Samsung 990 EVO 2TB PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe M.2 2280
Western Digital WD_BLACK SN850X 2TB PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe M.2 2280
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
Western Digital WD_BLACK SN850X 2TB PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe M.2 2280
The WD_BLACK SN850X is highly praised for its exceptional speed and reliability, often compared favorably to competitors like Samsung and Solidigm. Users highlight its value for money, especially when on sale, and its suitability for both gaming and general high-performance tasks. Some concerns about potential issues are mitigated by firmware updates, and the drive is confirmed to work well with PS5 and Windows 11.
Pros
- Blazing fast speeds
- Reliable performance
- Great value for money
- Easy PS5 installation
- Works with Windows 11
Cons
- Potential firmware issues
- 4TB version double-sided
- May require heatsink for intense use
Scores
Specifications
| Samsung 990 EVO | Western Digital WD_BLACK SN850X | |
|---|---|---|
| Drive | ||
| Capacity | ||
| Form Factor | M.2 2280 | M.2 2280 |
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 x4 | PCIe 4.0 x4 |
| Protocol | NVMe | NVMe |
| PCIe Generation | 4 | 4 |
| 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) | ||
| 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)
Western Digital WD_BLACK SN850X 2TB PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe M.2 2280
- Strong feature (99th percentile)99th %ile
- Strong random (95th percentile)95th %ile
- Strong social proof (95th percentile)95th %ile
- Strong user sentiment (94th percentile)94th %ile
- Below average affordability (25th percentile)
Verdict
Scores 97 overall, wins 4 of 6 usage categories and 7 of 18 specs.