In today’s world, the old hard disk drives are gradually becoming obsolete and are being quickly replaced by the newer and considerably faster SSD drives. An SSD is essential, especially in a gaming PC. And, Samsung SSDs are amongst the best ones available on the market. The brand has come up with several SSD models, which include the EVO and PRO.
The Samsung EVO SSD is generally considered to be the younger sibling of the PRO. However, it offers tough competition to PRO owing to its wonderful read/write speeds and other great features. In this post, you’ll get full information about both SSDs, so that you’re able to make a good decision as to which one is more suitable for your needs.
So, which one should you choose between Samsung SSD EVO vs PRO? Let’s find out!
About Samsung EVO SSD
There are multiple devices that are branded in the Samsung EVO SSD range. Have a look at some of those below:
Samsung 870 EVO
- Interface: SATA
- Form Factor: 2.5 Inches
- Size: 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB
- Read Speed: Up to 560 MB/s
- Write Speed: Up to 530 MB/s
Samsung 970 EVO
- Interface: NVMe
- Form Factor: M.2 (2280)
- Size: 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB
- Read Speed: Up to 3500 MB/s
- Write Speed: Up to 2500 MB/s
About Samsung PRO SSD
Just like its EVO series SSDs, the Samsung PRO SSD range also has multiple devices. Here are some of those:
Samsung 850 PRO
- Interface: SATA
- Form Factor: 2.5 Inches
- Size: 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB
- Read Speed: Up to 550 MB/s
- Write Speed: Up to 520 MB/s
Samsung 970 PRO
- Interface: NVMe
- Form Factor: 3.5 Inches
- Size: 500GB, 1TB
- Read Speed: Up to 3500 MB/s
- Write Speed: Up to 2700 MB/s
Samsung 980 PRO
- Interface: NVMe
- Form Factor: M.2 (2280)
- Size: 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB
- Read Speed: Up to 7000 MB/s
- Write Speed: Up to 5000 MB/s
Both SSDs are 2.5 inch. To learn the difference between 2.5 inch and 3.5 inch hard drives, read the following article>>>
Samsung SSD EVO vs PRO
The Samsung EVO and PRO SSDs are quite confusingly named similar to each other. It’s easy to confuse one with another. Therefore, have a look at the below comparison to decide on which exact device fits your needs.
But, before proceeding to the differences between these SSDs, let’s first look at their similarities.
What’s the same on EVO & PRO SSDs?
The first similarity is the look. The SATA versions, which include the Samsung 870 EVO and the Samsung 850 PRO look almost the same. They’re both made in the same shape – a black 2.5” drive with SATA data and power connectors. Similarly, the NVMe interface SSDs also look quite similar across the EVO and PRO series.
SATA VS NVMe
As you must have noticed from the specs above, the devices across EVO and PRO series feature two different interfaces – SATA and NVMe. The NVMe SSD is connected to the M.2 port located on the motherboard, whereas the SATA plugs into the SATA drive. SATA SSDs are typically bigger than NVMe SSDs. But, when it comes to read/write speeds, the NVMe is the superior option as it is considerably faster than the SATA ones.
Now, since both versions have multiple devices in their respective range, I’ll pick two devices with similar specs to compare in EVO and PRO categories. So, let’s compare Samsung 970 EVO vs 970 Pro SSD. Here’s the pointwise comparison between the two devices:
#1. Benchmark Scores
When we practically tested the speed of both SSDs on an Intel i5 8th Gen processor with an 8GB, 3200MHz RAM, here are the results we got:
Samsung 970 Evo 1TB
- Average Sequential Read Speed: 2325 MB/s
- Average Sequential Write Speed: 1967 MB/s
- Average Random Read Speed: 53.4 MB/s
- Average Random Write Speed: 147.1 MB/s
Samsung 970 Pro 1TB
- Average Sequential Read Speed: 2385 MB/s
- Average Sequential Write Speed: 2131 MB/s
- Average Random Read Speed: 61.2 MB/s
- Average Random Write Speed: 152.2 MB/s
From these results, it’s clear that the PRO model has a clear edge over the EVO model in all parameters. But, the difference is very little.
#2. OS/Software Boot-Time
Now, let’s compare how these SSDs perform when running the OS and several software/games. Here are the results that I got.
Samsung 970 Evo 1TB
- Windows 10 (Intel i5 8th Gen): 26 Seconds
- Google Chrome: 5 Seconds
- Adobe Photoshop: 18 Seconds
- Tomb Raider: 25 Seconds
Samsung 970 Pro 1TB
- Windows 10 (Intel i5 8th Gen): 24 Seconds
- Google Chrome: 4 Seconds
- Adobe Photoshop: 17 Seconds
- Tomb Raider: 23 Seconds
Again, notice that the PRO model SSD provides a slightly better experience when it comes to real-time applications.
#3. NAND Type
When you talk about the NAND, Controller, DRAM, etc. of these SSDs, almost everything is similar in both – Except NAND Type. The Samsung 970 PRO SSD uses the MLC NAND which is more reliable and better than the Samsung 970 EVO’s TLC NAND. This is the main reason why the 970 Pro is capable of delivering comparatively higher data read/write speeds.
#4. Storage Size
The capacity options available for the 970 EVO are 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB. On the other hand, you get only two storage sizes on the 970 PRO, which include 500GB and 1TB.
#5. Price
The price of the EVO series model will usually be lower than the PRO series. But, it would be wise to check the live prices of both to have an accurate comparison between the models.
Samsung 970 EVO
- Innovative V-Nand Technology: Powered by Samsung V NAND Technology, the 970 EVO...
- Breakthrough read write speeds: Sequential read and write performance levels of up to...
- Performance optimization and data security: Seamless cloning and file transfers with...
Samsung 970 PRO
- Always Evolving SSD: The 970 EVO Plus is powered by the latest V-NAND technology and...
- Breakthrough Read/Write Speeds: The 970 EVO Plus reaches sequential read/write speeds...
- Samsung Magician for Data Security: This software provides a suite of user-friendly...
Which SSD Should You Choose?
In a nutshell, the Samsung PRO SSDs have, overall, better specifications than their corresponding EVO counterparts. However, if you compare the NVMe and SATA SSDs of both series, the NVMe is the superior option and considerably faster than the SATA ones. That’s why NVMe SSDs are slightly more expensive when compared to SATA.
If you talk about the best model overall, I would say it is the Samsung 970 PRO. This SSD is the most future-proof as it uses the newest PCIe interface. It offers the best speeds but is also the most expensive option.
For those who want a budget SSD, the 870 EVO or 850 PRO are also some great options to consider.
Thanks for reading!
I hope this guide helped you learn these Samsung SSDs fare when we compare them – EVO vs PRO.
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