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STORAGE · YOUR NEXT FACE-OFF

Kingston NV3 vs Samsung 980 PRO

Real specs. Clear sources.Exact models · UK & US buying links

Compared products

YOUR FIRST CHOICE

Kingston NV3

1000 GB · M.2 2280 · SNV3S/1000G

Kingston NV3 1000 GB M.2 2280 SSD; official appearance associated with SNV3S/1000G
Exact model & source notes

A 1 TB (1000 GB) PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe SSD rated up to 6,000 MB/s read and 4,000 MB/s write, in a single-sided M.2 2280 module with a 320 TB endurance rating.

Specifications checked 11 Sept 2026.

Amazon links open search results. Check the exact variant, current price and availability with the retailer.

Manufacturer specifications
WHAT DIFFERS
1,000 GBCapacity2,000 GB
320 TBPublished endurance rating (TBW)1,200 TB
6,000 MB/sRated sequential read7,000 MB/s
3 of 9 verified differences, in the order listed below. Not a rating.
See the 9 verified differences
THE CONTENDER

Samsung 980 PRO

2 TB · M.2 2280 without factory heatsink · MZ-V8P2T0BW

Samsung 980 PRO 2 TB M.2 SSD; official image associated with MZ-V8P2T0BW
Exact model & source notes

A 2 TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD rated up to 7,000 MB/s read and 5,100 MB/s write, with TLC V-NAND, 2 GB LPDDR4 cache and a 1,200 TB write rating. It has no factory heatsink.

Specifications checked 11 Sept 2026.

Amazon links open search results. Check the exact variant, current price and availability with the retailer.

Manufacturer specifications

Kingston NV3 UK & US retailers

UK & US price history: no verified listing yet

Samsung 980 PRO UK & US retailers

UK & US price history: no verified listing yet

Search links open retailer results, not a matched listing; eBay listings are checked daily. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.

THE DIFFERENCES, MADE VISIBLE

Visual facts

Differences first. Select a topic for its graphic, sources and conditions.

How to read this comparison
  • Manufacturer facts for the exact models shown. Not a quality rating or a test result.
  • “Different” means the known values differ, not that one is better.
  • Missing or conflicting evidence is marked and never counts as a difference. Source chips hold each fact’s sources and conditions.
SPECIFICATIONS SIDE BY SIDE8 topics
SELECTED TOPIC
01 / 08

Storage capacity

Decimal storage capacity: 1 TB = 1,000 GB. Formatting and system use reduce available space.

Kingston NV31 TB

Manufacturer specification · Manufacturer-listed capacity; formatting and reserved functions reduce usable storage.

Samsung 980 PRO2 TB

Manufacturer specification · Decimal capacity; formatting and system use reduce available space.

Explore the full specifications

Check the connection before the capacity. M.2 NVMe modules and 2.5-inch SATA drives are not interchangeable. Check the host’s protocol, slot or bay, power connection and clearance. Rated speeds use different test systems; we do not turn them into a speed score or overall winner.

WHAT CHANGES BETWEEN THEM?

Key differences

Full specifications ↓

9 verified differences, most decision-relevant first. 7 are also drawn in Visual facts above. Missing information stays separate.

Kingston NV31000 GB
Samsung 980 PRO2000 GB
Sources
Kingston NV3

Manufacturer specification · Manufacturer-listed capacity; formatting and reserved functions reduce usable storage.

Kingston NV3 — manufacturer specificationsKingston NV3 — exact-capacity technical datasheet
Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · Decimal capacity; formatting and system use reduce available space.

Samsung 980 PRO — manufacturer specificationsSamsung 980 PRO — capacity-specific datasheet

Check the exact configuration and source conditions for your use.

Published endurance rating (TBW)

In Visual facts
Kingston NV3320 TB
Samsung 980 PRO1200 TB
Sources
Kingston NV3

Manufacturer specification · Published endurance rating derived from the JEDEC Client Workload (JESD219A). Warranty ends on the stated time or wear conditions. This is not a guaranteed service life.

Kingston NV3 — manufacturer specificationsKingston NV3 — exact-capacity technical datasheetKingston limited warranty — SSD family and wear-indicator conditions
Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · Capacity-specific warranty write threshold, not a guaranteed failure point.

Samsung 980 PRO — manufacturer specificationsSamsung 980 PRO — capacity-specific datasheetSamsung consumer SSD limited warranty — model, capacity and first limit

Check the exact configuration and source conditions for your use.

Rated performance and conditions

In Visual facts
Kingston NV3Up to 6000 MB/s sequential read; up to 4000 MB/s sequential write
Samsung 980 PROUp to 7000 MB/s sequential read; up to 5100 MB/s cached sequential write
Sources
Kingston NV3

Manufacturer specification · Kingston fresh/out-of-box manufacturer claim on a PCIe 4.0 motherboard. Host hardware, software and usage affect results. Kingston does not list a sustained post-cache speed.

Kingston NV3 — manufacturer specificationsKingston NV3 — exact-capacity technical datasheet
Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · Samsung IOmeter 1.1.0 claims: Ryzen 9 3900X, ASUS X570 ROG Crosshair VIII Formula, Windows 10 Pro; secondary drive. The datasheet lists additional BIOS, memory and CPU settings used for the test. Writes use Intelligent TurboWrite; peak rates depend on firmware, host, workload and cache state.

