System Storage Benchmarks
3DMark
We are using 3DMark’s Storage Benchmark which tests common gaming workload traces. The benchmark tests loading Battlefield V, Call of Duty Black Ops 4, and Overwatch. It tests moving games by copying a Steam folder for CS:GO, and installing Outer Worlds from the Epic Games Launcher, and saving game progress in The Outer Worlds. It tests recording a 1080p gameplay video at 60FPS with OBS while playing Overwatch. We will graph the Overall Benchmark Score, higher is better.
In the 3DMark Storage Benchmark, the Samsung 990 PRO 1TB SSD is performing at the top of the charts, with a score of 2954. This puts it 9% ahead of the next fastest SSD in our comparisons, the Teamgroup MP44. Compared to the Lexar NM790, another top-performing SSD the Samsung 990 PRO 1TB SSD is 10% ahead. Compared to the slowest SSD on the graph, the Lexar Professional NM800 PRO and the Samsung 990 PRO 1TB SSD is 27% ahead, quite a difference between these two “Pro” SSDs.  
PCMark 10
We are using PCMark 10’s Full System Drive Storage Benchmark. It outputs an overall score (higher is better) that is derived from the Bandwidth (higher is better) as well as access time (lower is better) results.
In PCMark 10’s full system drive storage benchmark, the Samsung 990 PRO 1TB SSD performs extremely fast, and a lot of that is due to access times as you will see below. In PCMark 10 full system drive benchmark the Samsung 990 PRO 1TB SSD is 13% ahead of the next fastest drive, the Lexar NM790. When compared to the Teamgroup MP44 the Samsung 990 PRO 1TB SSD is 14% ahead. Compared to the slowest drive, the Samsung 990 PRO 1TB SSD is 34% ahead of the Lexar Professional NM800 PRO, which is pretty large when compared to the other Pro drive on the graphs.
The average access time test in PCMark 10’s Storage Benchmark shows you a closer look at where things line up. The Samsung 990 PRO 1TB SSD has incredible access times at just 45 microseconds, which beats every other drive on this graph in access time. This means the Samsung 990 PRO 1TB SSD is 12% faster in access time than the next fastest SSD, the Lexar NM790. When compared to the slowest SSD, the Samsung 990 PRO 1TB SSD is 27% faster in access time compared to the NM800 PRO.  
The Samsung 990 PRO 1TB SSD just skyrockets past all the other SSDs in the Quick System Drive benchmark, thanks to Samsung’s efficient use of the DRAM-cache on board. Its ability to access the look-up tables is just super quick here for small workloads. The Samsung 990 PRO 1TB SSD is 42% faster than the next fastest drive, the Lexar NM800 PRO. Compared to the slowest storage drive the Samsung 990 PRO 1TB SSD is 82% faster, wow.
PassMark PerformanceTEST
We are using PassMark’s PerformanceTEST Disk Mark benchmark only. This test benchmarks Disk Sequential Read, Disk Sequential Write, IOPS 32KQD20, IOPS 4KQD1 tests and outputs an overall score (higher is better.)
In PassMark PerformanceTest Disk Mark the Samsung 990 PRO 1TB SSD is also a strong performer at 7% faster than the next faster drive, the Lexar NM800 PRO. Compared to the slowest drive the Lexar 710, the Samsung 990 PRO 1TB SSD is 54% faster.
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!