Samsung 980 PRO 250GB

The Samsung 980 PRO 250GB represents the entry-level capacity for Samsung's first consumer-grade PCIe 4.0 NVMe solution. Built around the proprietary 8nm Elpis controller (S4LV003), the drive utilizes Samsung’s 6th Generation 128-Layer 3-bit TLC V-NAND to achieve high-throughput data transfer. Unlike the DRAM-less 980 (non-Pro) series, this model integrates 512MB of LPDDR4 DRAM for mapping tables, ensuring consistent random I/O performance and reduced latency. However, due to the limited number of NAND dies available in the 250GB capacity, the drive lacks the necessary interleaving to fully saturate the PCIe 4.0 interface, resulting in lower sequential throughput compared to the 1TB and 2TB variants. The 980 PRO series is well-documented within enthusiast communities for a critical firmware vulnerability found in earlier production batches (specifically firmware versions preceding 5B2QGXA7). This issue could lead to widespread media errors (SMART ID 0E) and the drive locking into a "read-only" failure state. It is standard operating procedure to verify and update the firmware via Samsung Magician immediately upon installation. Additionally, the Elpis controller is thermally dense; while the drive features a nickel-coated controller and a heat-spreader label, the compact 2280 form factor is susceptible to thermal throttling under sustained write loads without adequate chassis airflow or a third-party heatsink.

Key Specifications

• Interface: PCIe Gen 4.0 x4, NVMe 1.3c
• Sequential Read/Write: 6,400 MB/s Read / 2,700 MB/s Write
• Controller: Samsung Elpis (S4LV003)
• NAND Flash: Samsung 128-Layer V-NAND 3-bit TLC
• DRAM Cache: 512MB LPDDR4
• Endurance: 150 TBW (Total Bytes Written)
• Encryption Support: AES 256-bit, TCG Opal 2.0, IEEE1667 (Encrypted Drive)
• PCB Layout: Single-sided

Hardware Alternatives

• WD Black SN850: The direct contemporary competitor to the 980 PRO. It utilizes a proprietary Western Digital G2 controller and BiCS4 NAND. It generally competes in the same performance tier, though write speeds at lower capacities vary based on over-provisioning and SLC caching strategies.
• Crucial P5 Plus: Uses a proprietary Micron controller paired with 176-layer TLC NAND. It serves as a direct alternative for users seeking a vertically integrated drive (controller, DRAM, and NAND from a single manufacturer).
• Phison E18 Reference Design (e.g., Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus, Corsair MP600 PRO): A widespread hardware platform used by various vendors. These drives typically pair the Phison PS5018-E18 controller with Micron B47R NAND, offering a non-proprietary alternative with similar high-bandwidth capabilities.