Introduction

Samsung is one of the world leaders in digital technology, making pretty much any electronic device you can think of. Their products are used by millions of people around the world.

Being a leader in DRAM and flash memory production, it comes as no surprise that they are also a player in the SSD business. Their EVO and PRO Series SSDs are highly popular among upgraders, system builders, and enthusiasts.

Today's review covers the Samsung 970 EVO, which is the smaller sister to the 970 Pro we reviewed last week. Unlike the 970 Pro, which uses MLC flash, the 970 EVO uses TLC chips, which are cheaper to make because they store 3-bits per cell instead of two. Both Samsung 970 EVO and 970 Pro use the same Samsung Phoenix controller, which is a new model for the 970 Series. For host connectivity, the PCI-Express x4 interface is used, which guarantees the highest possible throughput.

Samsung ships the 970 EVO in a wide range of capacities: 250 GB ($88), 512 GB ($150), 1 TB ($278), and 2 TB ($577). Endurance for our tested 500 GB version is set to 300 TBW, the 250 GB variant is rated at 150 TBW, 1 TB at 600 TB, and 2 TB at 1,200 TBW.