Samsung 980 PRO — manufacturer specificationsSamsung 980 PRO — capacity-specific datasheet

Manufacturer peak claims depend on cache state, host and workload. Queue depth and test systems must match before performance can be compared; these figures do not establish a faster everyday drive.

Rated sequential read

In Visual facts
Kingston NV36000 MB/s
Samsung 980 PRO7000 MB/s
Sources
Kingston NV3

Manufacturer specification · Kingston fresh/out-of-box manufacturer claim on a PCIe 4.0 motherboard. Host hardware, software and usage affect results. Kingston does not list a sustained post-cache speed.

Kingston NV3 — exact-capacity technical datasheet
Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · Samsung IOmeter 1.1.0 claims: Ryzen 9 3900X, ASUS X570 ROG Crosshair VIII Formula, Windows 10 Pro; secondary drive. The datasheet lists additional BIOS, memory and CPU settings used for the test. Writes use Intelligent TurboWrite; peak rates depend on firmware, host, workload and cache state.

Samsung 980 PRO — capacity-specific datasheet

Manufacturer peak claims depend on cache state, host and workload. Queue depth and test systems must match before performance can be compared; these figures do not establish a faster everyday drive.

Rated sequential write

In Visual facts
Kingston NV34000 MB/s
Samsung 980 PRO5100 MB/s
Sources
Kingston NV3

Manufacturer specification · Kingston fresh/out-of-box manufacturer claim on a PCIe 4.0 motherboard. Host hardware, software and usage affect results. Kingston does not list a sustained post-cache speed.

Kingston NV3 — exact-capacity technical datasheet
Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · Samsung IOmeter 1.1.0 claims: Ryzen 9 3900X, ASUS X570 ROG Crosshair VIII Formula, Windows 10 Pro; secondary drive. The datasheet lists additional BIOS, memory and CPU settings used for the test. Writes use Intelligent TurboWrite; peak rates depend on firmware, host, workload and cache state.

Samsung 980 PRO — capacity-specific datasheet

Manufacturer peak claims depend on cache state, host and workload. Queue depth and test systems must match before performance can be compared; these figures do not establish a faster everyday drive.

Warranty terms and endurance if applicable

In Visual facts
Kingston NV35-year conditional limited warranty, or NVMe Percentage Used reaching or exceeding 100 in Kingston SSD Manager, whichever occurs first
Samsung 980 PRO5 years or 1200 TB written, whichever comes first; limited-warranty terms apply
Sources
Kingston NV3

Manufacturer specification · Subject to original-purchase eligibility and full manufacturer terms. Published TBW is a separate endurance rating from the wear-indicator warranty limit.

Kingston NV3 — manufacturer specificationsKingston limited warranty — SSD family and wear-indicator conditions
Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · Manufacturer coverage is subject to purchase eligibility and applicable terms. A used drive may have less coverage left.

Samsung 980 PRO — manufacturer specificationsSamsung 980 PRO — capacity-specific datasheetSamsung consumer SSD limited warranty — model, capacity and first limit

Check the exact configuration and source conditions for your use.

Show 3 more verified differences

Manufacturer MTBF rating

In Visual facts
Kingston NV32,000,000 hours
Samsung 980 PRO1,500,000 hours
Sources
Kingston NV3

Manufacturer specification · Manufacturer statistical MTBF claim, not an individual drive lifespan or guaranteed operating time.

Kingston NV3 — exact-capacity technical datasheet
Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · Statistical claim, not an individual lifespan or warranty.

Samsung 980 PRO — capacity-specific datasheet

Check the exact configuration and source conditions for your use.

Non-operating vibration rating

Kingston NV320 G, 10–1000 Hz
Samsung 980 PRO20 G; 20–2000 Hz
Sources
Kingston NV3

Manufacturer specification · Manufacturer vibration rating with its stated frequency range. Not a drop test; ratings from different test protocols are not directly comparable.

Kingston NV3 — exact-capacity technical datasheet
Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · Manufacturer frequency/rating; results from different test protocols are not directly comparable.

Samsung 980 PRO — capacity-specific datasheet

Check the exact configuration and source conditions for your use.

Manufacturer workload scope

Kingston NV3Desktop and notebook workloads; not intended for servers
Samsung 980 PROClient PCs
Sources
Kingston NV3

Manufacturer specification · Workload limitation in the datasheet. Not intended for enterprise or server use.

Kingston NV3 — exact-capacity technical datasheet
Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · Application class, not universal system/console compatibility.

Samsung 980 PRO — capacity-specific datasheet

Check the exact configuration and source conditions for your use.

Small physical differences (2)

Drive dimensions

Kingston NV380 × 22 × 2.3 mm
Samsung 980 PRO80.15 × 22.15 × 2.38 mm
Sources
Kingston NV3

Manufacturer specification · Single-sided module. Dimensions apply to this capacity/configuration; allow installation clearance.

Kingston NV3 — manufacturer specificationsKingston NV3 — exact-capacity technical datasheet
Samsung 980 PRO

Samsung lists these as maximum dimensions. This version has no factory heatsink. · Manufacturer specification · Manufacturer dimensions; confirm installation clearance.

Samsung 980 PRO — manufacturer specificationsSamsung 980 PRO — capacity-specific datasheet

A size or weight trade-off; it does not establish the better product.

Missing or non-comparable evidence (32)

DRAM cache present

Kingston NV3Not verified
Samsung 980 PROYes
Sources
Kingston NV3

Kingston does not state this for this model. · Manufacturer specification · Kingston does not say whether it has onboard DRAM.

