Tuesday, January 23rd 2024

Samsung Introduces the 990 EVO SSD with PCIe 5.0 x2 Interface

Samsung Electronics America today announced the release of the 990 EVO SSD, delivering solid performance for everyday tasks, improved interface compatibility to match the systems consumers own, and better energy efficiency. Designed to enhance everyday computing experiences like gaming, working, and video/photo editing, the NVMe SSD provides an ideal solution for a diverse range of users.

"The 990 EVO delivers a hybrid storage solution that lets you easily bring flexibility and future proof your setup," said Jose Hernandez, Senior Director of Memory Product Marketing at Samsung. "These drives balance performance, power efficiency and reliability, making them a versatile choice for the latest interface, and great for a variety of everyday tasks, like gaming, working, editing and more."
A Versatile SSD for Current and Future Computing
The 990 EVO is a versatile SSD created to meet current computing needs while anticipating future requirements. It's designed to be compatible with both PCIe 5.0 and PCIe 4.0 interfaces, ensuring it can be installed into a wide variety of systems while maintaining optimal performance.

Supporting both PCIe 4.0 x4 and PCIe 5.0 x2 interfaces, the 990 EVO fits the needs for today's systems that support PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots while also offering compatibility with PCIe 5.0 interfaces in upcoming applications.

Enhanced Performance over the Previous Generation for Faster Access
The 990 EVO offers improved performance of up to 43% compared to the previous model, the 970 EVO Plus SSD. That means it takes almost half the time to access your data, minimizing loading times so you can start doing other things with the extra time. The drive offers sequential read speeds up to 5,000 megabytes-per-second (MB/s) and write speeds up to 4,200 MB/s. Its random read and write speeds are also improved with up to 700K input/output operations per second (IOPS) and 800K IOPS, respectively.

By using Host Memory Buffer (HMB) technology to directly link to the host processor's DRAM, the SSD can achieve optimized performance even with a DRAM-less design. If you upgrade from a previous mainstream SSD, you can experience faster loading speeds for games and quicker access to large files.

Improved Power Efficiency and Smart Thermal Control
The Samsung 990 EVO includes improved power efficiency of up to 70% when compared its predecessor, allowing you to extend the use of PCs or laptops without concern for running out of battery. That means you can keep working at a coffee shop, or from the comforts of your couch without needing an outlet nearby for longer.

The drive also supports Modern Standby, a computer benchmark that ensures the device can quickly resume from sleep. Even if you're on low power mode, you can instantly wake up your device with uninterrupted internet connectivity and seamless notification reception.

The 990 EVO's heat spreader label effectively regulates the thermal condition of the drive, allowing operations to consistently run at their highest levels without compromising drive integrity.

Samsung Magician Software Support
Samsung Magician software offers a suite of Samsung SSD optimization tools for enhanced functionality. You can streamline the data migration process for SSD upgrades effortlessly and securely. In addition, Samsung Magician protects valuable data, monitors drive health, and provides timely firmware updates to ensure your data is protected.

The 990 EVO will be available at the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $124.99 for the 1 TB model and $209.99 for the 2 TB model.
Source: Samsung
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46 Comments on Samsung Introduces the 990 EVO SSD with PCIe 5.0 x2 Interface

#1
ThrashZone
Hi,
Meh another 1-2tb ?
4tb taboo sammy lol
Posted on Reply
#2
Unregistered
The 990 EVO will be available at the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $124.99 for the 1 TB model and $209.99 for the 2 TB model.
Excuse me ? The Samsung 990 Pro 2To is at 159€ on Amazon in EU without sales. Did i miss something ?
Posted on Edit | Reply
#3
TheLostSwede
News Editor
Phil_FrenchyExcuse me ? The Samsung 990 Pro 2To is at 159€ on Amazon in EU without sales. Did i miss something ?
But it's only PCIe 4.0... :cool:
Posted on Reply
#5
AsRock
TPU addict
TheLostSwedeBut it's only PCIe 4.0... :cool:
So your saying my 990's will not work in the my PCIe 5.0 slot ?, all so as i read op is that it cuts the lanes in half when plugged in to the pcie slot too.

Which sounds like this evo will work no faster than in a 4.0 slot than a 5.0.

All so they comparing it to a drive that runs Gen 3 speeds.
Posted on Reply
#6
R0H1T
Yes but this is just x2 PCIe 5.0 lanes, wonder if it has physical x4 lanes or not & only half of them enabled?
Posted on Reply
#7
Assimilator
Phil_FrenchyExcuse me ? The Samsung 990 Pro 2To is at 159€ on Amazon in EU without sales. Did i miss something ?
Yes, the PCIe 5.0 tax (which is entirely unjustified here because 5.0 x2 has the exact same bandwidth as 4.0 x4) on top of the Samsung tax.
R0H1TYes but this just x2 PCIe 5.0 lanes, wonder if it has physical x4 lanes or not & only half of them enabled?
It has to have 4 physical lanes to be able to run at 4.0 x4...
Posted on Reply
#8
JohH
Most 4.0x2 drives I had fall back to 3.0x2 not 3.0x4. So that's a neat feature. Why don't more SSD do that?
Posted on Reply
#9
P4-630
TheLostSwedeYou had to link to a third party site when TPU has a review of the drive?
Didn't notice yet... :D
Posted on Reply
#10
TheLostSwede
News Editor
AsRockSo your saying my 990's will not work in the my PCIe 5.0 slot ?, all so as i read op is that it cuts the lanes in half when plugged in to the pcie slot too.

