XPG MARS 980 BLADE
PCIe 5.0 NVMe · 14,000 MB/s read · PassMark #17
Samsung 9100 PRO 8TB
8TB · PCIe 5.0 NVMe · 14,800 MB/s read · PassMark #19
Dead heat — it comes down to priorities.
In our weighted Specdex score, XPG MARS 980 BLADE lands at 83 and Samsung 9100 PRO 8TB at 83. With scores tied, the decision hinges on which sub-scores matter most to you.
Pick XPG MARS 980 BLADE if…
- ✓PassMark Disk Score top-20 (88,359) — sustained-write class-leading
- ✓Current street price around $721
Pick Samsung 9100 PRO 8TB if…
- ✓PassMark Disk Score top-20 (87,709) — sustained-write class-leading
- ✓Pro-tier controller and DRAM cache for sustained throughput
- ✓PCIe 5.0 interface for next-gen platforms (AM5, LGA 1851)
Winner by scenario
Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate testValue for money
XPG MARS 980 BLADESpecdex score per dollar at MSRP
XPG MARS 980 BLADE more score per dollar ($300 vs $999).
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | XPG MARS 980 BLADE | Samsung 9100 PRO 8TB |
|---|---|---|
| Form factor | M.2 2280 (passive, heat-spreader label) | M.2 2280 |
| Interface | PCIe 5.0 x4 NVMe 2.0 | PCIe 5.0 x4 NVMe 2.0 |
| Sequential read | 14,000 MB/s | 14,800 MB/s |
| Sequential write | 13,000 MB/s | 13,400 MB/s |
| Random read | 2,000,000 IOPS | 2,200,000 IOPS |
| Random write | 1,650,000 IOPS | 2,600,000 IOPS |
| Controller | Silicon Motion SM2508 (TSMC 6nm) | Samsung Presto (in-house, 5nm) |
| NAND | 232-layer Micron 3D TLC | Samsung V8 V-NAND 3D TLC (236-layer) |
| DRAM | yes (DRAM cache buffer) | yes, LPDDR4X |
| Endurance | 1,480 TBW | 4,800 TBW |
| Warranty | 5 years | 5 years |
| PassMark Disk Score | 88,359 | 87,709 |
| PassMark rank | #17 of 100 consumer SSDs | #19 of 100 consumer SSDs |
XPG MARS 980 BLADE
- +PassMark Disk Score top-20 (88,359) — sustained-write class-leading
- +Current street price around $721
- −DRAM-less controllers on lower-tier variants may throttle under sustained writes
Samsung 9100 PRO 8TB
- +PassMark Disk Score top-20 (87,709) — sustained-write class-leading
- +Pro-tier controller and DRAM cache for sustained throughput
- +PCIe 5.0 interface for next-gen platforms (AM5, LGA 1851)
- −PCIe 5.0 drives run hot — heatsink or motherboard M.2 cooling recommended
- −Pricing varies — confirm current retail before purchase
FAQ: XPG MARS 980 BLADE vs Samsung 9100 PRO 8TB
Which is better, XPG MARS 980 BLADE or Samsung 9100 PRO 8TB? +
Both score 83 on our weighted rubric — tied. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is XPG MARS 980 BLADE worth the price? +
At $300, XPG MARS 980 BLADE delivers a Specdex score of 83 — strongest in passmark_disk.
Is Samsung 9100 PRO 8TB worth the price? +
At $999, Samsung 9100 PRO 8TB delivers a Specdex score of 83 — strongest in passmark_disk.
Does XPG MARS 980 BLADE or Samsung 9100 PRO 8TB 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, XPG MARS 980 BLADE or Samsung 9100 PRO 8TB? +
XPG MARS 980 BLADE — more score per dollar ($300 vs $999). Specdex score per dollar at MSRP.