# Samsung 980 1TB DRAM-less NVMe SSD Review (2026)

The Samsung 980 1TB is Samsung's mainstream DRAM-less NVMe SSD, combining the Pablo controller with Host Memory Buffer technology for 3,500 MB/s reads at a capacity that covers OS, games, and applications.

Quick answer: The Samsung 980 1TB is a well-priced DRAM-less NVMe SSD that delivers PCIe 3.0 saturation on reads and competitive writes at a capacity that suits most users. The HMB design is a fair trade-off for budget builders on modern platforms. Users who need DRAM-level consistency or higher write speeds should step up to the Samsung 970 EVO Plus 1TB. For a budget-friendly gaming and general-use drive, the 980 1TB is one of the strongest picks in Samsung's lineup.

## Specifications

| Specification | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Capacity | 1 TB |
| Interface | M.2 3.0 x 4 |
| Controller | Samsung Pablo |
| Memory type | Samsung TLC |
| DRAM cache | HMB |
| Sequential read | 3500 MB/s |
| Sequential write | 3000 MB/s |
| Random read IOPS | 500000 |
| Random write IOPS | 480000 |
| Endurance | 375 TBW |
| MTBF | 1.5 |
| Warranty | 5 years |

## Performance

Samsung rates the 1 TB 980 at 3,500 MB/s sequential reads and 3,000 MB/s sequential writes, with 500,000 random read IOPS and 480,000 random write IOPS. The 128-layer V6 TLC NAND provides good burst write performance within the SLC cache, and the larger capacity means a bigger cache allocation than the smaller models.

Independent reviewers consistently found the 980 1TB competitive with DRAM-equipped PCIe 3.0 drives in sequential benchmarks and most real-world tests. The HMB mechanism handles the mapping table efficiently for typical consumer workloads. Under sustained random write loads with multiple concurrent operations, the DRAM-less design shows slightly more latency variance than the 970 EVO Plus, but for gaming and general desktop use the difference is negligible.

## Endurance, TBW & Warranty

Samsung covers the 980 1TB with a five-year limited warranty and a 375 TBW endurance rating. At a typical consumer workload of 20 GB of writes per day, 375 TBW translates to approximately 51 years of use. Samsung's Magician software provides real-time health monitoring, TBW tracking, and firmware updates. Warranty service is available through Samsung's support portal or the original retailer.

## Pros and Cons

**Pros:**

- 3,500/3,000 MB/s sequential read/write
- 128-layer V6 TLC NAND on 1 TB capacity
- 375 TBW endurance with five-year warranty
- Single-sided M.2 2280 fits laptops
- DRAM-less design keeps cost low
**Cons:**

- No on-board DRAM; HMB dependency
- Random IO trails DRAM drives under heavy load
- PCIe 3.0 caps at 3,500 MB/s
- No hardware encryption support


## Verdict

The Samsung 980 1TB is a well-priced DRAM-less NVMe SSD that delivers PCIe 3.0 saturation on reads and competitive writes at a capacity that suits most users. The HMB design is a fair trade-off for budget builders on modern platforms. Users who need DRAM-level consistency or higher write speeds should step up to the Samsung 970 EVO Plus 1TB. For a budget-friendly gaming and general-use drive, the 980 1TB is one of the strongest picks in Samsung's lineup.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Is the Samsung 980 1TB good for gaming?

The 980 1TB is an excellent gaming drive for PCIe 3.0 systems. The 3,500 MB/s read speed ensures fast game loads, and the 1 TB capacity holds the OS plus a large game library. Gaming is primarily a read-heavy workload, so the DRAM-less design does not meaningfully impact game performance or load times.

### Is the Samsung 980 1TB compatible with the PS5?

No, the PS5 requires a PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD with recommended reads of 5,500 MB/s or higher and a heatsink. The Samsung 980 is a PCIe 3.0 drive rated at 3,500 MB/s reads and does not meet Sony's published requirements for the expansion slot.

### Does the Samsung 980 1TB have a DRAM cache?

No, the Samsung 980 does not have on-board DRAM. It uses the NVMe Host Memory Buffer (HMB) feature to borrow a small amount of system RAM (approximately 32 MB) for its flash translation layer. This requires a compatible system with Windows 10 or later. The Samsung 970 EVO Plus has dedicated LPDDR4 DRAM instead.

### What is the TBW endurance of the Samsung 980 1TB?

Samsung rates the 1 TB 980 at 375 TBW (terabytes written) under its five-year warranty. At a typical consumer write rate of 20 GB per day, this translates to approximately 51 years before reaching the endurance ceiling. Even at a heavier 50 GB per day, the drive would take roughly 21 years.

### How does the Samsung 980 compare to the 970 EVO Plus?

The 980 is DRAM-less and uses HMB, while the 970 EVO Plus has dedicated LPDDR4 DRAM. The EVO Plus offers higher write speeds at most capacities and better random IO consistency under heavy loads. The 980 costs less, runs cooler, and uses newer 128-layer NAND on the 1 TB model. For budget builds, the 980 is sufficient; for sustained workloads, the EVO Plus is preferable.

### Does the Samsung 980 1TB need a heatsink?

No heatsink is included or required. The 980 uses a nickel-coated Pablo controller and copper-foil back label for passive cooling. Because it is a PCIe 3.0 drive with modest power draw (around 5.9 W peak writes), it runs cooler than PCIe 4.0 drives. Motherboard M.2 shields are more than adequate.

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Last updated: 2026-05-17. Source: https://ssdrive.net/samsung-980-1-tb