DAHUA C970 Plus 1TB: full-speed Gen4 without the DRAM (2026)
The DAHUA C970 Plus 1 TB is a DRAM-less PCIe 4.0 NVMe that hits up to 7,200 MB/s reads with YMTC 232-layer TLC, a large SLC cache, and 600 TBW endurance at a budget price.
Controller & Memory
DAHUA's C970 Plus is the company's fast mainstream PCIe 4.0 SSD, and the 1 TB capacity is the model most reviewers tested. It combines Maxio's MAP1602 four-channel controller with YMTC (Yangtze Memory) 232-layer 3D TLC NAND and no DRAM, using the Host Memory Buffer to keep the flash translation layer in system RAM. Rated at 7,200 MB/s sequential reads and 6,400 MB/s writes over PCIe 4.0 x4, it delivers flagship-class sequential bandwidth for budget money.
The range spans 512 GB, 1 TB, and 2 TB. The 1 TB is the sweet spot: it carries the full rated speeds, a large SLC cache that reviewers measured at around 160 GB, and 600 TBW of endurance, double the 512 GB model's figure. The drive is single-sided, so it fits laptops and thin builds without clearance issues, and it ships with a slim graphene heatsink in the box.
As a DRAM-less design, the C970 Plus leans on its SLC cache to sustain high write speeds, and independent Chinese reviews confirm it delivers close to its rated numbers in CrystalDiskMark, around 7,100 MB/s read and 6,600 MB/s write. Once the cache fills, writes settle to the native TLC rate of about 1.5 GB/s, which is normal for the class. For booting, gaming, and everyday file work the drive feels every bit as quick as a pricier DRAM-equipped module, making the 1 TB a compelling value pick.
Storage Comparisons:
C970 Plus Performance & Benchmarks
The 1 TB C970 Plus is rated at 7,200 MB/s sequential reads and 6,400 MB/s writes over PCIe 4.0, with up to 1,026,000 random read IOPS and 766,000 random write IOPS. Reviewers measured the drive at about 7,125 MB/s read and 6,600 MB/s write in CrystalDiskMark, with AS SSD reporting around 6,020 MB/s read and 5,447 MB/s write - honest figures that match the rating.
DAHUA C970 Plus 1 TB vs M.2 4.0 x 4 peers
Switch between sequential throughput and random IOPS to see how this drive stacks up against other M.2 4.0 x 4 SSDs in our database. The highlighted bar is the drive on this page — click any other bar to open that drive.
- Patriot Viper PV593 1 TB: 14,500 MB/s read, 14,000 MB/s write
- Patriot Viper PV593 2 TB: 14,500 MB/s read, 14,000 MB/s write
- Patriot Viper PV593 4 TB: 14,500 MB/s read, 14,000 MB/s write
- Patriot Viper PV573 2 TB: 14,000 MB/s read, 12,000 MB/s write
- DAHUA C970 Plus 1 TB (this drive): 7,200 MB/s read, 6,400 MB/s write
In real use the drive is quick. Game load times are bounded by the CPU and asset decompression once a drive clears about 3,000 MB/s, so the C970 Plus feels identical to a flagship in gaming. The standout is the SLC cache: at roughly 160 GB on the 1 TB, it absorbs long sustained writes at full speed before slowing to the native TLC rate, so large file copies of up to a hundred-plus gigabytes hold high throughput. Beyond that, writes settle to about 1.5 GB/s.
Performance holds up as the drive fills; reviewers noted the C970 Plus stayed close to rated speed even at 90 percent capacity, which is not true of every DRAM-less module. Thermals are excellent, around 42 C during full-drive writes with the included graphene heatsink. Random access is solid thanks to HMB, though heavy mixed workloads show a touch more latency than a DRAM-equipped drive. For the price, this is one of the fastest budget Gen4 modules around.
DAHUA C970 Plus vs Competitors
See how the C970 Plus stacks up against other M.2 4.0 x 4 drives in our database:
Compare with rival drives:
Endurance, TBW & Warranty
DAHUA backs the C970 Plus with a five-year limited warranty, a strong term for a budget drive, and some regional listings promote up to ten years. The 1 TB model is rated at 600 TBW of endurance, scaling from 300 TBW on the 512 GB up to 1,200 TBW on the 2 TB. At a typical 20 GB per day of writes, 600 TBW works out to roughly 82 years, so the flash will comfortably outlast the warranty in normal use, and even a heavy 100 GB per day workload leaves decades of headroom. The drive is rated for a 2,000,000 hour MTBF, a population statistic rather than a guarantee for a single unit. Returns run through the retailer or DAHUA depending on region, and the included graphene heatsink covers everyday cooling.
DAHUA C970 Plus 1 TB Specifications
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Capacity [?] | 1 TB |
| Interface [?] | M.2 4.0 x 4 |
| Controller [?] | Maxio MAP1602 4 Channel |
| Memory type [?] | YTC 232-L TLC |
| DRAM [?] | No |
| Read speed (MB/s) [?] | 7200 |
| Write speed (MB/s) [?] | 6400 |
| Read IOPS [?] | 1026000 |
| Write IOPS [?] | 766000 |
| Endurance (TBW) [?] | 600 |
| MTBF (million hours) [?] | 2000000 |
| Warranty (years) [?] | 5 |
Verdict: Is the C970 Plus Worth It in 2026?
Buy the DAHUA C970 Plus 1 TB for a budget gaming build or laptop upgrade that wants real PCIe 4.0 speed, a large SLC cache, and 600 TBW of endurance without paying for a DRAM cache or a premium brand. Skip it when many hundreds of gigabytes are moved in one go, since writes drop to about 1.5 GB/s once the cache fills, or when brand familiarity matters, in which case the Crucial P310 is the safer pick. The direct rivals are the Crucial P310 1 TB and Kingston NV2 1 TB, both budget Gen4 options that trade a little performance for lower cost. We rate the 1 TB C970 Plus the best-value capacity of the line and an excellent budget boot or game drive.
+ Pros
- Up to 7,200 MB/s reads, top of budget Gen4
- ~160 GB SLC cache on the 1 TB
- YMTC 232-layer TLC NAND
- 600 TBW endurance rating
- Single-sided PCB fits laptops
- Graphene heatsink included
- Cons
- DRAM-less; sustained writes drop to ~1.5 GB/s
- HMB depends on system RAM
- Minor latency under heavy mixed workloads
- Budget brand reputation vs established rivals
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Video Review
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