Test Setup
Please read our SSD Storage Review Format and Methodology article for an explanation of our test system, how we test, procedures, and goals for SSD reviews. Note that the test system has been changed and updated as of this review, and moving forward, please refer to the System Setup table below for the details and specs on the new test system. All of the SSDs in this review have been re-tested on this new system setup, and all the SSD data in this review is fresh for this review.
We are using the motherboard’s current default BIOS settings. We are running the latest motherboard BIOS. We have Windows 11 Pro configured to run in the “Balanced” power profile. Windows has the latest updates. We are running the latest Win11 23H2 update from October 2023.
CrystalDiskInfo
Installation of the SSD went smoothly. Upon installation we discovered that the firmware was out of date, there was a newer version as Samsung Magician Software told us. The firmware version on our SSD when installed was 3B2QJXD7. When we ran Samsung Magician Software to update the firmware, it updated it to 4B2QJXD7. This is the version we used while testing.
In CrystalDiskInfo we can see information on the SSD below. We can see that the Samsung 990 PRO is running at PCIe 4.0 x4 and NVMe 2.0 and supports S.M.A.R.T., TRIM, and VolatileWriteCache.
Discussion (9 replies)
Join Discussion →Nice did Samsung finally sample you all or was that a drive bought? Just curious. Good review!
Drive purchased, not sampled.
Nice review. I guess if I ever get off AM4 and PCIe 3 I will have to up my game from my old Sam 970 evo. OTOH I still play games of an old 5tb sata drive and it doesn't seem to bug me.
It won't until you get used to the increased performance then it will feel bad and you'll notice other stuff.
things the fast drive when properly used helps with...
LOD texture switching, Load times, tabbing between game and apps or just between multiple high memory use apps if you don't have a ton of ram.
Anything that has to swap to disk or pull from disk basically
I have to wonder how quick the old mass effect elevator rides would be come!
Interesting thought but I suspect limited by the old game engine?
They are greatly accelerated with NVME 3 drives, 4 should be a next level. ;)
Oh I forgot about the elevator, LOL
It was unremarkably short in the Legendary Edition
Actually the answer is none of the above. I got it at CES at a NewEgg event run by Howl (who we get our Newegg and BestBuy affiliate links from). There was a table full of loot for giving them a tick talk handle - luckily they let me sub twitter since we don't have the other!