Samsung 980 250GB DRAM-less NVMe SSD Review (2026)
The Samsung 980 250GB is Samsung's entry-level NVMe SSD, dropping on-board DRAM in favour of a Host Memory Buffer design while still hitting 3,500 MB/s reads on PCIe 3.0.
Controller & Memory
The Samsung 980 250GB uses the Pablo controller paired with Samsung V-NAND TLC flash and no dedicated DRAM chip. Instead, it borrows a small portion of system RAM through the NVMe Host Memory Buffer (HMB) feature, which requires a compatible motherboard and operating system (Windows 10 or later). This keeps costs down while maintaining competitive performance.
Samsung rates the 250 GB model for 3,500 MB/s sequential reads and 3,000 MB/s sequential writes, along with 500,000 random read IOPS and 480,000 random write IOPS. Endurance is 150 TBW with a five-year warranty. The drive uses a single-sided M.2 2280 PCB with a nickel-coated controller and copper-foil back label for passive cooling.
The 980 targets budget-conscious builders who want NVMe speeds without paying for DRAM-equipped drives. The HMB dependency means the drive performs best in modern systems with ample RAM; older platforms without HMB support will see reduced random IO performance. Direct competitors include the WD Blue SN570 and Kingston NV2, both of which are also DRAM-less PCIe 3.0 drives.
Storage Comparisons:
980 Performance & Benchmarks
Samsung rates the 980 250GB at 3,500 MB/s sequential reads and 3,000 MB/s sequential writes, with up to 500,000 random read IOPS and 480,000 random write IOPS. These figures assume HMB is active; without it, random performance drops significantly.
Samsung 980 250 GB vs M.2 3.0 x 4 peers
Switch between sequential throughput and random IOPS to see how this drive stacks up against other M.2 3.0 x 4 SSDs in our database. The highlighted bar is the drive on this page — click any other bar to open that drive.
- Samsung 980 250 GB (this drive): 3,500 MB/s read, 3,000 MB/s write
- ADATA SX 8800 Pro 512 GB: 3,500 MB/s read, 2,700 MB/s write
- ADATA SX 8800 Pro 1 TB: 3,500 MB/s read, 2,700 MB/s write
- ADATA XPG Spectrix S40G RGB 256 GB: 3,500 MB/s read, 3,000 MB/s write
- ADATA XPG Spectrix S40G RGB 512 GB: 3,500 MB/s read, 3,000 MB/s write
In real-world use, the 980 delivers consistent read speeds that saturate the PCIe 3.0 bus. Write speeds hold up well in typical consumer workloads, with an SLC write cache that buffers burst writes. Independent reviewers found the 980 competitive with DRAM-equipped PCIe 3.0 drives in sequential workloads, though random IO consistency can trail slightly in heavy multi-tasking scenarios where the HMB overhead becomes a factor. For gaming and general desktop use, the performance is indistinguishable from more expensive DRAM drives.
Samsung 980 vs Competitors
See how the 980 stacks up against other M.2 3.0 x 4 drives in our database:
Compare with rival drives:
Endurance, TBW & Warranty
Samsung backs the 980 250GB with a five-year limited warranty, subject to a 150 TBW endurance rating. At 20 GB of writes per day, 150 TBW translates to approximately 20 years of use, making endurance a non-concern for a boot drive. Samsung's Magician software monitors health, TBW consumption, and provides firmware updates.
Samsung 980 250 GB Specifications
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Capacity [?] | 250 GB |
| Interface [?] | M.2 3.0 x 4 |
| Controller [?] | Samsung Pablo |
| Memory type [?] | Samsung TLC |
| DRAM [?] | HMB |
| Read speed (MB/s) [?] | 3500 |
| Write speed (MB/s) [?] | 3000 |
| Read IOPS [?] | 500000 |
| Write IOPS [?] | 480000 |
| Endurance (TBW) [?] | 150 |
| MTBF (million hours) [?] | 1.5 |
| Warranty (years) [?] | 5 |
Verdict: Is the 980 Worth It in 2026?
The Samsung 980 250GB is a competent budget NVMe SSD that delivers PCIe 3.0 saturation on reads and competitive writes without on-board DRAM. It is best suited as a boot drive in modern systems with HMB support. Buyers who need more capacity or want DRAM-level consistency under heavy loads should consider the Samsung 970 EVO Plus 500GB or the WD Blue SN570 250GB as alternatives.
+ Pros
- 3,500/3,000 MB/s sequential read/write at low cost
- Host Memory Buffer eliminates DRAM cost
- Single-sided M.2 2280 fits laptops
- Samsung Pablo controller with proven reliability
- 150 TBW with five-year warranty
- Cons
- No on-board DRAM; HMB requires compatible system
- 250 GB fills quickly for modern use
- Random IO trails DRAM drives under heavy load
- PCIe 3.0 interface caps at 3,500 MB/s
Buy this or similar SSD Storage:
Video Review
Samsung 980 SSD NVME unboxing and benchmarks
