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The Samsung 990 PRO PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD is a top-of-the-line storage solution designed for tech enthusiasts, gamers, and professionals who demand the absolute best performance. It boasts incredible speed, improved power efficiency, and a focus on thermal management, making it a compelling choice for demanding workloads. Here are its details:
Performance:
The Samsung 990 PRO boasts exceptional performance, making it ideal for demanding tasks. Here’s a breakdown of its key performance aspects:
Blazing-Fast Speeds:
- Sequential Read Speeds: Up to 7,450 MB/s
- Sequential Write Speeds: Up to 6,900 MB/s
- These speeds translate to significantly faster loading times for applications, games, and large files.
Improved Power Efficiency:
- Samsung claims over 50% better performance per watt compared to its predecessor, the 980 PRO.
- This means you get the same high performance while consuming less power, benefiting laptops and desktops where battery life is a concern.
Thermal Management:
- Samsung has implemented an intelligent thermal management solution to ensure sustained performance even under heavy workloads.
- This is crucial for maintaining peak performance during extended use.
Credit: Techtesters – YouTube
Features:
The Samsung 990 PRO PCIe 4.0 SSD is a feature-packed powerhouse designed to deliver top-tier performance for demanding users. Here’s a closer look at some of its key features:
Blazing Speed with PCIe 4.0:
The 990 PRO leverages the capabilities of the PCIe 4.0 interface to achieve phenomenal transfer speeds. With sequential read speeds reaching up to 7,450 MB/s and write speeds hitting 6,900 MB/s, it pushes the boundaries of consumer SSDs. This translates to:
- Faster Game Loading: Experience significantly reduced load times in modern games, especially those that utilize DirectStorage on compatible PCs and upcoming PlayStation 5 titles.
- Smoother Workflows: Enjoy seamless video editing and 3D modeling without lags or hiccups. The rapid transfer speeds allow for effortless work with large media files.
- Faster Data Processing: Quickly process large datasets and perform complex calculations with minimal wait times.
Improved Power Efficiency:
A significant advancement of the 990 PRO is its power efficiency. Samsung claims over 50% better performance per watt compared to its predecessor. This translates to:
- Extended Battery Life: Laptops equipped with the 990 PRO will benefit from reduced power consumption, leading to longer battery life.
- Eco-Friendly Operation: Lower power consumption translates to a smaller environmental footprint.
Intelligent Thermal Management:
High-performance SSDs can generate a lot of heat, impacting performance. The 990 PRO tackles this with an intelligent thermal management solution. While the specifics are not public knowledge, it likely involves a combination of:
- Built-in Heat Spreader: This helps dissipate heat generated by the SSD components.
- Advanced Controller Algorithms: The controller monitors temperatures and adjusts performance to maintain optimal operating conditions.
- Optional Heatsink (on some models): Some models come bundled with a heatsink for additional cooling, ensuring sustained performance during heavy workloads.
High Capacity and M.2 Form Factor:
The 990 PRO comes in various capacities, ranging from 1TB to 4TB, catering to different storage needs and budgets. It utilizes the M.2 2280 form factor, making it compatible with most modern desktops and laptops that support PCIe 4.0 x4 slots.
Durability and Security:
Samsung equips the 990 PRO with features like:
- High Endurance (TBW): The TBW (Terabytes Written) rating indicates the amount of data you can write to the drive before it wears out. The 990 PRO should offer excellent endurance for everyday use.
- 256-Bit AES Hardware Encryption: This industry-standard encryption protects your data in case of unauthorized access.
In summary, the Samsung 990 PRO boasts a combination of features designed to deliver top-notch performance, power efficiency, and reliability. Whether you’re a gamer, video editor, or data analyst, the 990 PRO provides the tools you need to tackle demanding tasks with speed and efficiency.
Also Read: SK HYNIX PLATINUM P41 SSD REVIEW | THE BEST GEN4 SSD?
Market and Competitors:
The Samsung 990 PRO PCIe 4.0 SSD sits at the forefront of the high-performance consumer SSD market. It boasts exceptional read and write speeds, improved power efficiency, and innovative thermal management, making it a compelling choice for gamers, creative professionals, and anyone who demands the absolute best from their storage solution.
However, the high-performance SSD market is a competitive landscape, and the 990 PRO faces several noteworthy rivals:
- WD Black SN850X: This is a top contender, often going neck-and-neck with the 990 PRO in benchmarks. It offers similar performance at a potentially slightly lower price point. Some reviewers even consider it the better choice for pure gaming due to its focus on raw speed.
- SK hynix Platinum P41: Another strong competitor, the P41 boasts excellent performance and endurance ratings. While it might not quite match the 990 PRO in raw speed, it offers a compelling alternative with potentially better pricing depending on the capacity.
- Crucial P5 Plus: While not quite on the same level as the top contenders, the P5 Plus offers a good balance of performance and value. It’s a solid choice for users who don’t necessarily need the absolute fastest speeds but still prioritize performance over budget.
Market Position:
The Samsung 990 PRO positions itself as a premium offering, prioritizing top-tier performance and innovative features like improved power efficiency and thermal management. This translates to a potentially higher price tag compared to some competitors.
Here’s a breakdown of how the 990 PRO stacks up:
- Performance: It’s undeniably one of the fastest consumer SSDs on the market, making it ideal for demanding tasks.
- Power Efficiency: The improved performance per watt makes it a good choice for laptops and desktops where battery life is a concern.
- Features: Samsung implements innovative thermal management solutions and offers high capacities.
- Price: It might be slightly more expensive than some competitors with similar performance.
Pros:
- Exceptional Performance: Blazing-fast read and write speeds make it ideal for demanding tasks like gaming, video editing, and data processing.
- Improved Power Efficiency: Compared to previous models, the 990 PRO boasts better performance per watt, leading to potentially longer battery life on laptops.
- Intelligent Thermal Management: Samsung’s solution helps maintain peak performance even under heavy workloads, reducing throttling.
- High Capacity Options: Up to 4TB capacities cater to users with extensive storage needs.
- Durability and Security: High TBW endurance ratings and hardware encryption ensure data longevity and protection.
Cons:
- Premium Price: The 990 PRO can be more expensive than some competitors with similar performance.
- Limited Benefit for Everyday Tasks: The exceptional speed might be overkill for basic tasks like web browsing or office work.
- Not the Absolute Fastest in All Benchmarks: While very fast, some competitors offer performance that’s statistically close.
Specs Table:
| Feature | Specification |
| Interface | PCIe Gen 4.0 x4, NVMe 2.0 |
| Form Factor | M.2 (2280) |
| Capacities | 1TB, 2TB, 4TB |
| Sequential Read Speed | Up to 7,450 MB/s |
| Sequential Write Speed | Up to 6,900 MB/s |
| Random Read IOPS | Up to 1,400,000 (1.4K) |
| Random Write IOPS | Up to 1,550,000 (1.5K) |
| Controller | Samsung Pascal (S4LV008) |
| NAND Flash | Samsung V-NAND 3-bit TLC (1TB, 2TB) / 4-bit TLC (4TB) |
| DRAM Cache | 1GB LPDDR4 (1TB) / 2GB LPDDR4 (2TB) / 4GB LPDDR4 (4TB) |
| Endurance (TBW) | Not officially specified, but likely similar to 980 PRO (1200 TBW for 1TB, 2500 TBW for 2TB) |
| Warranty | 5 years |
| Security | 256-bit AES hardware encryption |
| Dimensions (WxHxD) | 80.0 x 22.0 x 2.3 mm |
| Weight | Max 9.0g |