Which sounds like this evo will work no faster than in a 4.0 slot than a 5.0.

All so they comparing it to a drive that runs Gen 3 speeds.
I did not.
JohHMost 4.0x2 drives I had fall back to 3.0x2 not 3.0x4. So that's a neat feature. Why don't more SSD do that?
Yeah, never seen this on any PCIe device before, so it'll be interesting to find out how they've done that.
P4-630Didn't notice yet... :D
Actually, my bad, that was the old Pro.
Posted on Reply
#11
P4-630
TheLostSwedeActually, my bad, that was the old Pro.
Right... Was just going to post that...

:slap:
Posted on Reply
#13
AsRock
TPU addict
TheLostSwedeI did not.


Yeah, never seen this on any PCIe device before, so it'll be interesting to find out how they've done that.


Actually, my bad, that was the old Pro.
I know, i did not say you did.

The marketing bullshit stinks real bad with this one.
Posted on Reply
#14
Assimilator
JohHMost 4.0x2 drives I had fall back to 3.0x2 not 3.0x4. So that's a neat feature. Why don't more SSD do that?
Dynamically switching the number of PCIe lanes required based on a desired target bandwidth figure is a calculation (algorithm) that needs to live in the SSD controller. In contrast, hardwiring the controller to a set # of lanes and letting the underlying PCIe bus determine the effective speed, which is what all other SSDs do, requires no extra logic.

If you are a third-party controller manufacturer like Innogrit, you have to test and tune that algorithm for different combinations of NAND flash from different vendors. Samsung, in contrast, is in the lucky position in having ONE type of NAND flash - their own - where the performance characteristics are well understood, so it's much easier (cheaper) for them to produce an SSD using this algorithm that performs well.
Posted on Reply
#15
TumbleGeorge
AsRockWhich sounds like this evo will work no faster than in a 4.0 slot than a 5.0.
In article have speeds mentioned. Up ro 5000MB/s or slower than all top speed PCIe 4.0 models
Posted on Reply
#16
R0H1T
AssimilatorIt has to have 4 physical lanes to be able to run at 4.0 x4
Yes of course, I meant how the two PCIe 5.0 lanes are disabled. Likely just through firmware or the controller can't handle it either? Would be nice to check if someone can unlock full x4 5.0 lanes or not!
Posted on Reply
#17
TheLostSwede
News Editor
TumbleGeorgeIn article have speeds mentioned. Up ro 5000MB or slower than all top speed PCIe 4.0 models
It's a DRAM-less mid-range drive, so yeah...
Posted on Reply
#18
Assimilator
R0H1TYes of course, I meant how the two PCIe 5.0 lanes are disabled. Likely just through firmware or the controller can't handle it either? Would be nice to check if someone can unlock full x4 5.0 lanes or not!
My guess would be that this is just a tweak of one of their current PCIe 4.0 controllers, to graft on PCIe 5.0 support. In other words, the controller can internally handle up to a maximum of PCIe 4.0 x4 total bandwidth, so it is literally incapable of utilising any more than 2 lanes of PCIe 5.0. Basically zero effort or cost on Samsung's side, while allowing them to charge that sweet PCIe 5.0 tax.
Posted on Reply
#19
TumbleGeorge
TheLostSwedeIt's a DRAM-less mid-range drive, so yeah...
Prices like little higher for this lower parts although that have increasing of all SSD's.
Posted on Reply
#20
TheLostSwede
News Editor
TumbleGeorgePrices like little higher although that have increasing of all SSD's.
The pricing is terrible.
Posted on Reply
#21
ThrashZone
Hi,
Likely why the didn't list a 4tb model
Who wouldn't laugh at 420,us when they have a tough time selling 4tb 990 pro at 280.us at end of 2023 lol
Posted on Reply
#22
chrcoluk
So now this genuinely exists the fake 990 EVO's might sell more. But where is the 4TB model, are Samsung living under a rock?
TheLostSwedeThe pricing is terrible.
Its priced higher than what the 990 pro was selling at not long ago. :laugh:
Posted on Reply
#23
ThrashZone
Hi,
Yeah just throw a cheap 990 evo sticker on a 2.5" sata ssd and people would buy it off aliexpress :laugh:
Posted on Reply
#24
Prima.Vera
What's this over expensive garbage??
Posted on Reply
#25
Wirko
The usability of a PCIe 5.0 x2 link is questionable at the moment - the SSD can only work in this mode when connected to a Threadripper 7000 CPU, which can split each of its PCIe 5.0 x16 buses into eight 5.0 x2 links. Not even Xeons can do that (they can only split 5.0 x 16 into eight 4.0 x2 links)
Posted on Reply
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