1TB Samsung PM981 m.2 NVMe PCIe SSD - anyone try this yet?

I upgrade the original Toshiba 128GB RAID'ed SSD modules to SanDisk but now I am thinking about upgrading to PM981 SSD module. Supposedly the latest-greatest.

Anyone try this or SM961 in their MSI machine?

 

I don't see a reason why it would not work if it's just a regular nvme ssd? MSI even uses samsung nvme ssd's in their factory setups (my factory raid 0 consists of 2x samsung MZVLW256HEHP-00000 with 256GB each - seems to be the PM961 model).
I would just be worried you would not get the nice extended 5 years warranty with it (here samsung ssd's come with that) as it isn't listed on samsung website anywhere and seems to be usually a part of some device just like mine - and tbh I don't expect 5 year warranty on what is inside the MSI from factory.
I like samsung ssd's, as a family and my bf's business we have over 10 of them around and fully functional with no issues at all. Some are over 3 years old now so still well within warranty though

 

PM/SM are just OEMs of the retail Samsung so they should work just like any other NVMe.

You may or may not need to install the NVMe drivers but thats usually preference. Test it out with the default, then install and test again. Certain versions may show improvements in performance.

 

I have the PM951 1TB as my boot drive at this point and my boot times are not that great, at 35 seconds.
I am not unhappy but I thought with SSD it should be closer to 10-15 seconds.

What can I do to increase the boot speed? Is it solely the driver issue?

 

Well you said it. "Boot"

So you have to go to BIOS and tweak it up, disable things so that it can speed up the process and put things in priority so less time scanning every hardware.

If you have a hard drive or external connected it will take longer because it has to detect those drives as well.

 

My boot time is 30 seconds, I am pleased. I added a 10 second pause to select which SSD I boot off. So it's all working out nice.

 

The prices are rapidly coming down. 1TB for about $300. For PM961/SM961.

 

this is the next item I am putting in the Titan.

 

Watch out on some of the OEM models as they may not come with warranty.

 

I don't have an MSI, but I have a PM961 512GB and it is a fantastic SSD.

 

I got those as a replacement from MSI. they are faster than the SM-961. good choice for a good price

 

I bought a 256 GB SM961. As good as it is, I'm seriously considering replacing it and the 256 GB Toshiba M2 in my GE 63 Raider with a pair of 512GB 970' EVO.
Simply because of better supoort and drivers + firmware updates through samsung magician.

 

Yup, Samsung SSD goes above and beyond compared to other brands.

 

except when you use OEM samsung SSD

 

Honestly I still hope they are the same quality as I am extremely pleased with their evo 850's (2.5inch versions). We have 3 of them at home and another few at the company and some more at relatives' houses... all of them are doing very well for the past few years - oldest one should be around 4 years now, used daily as OS drive. Never a single issue. The oem ones in my raid are so far flawless as well, from what we compared on gt75 thread at some point they are outperforming everyone, even if not by much. I certainly plan to buy more samsung ssds in the future, if just for the 5 year warranty they offer here on non-oem ssds. I remember how samsung phones used to be total garbage back in the day and now I own an s7 and couldn't be happier with it... or with my 27inch curved samsung screen. I still remember our ancient samsung tv - one of those big ones before lcd was a thing (bought like 20 years ago) and tbh, it still runs (my dad uses it as secondary tv in his house).

 

I gotta put *RETAIL* or *BOX* in the back of it.

 

The quality is absolutely fine, but the sense of abandonment / no support, new drivers or firmware has made me hanker after the Retail Drives again. So whatever I sacrifice in performance with the 970 evo's (Raid!) over the SM 961 (960 Pro) wont bother me. As well as I am doubling my storage going from 2x256 to 2x512 GB, for not a lot more than the single 256 SM961 cost me 12 months ago.

 

I have a PM951, it's a bit slower than PM961 or SM 961 and of course PM981 but very fast compared to any HDD.

 

That is what i want for Christmas.

 

PM961 is a mass made, dumbed-down under performer that does not have the same controller or firmware in it as the equivalent 970 EVO.
This is the information provided by Samsung Magician.
970 EVO - System Compatibility/Performance Benchmark/Performance Optimization/Over Provisioning/Secure Erase/Data Security/SMART/Updates
PM961 - System Compatibility/Performance Benchmark
But the biggest difference is the 970 is NVMe and the 961 is speed and support.
As a fast SSD for is only useful for loading times for a game SSD, this is the one I use for my games (PM961).
970 EVO is for my OS.
I seriously doubt that Samsung is actually making these, its probably some deal they have with a Taiwan manufacturer....Its just not Samsung quality.
The Samsung Magician notes the 970 EVO as being 'Genuine', the 961 as 'This Drive Is Not Supported 0025-38B5-7189-1CB1'

 

PM961 is just an budget version of SSD for OEM builders, it uses Samsung Polaris Controller.
https://www.anandtech.com/show/10168/samsung-shows-off-sm961-and-pm961-ssds-oem-drives-get-a-boost

 

Budget it is, and for a game drive that has nothing on it that I cant live with ... Good Enough.
I just don't expect this quality from Samsung, its too low for them.
Even Samsung's own software doesn't recognize it as a 'Genuine' item....



Here is a slightly more current article written on the drive: https://www.anandtech.com/show/12082/the-samsung-pm981-ssd-review-512gb-1tb-phoenix-3d-nand

For the few dollars more, get the 970 EVO its a much better investment for the performance curve and $ per GB.
http://ssd.userbenchmark.com/Compar...g-970-Evo-NVMe-PCIe-M2-500GB/m401452vsm493995

 

Interesting.

What is the endurance rating of the PM981 module, the 1TB version?

The Samsung PM981 is Samsung's fourth-generation client PCIe SSD, based on the Phoenix controller and 64-layer V-NAND - both of which have yet to show up in Samsung's retail NVMe SSDs

 

That information isn't disclosed to the public, and it's not even available on the data sheet.
https://gzhls.at/blob/ldb/4/b/7/f/63615517d004b8ee7452f4f76469c7129df9.pdf

 

As the MTBF is 171 years and suggested endurance on older 1 TB disks is at least 600/1200 TB - in practice it's multifold - I'd say it's pretty insignificant.

 

That information isn't disclosed to the public, and it's not even available on the data sheet



I am aware of this and thus the question. I asked after doing all the research I could. Maybe estimate?