Synology Explain WHY They Changed Drive Support and Verification in 2025 NAS

During a recent visit to Taipei for Computex 2025, I took the opportunity to visit Synology’s headquarters and speak directly with company representatives about one of the most discussed and divisive topics in the NAS community today — the company’s increasingly strict stance on hard drive compatibility. With the rollout of Synology’s latest generation of hardware, users have been met with significant limitations on the use of third-party drives, prompting concern over reduced flexibility, potential e-waste, and the future direction of Synology’s hardware ecosystem. This article provides a can overview of that visit, beginning with the HQ tour, but mainly it is about putting several big questions users have about the brand’s change in support of Seagate, WD, etc on their 2025 devices.

Four core questions — based on direct community feedback — were put forward, addressing the motivation, risks, and future implications of Synology’s current drive support policy. Each answer is presented exactly as delivered. Note, this article is not sponsored by Synology and they have no control over the editorial stance and output! For users, partners, and industry observers alike, understanding these policy shifts is essential for making informed decisions about Synology systems moving forward.

Touring the Synology Headquarters

The Synology headquarters tour took place during a coordinated visit arranged alongside the Computex 2025 trade event. Approximately 30 to 40 individuals were in attendance, a mix that included official Synology partners, resellers, independent media, and technology commentators. The tour began with a structured company overview presentation outlining Synology’s operational history, business units, and market positioning.

While much of this information was familiar to long-term observers, it served to reinforce the company providing integrated storage and data management solutions. The presentation also included a brief overview of Synology’s global distribution and the evolving structure of its enterprise product lines.

Attendees were then guided through various areas of the facility, which covered several floors within a shared building. Synology does not occupy the entire structure, but the portions shown during the tour were substantial, comprising office sections, collaborative workspaces, logistics coordination areas, and support-related operations. Notably, many desks were temporarily unoccupied due to staff presence at Computex’s Nangang Exhibition Center.

Nonetheless, the offices remained populated with active terminals and systems undergoing live testing.

A significant portion of the tour focused on the environmental and durability testing facilities, including designated zones for acoustic profiling, thermal analysis, and dust resilience. The diversity of units being tested suggested coverage across multiple device classes, including both rackmount and desktop models.

The most extensive portion of the tour was the dedicated test and burn-in area. This floor was almost entirely devoted to long-term performance and diagnostic evaluations. Numerous Synology NAS units — some dating back to the early 2010s — were in continuous operation, either running synthetic workloads or undergoing compatibility assessments with the current DSM operating system.

The presence of so many legacy devices in active testing underscored the company’s emphasis on software longevity and cross-generational hardware support. However, it also provided a contrast to Synology’s new strict verification policies, especially given the mixed hardware environments visible during testing. The tour was led by ZP Kao, Sales Director at Synology, and Chad Chiang, Regional Manager for the UK and Germany, who offered clarification and responded to several direct inquiries during the walkthrough.

Why Has Synology Changed Its HDD Support Policy? Questions and Answers

Questions I put to Synology about their change in policy regarding verifying and supporting drive media being used on their 2025 and later series of NAS devices. I based these on the comments and suggestions from videos on the YouTube channel and comments on previous articles. I am under no illusions that these changes by Synology in their drive support policies have financial justifications (ranging from Support efficiency and it’s financial overhead, to the simple profitability of prioritizing their own labelled firmware optimized storage media choices over those of other brands), but I wanted to know if these were the only reasons for this? What other reasons could Synology provide to support this large and unpopular move. Thank you once again to Chad Chiang for taking the time to answer these questions.

Note – for a better understanding of the current DSM Support of Unverified media, as well as test scenarios detailing each setup and how DSM handles it, you can read it HERE in my Test Article.

How has the verification process changed for which drives you can use on Synology systems moving forward? And are there drive options from WD and Seagate currently undergoing support verification?

Answer – At Synology, we constantly reflect on a core question: Why do people choose a NAS? We believe the answer lies in the need for secure, reliable, and hassle-free data storage. This belief has guided our mission for over a decade. When analyzing our support history, the data clearly shows that systems using Synology-branded drives experience 40% fewer issues compared to those with third-party HDDs. This insight underscores the importance of using thoroughly tested drives. As for which third-party vendors are currently undergoing drive verification, we’re unable to disclose details. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, we recommend reaching out directly to the respective manufacturers.

