Consumercarts is reader-supported. Learn more
Acer FA100 vs Samsung 980 PRO: Comparison
Acer FA100 vs Samsung 980 PRO sequential read compared
On sequential read the spread is 53%, Acer FA100 3300 MB/s against Samsung 980 PRO 7000 MB/s, so Samsung 980 PRO takes it. Measured rather than claimed: in Speed Score the Samsung 980 PRO returns 8.4 against 6.4, a 24% lead. Sequential write runs the same way, 2700 MB/s on the Acer FA100 versus 5100 MB/s on the Samsung 980 PRO, another win for Samsung 980 PRO. Bus interface is not the same on both, PCIe 3.0 x4 on the Acer FA100 versus PCIe 4.0 x4, NVMe on the Samsung 980 PRO. They differ on nand type too, TLC on the Acer FA100 versus Samsung V-NAND TLC with DRAM Cache on the Samsung 980 PRO.
Which should you buy, Acer FA100 or Samsung 980 PRO?
Buy the Acer FA100 for everyday laptops and desktops with a PCIe 3.0 M.2 slot. It also earns its place with budget upgrades needing 2000 GB of NVMe storage in a standard M.2 2280 slot. It is the wrong buy for anyone wanting PCIe 4.0 speeds, since this drive tops out at 3300 MB/s reads. The Samsung 980 PRO is the one to take for PS5 storage upgrades (heatsink model) and high-end gaming desktops, though it is not built for budget-conscious builds and PCIe 3.0-only systems. Our rating of the Samsung 980 PRO (8.7/10): still a superb PCIe 4.0 flagship at a discount, though the 990 PRO has taken over as Samsung's top performer.
Specs and benchmarks
Speed Score
- Acer FA100
- 6.4/10-24%
- Samsung 980 PRO
- 8.4/10Best
How fast this drive is, rated from its read and write speeds, cache and NAND type. 10 is the fastest.
Brand
- Acer FA100
- Acer
- Samsung 980 PRO
- Samsung
Model Number
- Acer FA100
- Acer FA100 (Micron B27B)
- Samsung 980 PRO
- 980 PRO
Series
- Acer FA100
- FA100
- Samsung 980 PRO
- 980 PRO
Bus Interface
- Acer FA100
- PCIe 3.0 x4
- Samsung 980 PRO
- PCIe 4.0 x4, NVMe
Sequential Read
- Acer FA100
- 3300 MB/s-53%
- Samsung 980 PRO
- 7000 MB/s
Sequential Write
- Acer FA100
- 2700 MB/s-47%
- Samsung 980 PRO
- 5100 MB/s
NAND Type
- Acer FA100
- TLC
- Samsung 980 PRO
- Samsung V-NAND TLC with DRAM Cache
Which one should you pick?
Choose Acer FA100 if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Choose Samsung 980 PRO if you want the higher speed score (8.4 vs 6.4), the higher sequential read (7000 MB/s vs 3300 MB/s) and the higher sequential write (5100 MB/s vs 2700 MB/s).
Price comparison
| Retailer | Acer FA100 | Samsung 980 PRO |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | View on Amazon | |
| Newegg | View on Newegg |
Disclaimer: The price and specification of the given product may differ from the actual product. Please confirm on the retailer's website before buying.
Verdict
Samsung 980 PRO
8.7 / 10 Expert Rating
Still a superb PCIe 4.0 flagship at a discount, though the 990 PRO has taken over as Samsung's top performer.