Samsung 870 QVO 8TB SATA SSD (MZ-77Q8T0): specs and who it suits

The Samsung 870 QVO 8TB (model MZ-77Q8T0BW) is a 2.5-inch SATA solid state drive. Samsung describes it as the largest drive of its kind in its second-generation QLC line, meant for people who want to bring a desktop or laptop up to a very large amount of fast storage without moving to a newer interface.

What QLC memory means

QLC stands for quad-level cell: each memory cell stores four bits. That packs more data into each chip, which is how large capacities like 8TB become possible. The usual trade-off with QLC is that sustained write speed and endurance are typically lower than with TLC drives, particularly once a built-in fast write buffer fills. For general computing, game libraries and file storage that is read more than rewritten, this rarely matters.

SATA speeds in practice

Samsung lists sequential read and write speeds of up to 560 and 530 MB/s, and notes that performance varies with system hardware. These figures sit close to the ceiling of the SATA 6 Gb/s interface, which is why SATA SSDs of different brands often show similar numbers. They are well above a typical hard drive, but below NVMe drives that use PCIe.

Compatibility

The interface is SATA 6 Gb/s and, according to Samsung, it is compatible with SATA 3 Gb/s and SATA 1.5 Gb/s. That means it generally works in older machines, though at the speed of the slower port. The 2.5-inch form factor is the same as most laptop hard drives and many desktop drive bays with an adapter bracket.

Size and weight

The listing gives 3.9 x 2.8 x 0.3 inches (about 9.9 x 7.1 x 0.8 cm) and a weight of about 0.1 lb. It is thin and light enough to replace a laptop's internal 2.5-inch drive.

A large capacity in one drive

Eight terabytes in a single slot can replace several smaller drives, and simplify a build with limited bays. Operating systems usually show a little less than the labelled capacity because of how capacity is counted. Samsung says the drive is for mainstream PCs and laptops for personal, gaming and business use.

Who it suits

It suits someone who needs a lot of storage in a 2.5-inch SATA slot: large photo or video libraries, a big game collection, or bulk storage in an older system that has no M.2 slot.

What to check before you buy

• Connector: confirm the computer has a free SATA data port (and power connection in a desktop) or a 2.5-inch laptop bay.
• Height: check that a laptop bay accepts the drive's thin profile.
• Workload: if you write huge amounts of data continuously, read Samsung's endurance and warranty information.
• Backups: keep a second copy of important files, as with any single drive.
• Software and firmware: see Samsung's site for management tools and updates.

The short version

• 8TB, 2.5-inch SATA SSD, model MZ-77Q8T0BW.
• Second-generation QLC memory.
• Up to 560/530 MB/s sequential read/write, depending on the system.
• SATA 6 Gb/s, compatible with slower SATA ports.
• Made for mainstream PCs and laptops.

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