Samsung 990 EVO 2TB PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe M.2 2280
KingSpec 256GB SSD PCIe 3.0 x2 NVMe M.2 2242
What Buyers Say
Samsung 990 EVO 2TB PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe M.2 2280
Users are generally very satisfied with this Samsung SSD, praising its fast read/write speeds, easy installation, and good value for budget builds. Some note that a DRAM-equipped alternative like the 990 EVO PLUS is close in price and might be a better choice, and a few mention minor setup quirks like needing extra screws or firmware updates. Overall, it's seen as a solid, reliable drive for gaming and general storage expansion.
Pros
- Fast read/write speeds
- Easy installation
- Good value for budget
- Reliable Samsung quality
- Great for gaming storage
Cons
- DRAM-less design
- Requires firmware update
- Extra screws needed
- Heatsink installation tricky
KingSpec 256GB SSD PCIe 3.0 x2 NVMe M.2 2242
The drive is generally well-received, especially for use in WWAN slots of laptops like ThinkPads and Dells, and in Raspberry Pi setups. Users praise its compatibility, price, and adequate performance for everyday tasks. However, one verified review reported a drive failure after about two years, though the seller's responsive customer service mitigated the issue. Overall, sentiment is positive with a note on reliability concerns.
Pros
- Works in WWAN slots
- Good price
- Adequate speed for daily use
- Compatible with Raspberry Pi
- Easy installation
Cons
- Drive failure after 2 years
- Not the fastest
- DRAM-less design
- Limited to PCIe 2x
Scores
Specifications
| Samsung 990 EVO | KingSpec 256GB SSD | |
|---|---|---|
| Drive | ||
| Capacity | ||
| Form Factor | M.2 2280 | M.2 2242 |
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 x4 | PCIe 3.0 x2 |
| Protocol | NVMe | NVMe |
| PCIe Generation | 4★ | 3 |
| External | ✗ | ✗ |
| Performance | ||
| Sequential Read (MB/s) | ||
| Sequential Write (MB/s) | ||
| Random Read (IOPS) | ||
| Random Write (IOPS) | ||
| Hardware | ||
| NAND | TLC | TLC |
| DRAM Cache | ✗ | ✗ |
| Controller | Samsung in-house Controller | — |
| Reliability | ||
| Endurance (TBW) | No data | |
| MTBF (hours) | No data | |
| Warranty (years) | 5★ | 3 |
| Features | ||
| Heatsink | ✗ | ✗ |
| Hardware Encryption | ✓★ | — |
Pros & Cons
Samsung 990 EVO 2TB PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe M.2 2280
- Strong social proof (95th percentile)95th %ile
- Strong random (90th percentile)90th %ile
- Strong endurance (83rd percentile)83rd %ile
- Strong feature (79th percentile)
KingSpec 256GB SSD PCIe 3.0 x2 NVMe M.2 2242
- Strong affordability (89th percentile)89th %ile
- Strong social proof (77th percentile)
- Below average capacity (17th percentile)17th %ile
Verdict
Scores 87 overall, wins 6 of 6 usage categories and 9 of 18 specs.