer significantly better performance for only a slight premium.
Conclusion: An Excellent SSD for PCIe Gen 3.0
Users, But Consider Gen 4.0 if You’re Future-Proofing
The Samsung 970 EVO Plus remains one of the best PCIe Gen
3.0 SSDs on the market, with fast read/write speeds, great endurance, and
reliable thermal management for most tasks.
However, with PCIe Gen 4.0 SSDs offering better performance
at a similar price point, users planning to upgrade their systems may want to
look at newer models like the Samsung 980 Pro or Seagate FireCuda 530.
Pros:
- Excellent
read/write speeds for PCIe Gen 3.0
- High
endurance rating, ideal for heavy workloads
- Reliable
thermal management for most tasks
Cons:
- No
included tools or software for easy migration
- Falls
behind PCIe Gen 4.0 drives in future-proof performance
- Heats
up slightly under sustained, intense workloads
Recommended Alternative: If you’re looking for a more
future-proof solution with better performance, the Samsung 980 Pro is
worth considering.
It offers faster speeds, better thermal management, and is
optimized for PCIe Gen 4.0, ensuring that it will keep up with the demands of
modern and future workloads
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