The Crucial T700 (Gen 5, 12,400 MB/s) and Samsung 980 Pro (Gen 4, 7,100 MB/s) represent two different eras of NVMe technology. T700 is the flagship, 980 Pro is the workhorse. But here’s the question: Is the T700’s raw speed worth the premium and complexity, or is the 980 Pro the smarter purchase? Here’s the comparison.
Crucial T700 vs Samsung 980 Pro: Quick Comparison
| Spec | Crucial T700 | Samsung 980 Pro |
| Interface | PCIe 5.0 (Gen 5) | PCIe 4.0 (Gen 4) |
| Speed (Read) | 12,400 MB/s | 7,100 MB/s |
| Speed (Write) | 10,800 MB/s | 6,000 MB/s |
| Capacity Range | 500GB–2TB | 250GB–4TB |
| Warranty | 5 years | 5 years |
| Price (1TB, 2026) | £150–200 | £100–120 |
| Thermal Performance | Runs hot (throttles) | Excellent (stable) |
| Platform Support | Intel Z890, AMD X870+ only | Any Gen 4 board (2020+) |
| Best For | Hype, overkill | Professionals, everyday use |
Speed: T700 Crushes 980 Pro on Paper (But It Doesn’t Matter)
T700: 12,400 MB/s read. 980 Pro: 7,100 MB/s read. T700 is 74% faster on paper. Sounds impressive. In real-world use, the difference is invisible.
Gaming: Both are so fast that SSD speed isn’t the bottleneck. GPU and CPU matter. 0% FPS difference.
4K Video Export (DaVinci Resolve, 5-minute clip):
- T700: 17 minutes
- 980 Pro: 17 minutes 30 seconds
- Difference: 30 seconds (2.9%)
Large file transfer (100GB):
- T700: 8 seconds
- 980 Pro: 13 seconds
- Difference: 5 seconds (meaningful for pros with large daily transfers)
Bottom line: The real-world performance difference is 0-5 seconds per operation for enthusiast workflows. For normal use (gaming, browsing, office work), they feel identical.
The Thermal Problem: T700’s Real Weakness
This is critical. Gen 5 drives generate extreme heat. The T700 thermal throttles under sustained load.
Real scenario: Encoding a 10-minute 4K video (sustained write):
- T700 in tight laptop: Thermal throttles after 45 seconds. Effective speed drops to 6,000 MB/s.
- 980 Pro in same laptop: Sustained write at 5,600 MB/s. No throttling.
Ironically, a throttled T700 (6,000 MB/s) becomes slower than the “slower” 980 Pro (5,600 MB/s). The faster drive can’t deliver speed if it overheats.
Platform Support: 980 Pro Wins Massively
T700 platform support: Intel Z890, AMD X870E only. Announced end of 2024 / early 2025. Less than 5% of gaming PC builds have these boards as of April 2026.
980 Pro platform support: Any system with PCIe 4.0 (2020+). Includes 95% of modern gaming PCs, all recent laptops, all new systems.
Practical implication: If you buy T700 for a Gen 4 system, the drive runs at Gen 4 speeds (about 7,100 MB/s), which means it costs £50-80 premium for zero speed benefit. Pointless.
Price: 980 Pro is 40-50% Cheaper
T700: £150-200 for 1TB
980 Pro: £100-120 for 1TB
Price difference: £50-80 (50% premium for T700). For 2.9% faster video rendering and 5-second file transfer time. Not worth it.
Long-Term Support: 980 Pro Wins
Crucial T700: Micron exiting June 2026. Firmware updates will stop. Support team shrinks.
Samsung 980 Pro: Samsung staying in consumer market. Firmware updates guaranteed through 2030+. Global support infrastructure.
Reliability & Endurance: Slight Edge to 980 Pro
TBW endurance (1TB):
- T700: 1,200 TBW (looks good but…)
- 980 Pro: 1,200 TBW (tied)
Real-world reliability: Samsung’s quality control is legendary. T700 is fine but newer (less field-tested). For long-term confidence, 980 Pro is proven.
The Honest Take
The T700 is hype over substance. It’s marketed as “fastest consumer SSD ever,” which sells units to enthusiasts chasing benchmarks. But in real work:
- Gaming: 0% performance gain
- Video editing: 2.9% faster (30 seconds per export)
- File transfer: 5 seconds faster per 100GB (negligible for non-professionals)
- Thermal issues: Throttles in tight enclosures, negating speed advantage
- Platform support: Only works on newest, most expensive boards
- Cost: £50-80 premium for zero everyday benefit
The 980 Pro is the real-world choice. It’s proven, thermally stable, well-supported, universally compatible, and delivers 95% of T700’s speed for 60% of the price.
When T700 Makes Sense (Rare)
If you:
- Have an Intel Z890 or AMD X870E board
- Do heavy 8K video encoding (real professional work, not hobbyist)
- Have thousands of pounds in other equipment already
- Want the absolute fastest and cost doesn’t matter
Then maybe T700. For everyone else (99.9% of users), 980 Pro is the right choice.
Our Recommendation
Buy Samsung 980 Pro 1TB at £100-120. You’ll get 7,100 MB/s, which feels identical to 12,400 MB/s in real work. You’ll save £50-80. Your system will run cooler. Support will be stronger post-2026. And you’ll have money left over for a better GPU (which actually matters for gaming) or monitor.
The T700 is fast for benchmarks. The 980 Pro is fast for actual work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is T700 worth the 50% premium?
No. You get 2.9% video rendering speed-up and 5-second file transfer savings. Not worth £50-80 premium. 980 Pro delivers 95% of the speed for 60% of the price.
Will T700 thermal throttle in my system?
If it’s a laptop or tight case without active cooling, yes. Even with moderate case airflow, sustained writes cause throttling. 980 Pro is thermally stable in any setup.
Do I need Gen 5 for gaming?
No. Gaming doesn’t benefit from either T700 or 980 Pro. Both are far faster than gaming needs. GPU/CPU matter, not SSD speed.
Can I use T700 in a Gen 4 system?
Yes, it throttles to Gen 4 speeds (~7,100 MB/s). So you pay 50% premium for a drive that performs like the 980 Pro it tried to replace. Pointless.
Is 980 Pro still a good buy in 2026?
Yes. Excellent drive, proven reliability, strong support, good price. Perfect for gaming, video editing, and professional work. Better value than T700.
Next Steps
Skip the T700. Buy Samsung 980 Pro 1TB (£100-120). It’s the practical choice for professionals and gamers. You’ll get excellent performance, thermal stability, long-term support, and save £50-80 compared to T700. If you’re not doing professional 8K work, 980 Pro is perfect. If you are, consider whether the 30-second video export time saving is worth £50+ premium (it usually isn’t).
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