The response positions Synology’s verification changes as a reliability-focused initiative and smooth platform running as the chief reasoning for them, referencing internal data that suggests a 40% reduction in support issues when Synology-branded drives are used. However, as mentioned previously, the statement does not provide supporting metrics such as sample size, timeframes, or specific failure modes, making it difficult to assess the scope or significance of this claim. I do not doubt that it is true, but without the X/Y and details of how this result was achieved, we are only getting half the story here.  The policy shift is framed as a precautionary measure aimed at minimizing user disruption, but the absence of transparency regarding ongoing verifications with WD or Seagate limits clarity for users seeking alternatives – which is why users are seeing this more as a means for the brand to increase profitability in the 2025 series as a bundled utility purchase – not as a means of system stability.

Ultimately, discussing the technical standards or benchmarks involved in the verification process in paramount here. It largely confirms that responsibility for future third-party compatibility lies with the drive manufacturers themselves, effectively shifting the onus of transparency to them. While it is understandable that Synology might want to mitigate support complexity, the lack of specificity about how the verification criteria have evolved or what steps vendors must follow leaves key questions unanswered for both users and third-party storage providers. I reached out to representatives from Seagate and WD to see if they could elaborate further on this new media side verification process with their respective NAS/Server class media – neither was able to provide further details at this time.

UPDATED 07-05-25 = Added Unverified HDD and SSD (Migrated) Storage Pool RAID Repair, RAID POOL Expansion and Hot Spare Tests. Right now, the following is what works and what does not (between pre-2025 Series and the 2025 Series that is releasing now):

Feature / Function	Pre-2025 Synology NAS<br>(e.g., DS1821+, DS920+, DS923+)	2025 Synology NAS<br>(e.g., DS1825+, DS925+, DS1525+)
DSM Installation – Verified Drives	Full support	Full support
DSM Installation – Non-Verified Drives	Allowed (with warnings)	Blocked completely
Drive Migration (Non-Verified Drives)	Fully functional, minor alerts	Works, but shows persistent warnings
Storage Pool Creation – Verified Drives	Fully supported	Fully supported
Storage Pool Creation – Non-Verified Drives	Allowed (with warnings)	Blocked
Storage Pool Expansion – Verified Drives	Fully supported	Fully supported
Storage Pool Expansion – Non-Verified Drives	Allowed (mixed arrays supported)	Blocked – drives flagged as incompatible
Hot Spare Assignment – Verified Drives	Fully supported	Fully supported
Hot Spare Assignment – Non-Verified Drives	Allowed	Blocked
RAID Recovery – Verified Drives	Supported	Supported
RAID Recovery – Non-Verified Drives	Supported	Blocked – system will not rebuild with unverified media
M.2 NVMe Cache – Synology SSDs	Supported	Supported
M.2 NVMe Cache – 3rd Party SSDs	Supported	Blocked
M.2 NVMe Storage Pools – Synology SSDs	Not supported	Supported
M.2 NVMe Storage Pools – 3rd Party SSDs	Not supported	Blocked
SMART Monitoring – Verified Drives	Full support	Full support
SMART Monitoring – Non-Verified Drives	Full support	Limited or blocked (TBC)
Storage Manager Alerts – Non-Verified Drives	Warnings, dismissible	Persistent, cannot be cleared
Overall Compatibility Flexibility	High – mix-and-match drives allowed	Low – walled-garden enforcement

Users are able to migrate existing storage arrays that feature Unverified/unsupported drive media in previous Synology systems into 2025 Plus series devices and still use DSM services – however once they do so, they are unable to use the same model ID of drives to perform RAID recovery, RAID expansion or introduced a hot spare, unless that drive is on the verified drive list. Why is this?

Answer- Advanced operations such as RAID recovery, expansion, or hot spare assignment are technically intensive and carry a higher risk of data loss if inconsistencies arise. Drives that haven’t been validated through Synology’s verification process may behave unpredictably under stress, impacting array stability or performance. For this reason, support for these functions is limited to verified drives—a precaution designed to safeguard user data and maintain long-term system reliability.

