If we are thinking about buying a new computer, we can fall into the trap of buying a powerful processor or the latest graphics cards if we want to enjoy the latest games, and forget about the rest of the components like storage. New Samsung 990 EVO, which can be found from 100 dollarsaims to make our task very easy.
Everyone knows that there are two elements, the CPU and the GPU, which define the power of a computer, right? If we think like this, we can make the mistake of not paying attention to the rest of the components, and create a “bottleneck” Let him throw all our money overboard.
Storage can be one of those “bottlenecks”, especially these days and the file sizes of HD videos and games already take up over 100 GB without much difficulty. If we notice loading issues, or games are taking a long time to load, The fault may come from the SSD we chose. And yes, we should already be using SSD for primary storage, no excuses.
The hybrid SSD
Samsung’s new alternative for the storage sector can solve this problem, and the best thing is that it does it regardless of what computer we own or what we build.
This is because the Samsung 990 EVO is a “hybrid SSD”, which is Compatible with PCIe Gen 4 and the new Gen 5 standard; In fact, this is the company’s first Gen 5 model, but unlike other brands, it hasn’t aimed for the top. Indeed, PCIe Gen 5 is still a somewhat new technology, which has not become widespread throughout the industry; In fact, most new motherboards sold in Europe are still only compatible with PCIe Gen 4.
This can create some confusion among users, who may choose to purchase a very fast SSD that they cannot take advantage of on their computer. This is where Samsung’s “hybrid” technology comes in: in other words, This SSD will work 100% on your computerwhether you have a Gen 5 or Gen 4 compatible motherboard. This eliminates a problem, even if it comes at the sacrifice of some performance with the new standard.
And Samsung has chosen to only use two lanes when the 990 EVO is connected to a Gen 5 compatible motherboard, compared to the four lanes used in Gen 4; This results in very similar performance in both modes. In fact, on paper, the bandwidth of Gen 5 x2 and Gen 4 x4 is exactly the sameso it doesn’t matter what we use.
Good performance, with one but
But then why use Gen 5, if we don’t want to benefit from the greater speed? Because this is not the only advantage of the new standard. To begin with, Samsung boasts of Energy consumption reduced by 70% with 43% better performance than its predecessor when used on a Gen 5 compatible motherboard; and this will result in lower temperatures and a more stable and durable system.
However, this means that this SSD is not particularly fast, at least not for the most demanding users, regardless of what type of motherboard we have. Additionally, this model does not have integrated DRAM, like some high-end models; Instead, Samsung opted for Host Memory Buffer (HMB) technology, which connects directly to the RAM of our processor. Although Samsung claims this helps improve performance, in practice it’s not a big difference.
This is not to say that the Samsung 990 EVO is slow, far from it. The manufacturer promises Sequential read speeds up to 5,000 MB/s
Real-world use confirmed these sensations and the 990 EVO performed very well in all types of tasks. Whether transferring large files, where it reaches transfer speeds of 3 GB/s (with another SSD), or loading modern video games in just seconds, the experience is exactly what we expect from a modern high speed SSD.
Now, this isn’t spectacular performance, and for the price, you really shouldn’t expect it. Additionally, temperatures during the most demanding tests were around 50 degrees regardless of workload, although the latter will largely depend on the airflow of your tower, and whether your motherboard incorporates a dissipation method .
An SSD with the minimum, but capable
And the Samsung 990 EVO doesn’t have a built-in heatsink, as we’ve seen in other Gen 5 SSD models; This is a clue that the temperatures it reaches are not high enough to affect performance, although it will be good to make sure it is well cooled.
It is obvious that this model of SSD has been designed with cost in mind, as there is absolutely nothing included in the box other than the device itself, aside from the obligatory warranty documents. However, installation is simple (provided your motherboard has the necessary screw to secure it, as it’s not included), just like any other SSD.
This SSD is a standard size for a tower computer M.2 connection, so it cannot be used in a laptop for example; Although given the position of the components and all the space left, I wouldn’t be surprised if Samsung releases a smaller version in the future.
The habit of including “software” on disks and SSDs is also being lost, although in the case of Samsung we can download Magician Software utility completely free. It is a program that will analyze the information on our hard drives, indicating the state of health; It also allows us to perform diagnostics and change settings, including a “maximum performance mode” that turns off certain power-saving features so the unit is always available.
I buy it?
The Samsung 990 EVO is a good SSD, recommended for installation on any type of computer, whether a gaming or work computer. In fact, I would say that Its great strength is its versatility, since it adapts to all types of tasks and equipment. The efficiency improvements are evident and much appreciated today.
Who I wouldn’t recommend this component to are enthusiast users who want to get the maximum performance from their new Gen 5 motherboard; Although this SSD is technically compatible, it will not really take advantage of all the available channels and its performance is not far from that of a leading SSD of the last generation.
Ironically, The main alternative to this 990 EVO comes from Samsung itself, with the 990 Pro which can be had at a very similar price and offers slightly better performance and can be had with an integrated heatsink; Although it is only compatible with Gen 4, so it is not as efficient. But thanks to this internal competition, we now find the 990 EVO at very attractive prices, and we have seen it below 100 dollars in certain stores; In this case, it’s hard not to recommend it if you’re looking for a competent SSD.
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