Kingston NV3 — exact-capacity technical datasheet
Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · Capacity row lists onboard LPDDR4 DRAM. Having DRAM is not a measured performance result.

Samsung 980 PRO — capacity-specific datasheet

Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.

DRAM cache capacity

Kingston NV3Not verified
Samsung 980 PRO2 GB
Sources
Kingston NV3

No source recorded for this side.

Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · Capacity LPDDR4 DRAM size; not the variable TurboWrite write-buffer capacity.

Samsung 980 PRO — capacity-specific datasheet

Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.

Controller

Kingston NV3Not verified
Samsung 980 PROSamsung Elpis
Sources
Kingston NV3

Kingston does not state this for this model. · Manufacturer specification · Kingston does not name the controller for this capacity.

Kingston NV3 — exact-capacity technical datasheet
Samsung 980 PRO

Named Elpis on Samsung's UK technical page; the current PDF revision describes it only as a Samsung in-house controller. · Manufacturer specification · UK technical page names Elpis. The current PDF revision (2.1) describes it only as a Samsung in-house controller.

Samsung 980 PRO — manufacturer specificationsSamsung 980 PRO — capacity-specific datasheet

Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.

NAND type

Kingston NV3Not verified
Samsung 980 PROSamsung V-NAND TLC
Sources
Kingston NV3

Kingston lists 3D NAND without stating the cell type · Manufacturer specification

Kingston NV3 — manufacturer specificationsKingston NV3 — exact-capacity technical datasheet
Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · Manufacturer calls this 3-bit MLC: three bits per cell, also called TLC. This is not two-bit MLC.

Samsung 980 PRO — manufacturer specificationsSamsung 980 PRO — capacity-specific datasheetSamsung NAND terminology: TLC stores three bits per cell

Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.

Hardware encryption support

Kingston NV3Not verified
Samsung 980 PROAES-256; TCG Opal 2.0; IEEE 1667
Sources
Kingston NV3

No source recorded for this side.

Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · Manufacturer capabilities, not encryption enabled by default or every-host support.

Samsung 980 PRO — capacity-specific datasheet

Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.

Manufacturer-listed DirectStorage support

Kingston NV3Not verified
Samsung 980 PRONot verified
Sources
Kingston NV3

Kingston does not state this for this model. · Manufacturer specification · Kingston does not list DirectStorage support for this model.

Kingston NV3 — exact-capacity technical datasheet
Samsung 980 PRO

No source recorded for this side.

Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.

Included cloning software

Kingston NV3Acronis True Image for Kingston
Samsung 980 PRONot verified
Sources
Kingston NV3

Manufacturer specification · The part page includes cloning software. Current Kingston instructions require an installed Kingston internal SSD, Windows 11/10/8.1, administrator rights, internet download through Kingston SSD Manager and licence acceptance. This software does not support macOS or Linux; that does not declare the drive itself incompatible.

Kingston NV3 — manufacturer specificationsKingston Acronis True Image — inclusion requirements and host limits
Samsung 980 PRO

Samsung does not state this for this model. · Manufacturer specification · Samsung does not list a bundled cloning tool for this model. Magician health monitoring and firmware updates alone do not confirm migration support.

Samsung 980 PRO — manufacturer specificationsSamsung 980 PRO — capacity-specific datasheet

Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.

Drive management software

Kingston NV3Not verified
Samsung 980 PROSamsung Magician
Sources
Kingston NV3

No source recorded for this side.

Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · Manufacturer feature block lists monitoring and software/firmware updates. OS/version support and feature prerequisites require separate checking.

Samsung 980 PRO — manufacturer specifications

Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.

Write-buffer technology

Kingston NV3Not verified
Samsung 980 PROIntelligent TurboWrite
Sources
Kingston NV3

No source recorded for this side.

Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · Peak write claims require the buffer. Samsung does not list the buffer capacity or post-cache write speed.

Samsung 980 PRO — manufacturer specificationsSamsung 980 PRO — capacity-specific datasheet

Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.

Rated random read

Kingston NV3Not verified
Samsung 980 PRO1000000 IOPS
Sources
Kingston NV3

No source recorded for this side.

Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · Up to, 4 KB QD32 / 16 threads; IOmeter 1.1.0, Ryzen 9 3900X / ASUS X570 Crosshair VIII Formula, Windows 10 Pro, secondary drive. PDF lists altered BIOS, memory and CPU settings; writes require TurboWrite. Not directly comparable to a four-thread Intel test.

Samsung 980 PRO — capacity-specific datasheet

Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.

Rated random write

Kingston NV3Not verified
Samsung 980 PRO1000000 IOPS
Sources
Kingston NV3

No source recorded for this side.

Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · Up to, 4 KB QD32 / 16 threads; IOmeter 1.1.0, Ryzen 9 3900X / ASUS X570 Crosshair VIII Formula, Windows 10 Pro, secondary drive. PDF lists altered BIOS, memory and CPU settings; writes require TurboWrite. Not directly comparable to a four-thread Intel test.

Samsung 980 PRO — capacity-specific datasheet

Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.

Rated random read, QD1

Kingston NV3Not verified
Samsung 980 PRO22000 IOPS
Sources
Kingston NV3

No source recorded for this side.

Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · Up-to QD1 / one-thread value for this capacity under the manufacturer performance test setup. Not measured application latency.

