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This is a buyer's guide compiled from manufacturer specifications and published reviews. GameRath did not test this product.
The Samsung 990 EVO Plus is a DRAM-less NVMe SSD that runs on either PCIe 4.0 x4 or PCIe 5.0 x2. It replaces the original 990 EVO with a new controller and newer flash, and it sits in the mid-range tier where price against rivals matters as much as speed.
Key specs
- Form factor and interface: M.2 2280, PCIe 4.0 x4 or PCIe 5.0 x2, NVMe 2.0
- Controller: Samsung Piccolo, in-house 5nm design, DRAM-less with Host Memory Buffer (TheSSDReview, HotHardware)
- Flash: 8th-generation 236-layer TLC V-NAND
- Capacities: 1TB, 2TB, 4TB
- Rated sequential read/write: up to 7,150/6,300MB/s on the 1TB (Samsung's product page) and up to 7,250/6,300MB/s on the 2TB and 4TB (Dong Knows Tech)
- Rated random performance: up to 1,050K read and 1,400K write IOPS on the 4TB (Dong Knows Tech)
- Rated endurance: 600TBW (1TB), 1,200TBW (2TB), 2,400TBW (4TB)
- Warranty: 5 years limited
- Security: AES 256-bit encryption with TCG Opal 2.0 support (TheSSDReview)
- Heatsink: none on the standard model
What published reviews found
TheSSDReview described the adaptive lane design as unusual but useful, since it lets the drive work on both PCIe 4.0 and 5.0 platforms, and it listed a compact single-sided board with a 5nm controller. Dong Knows Tech gave it one of the more enthusiastic write-ups, finding it ran very cool, ranked behind only full-speed PCIe 5.0 drives in random access, and reached about three times the older 990 EVO's speed in a simultaneous read-write copy test. Its main caveat was that PCIe 5.0 mode uses only two lanes, which caps the theoretical ceiling.
HotHardware was more measured. It confirmed the large gains over the previous 990 EVO and credited improved thermals, but it said throughput and IOPS cannot keep pace with higher-end Gen4 drives that carry DRAM, and it called IOMeter latency relatively high.
StorageReview's numbers were the least flattering. Its CrystalDiskMark run reached about 7.14GB/s reads and 5.76GB/s writes, while its Blackmagic test landed near 5.47GB/s reads and 4.88GB/s writes. It also noted weak sequential reads in some enterprise-style workloads and said the drive failed to finish its BootBench test. StorageReview still concluded the drive balances performance, power efficiency, and capacity for gamers and creators, but it pointed out the drive costs more than the WD Blue SN580 and suggested the Samsung 990 Pro as a better performer at similar pricing.
Taken together, outlets agree on strong everyday speed, cool running, and good efficiency, with the DRAM-less design showing up in latency and heavy mixed workloads.
Price and availability
TheSSDReview and Dong Knows Tech both listed launch pricing of $109.99 for 1TB, $184.99 for 2TB, and $344.99 for 4TB. StorageReview saw lower numbers when it published: about $90 for 1TB on sale, $150 for 2TB, and $345 for 4TB. Street prices change frequently, so check current listings before buying. Our SSD deals page tracks current offers.
Who it's for
This is a good fit for anyone who wants a name-brand NVMe drive with encryption support, a 5-year warranty, and cool operation, particularly in low-power or compact builds where heat matters. The PCIe 5.0 x2 option is a small bonus if you expect to move the drive to a newer motherboard later.
Skip it if the lowest price is the goal. The WD Black SN770 is another DRAM-less Gen4 option worth pricing against it, and our budget gaming PC build guide shows where storage fits in a tight parts list. If you need the strongest sustained write behavior and a high endurance rating, the Seagate FireCuda 530 includes DRAM and higher TBW, at a higher price. Buyers chasing the lowest cost per terabyte at large capacities might compare the Crucial P3 Plus, keeping its QLC trade-offs in mind.
Bottom line
The 990 EVO Plus is a well-regarded mainstream drive that fixes most of what held back the original 990 EVO. Its weak points are price against cheaper DRAM-less rivals and measured speeds that can fall short of the headline ratings in some tests. Buy it when it is on sale or when you value Samsung's feature set; if a cheaper Gen4 drive is within a few dollars, the extra spend is harder to justify for game storage alone.
Still choosing storage? Our Best Gaming Hardware in 2026 hub places the Samsung 990 EVO Plus next to the other four SSD guides and explains what matters beyond the headline speed.
Sources: TheSSDReview - Samsung 990 EVO Plus SSD Review, StorageReview - Samsung 990 EVO Plus SSD Review, HotHardware - Samsung 990 EVO Plus SSD Review, Dong Knows Tech - Samsung 990 EVO Plus SSD review, Samsung - 990 EVO Plus NVMe M.2 SSD 1TB
Pros
- Rated up to 7,250MB/s reads and 6,300MB/s writes on the 2TB and 4TB models
- Dong Knows Tech found it ran very cool and ranked behind only full-speed PCIe 5.0 drives in random access
- Works on PCIe 4.0 x4 or PCIe 5.0 x2 platforms
- 5-year warranty with 600TBW at 1TB, per Samsung
Cons
- HotHardware found it trails higher-end Gen4 drives with DRAM in throughput and IOPS
- StorageReview measured real-world speeds well below the 7,250MB/s rating in some tests
- Priced above cheaper rivals such as the WD Blue SN580, per StorageReview
- PCIe 5.0 mode uses only two lanes, which caps its theoretical ceiling