So, this answer outlines Synology’s rationale for restricting critical RAID operations on unverified drives and It emphasizes the increased risk associated with advanced storage operations, particularly when performed on drives that may not have been tested under stress or fault conditions. The justification focuses on data integrity and system reliability, suggesting that verified drives have undergone stress testing scenarios that others have not. However, the lack of granularity in what defines “unpredictable behavior” makes it difficult to independently evaluate the severity or frequency of these issues. Much like the statistics point earlier, this seems a remarkable stretch in terms of reaction to what many users would consider a very, very low % risk factor. Equally, though there is an argument that some drive media is less suitable for NAS usage (eg the WD Red SMR drives, desktop single drive use media like Seagate Barracuda and high power draw HDDs/SSDs in some cases), these make up a very small % of drive media in the market and using this as a reasoning to effectively bar the continued support of drive media that has been supported/used in Synology server use over the last 2 decades to prevent RAID recovery and Expansion in the latest gen for those carrying them over seems insane overkill.

The policy effectively limits upgradability and flexibility in mixed-drive environments. While it is technically reasonable to restrict risky operations on unvalidated components, the ability to migrate but not expand or rebuild a RAID introduces a half-measure — allowing users to enter unsupported configurations while restricting them mid-cycle. The result is a system state that may appear functional at first but ultimately lacks key functionality unless users conform to the verified list. For long-term users upgrading from older systems, this shift can lead to unexpected limitations without adequate warning, particularly in small or home office deployments. The messaging has been poor and though I made a video about these limitations (embedded above), there is practically no other clear and transparent information about this online (with incongruous detailson the Synology Knowledge base that could stand to be a lot clearer and louder).

HOT TAKE, and hear me out – If Synology do not allow support of RAID repair/Expansion on drives that have been migrated over from older NAS systems where the drives WERE originally supported (unless they use 2025 verified drives) because of reasons of stability, I have a somewhat extreme suggestion. As unpopular as it might have been, Synology should have just BARRED the support of migration from older generation Synology NAS devices with unverified drives entirely. I personally think they should have allowed for RAID repair/Expansion of unverified drives, but if they are going to pursue this for reasons of system stability, they should have committed to this fully and not allowed this grey area with migration. As it just looks bad for the brand, as means of ensuring people can upgrade/remain in the ecosystem, but then have limited scalability when those older drives require replacement/growth.

Were pre-populated Synology NAS devices considered, given the strict verified support stance that this new Synology hardware generation contains?

Answer – Regarding pre-populated NAS solutions, there hasn’t been significant internal discussion or a formal strategy around this model. As such, I don’t have a concrete answer at this time. The focus remains on ensuring that any storage media used—whether user-installed or bundled—is fully verified to meet Synology’s reliability standards.

Not much to unpack here. It makes sense. I imagine they DID discuss this as an option (as they are already engaging with this with systems like the Beestation), but at least for now, it seems off the table. As unpopular as this might have been, in some ways it could have solved a lot of this friction for some users. Provide the 2025 PLUS series as an empty/enclosure-only solution with similar compatibility as the 2024 and earlier generation – but then also supply several pre-populated options that feature Synology drive media as standard. However, that would be a different discussion entirely (eg logistics, SKUs, viability, ROI by offering this alongside flexible options).

Can you provide example(s) of critical system issues that using unverified drives caused, that were the tipping point for this new strict HDD support policy?

Examples of what stepped up our verification process moving forward:

Performance Issues: Unverified drives may function under light workloads but can suffer serious performance drops (e.g., IOPS decline) under multi-user access or when running demanding services like virtualization, backup, or databases. This can lead to poor user experience or service disruptions (e.g., iSCSI timeouts).

Stability Risks: Without thorough testing, unverified drives are more prone to failures under stress conditions such as unexpected power loss or long-duration file transfers—leading to timeouts, reboot failures, or data integrity issues in high-load or long-term operations.

Compatibility Problems: Drives not validated for compatibility may show unstable behavior with certain NAS controllers, resulting in drive drops, RAID instability, or data access interruptions over time.

Advanced Feature Failures: Unverified drives may fail during operations like SMART testing or Secure Erase, especially after unexpected power outages. Some drives may not respond properly under frequent access or specific command sets, affecting system stability.

