NVMe SSD 960 PRO/EVO

For more information head over to Samsung NVMe SSD 960 PRO/EVO

Initial Observations

Other than the nothing but stellar performance numbers their are a couple of things to note:

• ENCRYPTION SUPPORT - AES 256-bit for User Data Encryption TCG Opal Family Spec and eDrive(IEEE1667) to be supported by FW update
• Interface - NVMe 1.2 (partial)
• New label incorporates a copper layer for better heat dissipation.
• 2TB 960 PRO to arrive 2017 

So it looks like if you want to run drive encryption you'll have to wait for a new Firmware for the 960 drives.

What the partial support for NVMe 1.2 translates to in the real world is unknown, I suspect it will be a non issue though.

Thermal performance of the drive has been improved (not that it was a issue on the 950 in client workloads), The 960's label has a copper layer to assist with keeping the 960 cool and under the thermal throttle limit longer.

Lastly the 2TB version of the 960 PRO wont arrive till the 64 layer VNand package is ready early 2017, this is still an impressive feat delivering 2TB on a single sided 2280 form factor M.2 SSD.

The 1TB 960 EVO looks like a cost effective SSD for a 2nd storage drive, that performs faster than the 950 PRO.

960 PRO Specification

• Samsung’s highest capacity NVMe consumer SSD (2TB) for next generation, professional-level performance and endurance with an innovative new PCB design
• Available in 512GB and 1TB and 2TB capacities
• Sequential read speeds up to 3,500 MB/s
• Sequential write speeds up to 2,100 MB/s
• Five-year limited warranty up to 1.2 Petabytes for 2TB capacity, whichever occurs first.
• Dynamic Thermal Guard technology to manage performance levels and prevent overheating
• M.2 form factor ideal for ultra-thin notebooks and PCs
• Features PCIe Gen.3 x4 lane interface
• Compliant with all NVMe specifications

960 EVO Specification

• Ideal for mainstream NVMe users looking for next generation PC performance
• Available in 250GB, 500GB and 1TB capacities
• First Samsung product to integrate Samsung Intelligent TurboWrite technology, accelerating sequential read and write speeds
  - Sequential read speeds up to 3,200 MB/s 
  - Sequential write speeds up to 1,900 MB/s
• Three-year limited warranty up to 400 TBW for 1TB capacity, whichever occurs first.
• Dynamic Thermal Guard technology to manage performance levels and prevent overheating
• M.2 form factor ideal for ultra-thin notebooks and PCs.
• Features PCIe Gen.3 x4 lane interface
• Compliant with all NVMe specifications