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TeamGroup T-Force Cardea Z540 1TB · bare — PCIe 5.0 · 12400/11800 MB/s · 1TB
TeamGroup

TeamGroup T-Force Cardea Z540 1TB · bare

PCIe 5.0 · 12400/11800 MB/s · 1TB

92
/ 100
From $180
VS
TeamGroup T-Force Cardea Z540 1TB · bare wins by 6
Samsung 990 EVO Plus 1TB · bare — PCIe 4.0/5.0 · 7250/6300 MB/s · 1TB
Samsung

Samsung 990 EVO Plus 1TB · bare

PCIe 4.0/5.0 · 7250/6300 MB/s · 1TB

86
/ 100
From $90
Specdex verdict

TeamGroup T-Force Cardea Z540 1TB · bare takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, TeamGroup T-Force Cardea Z540 1TB · bare lands at 92 and Samsung 990 EVO Plus 1TB · bare at 86. That puts TeamGroup T-Force Cardea Z540 1TB · bare ahead by 6 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.

Pick TeamGroup T-Force Cardea Z540 1TB · bare if…

  • ✓M.2 NVMe
  • ✓Competitive per-GB cost
  • ✓TBW scales with capacity

Pick Samsung 990 EVO Plus 1TB · bare if…

  • ✓M.2 NVMe
  • ✓Competitive per-GB cost
  • ✓TBW scales with capacity
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Winner by scenario

Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate test

Endurance & reliability

Tie

Write endurance and long-term dependability

Effectively tied — neither pulls a 2-point weighted lead.

Value for money

Samsung 990 EVO Plus 1TB · bare

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

Samsung 990 EVO Plus 1TB · bare more score per dollar ($90 vs $180).

TeamGroup T-Force Cardea Z540 1TB · bare 92
vs
86 Samsung 990 EVO Plus 1TB · bare

Score breakdown

TeamGroup T-Force Cardea Z540 1TB · bare
92
read 98
write 96
endurance 88
value 84
Samsung 990 EVO Plus 1TB · bare
86
read 90
write 88
endurance 88
value 84

Specs side-by-side

TeamGroup T-Force Cardea Z540 1TB · bare versus Samsung 990 EVO Plus 1TB · bare — full spec comparison
Spec TeamGroup T-Force Cardea Z540 1TB · bare Samsung 990 EVO Plus 1TB · bare
Interface
PCIe 5.0
PCIe 4.0/5.0
Capacity
1TB
1TB
Read/Write
12400/11800 MB/s
7250/6300 MB/s

TeamGroup T-Force Cardea Z540 1TB · bare

Pros
  • +M.2 NVMe
  • +Competitive per-GB cost
  • +TBW scales with capacity
Cons
  • −Thermals on Gen 5 drives
  • −DRAM-less models slower under sustained load
  • −Require heatsinks in many systems

Samsung 990 EVO Plus 1TB · bare

Pros
  • +M.2 NVMe
  • +Competitive per-GB cost
  • +TBW scales with capacity
Cons
  • −Thermals on Gen 5 drives
  • −DRAM-less models slower under sustained load
  • −Require heatsinks in many systems

FAQ: TeamGroup T-Force Cardea Z540 1TB · bare vs Samsung 990 EVO Plus 1TB · bare

Which is better, TeamGroup T-Force Cardea Z540 1TB · bare or Samsung 990 EVO Plus 1TB · bare? +

TeamGroup T-Force Cardea Z540 1TB · bare scores 92 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 6. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.

Is TeamGroup T-Force Cardea Z540 1TB · bare worth the price? +

At $180, TeamGroup T-Force Cardea Z540 1TB · bare delivers a Specdex score of 92 — strongest in read.

Is Samsung 990 EVO Plus 1TB · bare worth the price? +

At $90, Samsung 990 EVO Plus 1TB · bare delivers a Specdex score of 86 — strongest in read.

Does TeamGroup T-Force Cardea Z540 1TB · bare or Samsung 990 EVO Plus 1TB · bare last longer? +

Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.

Which is the better value, TeamGroup T-Force Cardea Z540 1TB · bare or Samsung 990 EVO Plus 1TB · bare? +

Samsung 990 EVO Plus 1TB · bare — more score per dollar ($90 vs $180). Specdex score per dollar at MSRP.