Drive Failures Under High Load or Density: Some drives may become unresponsive under high data density or I/O intensity, with issues persisting even after a reset.

The examples provided by Synology highlight a variety of operational issues associated with unverified drives, most of which relate to performance degradation, system instability, or failure of advanced features under stress. These scenarios focus on workloads involving sustained I/O, power fluctuations, and controller-level interactions. In isolation, many of the issues described are plausible for lower-tier or unsuitable drive models, particularly in demanding or enterprise-like environments. That said, that are very low margins (eg 0.01% or lower) when you look at the traditional deployment of many Synology NAS solution in the Plus series. Again though, the scale and frequency of these issues remain unclear. There is no indication of how widespread such failures are across Synology’s user base, nor whether they represent rare edge cases or common occurrences. The examples also apply more logically to enterprise or high-density configurations, whereas the same strict policies now affect all tiers — including two-bay and four-bay systems used by home and prosumer users. Without concrete statistics or clearer thresholds, it is difficult to assess whether these issues justify the breadth of the policy. The policy appears to target potential worst-case scenarios, but may have broader consequences for user flexibility than the risk profile necessarily warrants.

Additional Information and Details from the MyBroadband Article

Further context on Synology’s new drive compatibility policy was provided in an interview between MyBroadband journalist Daniel Puchert (click to read) and Michael Chang, Synology’s Regional Sales Manager. The discussion reinforced many of the points raised during the HQ visit, while also offering additional information into the motivations behind Synology’s stricter approach to drive support in their latest generation of NAS systems. Chang explained that Synology’s primary objective was to ensure product reliability and reduce system-level faults that were increasingly traced back to third-party hard drives. According to Chang, complaints received by Synology often involved third-party drive issues, yet Synology would still be held accountable by users due to their role as the NAS provider. This prompted the company to centralize responsibility and tighten control over supported hardware configurations. While Synology-branded drives are currently the only models certified, Chang noted that other vendors are being invited to participate in the compatibility validation program — provided they meet the same testing standards.

(In the case of the NAS drives) “..because Synology’s product would typically facilitate the usage of third-party hard drives, it would also be the scapegoat for any faults with the entire system.”

“..complaints received by Synology regarding issues relating to its NAS devices were most often caused by faulty hard drives.

“severe storage anomalies have decreased by up to 88%” for hard drive models that have adopted its hard drive compatibility policy, compared to older models.”

“We still welcome third parties to join Synology’s ecosystem and have invited vendors to join our validation program,”

Michael Chang, Synology Regional Sales Manager – full article HERE

The article also mentioned that Synology-certified drives undergo over 7,000 hours of testing, and systems using those drives reportedly experience 40% fewer failures than those using uncertified media. Additionally, Synology claims that severe storage anomalies have dropped by up to 88% in systems following its compatibility policy. Although Chang confirmed that third-party compatibility may expand in the future, it will only do so under strict adherence to Synology’s internal benchmarks. These statements align with Synology’s position during the HQ tour, further emphasizing a shift toward a closed, highly controlled ecosystem that prioritizes consistent performance over hardware flexibility.

Synology and HDD Support and Verification – Conclusion and the Long Term

My biggest issue with all this is that, almost certainly, we are going to see Seagate, WD, Toshiba and more slow (slooooooooowly) appear on the compatibility lists for a number of the 2025 generation of devices over the coming months. So, what was all this for? The PR damage and likely early sales damage of the Synolgoy 2025 Series because of this change of support I would estimate is going to be pretty substantial – and all the reports and reactions to this online are not going to go away as soon as a Seagate Ironwolf or WD Red drive appears on the support lists. Also, Synology work on these devices for a very, very long time before launch – why is all this happening now – and not before launch. The cynic in me wants to just assume it was pure profitability and that Synology want to maximize profits, and if when this does begin to U-Trun ,that the brand can say that it was the plan all along. But whether that is true or not, the damage to the brand in the eyes of a substantial % of their long term fans is notable, and with many more players in the market (UniFi, QNAP, UGREEN and more) launching new products in Q3 and Q4 – is this all going to be a gamble by the brand that ends up costing them more than just leaving the support status quo where it was? Only time will tell.

