File Copy and Workstation Performance
DiskBench
With DiskBench we run two different tests. First, we place a 50GB single file onto the test drive. We copy this file from the test drive to a new folder on the test drive, volume to volume. This tests the performance of the drive’s ability to copy a single large file from itself to itself as if you were copying files on the same drive, it replicates this drive being your primary and only drive. Second, we do the same thing but with the SteamLibrary folder. The SteamLibrary folder is a 243GB folder containing 570 smaller files. This replicates a folder with varying different file sizes and copying those files.
Copying a large 50GB file from volume to volume the Samsung 990 PRO 1TB SSD falls behind the pack, quite a bit. At 23 seconds, it took the longest for a file copy. The Teamgroup MP44 is 37% faster, and even the next slowest drive the Lexar Professional NM800 PRO is 17% faster. We ran this test three times, with the same result.
This is something a gamer might do, coping your SteamLibrary or Steam Game Library folder. Similar to the above file copy benchmark, the Samsung 990 PRO 1TB SSD falls way short compared to the other storage devices at 3 full minutes to copy the folder. The Teamgroup MP44 and Lexar NM790 are simply much faster. However, the Samsung 990 PRO 1TB SSD is faster than the Lexar NM710 here by a minute.
SPECworkstation 3.1
We are using SPECworkstation 3.1 and specifically the WPCstorage test. “The storage workload is based on storage transaction traces from a wide variety of professional applications engaged in real work.” It includes media and entertainment, product development, life sciences, energy, and general operations. Each program receives a score, and they are averaged together for an overall score, higher is better.
In SPECworkstation 3.1 WPCstorage testing, the Samsung 990 PRO 1TB SSD shows why it is a “PRO” or professional SSD. The Samsung 990 PRO 1TB SSD performs tremendously well in workstation application performance for professionals, or content creation. At a score of 9.15, it is 190% faster than the Lexar NM790 and 196% faster than the Teamgroup MP44. The Lexar Professional NM800 PRO is also a Professional SSD, and its score is also much higher than the NM790 and MP44. However, the Samsung 990 PRO 1TB SSD even outperforms the NM800 PRO by 43%. Clearly, if you need to use your SSD for content creation, professional workloads, or workstation applications then the Samsung 990 PRO 1TB SSD is the right SSD for you.
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!