Samsung PM981 512GB PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe M.2 2280
XPG GAMMIX S70 Blade 2TB PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe M.2 2280
What Buyers Say
Samsung PM981 512GB PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe M.2 2280
The Samsung PM981 NVMe SSD generally delivers excellent performance, with users reporting fast boot times and high read/write speeds. However, several reviewers received used or OEM units instead of new retail drives, and one received a Kingston drive instead of Samsung. Overall, the drive is praised for its speed and ease of installation, but the packaging and authenticity issues are notable concerns.
Pros
- Fast boot times
- High read/write speeds
- Easy installation
- Good value for money
- Compatible with many laptops
Cons
- Received used or OEM units
- One received Kingston instead of Samsung
- Packaging not retail
- Pre-installed software on used drive
XPG GAMMIX S70 Blade 2TB PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe M.2 2280
Users are overwhelmingly positive about this SSD, praising its ease of installation, fast speeds, and great value for money. Many mention using it as a boot drive or for gaming, with one long-term user noting it still runs perfectly after nearly three years. A few minor concerns exist about compatibility and performance differences, but overall it's highly recommended.
Pros
- Easy installation
- Fast speeds
- Great value for money
- Reliable long-term performance
- Works well for gaming
Cons
- Slightly slower than Samsung 990 Pro
- Mixed feelings for some
- No major complaints
Scores
Specifications
| Samsung PM981 | XPG GAMMIX S70 Blade | |
|---|---|---|
| Drive | ||
| Capacity | ||
| Form Factor | M.2 2280 | M.2 2280 |
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x4 | PCIe 4.0 x4 |
| Protocol | NVMe | NVMe |
| PCIe Generation | 3 | 4★ |
| External | ✗ | ✗ |
| Performance | ||
| Sequential Read (MB/s) | ||
| Sequential Write (MB/s) | ||
| Random Read (IOPS) | No data | |
| Random Write (IOPS) | No data | |
| Hardware | ||
| NAND | — | TLC★ |
| DRAM Cache | — | ✓★ |
| Reliability | ||
| Endurance (TBW) | No data | |
| MTBF (hours) | No data | |
| Features | ||
| Heatsink | — | ✓★ |
Pros & Cons
Samsung PM981 512GB PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe M.2 2280
- Below average feature (15th percentile)15th %ile
- Below average endurance (15th percentile)15th %ile
- Below average user sentiment (29th percentile)
- Below average capacity (34th percentile)
XPG GAMMIX S70 Blade 2TB PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe M.2 2280
- Strong feature (94th percentile)94th %ile
- Strong speed (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
- Strong random (90th percentile)90th %ile
- Strong user sentiment (79th percentile)
- Below average affordability (30th percentile)
Verdict
Scores 88 overall, wins 6 of 6 usage categories and 11 of 15 specs.