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| The Samsung 990 SSD series is set to add a new entry-level model soon. |
A new entry-level Samsung 990 SSD has been spotted, ditching the 'Evo' and 'Pro' suffixes for a more affordable approach that could shake up the PCIe 4.0 storage market.
Samsung appears to be expanding its popular 990 SSD series with a new, more budget-conscious model. While the company currently offers the high-performance 990 Pro and the mid-range 990 Evo Plus, both utilizing faster TLC NAND and (in the Pro's case) a DRAM cache, a mysterious third variant has surfaced online. This new drive, simply labeled the "Samsung 990," is designed to offer PCIe 4.0 speeds at a more accessible price point, but it comes with notable compromises to achieve that goal.
The discovery was first made by the tech site Overclocking, who spotted a listing for the drive on Samsung’s own website before it was quickly removed. Subsequently, ComputerBase was able to dig up more detailed specifications from a retailer listing, confirming the drive's existence and its cost-cutting features. According to this information, the Samsung 990 will be available in both 1TB and 2TB capacities, utilizing the standard M.2-2280 form factor.
Performance: Fast Reads, But Compromises Under the Hood
On paper, the Samsung 990 promises impressive sequential read and write speeds of 7,150 MB/s and 6,450 MB/s, respectively. This puts it squarely in the upper echelon of PCIe 4.0 drives, matching the advertised performance of its more expensive siblings for standard file transfers and gaming loads.
However, to reduce manufacturing costs, Samsung has made two significant changes compared to the 990 Evo Plus and 990 Pro. The first is the omission of a dedicated DRAM cache. Instead, the new Samsung 990 will rely on Host Memory Buffer (HMB) technology, which allocates a small portion of your system's RAM for caching duties.
While HMB is a common feature in budget and mid-range SSDs, it can lead to slightly higher latency and reduced performance under sustained, heavy write workloads compared to drives with onboard DRAM. This is a trade-off that will likely be unnoticeable for everyday users and gamers but could be a factor for professionals frequently moving massive files.
Endurance: The QLC Question
The second, and perhaps more significant, compromise is the use of QLC (Quad-Level Cell) NAND flash memory instead of the TLC (Triple-Level Cell) NAND found in the other 990 series drives. QLC NAND stores more bits per cell, allowing for higher storage densities at a lower cost, but it typically results in slower write speeds and a reduced lifespan.
This is clearly reflected in the drive's endurance ratings. The 1TB Samsung 990 is rated for a total of 400 TBW (Terabytes Written), while the 2TB model doubles that to 800 TBW. For context, the Samsung 990 Evo Plus offers a 50% higher lifespan, with 600 TBW for the 1TB model and a massive 1,200 TBW for the 2TB version. While 400 TBW is still a respectable figure for a mainstream consumer drive—translating to roughly 200GB of writes per day over five years—it's a clear indicator that this is an entry-level solution.
Power Efficiency and Pricing Expectations
On the power consumption front, the Samsung 990 appears quite efficient, sipping only 3 mW in standby mode. During active read operations, power consumption is expected to peak at around 4.3 watts, which is competitive for a high-performance PCIe 4.0 drive.
The biggest unanswered question is the price. Neither Samsung nor its retail partners have officially announced the MSRP or a release date. The hope is that by dropping the DRAM cache and moving to QLC memory, Samsung can offer the 990 at a significantly lower price than the 990 Evo Plus, which currently retails for around $250 for the 1TB model on Amazon. If you're looking to pick up the current 990 series drive, you can check the latest price for the 990 Evo Plus here.
If Samsung can hit a competitive price point, this new SSD could be a fantastic option for budget-conscious builders and gamers looking for fast NVMe storage without breaking the bank. The market has seen significant price increases for SSDs lately, and a truly affordable PCIe 4.0 option from a reputable brand like Samsung would be a welcome addition. For a deeper dive into the technical details, you can check out the original report from Overclocking.com and the preliminary specs discovered by ComputerBase.
We will continue to update this story as more information, including official pricing and availability, becomes available. For now, it seems Samsung is poised to offer a new, compelling choice for mainstream storage that prioritizes value and everyday speed over peak endurance and sustained performance.
Source : Samsung, via Overclocking.com| Connection, via ComputerBase