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Is the Samsung 9100 Pro SSD Your DREAM Gen5 SSD?

Samsung has officially entered the PCIe 5.0 market with the release of the 9100 PRO Series SSD, its first high-performance consumer Gen 5 NVMe SSD. Unlike previous Samsung SSD releases that focused on mainstream users, this drive is built for professionals, power users, and AI-driven workloads. Featuring sequential read speeds of up to 14,800 MB/s and write speeds reaching 13,400 MB/s, the 9100 PRO is aimed at content creators, data analysts, and enterprise users who require fast and reliable storage solutions. Available in 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, and an upcoming 8TB model, this SSD is one of the highest-capacity consumer NVMe drives ever released by Samsung. With Samsung’s in-house controller, V-NAND TLC (V8) flash memory, and LPDDR4X DRAM-based caching, the 9100 PRO is designed to offer both high-speed data transfer and long-term durability. Power efficiency has also been improved by up to 49% compared to its predecessor, the 990 PRO, making it a more energy-conscious choice for intensive applications. However, despite its impressive technical specifications, the 9100 PRO enters a market where PCIe 5.0 SSDs have been available for nearly two years from competitors such as Seagate and Crucial. This review will assess whether Samsung’s late entry to the Gen 5 SSD market delivers a significant performance advantage or whether its delayed release puts it at a competitive disadvantage. In this review, we will examine the hardware and design of the 9100 PRO, compare it against Samsung’s previous generation 990 EVO and EVO Plus SSDs, and analyze its performance across multiple benchmarks to determine if it truly offers a measurable advantage over existing PCIe 5.0 SSDs. Finally, we will consider its pricing and availability, and whether this drive is a worthwhile investment for users looking to upgrade their storage solutions in 2025.

Samsung 9100 SSD Review – Quick Conclusion

The Samsung 9100 PRO SSD is a true PCIe 5.0 Gen4x4 drive, delivering industry-leading speeds of up to 14,800 MB/s read and 13,400 MB/s write, making it one of the fastest consumer SSDs available. Unlike many competitors using third-party controllers from Phison and Micron NAND, the 9100 PRO is fully in-house, featuring Samsung’s Presto PCIe 5.0 controller and V-NAND TLC (V8) for tighter hardware-firmware integration, improved power efficiency (up to 49% better than earlier Gen5 SSDs), and high endurance (up to 4,800 TBW on the 8TB model). Random performance is excellent, reaching 2,200K IOPS read and 2,600K IOPS write, making it a strong choice for AI workloads, video production, and large-scale data processing. However, heat remains a challenge, as the drive can reach 81°C under sustained workloads, requiring active cooling or Samsung’s optional heatsink model. Pricing is premium, with some PCIe 5.0 competitors offering similar speeds at lower costs due to earlier releases. Additionally, while Samsung has a strong reputation for SSD reliability, firmware issues in past models like the 990 PRO and 980 PRO have left some users cautious. Despite these drawbacks, the 9100 PRO stands out as one of the most refined PCIe 5.0 SSDs, offering a high-endurance, fully in-house solution for demanding users.

BUILD QUALITY - 9/10

HARDWARE - 9/10

PERFORMANCE - 9/10

PRICE - 7/10

VALUE - 7/10

8.2

PROS

Industry-Leading Speed – Offers sequential read speeds up to 14,800 MB/s and write speeds up to 13,400 MB/s, making it one of the fastest consumer SSDs available.

Fully In-House Design – Uses Samsung’s proprietary Presto PCIe 5.0 controller and V-NAND TLC (V8), avoiding reliance on third-party controllers like Phison and Micron NAND, ensuring better hardware-firmware integration.

High Endurance Rating – Provides up to 4,800 TBW on the 8TB model, making it ideal for high-intensity workloads like AI computing, video editing, and large-scale data transfers.

Improved Power Efficiency – Samsung claims 49% better power efficiency compared to previous PCIe 5.0 SSDs, reducing heat output and improving overall energy consumption.

Strong Random Performance – With up to 2,200K IOPS random read and 2,600K IOPS random write, it excels in workloads that involve frequent small file transactions, such as databases, virtual machines, and AI training models.

Multiple Capacity Options – Available in 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, and 8TB, making it one of the first consumer PCIe 5.0 SSDs with an 8TB variant.

