Samsung 980 PRO 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD with Heatsink: specs and fit

The Samsung 980 PRO with Heatsink is a 1TB internal solid state drive in the M.2 format, using the NVMe protocol over a PCIe 4.0 connection. It is made for PCs and for the PlayStation 5, where its heatsink is intended to help it keep its speed. Here is what the main points mean and what to confirm before buying.

What NVMe and PCIe 4.0 mean

Older SATA SSDs use a connection designed for hard drives. NVMe drives talk to the processor over PCIe lanes instead, which allows far higher speeds. PCIe 4.0 doubles the per-lane bandwidth of PCIe 3.0. Samsung states that the 980 PRO's PCIe 4.0 interface is 2x faster than PCIe 3.0 SSDs and 12x faster than Samsung SATA SSDs, a comparison based on Samsung's own results against its PCIe 3.0 NVMe and SATA drives.

The drive typically works in a PCIe 3.0 M.2 slot as well, just at lower speeds. To benefit from PCIe 4.0, the motherboard slot and processor generally need to support it.

Why the heatsink matters

Fast SSDs get warm, and many slow themselves down when hot, a behaviour called thermal throttling. Samsung says the integrated heatsink disperses heat to maintain speed, power efficiency and thermal control. The controller is nickel-coated, which Samsung says gives effective thermal control of the NAND chip. The heatsink is attached already, so there is nothing extra to fit.

That matters for fit: the heatsink adds height. Samsung gives a thin 8.6mm housing that it says fits the PlayStation 5. Many motherboards have their own M.2 heatsink covers, which may not fit over this drive, so check clearance.

PS5 and PC use

The listing describes the drive as PS5 compatible and suitable for building high-performance gaming and computing systems. Console storage expansion has its own requirements and steps, so follow Sony's current instructions for the system. On PC, it goes into an M.2 slot with the appropriate key and length (the 2280 size is the usual). Check your motherboard's manual.

Performance claims

Samsung describes sustained high bandwidth and throughput for gaming, graphics and data analytics. The listing doesn't give specific speed numbers for this model, so read Samsung's specification sheet for sequential and random speeds. Real-world speeds depend on the system, drive fill level and workload.

Software and in-house components

Samsung Magician software is mentioned for monitoring drive health, optimizing performance, protecting data and receiving updates. Samsung also says the firmware and components, including its DRAM and NAND, are produced in-house, with an in-house controller designed to work with the flash memory and the interface.

Size

The module measures about 3.1 x 0.9 x 0.4 inches (roughly 8 x 2.3 x 1 cm) and weighs about 0.1 lb (around 45 g), a compact, lightweight part.

What to check before you buy

• Slot type: an M.2 slot with NVMe and PCIe support (not a SATA-only slot).
• PCIe generation: PCIe 4.0 is needed to use the drive's full interface speed.
• Clearance: the heatsink adds height, so check the space under any motherboard cover or laptop panel. It may not suit laptops.
• Console: follow current official instructions for PS5.
• Backups: back up data before moving it to a new drive.
• Capacity: 1TB suits a main drive or game library, but consider your needs.

The short version

• A 1TB M.2 NVMe SSD with a PCIe 4.0 interface and a built-in heatsink.
• Samsung describes it as 2x faster than PCIe 3.0 and 12x faster than its SATA SSDs.
• 8.6mm housing for PS5 and PC use.
• Samsung Magician software for monitoring and updates.

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