# 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.

Quick answer: 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.

## Specifications

| Specification | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Capacity | 1 TB |
| Interface | M.2 4.0 x 4 |
| Controller | Maxio MAP1602 4 Channel |
| Memory type | YTC 232-L TLC |
| DRAM cache | No |
| Sequential read | 7200 MB/s |
| Sequential write | 6400 MB/s |
| Random read IOPS | 1026000 |
| Random write IOPS | 766000 |
| Endurance | 600 TBW |
| MTBF | 2000000 |
| Warranty | 5 years |

## Performance

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.

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.

## 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.

## Pros and Cons

**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


## Verdict

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.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Is the DAHUA C970 Plus 1 TB good for gaming?

Yes, it is an excellent budget gaming drive. Game load times are bounded by the CPU and asset decompression once a drive clears about 3,000 MB/s, so the C970 Plus's 7,200 MB/s reads feel identical to a flagship in games. The 1 TB capacity fits a solid game library, and the large ~160 GB SLC cache keeps file transfers and game installs fast. The DRAM-less design uses HMB, which is fine for gaming, and the drive runs cool under long sessions. For the price it is hard to beat.

### Is the DAHUA C970 Plus 1 TB compatible with the PS5?

Yes. Sony recommends an M.2 NVMe SSD with at least 5,500 MB/s reads and dimensions up to 110 by 25 by 11.25 mm including a heatsink; the C970 Plus's 7,200 MB/s rating clears the speed requirement and the included thin graphene heatsink fits the console's slot. The 1 TB capacity is a practical PS5 upgrade, adding roughly double the base storage. The drive runs full speed in the console's PCIe 4.0 slot. It is one of the more affordable drives that meets Sony's spec.

### Does the DAHUA C970 Plus have a DRAM cache?

No. The C970 Plus is a DRAM-less design that uses the Host Memory Buffer (HMB), borrowing a small portion of system RAM to hold the flash translation layer. This lowers cost and is fine for most consumer workloads, but the drive leans on system memory more than a DRAM-equipped module. In practice the impact shows mainly in heavy sustained mixed workloads, where a DRAM-equipped drive keeps lower latency; for everyday booting, gaming, and file transfers the difference is barely noticeable.

### What is the TBW endurance of the DAHUA C970 Plus 1 TB?

The 1 TB C970 Plus is rated at 600 TBW, meaning it can handle 600 terabytes of total writes. At a typical 20 GB per day that works out to roughly 82 years, and even at a heavy 100 GB per day the drive would last over 16 years, so the flash will outlast the five-year warranty in any realistic scenario. Endurance scales with capacity: 300 TBW on the 512 GB and 1,200 TBW on the 2 TB. For a budget drive this is a solid, more-than-adequate rating.

### Does the DAHUA C970 Plus need a heatsink?

Not for typical use, and one is included anyway. The C970 Plus ships with a slim graphene heatsink, and reviewers recorded around 42 C during full-drive writes with it fitted. The DRAM-less Maxio controller is efficient and runs cool, so the drive would manage even bare in a well-ventilated case, though fitting the included heatsink is free insurance. It is thin enough for laptops and the PS5's M.2 slot, making it a flexible option for almost any build.

### Is the DAHUA C970 Plus 1 TB good for video editing?

Yes, for light to moderate 4K editing it is a capable budget option. The 7,200 MB/s reads are more than enough to scrub 4K timelines, and the ~160 GB SLC cache handles sustained captures and renders well before dropping to about 1.5 GB/s outside the cache. The 1 TB capacity suits a working project plus some media. For heavy, continuous 8K or high-bitrate work, a DRAM-equipped drive holds higher sustained write throughput, but for most editors the C970 Plus is a very reasonable budget choice.

### How does the DAHUA C970 Plus 1 TB compare to the Crucial P310 1 TB?

Both are DRAM-less budget PCIe 4.0 drives with similar performance, within a few percent of each other in practice. The C970 Plus is rated slightly higher at 7,200 MB/s reads versus the P310's 7,100 MB/s, and it bundles a graphene heatsink and a five-year warranty, while the bare P310 ships without a cooler. Crucial has a longer-standing brand and firmware support, which matters to some buyers. For most budget users the C970 Plus gives a little more for the money; the P310 is the safer mainstream-brand option.

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Last updated: 2026-08-17. Source: https://ssdrive.net/dahua-c970-plus-1-tb