Samgung PM 981 256GB 512GB 1TB 2TB SAMSUNG PM 981A 256GB 512GB 1TB Hard Disk Drive M.2 2280 NVMe PCIe Solid State Drive for Laptop
Here’s a detailed comparison table for Samsung PM981 and PM981A NVMe SSDs across different capacities:
Samsung PM981 vs PM981A Comparison Table
| Specification | PM981 256GB | PM981 512GB | PM981 1TB | PM981 2TB | PM981A 256GB | PM981A 512GB | PM981A 1TB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Form Factor | M.2 2280 | M.2 2280 | M.2 2280 | M.2 2280 | M.2 2280 | M.2 2280 | M.2 2280 |
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x4 | PCIe 3.0 x4 | PCIe 3.0 x4 | PCIe 3.0 x4 | PCIe 3.0 x4 | PCIe 3.0 x4 | PCIe 3.0 x4 |
| NVMe Version | NVMe 1.3 | NVMe 1.3 | NVMe 1.3 | NVMe 1.3 | NVMe 1.3 | NVMe 1.3 | NVMe 1.3 |
| Sequential Read | 3,000 MB/s | 3,500 MB/s | 3,500 MB/s | 3,500 MB/s | 3,100 MB/s | 3,500 MB/s | 3,500 MB/s |
| Sequential Write | 1,000 MB/s | 2,000 MB/s | 3,000 MB/s | 3,000 MB/s | 1,300 MB/s | 2,300 MB/s | 2,900 MB/s |
| Random Read (4K) | 220K IOPS | 380K IOPS | 500K IOPS | 500K IOPS | 250K IOPS | 400K IOPS | 500K IOPS |
| Random Write (4K) | 200K IOPS | 330K IOPS | 480K IOPS | 480K IOPS | 220K IOPS | 350K IOPS | 480K IOPS |
| NAND Type | 64L TLC | 64L TLC | 64L TLC | 64L TLC | 92L TLC | 92L TLC | 92L TLC |
| DRAM Cache | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| TBW | 150 TBW | 300 TBW | 600 TBW | 1,200 TBW | 150 TBW | 300 TBW | 600 TBW |
| Encryption | AES 256-bit | AES 256-bit | AES 256-bit | AES 256-bit | AES 256-bit | AES 256-bit | AES 256-bit |
| Power Consumption | 5.3W (Active) | 5.5W (Active) | 5.8W (Active) | 6.0W (Active) | 5.2W (Active) | 5.4W (Active) | 5.7W (Active) |
| OEM Warranty | Varies | Varies | Varies | Varies | Varies | Varies | Varies |
Key Features & Benefits
⚡ Blazing PCIe 3.0 Performance
- Sequential Read: Up to 3,500 MB/s (PM981 & PM981A)
- Sequential Write: Up to 3,000 MB/s (PM981) | 2,900 MB/s (PM981A)
- 4K Random IOPS: Up to 500K Read / 480K Write
🔧 Advanced NAND Technology
- PM981: 64-layer TLC V-NAND (Proven reliability)
- PM981A: 92-layer TLC V-NAND (Improved efficiency & density)
📊 Capacity Options
| Model | 256GB | 512GB | 1TB | 2TB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM981 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| PM981A | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
🛡️ Enterprise-Grade Features
- AES 256-bit Encryption (Hardware-based security)
- DRAM Cache for sustained performance
- High Endurance (Up to 1,200 TBW on PM981 2TB)
PM981 vs PM981A: Key Differences
| Feature | PM981 | PM981A |
|---|---|---|
| NAND Layers | 64L TLC | 92L TLC |
| Power Efficiency | Standard | More Efficient |
| Max Capacity | 2TB Available | 1TB Max |
| Write Speeds | Slightly Higher | More Consistent |
| Best For | Desktops/Workstations | Laptops/Ultrabooks |
Recommended Use Cases
🎮 Gaming & Enthusiast PCs
- Fast game load times
- Smooth performance in AAA titles
💻 Content Creation & Productivity
- Quick 4K video editing
- Fast file transfers for large projects
🏢 Business & Enterprise
- Reliable storage for workstations
- OEM integration for system builders
🔋 Laptops & Ultrabooks (PM981A Preferred)
- Lower power consumption
- Better thermal management
Why Choose PM981/PM981A?
✔ OEM Reliability – Used by major laptop manufacturers
✔ Cost-Effective – Better value than retail SSDs
✔ Proven Performance – Excellent real-world speeds
✔ Scalable Options – From 256GB to 2TB
Capacity Recommendations
- 256GB: Basic systems, cache drives
- 512GB: Best value for most users
- 1TB: Ideal for power users & creators
- 2TB (PM981 only): Maximum capacity for workstations
Important Notes
⚠ OEM Product – No retail packaging/warranty (depends on reseller)
⚠ Compatibility – Works with PCIe 3.0 systems (backward compatible)
⚠ Best For – Users who understand OEM components
