Samsung makes some of the best SSDs (solid-state drives) on the market, so if you’re looking to speed up your storage, it makes sense to check out this brand. However, it can be difficult to know which Samsung SSD to choose, simply because Samsung’s naming convention gives nothing away.
Many of us wonder: What is the difference between the different lines of SSDs? Which model wins the battle between Samsung QVO and Samsung EVO? The drives differ in a number of ways, from price to performance to longevity. In this guide, we will delve into the differences between Samsung QVO and Samsung EVO SSDs.
It all comes down to the type of flash memory
For a long time, Samsung offered two types of SSDs: Samsung Pro and Samsung EVO. In 2020, the company also released its third line of SSDs, called Samsung QVO. While all three are available to consumer-level PC manufacturers, Pro SSDs are the most expensive while the other two types are more affordable.
The main difference between these three brands lies in the type of flash memory they use. SSDs use non-volatile flash memory, which is a type of memory that can store data for long periods of time and doesn’t require constant power. Samsung’s three lines of SSDs use NAND flash memory (which is short for “Not And” and is an electronic logic gate) to permanently store data, but the exact technology varies between the three.
NAND flash memory generally comes in the following types:
- Single Level Cell (SLC) NAND is usually the most expensive of all, but it generally has high durability. Stores 1 bit of data per memory cell.
- Multilevel Cell (MLC) NAND is typically cheaper than SLC while still offering great longevity. It can hold 2 bits of data per memory cell.
- Triple-Level Cell (TLC) NAND offers higher storage density than the previous two, but also has lower performance and longevity. Contains 3 data bits per cell.
- Quad Level Cell (QLC) NAND is perhaps the cheapest of the four types. Unsurprisingly, it also offers the shortest lifespan of the four. Following the trend, QLC NAND stores 4 bits of data per cell.
- 3D NAND refers to stacking multiple NAND chips inside a single SSD. It offers much higher storage density, but is not practical in commercial versions due to higher costs and power requirements.
Samsung QVO vs EVO: explanation of the differences
Knowing that the QVO, EVO, and Pro use different NAND technologies, we can examine how this affects their performance. As you can see from our brief explanation above, the difference in NAND flash memory means that we can expect different things from each drive.
Samsung EVO SSD drives use TLC NAND (3 bits per cell), while the new QVO line uses QLC (4 bits per cell). For reference, Samsung Pro SSDs are made with MLC NAND (2 bits per cell), but we’ll focus on the differences between EVO and QVO below.
Price
Pro SSD drives are still the most expensive Samsung offers. By comparison, both the EVO and QVO are more reasonably priced. Of the three, the new QVO drives are by far the cheapest.
The Samsung 870 EVO is a great drive and typically runs $120-$170 on Amazon for 1TB of storage. A cheaper equivalent to that unit, the Samsung 870 QVO, typically costs around $100 to $130.
Although prices can vary by model and, of course, storage capacity, QVO drives are often much cheaper than EVO drives. In addition to the above, the lower price comes with the price of performance.
storage size
Although the EVO drives are more expensive than the QVO, the new QVO line of SSDs wins in terms of storage capacity. Although different models offer different capacities, comparing two similar products from each line (870 EVO and 870 QVO) gives us an accurate idea of what to expect in terms of storage space.
The Samsung 870 EVO comes with 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, or up to 4TB of storage. The newer 870 QVO has more capacity right out of the box, with the smallest drive offering 1TB, followed by 2TB, 4TB, and finally a whopping 8TB. This makes it one of the largest consumer SSDs available on the market.
Realistically, most of us won’t need 8TB of SSD storage. Such a massive SSD is also expensive, with prices on Amazon hovering around $850 (although you can get it for as little as $710 on sale). However, if we look only at the capacities, the QVO drives offer higher capacities.
Longevity
SSD life is measured in Terabytes Written (TBW), which indicates how many terabytes of data you can write to the SSD before it reaches the end of its useful life and ultimately fails.
You’ve probably guessed by now that QVO drives generally offer a shorter lifespan than their EVO counterparts. A look at Samsung’s product pages gives us an idea of how much we can expect from each unit. We will only compare the SSD sizes that both models can offer, ignoring the smaller EVO and the larger QVO.