Heatsink Version Available – Samsung provides an optional D8-compliant heatsink, ensuring better thermal regulation for sustained performance, especially for gaming consoles like PlayStation 5.

A True Gen 5 SSD – Unlike the safe and comparatively underwhelming Samsung 990 EVO Plus, which only utilized PCIe 5.0 x2 lanes, the 9100 PRO fully utilizes PCIe 5.0 x4, delivering real next-generation speeds.

CONS

High Thermal Output – Can reach 81°C under sustained workloads, requiring adequate cooling solutions, either through the heatsink model or third-party cooling options.

Premium Pricing – Enters a PCIe 5.0 market where some competitors offer similar speeds at lower prices due to their earlier release, making it a costly investment for budget-conscious users.

Samsung’s Firmware History – While Samsung has a strong reputation for SSD reliability, previous firmware issues in the 990 PRO and 980 PRO raised concerns, making some users cautious about potential long-term stability.

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Samsung 9100 SSD Review – Design and Hardware

The Samsung 9100 PRO SSD follows a standard M.2 2280 form factor, making it compatible with most modern motherboards and laptops that support PCIe 5.0. The PCB layout varies by capacity, with the 1TB and 2TB models featuring NAND chips only on one side, while the 4TB and 8TB versions have NAND chips on both sides of the PCB. Unlike previous Samsung SSDs, such as the 990 EVO, which featured single-sided designs for improved compatibility in laptops, the higher-capacity 9100 PRO models require additional NAND space, making them better suited for desktops and high-performance workstations.

The drive also includes a thermal pad on the back, which assists in heat dissipation when used with compatible motherboard heatsinks. Samsung offers a pre-installed heatsink variant for improved temperature management, utilizing a PCI-SIG D8-compliant design for the 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB models, while the 8TB heatsink version features a thicker 11.25mm design for enhanced cooling, making it compatible with PlayStation 5 storage expansion requirements.

At the core of the 9100 PRO SSD is Samsung’s Presto PCIe 5.0 controller, which represents a significant advancement over previous controllers used in Samsung SSDs. This custom in-house design allows the 9100 PRO to achieve nearly full PCIe 5.0 bandwidth saturation, enabling up to 14,800 MB/s read and 13,400 MB/s write speeds. Unlike the 990 EVO, which used a more power-efficient but limited PCIe 4.0 controller, the 9100 PRO benefits from an advanced controller architecture that enhances throughput and reduces latency.

Built on a 5nm process, this controller lowers power consumption compared to earlier PCIe 5.0 SSDs, improves thermal efficiency, and integrates advanced ECC and wear-leveling algorithms for better long-term reliability. Additionally, Samsung’s Presto controller features a larger DRAM buffer and optimized NAND channel management, allowing the 9100 PRO to deliver high sustained speeds under extended workloads.

Unlike the 990 EVO and 990 EVO Plus, which were DRAM-less SSDs relying on Host Memory Buffer (HMB) technology, the Samsung 9100 PRO integrates dedicated LPDDR4X DRAM, providing better caching and improved sustained write performance. The amount of DRAM scales with the drive’s capacity, with 1GB for 1TB models, 2GB for 2TB, 4GB for 4TB, and 8GB for 8TB.

This ensures that larger models handle large file transfers, database workloads, and AI-driven tasks more efficiently. The Presto controller’s enhanced memory mapping further improves the effectiveness of DRAM caching, ensuring lower latency and higher sustained write speeds. This is a notable advantage over competing PCIe 5.0 SSDs, many of which cut costs by removing DRAM and relying on slower caching solutions.

The 9100 PRO utilizes Samsung’s latest 3-bit MLC V-NAND (V8), which delivers higher density, improved durability, and greater efficiency compared to previous NAND generations. This 3-bit MLC (commonly referred to as TLC) enables faster read and write cycles, lower power consumption per operation, and improved reliability. Unlike older NAND designs used in PCIe 4.0 SSDs, the V8 NAND architecture allows for greater endurance and a more efficient distribution of read and write cycles, making it better suited for high-performance tasks such as video editing, AI computing, and professional content creation.

