Samsung PM991a 1TB PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe M.2 2230
The 1TB M.2 2230 form factor fits tight spaces like the Steam Deck and Surface Pro, with PCIe 3.0 x4 speeds up to 3100 MB/s read and 1400 MB/s write. TLC NAND and a 4.6/5 rating from 101 reviews point to reliable daily performance, though portable use scores low. Best for budget-conscious laptop or handheld owners needing a compact, dependable upgrade without paying for PCIe 4.0.
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Обзор
The 30-Second Version
The PM991a is the right drive for the wrong price. Buy it for the Steam Deck, not for the specs.
Pros & Cons
Плюсы
- Fits in the Steam Deck and Surface Pro without adapters 84th
- 1TB is a huge upgrade over the stock 64GB or 256GB options 77th
- Random read performance is genuinely strong for Gen3
- Samsung reliability and a 4.6-star rating from 101 buyers
Минусы
- Write speed of 1400 MB/s is underwhelming
- Endurance is one of the worst we've seen in this category
- Price is all over the place, and it's not cheap
- PCIe 3.0 only, so no Gen4 or Gen5 headroom
Мнение владельцев
The Word on the Street
Факты
Performance
The read speed is solid for Gen3, and random performance lands in the 84th percentile, which is better than we expected from a drive this small. But the write speed is a letdown. 1400 MB/s is mediocre, and endurance sits at a rough 15th percentile. This isn't a drive for heavy sustained writes. It's a drive for loading games and booting an OS, and for that, it's fine. Just don't expect it to keep up with a full-size 2280 drive when you're moving big files around.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Drive
| Capacity | 1000 |
| Form Factor | M.2 2230 |
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x4 |
| Protocol | NVMe |
| PCIe Generation | 3 |
| External | No |
Performance
| Sequential Read (MB/s) | 3100 |
| Sequential Write (MB/s) | 1400 |
| Random Read (IOPS) | 380000 |
| Random Write (IOPS) | 330000 |
Hardware
| NAND | TLC |
vs Competition
The PM991a doesn't really compete with the WD Black SN850X or Crucial T500. Those are full-size Gen4 drives that blow this thing away on paper. The real comparison is against other 2230 drives, and there aren't many. The WD SN740 is the closest rival, and it's often cheaper. The Sabrent Rocket 2230 is another option. But if you're shopping for a Steam Deck upgrade, the PM991a is the safe, boring choice that just works.
| Spec | Samsung PM991a | Western Digital Black SN850X | SanDisk WD_BLACK WDS800T2XHE | Kingston FURY Renegade G5 SFYR2S/4T0 | Crucial T500 | Seagate FireCuda 530R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 1TB | 4TB | 8TB | 4TB | 2TB | 4TB |
| Form Factor | M.2 2230 | M.2 2280 | M.2 2280 | M.2 2280 | M.2 2280 | M.2 2280 |
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x4 | PCIe 4.0 x4 | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 5.0 x4 | PCIe 4.0 x4 | PCIe 4.0 x4 |
| Seq Read | 3,100 MB/s | 7,300 MB/s | 7,200 MB/s | 14,800 MB/s | 7,400 MB/s | 7,400 MB/s |
| Nand Type | TLC | TLC | TLC | TLC | TLC | TLC |
| Dram Cache | - | true | true | true | true | false |
| Endurance | - | 2400 TBW | 4800 TBW | 4000 TBW | 1200 TBW | 5050 TBW |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Товар | Speed | Random | Feature | Capacity | Endurance | Отзывы пользователей | Affordability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung PM991a | 55.6 | 83.7 | 53.7 | 54.9 | 14.7 | 77.3 | 36 |
| Western Digital Black SN850X Compare | 88.5 | 95.2 | 89 | 92.5 | 88 | 95 | 10.7 |
| SanDisk WD_BLACK WDS800T2XHE Compare | 87.1 | 96 | 93.6 | 98.1 | 88 | 95 | 3.9 |
| Kingston FURY Renegade G5 SFYR2S/4T0 Compare | 99.4 | 98.7 | 90.5 | 92.5 | 93.4 | 86.8 | 6.5 |
| Crucial T500 Compare | 93.8 | 96.5 | 98.9 | 78.4 | 82.9 | 95 | 19.9 |
| Seagate FireCuda 530R Compare | 92.6 | 96.4 | 53.7 | 92.5 | 95.6 | 77.3 | 6.9 |
Цена
Value & Pricing
This is where it gets tricky. The PM991a is listed at $249 to $250 in the US, which is a lot for a Gen3 drive. You're paying a premium for the 2230 form factor. If you need it, you need it, and there aren't many alternatives. But if your device takes a standard 2280 drive, you can get a faster Gen4 drive for less money. The value here is entirely dependent on your hardware.
Подробнее
Overview
The Samsung PM991a is the drive you buy when nothing else fits. It's a 1TB M.2 2230, which means it's the tiny 30mm stick that slots into a Steam Deck, Surface Pro, or a handful of ultrabooks. The headline numbers are fine for PCIe 3.0: 3100 MB/s read and 1400 MB/s write. But the real story here is the form factor, not the speed. You're paying for compatibility, and in that niche, this drive delivers.
Common Questions
Q: Does this work in the Steam Deck?
Yes. It's a 2230 drive, which is exactly what the Steam Deck takes. You'll need to clone your old drive or reinstall SteamOS, but the hardware fits perfectly.
Q: Is this drive fast enough for gaming?
For loading games, absolutely. The 3100 MB/s read speed is plenty. You won't notice a difference between this and a Gen4 drive in most games. The write speed is slower, so installing huge games takes a bit longer.
Q: Why is this more expensive than faster drives?
Because it's a 2230 form factor. These tiny drives are harder to make, and there's less competition. You're paying for the size, not the speed.
Who Should Skip This
If your laptop or desktop takes a standard 2280 M.2 drive, this isn't for you. Go grab a WD Black SN850X or Crucial T500. You'll get Gen4 speeds and better endurance for less cash. The PM991a is only worth it if your device physically can't fit anything else.
Verdict
If you have a Steam Deck, Surface Pro, or another device that requires a 2230 drive, the PM991a is a solid upgrade. It's not the fastest, and the endurance is concerning, but for gaming and everyday use, it's fine. If your device takes a 2280 drive, skip this and get a WD Black SN850X or Crucial T500 instead. You'll get more speed for less money.