Samsung 980 PRO — capacity-specific datasheet

Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.

Rated random write, QD1

Kingston NV3Not verified
Samsung 980 PRO60000 IOPS
Sources
Kingston NV3

No source recorded for this side.

Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · Up-to QD1 / one-thread 60000 IOPS for this 2 TB capacity with Intelligent TurboWrite under the stated modified Ryzen/ASUS test setup. Not application latency.

Samsung 980 PRO — capacity-specific datasheet

Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.

Device sleep support

Kingston NV3Not verified
Samsung 980 PROYes
Sources
Kingston NV3

No source recorded for this side.

Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · The UK page supports device sleep. Host support is required; device sleep is not the same as Modern Standby and gives no battery-life figure.

Samsung 980 PRO — manufacturer specifications

Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.

Garbage collection

Kingston NV3Not verified
Samsung 980 PROYes
Sources
Kingston NV3

No source recorded for this side.

Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · Listed internal function.

Samsung 980 PRO — capacity-specific datasheet

Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.

Humidity range

Kingston NV3Not verified
Samsung 980 PRO5–95%
Sources
Kingston NV3

No source recorded for this side.

Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · Manufacturer specifies non-condensing conditions. This environmental range is not waterproofing or an IP rating.

Samsung 980 PRO — capacity-specific datasheet

Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.

Installation kit included

Kingston NV3Not verified
Samsung 980 PRONo
Sources
Kingston NV3

No source recorded for this side.

Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · No installation kit is included.

Samsung 980 PRO — manufacturer specifications

Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.

Earlier PCIe support

Kingston NV3Not verified
Samsung 980 PROPCIe Gen 3
Sources
Kingston NV3

No source recorded for this side.

Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · PCIe 3.0 backward compatibility. The 2 TB four-lane PCIe 3 mode ratings are listed separately; host protocol and lane availability determine operation.

Samsung 980 PRO — capacity-specific datasheet

Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.

NVMe interface protocol version

Kingston NV3Not verified
Samsung 980 PRO1.3c
Sources
Kingston NV3

The complete reviewed exact manufacturer technical source identifies NVMe but does not state its protocol version. Omission does not establish a different revision or missing NVMe support. · Manufacturer specification

Kingston NV3 — exact-capacity technical datasheet

Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.

Rated performance on PCIe 3.0

Kingston NV3Not verified
Samsung 980 PROUp to 3500/3470 MB/s sequential read/write; 680000/630000 IOPS random read/write
Sources
Kingston NV3

No source recorded for this side.

Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · 2 TB backward-compatible mode in PDF footnote 2. Not the PCIe 4.0 peak figures or the 1 TB/250 GB values. Same manufacturer TurboWrite/test qualifications; actual host may differ.

Samsung 980 PRO — capacity-specific datasheet

Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.

Published burst power

Kingston NV3Not verified
Samsung 980 PRO7.2 W
Sources
Kingston NV3

No source recorded for this side.

Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · UK page maximum burst-mode claim; distinct from average active, idle or constant use.

Samsung 980 PRO — manufacturer specifications

Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.

Published power conditions

Kingston NV3Not verified
Samsung 980 PRO6.1 W active read; 5.6 W active write; 35 mW idle; 5 mW L1.2 sleep
Sources
Kingston NV3

Kingston does not state this for this model. · Manufacturer specification · Kingston describes low power use but gives no power figures for this model. No estimate is invented.

Kingston NV3 — exact-capacity technical datasheet
Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · 2 TB column, IOmeter 1.1.0 on Ryzen 7 3700X, 16 GB DDR4, Gigabyte X570 AORUS Master, Windows 10 Pro. This differs from the performance host. Idle requires autonomous power-state operation; values are not constant household-use loads.

Samsung 980 PRO — capacity-specific datasheet

Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.

Non-operating shock rating

Kingston NV3Not verified
Samsung 980 PRO1500 G; 0.5 ms; three axes
Sources
Kingston NV3

No source recorded for this side.

Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · Manufacturer non-operating claim, not a device drop test.

Samsung 980 PRO — capacity-specific datasheet

Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.

S.M.A.R.T. support

Kingston NV3Not verified
Samsung 980 PROYes
Sources
Kingston NV3

No source recorded for this side.

Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · Monitoring capability, not predicted remaining life.

Samsung 980 PRO — capacity-specific datasheet

Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.

Allowable supply voltage

Kingston NV3Not verified
Samsung 980 PRO3.3 V ±5%
Sources
Kingston NV3

No source recorded for this side.

Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · UK electrical requirement, not sufficient proof of host compatibility.

Samsung 980 PRO — manufacturer specifications

Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.

Published system-level power

Kingston NV3Not verified
Samsung 980 PRO6.1 W average; 7.2 W maximum in burst mode
Sources
Kingston NV3

No source recorded for this side.

Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · The UK page labels a system-level average and a burst maximum. Hardware/configuration affect consumption. These are distinct from datasheet active read/write and idle/sleep states and are not a constant everyday load.

Samsung 980 PRO — manufacturer specifications

Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.

Thermal design

Kingston NV3Not verified
Samsung 980 PRONickel-coated controller; heat-spreader label; Dynamic Thermal Guard
Sources
Kingston NV3

No source recorded for this side.

Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · Official thermal features. Not a factory heatsink enclosure or measured temperature advantage.

Samsung 980 PRO — manufacturer specifications

Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.

TRIM support

Kingston NV3Not verified
Samsung 980 PROYes
Sources
Kingston NV3

No source recorded for this side.

Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · Requires operating-system support as stated by manufacturer.

Samsung 980 PRO — capacity-specific datasheet

Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.

World Wide Name support

Kingston NV3Not verified
Samsung 980 PRONo
Sources
Kingston NV3

No source recorded for this side.

Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · Product page states WWN unsupported.

Samsung 980 PRO — manufacturer specifications

Evidence is missing or conflicting on at least one side. This is not a verified difference.

6 shared fields have the same recorded value.

WHAT EACH CHOICE ASKS OF YOU

What it brings and what to check

Kingston NV3

What it brings

  • Rated up to 6,000 MB/s sequential read and 4,000 MB/s sequential write over PCIe 4.0 x4, in a thin 2.3 mm single-sided module suited to laptops as well as desktops.

What to check

  • Endurance is rated at 320 TB written, and Kingston lists only generic 3D NAND without naming the controller or saying whether it has a DRAM cache.

Samsung 980 PRO

What it brings

What to check

COMPARE THE DETAILS

Full specifications

How we verify
49 of 49 specifications Sources in each row
Source-backed specifications for Kingston NV3 and Samsung 980 PRO
SpecificationKingston NV3Samsung 980 PRO
CapacityDifferent
Sources
Kingston NV3

Manufacturer specification · Manufacturer-listed capacity; formatting and reserved functions reduce usable storage.

Kingston NV3 — manufacturer specificationsKingston NV3 — exact-capacity technical datasheet
Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · Decimal capacity; formatting and system use reduce available space.

Samsung 980 PRO — manufacturer specificationsSamsung 980 PRO — capacity-specific datasheet
1000 GB2000 GB
SSD / HDD
Sources
Kingston NV3

Manufacturer specification

Kingston NV3 — manufacturer specifications
Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification

Samsung 980 PRO — manufacturer specifications
SSDSSD
Interface and version
Sources
Kingston NV3

Manufacturer specification · Match the host interface and available lanes; interface generation is not measured application performance.

Kingston NV3 — manufacturer specificationsKingston NV3 — exact-capacity technical datasheet
Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · Host support and available lanes determine operation; interface generation is not an application-performance result.

Samsung 980 PRO — manufacturer specificationsSamsung 980 PRO — capacity-specific datasheet
PCIe 4.0 x4; NVMePCIe 4.0 x4; NVMe
Form factor
Sources
Kingston NV3

Manufacturer specification · Part configuration; physical and electrical compatibility both matter.

Kingston NV3 — manufacturer specificationsKingston NV3 — exact-capacity technical datasheet
Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · Match the physical format and electrical interface to the host.

Samsung 980 PRO — manufacturer specificationsSamsung 980 PRO — capacity-specific datasheet
M.2 2280M.2 2280
Drive dimensionsDifferent
Sources
Kingston NV3

Manufacturer specification · Single-sided module. Dimensions apply to this capacity/configuration; allow installation clearance.

Kingston NV3 — manufacturer specificationsKingston NV3 — exact-capacity technical datasheet
Samsung 980 PRO

Samsung lists these as maximum dimensions. This version has no factory heatsink. · Manufacturer specification · Manufacturer dimensions; confirm installation clearance.

Samsung 980 PRO — manufacturer specificationsSamsung 980 PRO — capacity-specific datasheet
80 × 22 × 2.3 mm80.15 × 22.15 × 2.38 mm
Drive weightDifferent
Sources
Kingston NV3

Manufacturer specification · Manufacturer drive weight for this capacity, excluding packaging.

Kingston NV3 — manufacturer specificationsKingston NV3 — exact-capacity technical datasheet
Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · UK capacity-specific maximum drive mass, not packaging.

Samsung 980 PRO — manufacturer specifications
7 g9 g
Module sides
Sources
Kingston NV3

Manufacturer specification · Check the host's clearance for this module configuration.

Kingston NV3 — manufacturer specificationsKingston NV3 — exact-capacity technical datasheet
Samsung 980 PRO

No source recorded.

Single-sidedNot provided
Factory heatsink
Sources
Kingston NV3

No source recorded.

Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · This BW configuration has no factory heatsink; follow the host's cooling requirements.

Samsung 980 PRO — manufacturer specificationsSamsung 980 PRO — capacity-specific datasheet
Not providedNo
Thermal design
Sources
Kingston NV3

No source recorded.

Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · Official thermal features. Not a factory heatsink enclosure or measured temperature advantage.

Samsung 980 PRO — manufacturer specifications
Not providedNickel-coated controller; heat-spreader label; Dynamic Thermal Guard
Earlier PCIe support
Sources
Kingston NV3

No source recorded.

Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · PCIe 3.0 backward compatibility. The 2 TB four-lane PCIe 3 mode ratings are listed separately; host protocol and lane availability determine operation.

Samsung 980 PRO — capacity-specific datasheet
Not providedPCIe Gen 3
Rated performance and conditionsDifferent
Sources
Kingston NV3

Manufacturer specification · Kingston fresh/out-of-box manufacturer claim on a PCIe 4.0 motherboard. Host hardware, software and usage affect results. Kingston does not list a sustained post-cache speed.

Kingston NV3 — manufacturer specificationsKingston NV3 — exact-capacity technical datasheet
Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · Samsung IOmeter 1.1.0 claims: Ryzen 9 3900X, ASUS X570 ROG Crosshair VIII Formula, Windows 10 Pro; secondary drive. The datasheet lists additional BIOS, memory and CPU settings used for the test. Writes use Intelligent TurboWrite; peak rates depend on firmware, host, workload and cache state.

