Samsung has launched its latest consumer SSD, the 990 EVO Plus, addressing the growing DRAM-less SSD market with improved performance and power efficiency over its predecessor. This new drive aims to balance high-end features with practical everyday use, offering capacities up to 4TB.
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| An overview of the Samsung 990 EVO Plus SSD, emphasizing its sleek design and branding for high-performance computing |
Technical Specifications and Performance
The 990 EVO Plus delivers impressive sequential read speeds of up to 7,250 MB/s and write speeds of 6,300 MB/s. The drive supports both PCIe 4.0 x4 and PCIe 5.0 x2 interfaces, making it versatile for various system configurations. It utilizes Samsung's advanced 236-Layer V8 TLC flash memory, paired with their Piccolo controller, resulting in significantly better power efficiency compared to the standard 990 EVO.
Capacity Options and Pricing
Available in 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB variants, the drive is currently priced at $89.99, $149.99, and $344.99 respectively. While these prices position it slightly higher than competitors, Samsung's reputation for reliability and the inclusion of their excellent Magician software suite adds value to the package. The pricing structure suggests room for market adjustments as the product matures.
Power Efficiency and Thermal Performance
A standout feature of the 990 EVO Plus is its impressive power efficiency, showing up to 73% improvement over its predecessor. During testing, the drive maintained temperatures below 65°C without a heatsink, making it suitable for laptop installations and compact builds. The single-sided design further enhances its compatibility with thin and light systems.
Cache and Sustained Performance
Samsung has implemented an enhanced TurboWrite 2.0 feature with larger cache sizes - 226GB for the 2TB model and 442GB for the 4TB variant. After cache depletion, the drive maintains a respectable 1.8 GB/s in steady-state performance, ensuring consistent real-world usage experience.
Software and Support
The drive comes with Samsung's renowned Magician software, offering comprehensive drive management tools and firmware updates. Additionally, it supports TCG Opal 2.0 hardware encryption and comes with a five-year warranty with up to 600TB writes per TB capacity.
Market Position
While the 990 EVO Plus arrives somewhat late to market, it represents what the original 990 EVO should have been. It competes effectively with both DRAM-equipped drives like the Crucial T500 and other DRAM-less options such as the Teamgroup MP44. Its position in the market is strengthened by the inclusion of a 4TB option and Samsung's reputation for reliability.
Conclusion
Despite facing strong competition and carrying a premium price tag, the Samsung 990 EVO Plus stands out as a well-rounded SSD that combines excellent performance with power efficiency. It's particularly appealing for laptop users and those who prioritize Samsung's ecosystem of software and support, though price-conscious buyers may find better value in alternative options currently available in the market.