Samsung 1TB SSD PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2

The Samsung 990 is a fast, reliable Gen 4 SSD that skips the DRAM cache but still delivers top-tier random performance. It's priced anywhere from $190 to $270, so shop around for the best deal. If you're gaming or doing everyday creative work, this drive is an easy recommendation.

Sequential reads hit 7,150 MB/s and writes land at 6,450 MB/s, which puts this drive in the 85th percentile for speed in our database. That's one of the better Gen 4 results we've seen, especially for a DRAM-less design. Random performance is even more impressive, with 850K read IOPS and 1,200K write IOPS ranking in the 95th percentile. Game load times and large file transfers feel snappy. The one weak spot is sustained write performance under heavy load, where the lack of DRAM can show up as dips. For everyday gaming and content work, though, you'd be hard pressed to feel the difference.

Against the Crucial T500, the Samsung 990 trades blows on sequential speeds but gives up some sustained write performance due to the missing DRAM cache. The Kingston Fury Renegade offers similar speeds with a DRAM cache and often lands at a comparable price, which makes it a serious alternative. The Lexar NM1090 PRO and Team Group MP44 both undercut the Samsung on price while delivering competitive Gen 4 performance. Where the 990 wins is brand trust and that 4.9-star customer rating across 168 reviews. People know Samsung drives, and this one doesn't disappoint on the reliability front.

The pricing on this drive is all over the place. We're seeing it listed anywhere from $190 to $270 across US retailers, which is a massive spread for a 1TB drive. At the low end, it's a genuinely good deal for this level of performance. At the high end, you're creeping into territory where faster drives with DRAM caches start looking tempting. If you can snag it near $190, it's a no-brainer. If you're staring at $270, shop around or wait for a sale.

The Samsung 990 is a DRAM-less PCIe 4.0 drive that still manages to punch above its weight class. You get 7,150 MB/s reads and 6,450 MB/s writes, which puts it in the top tier of Gen 4 drives without the premium price tag of the 990 PRO. It's aimed squarely at gamers and PC builders who want fast load times without overthinking it.

Samsung went with an in-house controller and TLC NAND here, skipping the DRAM cache entirely. That's usually a red flag for sustained performance, but the numbers tell a different story. The random read IOPS hit 850K and writes reach 1,200K, which is genuinely impressive for a cache-less design. It's not the absolute fastest drive we've tested, but it's close enough that most people won't notice the difference.

If you're doing heavy video editing, running databases, or constantly moving massive files around, look elsewhere. The DRAM-less design means sustained write speeds can dip when the drive is pushed hard for long periods. Something like the Kingston Fury Renegade or Crucial T500 with a proper DRAM cache will hold up better under that kind of workload. Also, if you're seeing this drive priced near $270, skip it and wait for a sale or grab a competitor at a better price.

The Samsung 990 is a smart buy for gamers, DIY builders, and anyone upgrading from an older SATA or Gen 3 drive. It's fast, efficient, and backed by Samsung's reputation for reliability. The DRAM-less design is the main compromise, but for most real-world workloads it's a non-issue. If you're doing heavy sustained writes like video editing or large database work, you might want something with a DRAM cache. For everyone else, this drive delivers where it counts.