Samsung SSD 990 PRO 1TB, PCIe 4.0 M.2 2280, Up to 7,450

The 990 PRO 1TB is an internal M.2 2280 solid-state drive built for power users, PC gamers, and console owners who need fast data access. By utilizing the PCIe 4.0 interface, it addresses the need for rapid file transfers and reduced load times in high-demand computing environments.

Performance is the main focus, with sequential read speeds reaching up to 7,450 MB/s and sequential write speeds reaching up to 6,900 MB/s. It also hits up to 1,400K and 1,550K IOPS for random read and write tasks, which translates to a 40% and 55% jump over the 980 PRO. For gamers, this boost includes up to 65% faster random performance to help speed up loading screens on PlayStation 5 consoles and PC games utilizing DirectStorage.

Efficiency and heat management are handled through updated hardware choices. The drive offers up to a 50% improvement in performance per watt over its predecessor while maintaining thermal regulation via a nickel-coated controller. Its compact physical footprint conforms to the PCI-SIG D8 standard, ensuring it easily fits into compatible laptops and desktop motherboards. Users can also manage drive health, secure files, and apply updates using the Samsung Magician utility software.

As for trade-offs, this specific model is capped at a 1TB capacity, which might fill up quickly if you store multiple modern games. It also operates on PCIe 4.0, so your system needs a compatible interface to achieve the highest listed transfer rates.

Verdict: The 990 PRO 1TB is a great choice for PC builders and PS5 owners who want near-maximum PCIe 4.0 transfer speeds and improved power efficiency. If your setup supports M.2 2280 drives and you want responsive game loading, it is well worth adding to your setup.

A great fit if you:

• Want to expand your PlayStation 5 storage with fast load times
• Play PC games that utilize Microsoft DirectStorage
• Need high sequential transfer speeds up to 7,450 MB/s for heavy workloads
• Require a slim M.2 drive that complies with PCI-SIG D8 laptop standards

Consider something else if you:

• Need multi-terabyte storage on a single physical drive
• Use older systems that lack an M.2 PCIe slot

Is this SSD compatible with the PS5?
Yes, the drive is designed to support the PlayStation 5 and provides random performance improvements for faster game loading.

What are the maximum read and write speeds?
The drive delivers sequential read speeds up to 7,450 MB/s and sequential write speeds up to 6,900 MB/s, along with random read/write speeds up to 1,400K/1,550K IOPS.

How does the drive manage operating temperatures?
It features a built-in nickel-coated controller designed to provide effective thermal control in compatible desktop and laptop installations.