Samsung 980 PRO — manufacturer specificationsSamsung 980 PRO — capacity-specific datasheet
Up to 6000 MB/s sequential read; up to 4000 MB/s sequential writeUp to 7000 MB/s sequential read; up to 5100 MB/s cached sequential write
Rated sequential readDifferent
Sources
Kingston NV3

Manufacturer specification · Kingston fresh/out-of-box manufacturer claim on a PCIe 4.0 motherboard. Host hardware, software and usage affect results. Kingston does not list a sustained post-cache speed.

Kingston NV3 — exact-capacity technical datasheet
Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · Samsung IOmeter 1.1.0 claims: Ryzen 9 3900X, ASUS X570 ROG Crosshair VIII Formula, Windows 10 Pro; secondary drive. The datasheet lists additional BIOS, memory and CPU settings used for the test. Writes use Intelligent TurboWrite; peak rates depend on firmware, host, workload and cache state.

Samsung 980 PRO — capacity-specific datasheet
6000 MB/s7000 MB/s
Rated sequential writeDifferent
Sources
Kingston NV3

Manufacturer specification · Kingston fresh/out-of-box manufacturer claim on a PCIe 4.0 motherboard. Host hardware, software and usage affect results. Kingston does not list a sustained post-cache speed.

Kingston NV3 — exact-capacity technical datasheet
Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · Samsung IOmeter 1.1.0 claims: Ryzen 9 3900X, ASUS X570 ROG Crosshair VIII Formula, Windows 10 Pro; secondary drive. The datasheet lists additional BIOS, memory and CPU settings used for the test. Writes use Intelligent TurboWrite; peak rates depend on firmware, host, workload and cache state.

Samsung 980 PRO — capacity-specific datasheet
4000 MB/s5100 MB/s
Rated random read
Sources
Kingston NV3

No source recorded.

Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · Up to, 4 KB QD32 / 16 threads; IOmeter 1.1.0, Ryzen 9 3900X / ASUS X570 Crosshair VIII Formula, Windows 10 Pro, secondary drive. PDF lists altered BIOS, memory and CPU settings; writes require TurboWrite. Not directly comparable to a four-thread Intel test.

Samsung 980 PRO — capacity-specific datasheet
Not provided1000000 IOPS
Rated random write
Sources
Kingston NV3

No source recorded.

Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · Up to, 4 KB QD32 / 16 threads; IOmeter 1.1.0, Ryzen 9 3900X / ASUS X570 Crosshair VIII Formula, Windows 10 Pro, secondary drive. PDF lists altered BIOS, memory and CPU settings; writes require TurboWrite. Not directly comparable to a four-thread Intel test.

Samsung 980 PRO — capacity-specific datasheet
Not provided1000000 IOPS
Rated random read, QD1
Sources
Kingston NV3

No source recorded.

Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · Up-to QD1 / one-thread value for this capacity under the manufacturer performance test setup. Not measured application latency.

Samsung 980 PRO — capacity-specific datasheet
Not provided22000 IOPS
Rated random write, QD1
Sources
Kingston NV3

No source recorded.

Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · Up-to QD1 / one-thread 60000 IOPS for this 2 TB capacity with Intelligent TurboWrite under the stated modified Ryzen/ASUS test setup. Not application latency.

Samsung 980 PRO — capacity-specific datasheet
Not provided60000 IOPS
Rated performance on PCIe 3.0
Sources
Kingston NV3

No source recorded.

Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · 2 TB backward-compatible mode in PDF footnote 2. Not the PCIe 4.0 peak figures or the 1 TB/250 GB values. Same manufacturer TurboWrite/test qualifications; actual host may differ.

Samsung 980 PRO — capacity-specific datasheet
Not providedUp to 3500/3470 MB/s sequential read/write; 680000/630000 IOPS random read/write
NAND type
Sources
Kingston NV3

Kingston lists 3D NAND without stating the cell type · Manufacturer specification

Kingston NV3 — manufacturer specificationsKingston NV3 — exact-capacity technical datasheet
Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · Manufacturer calls this 3-bit MLC: three bits per cell, also called TLC. This is not two-bit MLC.

Samsung 980 PRO — manufacturer specificationsSamsung 980 PRO — capacity-specific datasheetSamsung NAND terminology: TLC stores three bits per cell
Not listed by the manufacturerSamsung V-NAND TLC
DRAM cache present
Sources
Kingston NV3

Kingston does not state this for this model. · Manufacturer specification · Kingston does not say whether it has onboard DRAM.

Kingston NV3 — exact-capacity technical datasheet
Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · Capacity row lists onboard LPDDR4 DRAM. Having DRAM is not a measured performance result.

Samsung 980 PRO — capacity-specific datasheet
Not listed by the manufacturerYes
Controller
Sources
Kingston NV3

Kingston does not state this for this model. · Manufacturer specification · Kingston does not name the controller for this capacity.

Kingston NV3 — exact-capacity technical datasheet
Samsung 980 PRO

Named Elpis on Samsung's UK technical page; the current PDF revision describes it only as a Samsung in-house controller. · Manufacturer specification · UK technical page names Elpis. The current PDF revision (2.1) describes it only as a Samsung in-house controller.

