Samsung 980 PRO 2000GB

The Samsung 980 PRO 2000GB uses a vertically integrated architecture with the proprietary Samsung Elpis (S4LV003) controller fabricated on an 8nm process. It marks a shift in Samsung’s PRO lineup by moving from 2-bit MLC to 128-layer 3D TLC V-NAND (V6) and relies on a hybrid SLC caching implementation called Intelligent TurboWrite 2.0 to sustain peak write throughput. The 2TB model includes 2GB of LPDDR4 DRAM for logical-to-physical address mapping, providing low-latency random I/O performance for high-end workstation and gaming use. The controller can handle up to 128 I/O queues simultaneously, optimizing the drive for the parallelism of the PCIe 4.0 protocol. Earlier batches with firmware version 3B2QGXA7 experienced "0E" media errors and premature drive failure; updating to firmware version 5B2QGXA7 or later is recommended upon installation. Thermal analysis shows the Elpis controller runs hot under sustained loads; the nickel-coated controller and heat-spreading label help dissipation, but the drive can thermally throttle in restricted airflow environments without a dedicated heatsink.

Key Specifications

• Interface: PCIe 4.0 x4 / NVMe 1.3c
• Sequential Read/Write: 7,000 MB/s / 5,100 MB/s
• Controller: Samsung Elpis (S4LV003)
• NAND Type: Samsung 128-Layer 3D TLC V-NAND (V6)
• DRAM Cache: 2GB LPDDR4
• Endurance: 1,200 TBW
• Physical Characteristics: Single-sided PCB (M.2 2280)
• Security: AES 256-bit hardware encryption, TCG Opal 2.0, IEEE1667

Hardware Alternatives

• Western Digital WD_BLACK SN850: The primary contemporary rival, utilizing WD’s proprietary G2 controller and BiCS4 NAND. It offers similar throughput but historically runs slightly warmer.
• Phison E18 Reference Drives (e.g., Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus, Corsair MP600 PRO): These drives utilize the third-party Phison PS5018-E18 controller paired with Micron 176-layer TLC. They generally offer higher sequential write speeds than the 980 PRO but differ in random read latency characteristics.
• SK hynix Platinum P41: A later competitor utilizing the Aries controller and 176-layer NAND, often surpassing the 980 PRO in power efficiency and sustained write performance due to newer NAND generation technology.