Samsung's SSD 990 Brings Affordable Storage to Gamers and Content Creators

Samsung has announced the release of its new SSD 990, a solid-state drive aimed at gamers, content creators, and everyday computer users. The drive comes in 1TB and 2TB capacities and features a PCIe 4.0 interface, making it compatible with a wide range of systems, including the PlayStation 5 with an added heatsink.

Performance and Efficiency

The SSD 990 offers sequential read speeds of up to 7,250MB/s and write speeds of up to 6,450MB/s, with the 2TB model delivering up to 850,000 IOPS of random read performance and 1.2 million IOPS of random write performance. While these figures are slightly lower than Samsung's Pro and EVO models, they still provide more than enough power for demanding tasks like gaming, video editing, and content creation.

One notable improvement is the drive's energy efficiency, which is 38% better than the 990 Pro. This means the SSD consumes 38% less power in the same conditions, making it a more sustainable option.

Pricing and Availability

Unfortunately, the SSD 990's affordability comes at a cost. The 2TB model retails for $494 AUD, while the 1TB version is priced at $236 AUD. Adding local taxes would bring the total to around $290 AUD for the 1TB model, a significant increase from the sub-$100 prices of similar drives just a few years ago.

As the AI-driven storage crisis continues to drive up prices, Samsung's SSD 990 represents a welcome but still expensive option for those seeking high-capacity storage without breaking the bank.