Samsung 980 PRO — manufacturer specificationsSamsung 980 PRO — capacity-specific datasheet
Not listed by the manufacturerSamsung Elpis
Cache arrangement
Sources
Kingston NV3

No source recorded.

Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · Manufacturer's stated DRAM cache capacity for this storage capacity.

Samsung 980 PRO — manufacturer specificationsSamsung 980 PRO — capacity-specific datasheet
Not provided2 GB LPDDR4 DRAM
DRAM cache capacity
Sources
Kingston NV3

No source recorded.

Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · Capacity LPDDR4 DRAM size; not the variable TurboWrite write-buffer capacity.

Samsung 980 PRO — capacity-specific datasheet
Not provided2 GB
Write-buffer technology
Sources
Kingston NV3

No source recorded.

Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · Peak write claims require the buffer. Samsung does not list the buffer capacity or post-cache write speed.

Samsung 980 PRO — manufacturer specificationsSamsung 980 PRO — capacity-specific datasheet
Not providedIntelligent TurboWrite
Warranty terms and endurance if applicableDifferent
Sources
Kingston NV3

Manufacturer specification · Subject to original-purchase eligibility and full manufacturer terms. Published TBW is a separate endurance rating from the wear-indicator warranty limit.

Kingston NV3 — manufacturer specificationsKingston limited warranty — SSD family and wear-indicator conditions
Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · Manufacturer coverage is subject to purchase eligibility and applicable terms. A used drive may have less coverage left.

Samsung 980 PRO — manufacturer specificationsSamsung 980 PRO — capacity-specific datasheetSamsung consumer SSD limited warranty — model, capacity and first limit
5-year conditional limited warranty, or NVMe Percentage Used reaching or exceeding 100 in Kingston SSD Manager, whichever occurs first5 years or 1200 TB written, whichever comes first; limited-warranty terms apply
Limited warranty time
Sources
Kingston NV3

Manufacturer specification · Maximum time term; coverage can end earlier at NVMe Percentage Used reaching or exceeding 100 in Kingston SSD Manager. Eligibility and full terms apply.

Kingston NV3 — manufacturer specificationsKingston limited warranty — SSD family and wear-indicator conditions
Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · Time limit, not predicted lifespan; coverage also ends at the TBW threshold and is subject to full terms.

Samsung 980 PRO — manufacturer specificationsSamsung consumer SSD limited warranty — model, capacity and first limit
5 years5 years
Published endurance rating (TBW)Different
Sources
Kingston NV3

Manufacturer specification · Published endurance rating derived from the JEDEC Client Workload (JESD219A). Warranty ends on the stated time or wear conditions. This is not a guaranteed service life.

Kingston NV3 — manufacturer specificationsKingston NV3 — exact-capacity technical datasheetKingston limited warranty — SSD family and wear-indicator conditions
Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · Capacity-specific warranty write threshold, not a guaranteed failure point.

Samsung 980 PRO — manufacturer specificationsSamsung 980 PRO — capacity-specific datasheetSamsung consumer SSD limited warranty — model, capacity and first limit
320 TB1200 TB
Manufacturer workload scopeDifferent
Sources
Kingston NV3

Manufacturer specification · Workload limitation in the datasheet. Not intended for enterprise or server use.

Kingston NV3 — exact-capacity technical datasheet
Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · Application class, not universal system/console compatibility.

Samsung 980 PRO — capacity-specific datasheet
Desktop and notebook workloads; not intended for serversClient PCs
Manufacturer MTBF ratingDifferent
Sources
Kingston NV3

Manufacturer specification · Manufacturer statistical MTBF claim, not an individual drive lifespan or guaranteed operating time.

Kingston NV3 — exact-capacity technical datasheet
Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · Statistical claim, not an individual lifespan or warranty.

Samsung 980 PRO — capacity-specific datasheet
2,000,000 hours1,500,000 hours
Included cloning software
Sources
Kingston NV3

Manufacturer specification · The part page includes cloning software. Current Kingston instructions require an installed Kingston internal SSD, Windows 11/10/8.1, administrator rights, internet download through Kingston SSD Manager and licence acceptance. This software does not support macOS or Linux; that does not declare the drive itself incompatible.

Kingston NV3 — manufacturer specificationsKingston Acronis True Image — inclusion requirements and host limits
Samsung 980 PRO

Samsung does not state this for this model. · Manufacturer specification · Samsung does not list a bundled cloning tool for this model. Magician health monitoring and firmware updates alone do not confirm migration support.

Samsung 980 PRO — manufacturer specificationsSamsung 980 PRO — capacity-specific datasheet
Acronis True Image for KingstonNot provided
Hardware encryption support
Sources
Kingston NV3

No source recorded.

Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · Manufacturer capabilities, not encryption enabled by default or every-host support.

Samsung 980 PRO — capacity-specific datasheet
Not providedAES-256; TCG Opal 2.0; IEEE 1667
TRIM support
Sources
Kingston NV3

No source recorded.

Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · Requires operating-system support as stated by manufacturer.

Samsung 980 PRO — capacity-specific datasheet
Not providedYes
S.M.A.R.T. support
Sources
Kingston NV3

No source recorded.

Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · Monitoring capability, not predicted remaining life.

Samsung 980 PRO — capacity-specific datasheet
Not providedYes
Garbage collection
Sources
Kingston NV3

No source recorded.

Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · Listed internal function.

