The Adata 970 Pro is a high-performance PCIe 5.0 SSD that boasts impressive sequential write speeds and a unique actively cooled heatsink. This review dives into its features, performance benchmarks, and overall value proposition in the competitive landscape of Gen 5 SSDs.
Adata consistently delivers competitive solid-state drives (SSDs), like the previously reviewed Adata 970. The new 970 Pro continues this trend while introducing some distinctive features. Benchmark results reveal a blend of exceptional performance in certain areas and more moderate results in others. While it excels in 450GB write tests and multi-queue CrystalDiskMark 8 benchmarks, it shows more average speeds in 48GB transfers and single-queue tests.
Feature Highlights of the Adata 970 Pro
The 970 Pro is a standard 2280 form factor, NVMe M.2 PCIe 5.0 SSD. What sets it apart, and likely justifies the “Pro” designation, is its substantial fan-cooled heatsink. The image below showcases the heatsink and its power connector.
Adata 970 Pro heatsink and fan
Another key difference between the 970 Pro and the standard 970 lies in the controller and NAND. The Pro model utilizes an InnoGrit IG5666 controller instead of the Phison PS5026 E26 found in the 970, along with 232-layer TLC NAND. Like its predecessor, the 970 Pro features a DRAM-based design, meaning the secondary cache resides on the drive itself, unlike Host Memory Buffer (HMB) designs that leverage system RAM for caching. This DRAM design contributes to the 970 Pro’s relatively fast random performance, a notable advantage over HMB designs, which typically excel in sequential transfers but lag in random operations.
Adata backs the 970 Pro with a five-year warranty and a 740 terabytes written (TBW) rating per 1TB of capacity. This generous 740 TBW surpasses the 600 TBW per 1TB commonly offered by competitors.
Pricing and Availability
The 2TB 970 Pro reviewed here is priced at $299.99 on Adata’s website. 1TB and 4TB versions are also planned, but pricing for these models has not yet been disclosed.
Closeup of Adata 970 Pro
Performance Analysis: A Mixed Bag of Speeds
The 970 Pro delivers impressive overall speed, but with some inconsistencies. It performed relatively slowly (for a Gen 5 drive) with 48GB files, yet blazed through the 450GB write test. Single-queue performance was mediocre for a PCIe 5.0 SSD, while multi-queue performance was top-tier. This disparity is somewhat surprising, considering the 450GB write test, which the drive aced, is a single-queue operation. While Adata advertises speeds up to 14GBps, these weren’t observed in testing, though it’s rumored that the latest Intel systems might achieve such performance levels.
Multi-queue performance chart
The 970 Pro shines in multi-queue scenarios, demonstrating exceptional throughput.
The 970 Pro’s random performance in CrystalDiskMark 8 was more consistent, on par with competing PCIe 5.0 drives like the Legend 970, Corsair MP700 Pro, and Seagate FireCuda 540. This translates to fast 4K performance both with and without queues.
Random performance chart
While not slow in 48GB transfer tests, the 970 Pro lags behind several other drives, including some Host Memory Buffer (HMB) designs.
48GB transfer chart
The 970 Pro achieved one of the fastest 450GB write times recorded, completing the task in just 2 minutes and 13 seconds.
450GB write time chart
Overall, the 970 Pro offers strong performance, especially for large sequential writes. However, it performs more averagely in other areas compared to top-tier competitors.
Should You Buy the Adata 970 Pro?
The Adata 970 Pro is a high-quality SSD, but faces stiff competition from similarly priced drives that offer comparable or even superior performance. Consider that the integrated heatsink adds to the cost; if your motherboard already provides adequate cooling, alternative SSDs might offer better value.
Testing Methodology
Drive tests were conducted using Windows 11 (64-bit) on an X790 motherboard with an i5-12400 CPU, 64GB of Kingston Fury 32GB DDR5 4800MHz RAM, 20Gbps USB, Thunderbolt 4, and integrated Intel graphics. 48GB transfer tests utilized a 58GB ImDisk RAM disk. The 450GB file transfer was from a 2TB Samsung 990 Pro. Tests were performed on a freshly formatted and TRIM’d drive. Note that real-world performance can vary as the drive fills and less NAND is available for caching. Results shown are specific to the tested capacity and may vary due to component differences between models.
