# DAHUA C970 Plus 512GB: fast Gen4 on a budget (2026)

The DAHUA C970 Plus 512 GB is a DRAM-less PCIe 4.0 NVMe that delivers up to 7,200 MB/s reads and 6,400 MB/s writes with YMTC 232-layer TLC and HMB, at a budget price.

Quick answer: Buy the DAHUA C970 Plus 512 GB for a budget gaming build or laptop upgrade that wants genuine PCIe 4.0 speeds without paying for a DRAM cache or a famous brand. Skip it when very large files are moved regularly, since the DRAM-less design and small SLC cache mean sustained writes slow to about 1.5 GB/s, or when more capacity is needed, in which case the 1 TB is the sweet spot. The natural rivals are the Crucial P310 512 GB and the Kingston NV2, both budget Gen4 options that trade a little speed for lower cost. We rate the C970 Plus an honest, fast value drive, and the 512 GB is a fine boot or small-game-library pick.

## Specifications

| Specification | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Capacity | 512 GB |
| 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 | 300 TBW |
| MTBF | 2000000 |
| Warranty | 5 years |

## Performance

The 512 GB 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. Independent Chinese reviews of the series measured the 1 TB around 7,100 MB/s read and 6,600 MB/s write in CrystalDiskMark, confirming the rated figures are honest and not marketing padding.

In real use the drive is quick where it matters. Game load times, which are bounded by the CPU and decompression once a drive clears roughly 3,000 MB/s, are indistinguishable from a flagship Gen4 module. The SLC cache absorbs writes at full speed until it fills, after which sustained write speed settles to about 1.5 GB/s, which is normal for a DRAM-less TLC drive. For a 512 GB boot or game drive, transfers rarely exceed the cache, so the slowdown is seldom felt.

Thermals are a highlight: reviewers recorded around 42 C during full-drive writes with the included graphene heatsink, and the drive kept performing close to rated speed even at 90 percent capacity. Random access is solid thanks to HMB, though heavy mixed workloads on a nearly full drive will show a little more latency than a DRAM-equipped module. For the money, the C970 Plus delivers genuine PCIe 4.0 performance without the flagship price.

## Endurance, TBW & Warranty

DAHUA covers the C970 Plus with a five-year limited warranty, a generous term for a budget drive, with some regional listings promoting up to ten years. The 512 GB model is rated at 300 TBW of endurance, the smallest of the three capacities; the 1 TB carries 600 TBW and the 2 TB 1,200 TBW. At a typical 20 GB per day of writes, 300 TBW equates to roughly 41 years, so the flash will comfortably outlast the warranty term in normal use. The drive is rated for a 2,000,000 hour MTBF, though that figure is a population statistic, not a guarantee for any single unit. Returns are handled 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
- YMTC 232-layer TLC NAND
- Single-sided PCB fits laptops
- Graphene heatsink included
- Five-year warranty at a budget price
- Runs cool under sustained load
**Cons:**

- DRAM-less; sustained writes drop to ~1.5 GB/s
- Small SLC cache on the 512 GB model
- HMB depends on system RAM
- Minor latency under heavy mixed workloads


## Verdict

Buy the DAHUA C970 Plus 512 GB for a budget gaming build or laptop upgrade that wants genuine PCIe 4.0 speeds without paying for a DRAM cache or a famous brand. Skip it when very large files are moved regularly, since the DRAM-less design and small SLC cache mean sustained writes slow to about 1.5 GB/s, or when more capacity is needed, in which case the 1 TB is the sweet spot. The natural rivals are the Crucial P310 512 GB and the Kingston NV2, both budget Gen4 options that trade a little speed for lower cost. We rate the C970 Plus an honest, fast value drive, and the 512 GB is a fine boot or small-game-library pick.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Is the DAHUA C970 Plus 512 GB good for gaming?

Yes, for a 512 GB drive it is a solid gaming pick. 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 the same as a flagship in games. The 512 GB capacity fits a handful of modern titles, so it works best as a boot drive paired with a larger secondary drive. The DRAM-less design uses HMB, which is fine for gaming workloads, and the drive stays cool even under long sessions.

### Is the DAHUA C970 Plus 512 GB compatible with the PS5?

It meets Sony's speed requirement but is a poor fit on capacity. 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 with a heatsink; the C970 Plus's 7,200 MB/s rating clears the speed bar and the included graphene heatsink fits the console's dimensions. However, 512 GB is small for a PS5 library, where games routinely exceed 100 GB, and the console's slot is PCIe 4.0 so the drive runs at full speed. A 1 TB or 2 TB C970 Plus is the more practical console upgrade.

### 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 keeps costs down and is adequate for most consumer workloads, but the drive is more dependent on system memory than a DRAM-equipped module. In practice this shows up mostly in heavy sustained mixed workloads, where a DRAM-equipped drive maintains lower latency; for everyday use the difference is hard to notice.

### What is the TBW endurance of the DAHUA C970 Plus 512 GB?

The 512 GB C970 Plus is rated at roughly 300 TBW, the smallest of the three capacities; the 1 TB carries 600 TBW and the 2 TB 1,200 TBW. At a typical 20 GB per day of writes, 300 TBW equates to about 41 years, so the drive will outlast its five-year warranty in normal use. This is a budget-tier endurance figure, which is expected for a value drive, but it is more than enough for typical consumer workloads like booting, gaming, and everyday file transfers.

### 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 that reviewers measured keeping the drive around 42 C during full-drive writes. The DRAM-less Maxio controller is efficient and runs cool, so in a well-ventilated case it would manage even bare, though the included heatsink is worth fitting. It is thin enough to fit most laptops and the PS5's M.2 slot, making it a flexible option.

### Is the DAHUA C970 Plus 512 GB good for video editing?

It is usable for light 4K editing, but 512 GB is limiting for footage and the DRAM-less design shows on sustained writes. The drive's 7,200 MB/s reads are fine for scrubbing 4K timelines, and the SLC cache handles short bursts well. However, long renders or large file transfers will drop to about 1.5 GB/s once the cache fills, which is slower than a DRAM-equipped drive. For serious video work a 1 TB or 2 TB DRAM-equipped drive is the better choice; the C970 Plus suits light or occasional editing.

### How does the DAHUA C970 Plus 512 GB compare to the Crucial P310 512 GB?

Both are DRAM-less budget PCIe 4.0 drives, and they perform within a few percent of each other in practice. The C970 Plus is rated slightly higher on peak reads at 7,200 MB/s versus the P310's 7,100 MB/s, and it includes a graphene heatsink and a five-year warranty, which the P310's bare version does not. The Crucial carries a more established brand and firmware support. For most budget buyers the C970 Plus offers slightly more for the money; the P310 is the safer mainstream-brand choice.

---

Last updated: 2026-08-17. Source: https://ssdrive.net/dahua-c970-plus-512-gb