XPG Mars 980 Pro 1TB PCIe Gen 5 x4 NVMe 2.0 M.2 2280 SSD – Up to 14,000 MB/s Read / 10,000 MB/s Write, SM2508 3D NAND

The XPG Mars 980 Pro 1TB NVMe Gen 5 SSD (Model: SMAR-980P-1TCI) represents the latest generation of solid-state drive engineering, designed to extract maximum performance from the PCI Express 5.0 ×4 interface and NVMe 2.0 protocol. It offers sequential read speeds up to 14,000 MB/s and write speeds up to 10,000 MB/s, delivering almost double the throughput of high-end PCIe Gen 4 drives. This level of performance is achieved through a combination of next-generation NAND architecture and a high-efficiency controller built on a 6 nm process node.

At its core, the Mars 980 Pro is powered by the Silicon Motion SM2508 controller and 3D TLC NAND flash memory. The controller utilizes 8 channels with advanced LDPC ECC (Low-Density Parity-Check Error Correction) and real-time wear-leveling algorithms to preserve data accuracy and extend endurance. Dynamic SLC caching and a DRAM cache buffer ensure that sustained performance remains consistent across large sequential transfers and heavy multitasking environments.

The drive adheres to the NVMe 2.0 specification, providing improved command set efficiency, lower queue handling latency, and better resource allocation between host and controller. For professional workloads, this translates to faster response times under mixed read/write loads and superior I/O performance when handling large datasets or concurrent program execution.

The Mars 980 Pro introduces a compact active cooling design to address thermal build-up common in Gen 5 SSDs. Its integrated aluminum heatsink combined with a micro turbo fan helps dissipate heat effectively, maintaining lower controller and NAND temperatures under sustained load. This design helps reduce throttling during long file transfers or benchmark operations while remaining silent and power-efficient. The fan draws power directly from the M.2 slot, requiring no additional cables or headers.

Backward compatibility ensures the drive functions perfectly on PCIe 4.0 and 3.0 motherboards, albeit at reduced interface bandwidth, making it a suitable performance upgrade for current-generation desktops and laptops while remaining future-ready for newer chipsets. The form factor follows the M.2 2280 standard, ensuring broad fitment with both gaming motherboards and workstation platforms.

The endurance rating is substantial for a 1TB drive, complemented by a 5-year limited warranty. Operating temperature is rated from 0 °C to 70 °C, with a storage range of –40 °C to 85 °C, and shock resistance up to 1,500 G / 0.5 ms. The SSD’s power management conforms to NVMe 2.0 standby and sleep states for lower idle consumption, helping preserve overall system efficiency.

This SSD is optimized for gaming builds, creative production workflows, and compute environments requiring rapid data access and sustained throughput. It performs exceptionally well in applications such as 4K/8K video editing, large project rendering, database indexing, and as a boot or cache drive in high-performance systems.

The XPG Mars 980 Pro 1TB combines exceptional Gen 5 speed, thermal control, and reliability in a compact M.2 module—delivering enterprise-grade performance tailored for enthusiasts, gamers, and professionals who demand uncompromised responsiveness and data integrity.