Once again, let’s compare the Samsung 870 EVO and the Samsung 870 QVO:
- 1 TB disk size: 600 TBW for EVO, 360 TBW for QVO
- 2 TB drive size: 1200 TBW for EVO, 720 TBW for QVO
- 4 TB drive size: 2400 TBW for EVO, 1440 TBW for QVO
Although the above differences in TBW are huge, they might not mean much to regular users. It’s worth noting that the exact numbers vary from drive to drive, and just because an SSD has a guaranteed TBW of 1440 doesn’t necessarily mean it won’t break long before reaching that threshold. All of this means that it is still under warranty and can be replaced by the manufacturer. Similarly, some solid-state drives continue to function beyond their expected useful life.
All of that said, as a general rule of thumb, you can expect the Samsung EVO to last longer than the Samsung QVO, but don’t forget the disclaimer above: A lot depends on the circumstances.
Performance
Read and write speeds are very important for SSD users. After all, you’re investing in a more expensive drive to see a big improvement over your standard hard disk drive (HDD). However, performance is another factor where the EVO and QVO differ.
Since Samsung QVO uses QLC NAND, it is the slowest of all flash memory types. On paper, that might not mean much. According to Samsung, both the 870 EVO and 870 QVO offer a write speed of 520 MBps and a read speed of 550 MBps. However, this is with the use of Samsung’s Intelligent TurboWrite technology.
TurboWrite throttles write speeds, temporarily increasing the speed at which the SSD can move data, nearly simulating the speeds of technically better NAND types. However, there is a maximum data capacity for which Intelligent TurboWrite can work. After approximately 42 GB to 72 GB of data transferred, speeds drop to what can normally be expected from that particular technology.
As a result, while QVO will keep up with EVO during Intelligent TurboWrite, it will lag behind in terms of speed once it runs out because TLC memory is typically significantly faster than QLC memory.
Wear
Taking all of the above factors into account, you might think that Samsung EVO wins on all counts, and while that’s true, it’s not that simple.
As you can see from the different capacities these SSDs offer, Samsung probably intended them to be used for different purposes. Samsung QVO drives are larger, but their slower speeds make them better for storage than tasks that require constant reading and writing.
Image source: Micron
Many users may choose to purchase a smaller TLC SSD for their operating system and some of their most used programs, and then choose a cheaper QLC drive to store files and software that doesn’t need to load as fast. In general, as shown in the chart above from Micron, the Samsung QVO line will excel in read-intensive workloads, but will lag behind when it comes to write-intensive tasks.
Samsung QVO vs. Samsung EVO: which is better?
While enthusiasts search for the best processors and graphics cards, SSDs are more often overlooked and purchased based on capacity and read/write speed. However, as you can see, there’s more to it than meets the eye, and similarly priced drives can sometimes perform differently.
On paper, it’s hard to deny that the Samsung EVO line of SSDs will perform better and possibly outlast the Samsung QVO. On the other hand, many users won’t notice much of a difference in their daily tasks, and unless you’re in a real hurry, you probably won’t care if it takes 30 seconds or 3 minutes for a large file to transfer.
The biggest difference between the two drive brands comes down to their use cases. If you’re looking for an SSD to install your OS on, you’re probably better off buying a smaller Samsung EVO, like the 970 EVO that once impressed us, or the cheaper 860 EVO. However, if you just want massive storage with speeds faster than regular hard drives, you’ll most likely be satisfied with the Samsung QVO.
Frequently asked questions about Samsung QVO and Samsung EVO
Which is better: 870 EVO or 870 QVO?
Judging strictly on performance and longevity, the Samsung 870 EVO SSD will outperform the 870 QVO. It’s usually faster without slowing down after a certain storage limit like QVO does, should offer a longer lifespan, and still comes with enough storage for those who want a bigger drive.
Is Samsung QVO good enough?
Samsung QVO SSDs are some of the most affordable and readily available drives on the market. While they’re not as good as the EVO, they still have a lot going for them, and they’re not bad. The average user may not easily tell the difference between the three types of Samsung drives (Pro, QVO, EVO).
Is EVO FTA or MLC?
Samsung calls EVO SSDs “3-bit MLC.” However, this only indicates that it is in fact a Triple Level Unit Cell (TLC), as MLC only applies to NAND flash memory types that store 2 bits of data per memory cell. In other words, the Samsung EVO SSD is TLC.
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Source: tiengtrunghaato.edu.vn