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Samsung 970 PRO 512GB PCIe Gen 3.0 x4 M.2 Solid State Drive MZ-V7P512E
Samsung

Samsung 970 PRO

Expert rating8.3 / 10

View on AmazonView on samsung.com
Interface:
PCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe
Sequential Read:
Up to 3,500 MB/s
Capacity Options:
512GB, 1TB

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Manufacturer: Samsung Last updated: 2026-09-12

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Samsung 970 PRO Review

Samsung 970 PRO PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSD, the last consumer Samsung drive to use MLC NAND, prized for endurance over the TLC-based 970 EVO Plus.

MLC NAND is essentially extinct in consumer drives now, which is exactly why the 970 PRO still gets mentioned in workstation circles. It trades outright peak speed for endurance ratings that dwarf typical TLC drives, and its rock-steady performance under sustained writes made it the choice for professionals who couldn't risk a slowdown mid-render. It's a niche pick today, but a genuinely excellent one for the right workload.

Comparison to Alternatives

Against its own sibling, the Samsung 970 EVO Plus, the 970 PRO offers meaningfully higher write endurance thanks to MLC NAND, at the cost of a lower maximum capacity ceiling (topping out at 1TB versus 2TB). Compared to newer TLC flagships like the Samsung 990 PRO, the 970 PRO is far slower on paper but still appeals to buyers who specifically value MLC's durability characteristics.

Our verdict

Reviewed by Burooj Alam. Rated by us, not by users.

Expert rating8.3 / 10

A legacy MLC flagship valued for endurance, though newer TLC drives have long since overtaken it on raw speed.

Best for

  • Heavy sustained write workloads
  • Professionals needing long-term drive durability
  • Workstation caching drives

Not for

  • Budget shoppers
  • Users wanting PCIe 4.0/5.0 speeds
  • Buyers needing capacities above 1TB

Specifications

What these specs mean
Speed Score
7.1/10

How fast this drive is among internal SSDs, rated from its read and write speeds, cache and NAND type.

Identity

BrandSamsung
Model Number970 PRO
Series970 PRO
Release Year2018

Interface and form

Drive TypeInternal
Bus InterfacePCIe 3.0 x4
ProtocolNVMe 1.3
Form FactorM.2 2280

Sequential performance

Sequential Read3500 MB/s

Controller and cache

ControllerSamsung Phoenix
Controller VendorSamsung
DRAM CacheDRAM

NAND

NAND TypeMLC
NAND VendorSamsung

Features

Hardware EncryptionAES-256 TCG Opal 2.0

Physical and commercial

Length80.15 mm
Width22.15 mm
Thickness2.38 mm
Warranty5 Years

FAQs

What are the key specifications of the Samsung 970 PRO (PCIe 3.0 NVMe/MLC/High-Endurance Legacy Flagship)?

Key specs for the Samsung 970 PRO: Sequential Read 3500 MB/s, Bus Interface PCIe 3.0 x4, NAND Type MLC, DRAM Cache DRAM, Form Factor M.2 2280, Drive Type Internal.

Who is the Samsung 970 PRO (PCIe 3.0 NVMe/MLC/High-Endurance Legacy Flagship) best suited to?

Best suited to: Heavy sustained write workloads; Professionals needing long-term drive durability; Workstation caching drives.

What are the drawbacks of the Samsung 970 PRO (PCIe 3.0 NVMe/MLC/High-Endurance Legacy Flagship)?

Not the best fit for: Budget shoppers; Users wanting PCIe 4.0/5.0 speeds; Buyers needing capacities above 1TB.

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