Is The Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus Still Better Than The Samsung 980 Pro Or Is It Time To Upgrade

The NVMe SSD market moves fast, and two drives that have defined performance benchmarks over the last few years are the Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus and the Samsung 980 Pro. Both were flagship-tier M.2 drives in their prime, offering PCIe Gen4 speeds at competitive prices. But with newer models emerging and firmware updates shifting real-world performance, many users are asking: Is the Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus still better than the Samsung 980 Pro? Or has the gap closed—or even reversed—enough to justify an upgrade?

This isn’t just about peak read/write numbers. Real-world usability, thermal management, longevity, software support, and workload-specific performance all matter. Let’s break down how these two drives compare today and whether holding onto your current setup still makes sense.

Performance Benchmarks: Raw Speed vs Real-World Use

On paper, both the Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus and the Samsung 980 Pro deliver impressive specs. The Rocket 4 Plus advertises sequential read speeds up to 7,100 MB/s and writes up to 6,800 MB/s. The 980 Pro matches this closely with 7,000 MB/s reads and 5,100 MB/s writes. At first glance, Sabrent wins on write speed—but real-world usage tells a more nuanced story.

In sustained workloads like large file transfers, video editing, or game loading, the 980 Pro maintains consistent performance thanks to Samsung’s superior controller and thermal throttling management. The Rocket 4 Plus often starts strong but can throttle earlier under prolonged load, especially without adequate cooling.

Feature	Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus	Samsung 980 Pro
Interface	PCIe Gen4 x4	PCIe Gen4 x4
Sequential Read	Up to 7,100 MB/s	Up to 7,000 MB/s
Sequential Write	Up to 6,800 MB/s	Up to 5,100 MB/s
Random 4K Read (IOPS)	Up to 1,000,000	Up to 800,000
Random 4K Write (IOPS)	Up to 1,050,000	Up to 1,000,000
Thermal Throttling	Moderate (worse without heatsink)	Well-managed (better onboard temp control)
NAND Type	3D TLC NAND (Toshiba)	3D TLC V-NAND (Samsung)
Controller	Phison E16	Samsung Elpis

While the Rocket 4 Plus pulls ahead in synthetic benchmarks, the 980 Pro often feels snappier in daily tasks due to Samsung’s optimized firmware and better random I/O efficiency. For gaming, boot times, and OS responsiveness, the difference is minimal—both drives are excellent.

Tip: If your motherboard doesn’t include an M.2 heatsink, consider adding one—especially for the Rocket 4 Plus, which runs hotter under load.

Durability and Longevity: Who Lasts Longer?

Lifespan is measured in TBW (terabytes written) and endurance ratings. The 1TB Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus offers 700 TBW, while the same capacity 980 Pro provides 600 TBW. On the surface, Sabrent wins again. However, Samsung’s drive uses proprietary V-NAND and Elpis controller, known for exceptional wear leveling and data integrity.

“Samsung’s vertical integration—from NAND production to controller design—gives them tighter control over long-term reliability.” — Dr. Alan Zhou, Storage Systems Engineer

Independent lab tests show the 980 Pro maintains stable performance beyond its rated lifespan, with lower error rates over time. The Rocket 4 Plus performs well too, but some early batches had firmware bugs affecting stability under heavy mixed workloads—a concern mostly resolved in later revisions.

If you're using the drive for light-to-moderate tasks (browsing, office work, gaming), either will last 5+ years easily. For content creators or professionals doing constant 4K video rendering or database operations, the 980 Pro’s consistent endurance profile may offer more peace of mind.

Real-World Example: Video Editor’s Workflow

Consider Mark, a freelance video editor using DaVinci Resolve on a Ryzen 7 5800X system. He upgraded from a SATA SSD to the Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus in 2021 and noticed immediate improvements in project load times and timeline scrubbing. However, when exporting 4K timelines, he observed stuttering after 10-minute renders—his drive temperature hit 85°C, triggering throttling.

After switching to a 980 Pro with motherboard-integrated heatsink, his export consistency improved. Peak speeds were slightly lower, but sustained throughput remained stable. “It’s not about who starts fastest,” he said, “it’s about who finishes strong.”

Software and Support: Samsung’s Hidden Advantage

Samsung includes Magician Software—a robust toolset for firmware updates, health monitoring, benchmarking, and secure erasure. It’s user-friendly and regularly updated. Sabrent offers basic tools, but they’re less polished and lack advanced features like over-provisioning or encryption management.

This matters because firmware updates can significantly impact performance and compatibility. Samsung pushes updates to fix bugs, improve compatibility with new motherboards, and enhance security. Sabrent relies more on Phison’s firmware pipeline, which can lag behind.

Checklist: When to Consider Upgrading

• You frequently work with large files (4K/8K video, CAD, VMs)
• Your current drive shows signs of throttling or slowdowns under load
• You want better software tools for monitoring and maintenance
• You’re upgrading to a newer platform (e.g., AM5 or LGA1700 with PCIe Gen5 readiness)
• Your drive is nearing end-of-life (check SMART data or TBW used)

Firmware and Compatibility Over Time

One overlooked factor is long-term compatibility. The Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus uses the Phison E16 controller, which had well-documented issues with certain AMD chipsets during early PCIe Gen4 adoption. While most are patched via firmware, some users still report instability on older BIOS versions.

The 980 Pro, being a first-party Samsung product, receives priority support across platforms. It’s also been validated on more enterprise and hybrid-use systems, making it a safer choice for future-proofing—even if you’re not using those features today.

If you’re on an older motherboard (e.g., X570 or B550 from 2020), ensure your BIOS is updated before expecting full performance from either drive. Newer boards handle both equally well, but Samsung’s compatibility list tends to be broader.

FAQ

Can I notice the difference between these two drives in everyday use?

For general computing, gaming, and media consumption, no. Both drives boot Windows in under 10 seconds and load games nearly identically. The differences emerge only under sustained, high-intensity workloads.

Is the Samsung 980 Pro worth more per dollar than the Sabrent?

Historically, the Rocket 4 Plus offered better value. Today, prices are nearly identical. Given Samsung’s superior software, reliability record, and thermal management, many find the 980 Pro justifies a slight premium—if available at similar pricing.

Should I upgrade if I already have a Rocket 4 Plus?

Only if you’re experiencing thermal throttling, need better software tools, or are building a new system where consistency matters. Otherwise, it’s a marginal gain—not a necessity.

Final Verdict: Is It Time to Upgrade?

The Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus was a powerhouse at launch and remains a strong performer. But the Samsung 980 Pro has aged better. Its combination of sustained performance, thermal efficiency, firmware maturity, and ecosystem support gives it the edge in 2024.

If you're still deciding between them for a new build, go with the 980 Pro. If you already own the Rocket 4 Plus and aren't hitting performance ceilings, keep it. There’s no urgent need to upgrade unless your workflow demands maximum consistency.

Technology evolves, but so does wisdom in knowing when an upgrade truly adds value. The 980 Pro isn’t dramatically faster, but it’s more refined—and sometimes, refinement wins over raw speed.

🚀 Ready to optimize your storage setup? Check your current SSD’s health, compare real-world benchmarks, and decide if an upgrade truly benefits your needs. Share your experience below—what’s your go-to NVMe drive in 2024?