The 4TB and 8TB models benefit from additional NAND dies, increasing parallel processing capabilities and enabling higher performance under heavy workloads. Compared to Samsung’s previous consumer SSDs, the 9100 PRO’s NAND offers greater consistency in performance, reducing the risk of slowdowns due to write amplification and NAND wear over time.

Samsung rates the 9100 PRO with a Total Bytes Written (TBW) endurance rating of up to 4,800 TB for the 8TB model, with lower capacities following a scaled endurance pattern of 600 TB (1TB), 1,200 TB (2TB), and 2,400 TB (4TB). This results in a Drive Writes Per Day (DWPD) rating of approximately 0.328, meaning users can rewrite around one-third of the drive’s full capacity daily for five years before reaching the warranty limit.

Samsung claims on the 9100 PRO peak sequential read/write speeds (though based on hugely synthetic tests on an AMD Ryzen 9 7950x 16-Core Processor [email protected] system) make it one of the fastest PCIe 5.0 SSDs available in 2025. These speeds nearly double those of the 990 EVO (more on that shortly) released around 4-5 months before. Additionally, random read and write speeds exceeding 2.2M and 2.6M IOPS, which is a major improvement for workloads requiring frequent small file transactions, such as AI modeling, LLM training, and cloud storage applications. However, real-world performance may vary depending on factors such as cooling, system architecture, and workload type, which will be explored in the performance testing section of this review.

Samsung also emphasizes the power efficiency gains of the 9100 PRO, stating that the new controller and NAND design allow for up to 49% better efficiency than the previous generation 990 PRO. Power consumption during active operation is rated at 7.6W for the 1TB model, 8.1W for the 2TB, and 9.0W for the 4TB version, ensuring lower power draw compared to other PCIe 5.0 SSDs with similar performance ratings. This efficiency improvement helps reduce heat output and extends the lifespan of the drive, making it a more suitable option for professional and high-end workstation environments.

Samsung 9100 SSD vs the Samsung 990 EVO PLUS – Gen5 SSDs Compared

The Samsung 9100 PRO and Samsung 990 EVO Plus cater to different segments of the SSD market, with the 9100 PRO targeting high-performance workloads and the 990 EVO Plus designed for mainstream users seeking a balance between speed and efficiency. The most significant difference lies in interface and speed, as the 9100 PRO utilizes PCIe 5.0 x4, allowing for sequential read speeds up to 14,800 MB/s and write speeds up to 13,400 MB/s. In contrast, the 990 EVO Plus uses a PCIe 4.0 x4 / 5.0 x2 interface, capping its speeds at 7,250 MB/s read and 6,300 MB/s write.

While this makes the 990 EVO Plus one of the fastest PCIe 4.0 drives, it falls considerably behind the 9100 PRO, particularly in random performance, where the 9100 PRO achieves up to 2,200K IOPS read and 2,600K IOPS write, compared to the 990 EVO Plus’s 1,050K IOPS read and 1,400K IOPS write. The 9100 PRO also integrates LPDDR4X DRAM, ensuring smoother performance under heavy workloads, whereas the 990 EVO Plus relies on Host Memory Buffer (HMB) technology, which is dependent on system RAM and may lead to performance inconsistencies in extended write operations.

Beyond speed, endurance and power efficiency also differ significantly between the two drives. The 9100 PRO offers a higher TBW rating, reaching 4,800 TB on the 8TB model, compared to the 990 EVO Plus’s maximum of 2,400 TBW for its 4TB version. This makes the 9100 PRO more suitable for AI computing, professional video editing, and enterprise applications where large amounts of data are written daily. Power consumption is another key factor, with the 9100 PRO consuming between 7.6W and 9.0W under active operation, while the 990 EVO Plus operates at a lower 4.3W to 5.5W during reads and 4.2W to 4.8W during writes.

While the 990 EVO Plus is more power-efficient, the 9100 PRO compensates with significantly higher performance and an improved energy efficiency rating, reducing power consumption by 49% compared to previous Samsung PCIe 5.0 drives. Overall, while the 990 EVO Plus is a strong option for users looking for a high-speed PCIe 4.0 SSD, the 9100 PRO is a better fit for professionals requiring the fastest speeds, highest endurance, and improved thermal performance.

Samsung 9100 SSD Review – