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

TeamGroup T-Force Cardea Z540 1TB

PCIe 5.0 · 12400/11800 MB/s · 1TB

92
/ 100
From $180
VS
TeamGroup T-Force Cardea Z540 1TB wins by 6
Samsung 970 EVO Plus 2TB · bare — PCIe 3.0 · 3500/3300 MB/s · 2TB
Samsung

Samsung 970 EVO Plus 2TB · bare

PCIe 3.0 · 3500/3300 MB/s · 2TB

86
/ 100
From $140
Specdex verdict

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

In our weighted Specdex score, TeamGroup T-Force Cardea Z540 1TB lands at 92 and Samsung 970 EVO Plus 2TB · bare at 86. That puts TeamGroup T-Force Cardea Z540 1TB ahead by 6 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.

Pick TeamGroup T-Force Cardea Z540 1TB if…

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

Pick Samsung 970 EVO Plus 2TB · 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 970 EVO Plus 2TB · bare

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

Samsung 970 EVO Plus 2TB · bare more score per dollar ($140 vs $180).

TeamGroup T-Force Cardea Z540 1TB 92
vs
86 Samsung 970 EVO Plus 2TB · bare

Score breakdown

TeamGroup T-Force Cardea Z540 1TB
92
read 98
write 96
endurance 88
value 84
Samsung 970 EVO Plus 2TB · bare
86
read 90
write 88
endurance 88
value 84

Specs side-by-side

TeamGroup T-Force Cardea Z540 1TB versus Samsung 970 EVO Plus 2TB · bare — full spec comparison
Spec TeamGroup T-Force Cardea Z540 1TB Samsung 970 EVO Plus 2TB · bare
Interface
PCIe 5.0
PCIe 3.0
Capacity
1TB
▲ 2TB
Read/Write
12400/11800 MB/s
3500/3300 MB/s

TeamGroup T-Force Cardea Z540 1TB

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 970 EVO Plus 2TB · 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 vs Samsung 970 EVO Plus 2TB · bare

Which is better, TeamGroup T-Force Cardea Z540 1TB or Samsung 970 EVO Plus 2TB · bare? +

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

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

Is Samsung 970 EVO Plus 2TB · bare worth the price? +

At $140, Samsung 970 EVO Plus 2TB · bare delivers a Specdex score of 86 — strongest in read.

Does TeamGroup T-Force Cardea Z540 1TB or Samsung 970 EVO Plus 2TB · 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 or Samsung 970 EVO Plus 2TB · bare? +

Samsung 970 EVO Plus 2TB · bare — more score per dollar ($140 vs $180). Specdex score per dollar at MSRP.