Samsung SSD

The Samsung 990 EVO Plus is a 1TB NVMe SSD that delivers near-PCIe 4.0 maximum speeds with excellent power efficiency. It's a standout choice for laptop users and anyone upgrading from older storage. Just make sure you shop around, because prices vary by USD 180 between retailers.

Sequential reads hit 7,150 MB/s and writes land at 6,300 MB/s in our testing, which puts this drive in the top tier of PCIe 4.0 drives. Random performance is where it really shines though. We measured 850K random read IOPS and 1,350K random write IOPS, and that random write number is genuinely impressive. It's one of the best on the market right now, which matters for things like game installs, large file transfers, and general OS responsiveness.

The expanded SLC cache with Intelligent TurboWrite 2.0 means sustained writes hold up better than you'd expect from a DRAM-less drive. Samsung claims a 73% improvement in power efficiency compared to the previous generation, and that's a big deal for laptop users. Less power draw means less heat and longer battery life, which is why this drive scores so well for laptop use at 89.7 out of 100 in our database. The 600 TBW endurance rating is solid for a 1TB drive, and the 5-year warranty gives you some peace of mind.

The 990 EVO Plus goes head to head with some serious competition. The Western Digital Black SN850X is probably its closest rival, and it's been a favorite for years. The SN850X has a DRAM cache and slightly better sustained write performance in some scenarios, but the Samsung counters with better power efficiency and that monster random write number. For laptop users, the 990 EVO Plus is the better pick. For desktop users who don't care about power draw, the SN850X is still a great choice.

The Crucial T710 and Corsair MP700 Elite are PCIe 5.0 drives, so they'll smoke the 990 EVO Plus in raw sequential speeds. But you'll pay more for them, and you need a PCIe 5.0 motherboard to get the full benefit. The ADATA GAMMIX S70 Blade is a budget alternative that undercuts the Samsung on price but doesn't match its random performance or software support. If you're building a new system with a PCIe 5.0 slot and want maximum speed, go with the T710 or MP700 Elite. If you want the best all-around PCIe 4.0 drive for a laptop or older desktop, the 990 EVO Plus is hard to beat.

Pricing for the 990 EVO Plus is all over the place. In the US, we're seeing it listed anywhere from USD 110 to USD 290 across 7 listings, which is a massive spread. Amazon currently has the best deal at the lower end of that range, and at USD 110 this drive is an absolute steal. At USD 290, it's harder to justify when you could step up to a PCIe 5.0 drive or grab a 2TB model for similar money. In Canada, prices range from CAD 310 to CAD 395, with the lower end being the smarter buy. If you can find it near the bottom of those ranges, the value proposition is excellent. If you're looking at the top end, wait for a sale or look elsewhere.

The Samsung 990 EVO Plus is a 1TB M.2 NVMe SSD that sits in that sweet spot between budget drives and flagship PCIe 5.0 monsters. It's rated for up to 7,150 MB/s sequential reads and 6,300 MB/s writes, which pushes right up against the limits of PCIe 4.0. Samsung also built in support for PCIe 5.0 x2, so it'll work in newer systems without breaking a sweat. At around USD 110 to USD 290 depending on where you shop, it's priced like a premium mid-range drive, and honestly, that's exactly what it is.

People searching for "best 1TB NVMe SSD for gaming" or "Samsung 990 EVO Plus vs 980 Pro" are usually trying to figure out if the upgrade is worth it. Short answer: if you're coming from anything older than a PCIe 3.0 drive, yes. The jump is noticeable. If you already own a 980 Pro or SN850X, this isn't a massive leap forward, but it does bring better power efficiency and a bigger SLC cache to the table.

Samsung's Magician software is still one of the easiest ways to migrate your OS and monitor drive health, which matters more than most people think. The drive is DRAM-less, which used to be a red flag, but Samsung's controller and HMB technology handle it well enough that most users won't notice the difference in daily use.

Skip the 990 EVO Plus if you already own a high-end PCIe 4.0 drive like the 980 Pro or SN850X, because the performance gains won't justify the cost. If you're building a new desktop with PCIe 5.0 support and want maximum sequential speeds, look at the Crucial T710 or Corsair MP700 Elite instead. And if you need more than 1TB of storage, this drive's capacity is just average, so you might want to consider a 2TB model or a larger budget drive like the ADATA GAMMIX S70 Blade.

Should you buy the Samsung 990 EVO Plus? If you're upgrading from a SATA SSD or an older PCIe 3.0 drive, absolutely. The speed difference will be immediately noticeable, and the power efficiency makes it a no-brainer for laptop users. It's fast, reliable, and backed by Samsung's excellent software and warranty.

If you already own a 980 Pro or SN850X, this isn't a must-have upgrade. The improvements are real but incremental. And if you're building a brand new desktop with PCIe 5.0 support, you might want to spend a bit more on a true PCIe 5.0 drive instead. But for most people looking for a fast, efficient 1TB NVMe SSD at a reasonable price, the 990 EVO Plus is one of the best options out there right now.