Samsung 980 PRO — capacity-specific datasheet
Not providedYes
Drive management software
Sources
Kingston NV3

No source recorded.

Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · Manufacturer feature block lists monitoring and software/firmware updates. OS/version support and feature prerequisites require separate checking.

Samsung 980 PRO — manufacturer specifications
Not providedSamsung Magician
Installation kit included
Sources
Kingston NV3

No source recorded.

Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · No installation kit is included.

Samsung 980 PRO — manufacturer specifications
Not providedNo
World Wide Name support
Sources
Kingston NV3

No source recorded.

Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · Product page states WWN unsupported.

Samsung 980 PRO — manufacturer specifications
Not providedNo
Device sleep support
Sources
Kingston NV3

No source recorded.

Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · The UK page supports device sleep. Host support is required; device sleep is not the same as Modern Standby and gives no battery-life figure.

Samsung 980 PRO — manufacturer specifications
Not providedYes
Operating temperature
Sources
Kingston NV3

Manufacturer specification · Manufacturer operating range; not a measured temperature under a particular workload.

Kingston NV3 — manufacturer specificationsKingston NV3 — exact-capacity technical datasheet
Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · Measured by the drive's S.M.A.R.T. temperature; Samsung recommends adequate airflow.

Samsung 980 PRO — manufacturer specificationsSamsung 980 PRO — capacity-specific datasheet
0–70 °C0–70 °C
Storage temperature
Sources
Kingston NV3

Manufacturer specification · Published non-operating storage range, kept separate from the 0–70 °C operating range.

Kingston NV3 — exact-capacity technical datasheet
Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · PDF non-operating range −40–85 °C, distinct from 0–70 °C operation.

Samsung 980 PRO — capacity-specific datasheet
−40–85 °C−40–85 °C
Published power conditions
Sources
Kingston NV3

Kingston does not state this for this model. · Manufacturer specification · Kingston describes low power use but gives no power figures for this model. No estimate is invented.

Kingston NV3 — exact-capacity technical datasheet
Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · 2 TB column, IOmeter 1.1.0 on Ryzen 7 3700X, 16 GB DDR4, Gigabyte X570 AORUS Master, Windows 10 Pro. This differs from the performance host. Idle requires autonomous power-state operation; values are not constant household-use loads.

Samsung 980 PRO — capacity-specific datasheet
Not listed by the manufacturer6.1 W active read; 5.6 W active write; 35 mW idle; 5 mW L1.2 sleep
Non-operating vibration ratingDifferent
Sources
Kingston NV3

Manufacturer specification · Manufacturer vibration rating with its stated frequency range. Not a drop test; ratings from different test protocols are not directly comparable.

Kingston NV3 — exact-capacity technical datasheet
Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · Manufacturer frequency/rating; results from different test protocols are not directly comparable.

Samsung 980 PRO — capacity-specific datasheet
20 G, 10–1000 Hz20 G; 20–2000 Hz
Published burst power
Sources
Kingston NV3

No source recorded.

Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · UK page maximum burst-mode claim; distinct from average active, idle or constant use.

Samsung 980 PRO — manufacturer specifications
Not provided7.2 W
Humidity range
Sources
Kingston NV3

No source recorded.

Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · Manufacturer specifies non-condensing conditions. This environmental range is not waterproofing or an IP rating.

Samsung 980 PRO — capacity-specific datasheet
Not provided5–95%
Non-operating shock rating
Sources
Kingston NV3

No source recorded.

Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · Manufacturer non-operating claim, not a device drop test.

Samsung 980 PRO — capacity-specific datasheet
Not provided1500 G; 0.5 ms; three axes
Allowable supply voltage
Sources
Kingston NV3

No source recorded.

Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · UK electrical requirement, not sufficient proof of host compatibility.

Samsung 980 PRO — manufacturer specifications
Not provided3.3 V ±5%
Published system-level power
Sources
Kingston NV3

No source recorded.

Samsung 980 PRO

Manufacturer specification · The UK page labels a system-level average and a burst maximum. Hardware/configuration affect consumption. These are distinct from datasheet active read/write and idle/sleep states and are not a constant everyday load.

Samsung 980 PRO — manufacturer specifications
Not provided6.1 W average; 7.2 W maximum in burst mode
NVMe interface protocol version
Sources
Kingston NV3

The complete reviewed exact manufacturer technical source identifies NVMe but does not state its protocol version. Omission does not establish a different revision or missing NVMe support. · Manufacturer specification

Kingston NV3 — exact-capacity technical datasheet
Not listed by the manufacturer1.3c
Show unverified (1)Not verified, not provided or conflicting for both products. Kept for completeness; never counted as a difference.
Specifications without verified values for either product
Manufacturer-listed DirectStorage support
Sources
Kingston NV3

Kingston does not state this for this model. · Manufacturer specification · Kingston does not list DirectStorage support for this model.

Kingston NV3 — exact-capacity technical datasheet
Samsung 980 PRO

No source recorded.

Not listed by the manufacturerNot provided
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Samsung 990 PRO with Heatsink 2 TB M.2 SSD with its 2 TB retail box and leaflet; official image associated with MZ-V9P2T0CW

Samsung 990 PRO with Heatsink

Storage capacity
2 TB
Warranty term
5 years
Write rating
1,200 TB
Prices & product profile

Each record represents an explicitly checked model and configuration. Original import: 5 Sept 2026; this is not its verification date. This is not a list of current offers or a popularity ranking.