ADATA is one of the first brands to release SSDs based on the latest Silicon Motion controller, the SM2508. All high-series PCIe 5.0 SSDs promise top performance; however, the ADATA XPG MARS 980 BLADE presented in this review offers something special that no other brand does – a low operating temperature.
The new SSD series promises excellent results in all types of computers where a regular M.2 2280 SSD can be installed. The MARS 980 BLADE is available with capacities of up to 4TB. In our review, you can see the results of the 2TB version, which is expected to be the most popular among gamers.
After a brief introduction and some technical details, we will examine the performance, as it’s the most crucial aspect for most users.
MARS 980 BLADE
Bladefast. Sharp Unstoppable.
The Gaming Gen5 SSD for Laptops

Clutch Moment. Legendary Move.
The MARS 980 BLADE features a sequential read/write speed of 14,000/13,000MB per second, which is double the performance of PCIe Gen4 SSDs and 8x faster than standard Gen3 SSDs. It is fully backward compatible with PCIe 4.0 and 3.0 platforms. Complete every challenge in mere seconds!
6nm Control, Game Changer
Built with TSMC’s advanced 6nm process, the MARS 980 BLADE delivers superior performance-to-power efficiency, reducing heat generation in PCIe 5.0 SSDs and eliminating the need for bulky cooling—making it ideal for laptops and compact systems.
Expand PS5 Storage Capacity
The MARS 980 BLADE utilizes a PCIe 5.0 transmission interface and can be installed in the PS5 as an expansion hard drive to alleviate PS5 storage insufficiency issues. Not only does the MARS 980 BLADE fit perfectly into the PS5’a drive slot, it also provides a smooth and no-lag gaming experience while enjoying triple A masterpieces.
Attention! Large Capacity Incoming!
Carefully selected 232-layer 3D NAND flash memory allows the MARS 980 BLADE to feature an ultra-large capacity of up to 4TB, and the SSD uses a variety of data protection and error correction technologies to greatly improve TBW (Total Bytes Written) and durability to meet high load requirements.
Beyond Elite
MARS 980 BLADE comes with SLC Caching and DRAM Cache Buffer for advantages in system loading and data caching. It features 4K random read/write of up to 2000K/1650K IOPS for smoother multitasking.
SSD Toolbox value-added software for real-time status monitoring
SSD Toolbox ensures users utilize the latest Firmware version for the best performance and employs Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology (S.M.A.R.T.) to understand the health and remaining lifespan of SSDs, as well as the current operating temperature and storage capacity, so that users can track of SSD status at any time.

You can buy the ADATA MARS 980 BLADE 2TB PCIE 5.0 SSD from …
- Amazon US for around USD $179 – https://amzn.to/3JoOAp4
- Amazon CA for around CAD $469 – https://amzn.to/4mtp0h5
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