Samsung 990 Evo Gen 5 review: Rapid & reliable

The Samsung 990 Evo is another product in Samsung’s increasing library of SSDs. This one aims to offer speed and efficiency upgrades for a cheaper price. But can it still deliver?

For applications that need fast loading, such as booting up Windows or loading into a demanding video game, M.2 SSDs are usually considered the best option. Samsung has consistently delivered great performance with its M.2 SSD devices. The Samsung 990 Pro has remained our pick for the best gaming storage solution.

The Samsung 990 Evo is part of Samsung’s strategy of creating cards that offer better power efficiency while still delivering high-speed performance. This will be ideal for devices such as handhelds, laptops, and other portable devices, since it can improve battery life and internal temperatures.

Key specs

• Capacity: 1TB
• DRAM Cache: HMB
• Form Factor: M.2 2280
• Max sequential read: 5,000 MB/s
• Max sequential write: 4,200 MB/s
• Warranty: 5 year limited
• Price: $124.99
• Release date: 22/01/2024

Design

On the exterior, the Samsung 990 Evo doesn’t look dissimilar to any other SSD in Samsung’s product range. As a non-heatsink M.2 SSD it is best if it is as small and unobtrusive as possible to allow it to fit into the tiny spaces offered by portable devices.

It is on the inside that the 990 Evo becomes more interesting. The 990 Evo is a hybrid device that combines PCIe 4.0 and PCIe 5.0 into one. To do this it uses four PCIe 4.0 lanes and two PCIe 5.0 lanes. Due to the difference in how these two standards work, the bandwidth is roughly equivalent. So it doesn’t matter if the Samsung 990 Evo is slotted into a PCIe 4.0 or 5.0 slot, it will work just as well either way.

Installation is accordingly easy, just pop it into a free M.2 slot on your motherboard and secure it with a stand-off screw at the end. However, if you want to take advantage of the full range of PCIe 5.0 performance, you’ll need a PCIe 5.0 slot, and not every motherboard out there has one, so be sure to equip yourself with a newer motherboard if you want to get the full potential from the drive.

The drive comes with Samsung Magician Software, which allows for granular tinkering with drive settings for those who need that level of precision and control.

Performance

The main advantages of the Samsung 990 Evo are its versatility, backward compatibility, and power efficiency. Few of these have a chance to shine greatly in a desktop PC environment. This SSD works best for portable devices like a Steam Deck (via a mod), or as an upgrade to a laptop.

It doesn’t have the oomph of the top-of-the-range M.2 SSDs like the 990 Pro, which can manage up to 7450 MB/s sequential read speed and 6883 MB/s sequential write speeds. That said, the 990 Evo has a price advantage over its big brothers in the Pro range.

Crystal Disk Mark results

• Sequential Read: 5083 MB/s
• Sequential Write: 3702 MB/s

In Crystal Disk Mark, we observed that the drive managed to replicate the advertised read speeds and make use of both PCI types, just as promised. However, write speeds were a touch lower than expected, coming in at just over PCI 3.0 speeds. This is slightly disappointing, as most drives pass this with flying colors. However, in real-world scenarios, you’re barely going to notice a difference.

3D Mark storage benchmark

• Score: 2328

For thermal efficiency, the drive rarely got much higher than 60 degrees Celsius, avoiding any thermal throttling that could affect performance. This is an impressive result even compared to the Pro models with pre-installed heatsinks.

Is it good for gaming?

Of course, any fast SSD is good for gaming, particularly in demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077. The 990 Evo might not be as swift as the 990 or 980 Pro models, but the difference is largely imperceptible to the user.

The Samsung 990 Evo strengths mean it would perform at its best in a portable device such as a laptop or PC or even as a storage update for a PlayStation 5. Being a lower-cost option than the Pro models makes it a great choice for gaming on the go.

Should you buy it?

If you are looking for an upgrade to your PC, laptop, or PS5 storage, the Samsung 990 Evo is a great choice. It doesn’t have the stellar performance figures of the Pro line, but it doesn’t really need to. Instead, its power efficiency and ability to stay cool under load make it ideal for portable gaming.

Verdict: 4/5

The Samsung 990 Evo cannot post the blistering read and write speeds of the 990 Pro, but it can deliver terrific upgrades for portable and console gaming applications, which are sure to make PS5, PC and laptop owners very happy.

With a lower price point, it can deliver excellence in its particular niche for a reasonable price.

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