Samsung 970 EVO Plus 2TB NVMe M.2 SSD: features, specs and who it suits

The Samsung 970 EVO Plus is an internal solid state drive in the M.2 format, using the NVMe interface. This version has 2TB of capacity (model MZ-V7S2T0B). It is intended for PCs and workstations where storage speed matters, such as editing, large projects and fast loading.

NVMe and PCIe Gen 3.0 x4

NVMe is a protocol designed for flash storage, and it talks to the computer over PCI Express lanes instead of the older SATA connection. Samsung lists the PCIe Gen 3.0 x4 interface, meaning four lanes of third-generation PCIe. In general, that allows several times the throughput of a SATA drive, which tops out around 550MB/s.

Speed figures

Samsung rates sequential reads at up to 3,500MB/s and writes at up to 3,300MB/s, which it says is up to 53% faster than the 970 EVO. The listing explains that the write figure uses Intelligent TurboWrite, a fast buffer; after that region is full, sustained writes drop. For the 2TB model Samsung gives 1,750MB/s after the TurboWrite region. Results also depend on the host system, firmware and test method.

V-NAND and endurance

The drive uses Samsung's V-NAND, a stacked-cell design, in 3-bit MLC form. Endurance is given as terabytes written (TBW): up to 1,200TBW for the 2TB model, and lower for smaller sizes. Samsung describes the warranty as five years or the TBW limit, whichever comes first, and the listing also mentions a 7-year figure in one place, so read the warranty statement in the package for the exact terms.

Heat control and software

Samsung says a nickel-coated controller and heat spreader help dissipate heat, and that Dynamic Thermal Guard monitors temperature and keeps it at levels intended to minimise performance drops. Heat is the main limit on sustained speed for M.2 drives, so airflow in the case or a motherboard heatsink also matters.

Samsung Magician is the brand's software for keeping the drive's firmware up to date, monitoring its health and speed, and adjusting performance.

Installing it

The drive is a stick-style M.2 module, about 3.1 inches long (the 2280 length) and under 1 inch wide. It plugs into an M.2 slot on a motherboard or in a laptop and is held by a single screw. The listed supply voltage is 3.3V ±5%.

Who it suits

It suits desktop builders, creators working with large files, and people upgrading a laptop or PC with a compatible M.2 slot. It is not for systems that only have SATA connections.

What to check before you buy

• Slot type: confirm your device has an M.2 slot that supports NVMe (not SATA-only M.2) and a 2280 length.
• PCIe generation: newer slots will run the drive at its Gen 3.0 speed; older systems may be slower or not boot from NVMe.
• Cooling: check space for a heatsink or airflow, especially in compact laptops.
• Double-sided module: some thin laptops have height limits.
• Backups and cloning: plan how to move your data.

The short version

• A 2TB M.2 NVMe SSD on PCIe Gen 3.0 x4 with V-NAND.
• Rated up to 3,500/3,300MB/s and up to 1,200TBW.
• Heat spreader, Dynamic Thermal Guard and Magician software.
• Check slot type, length and cooling before buying.

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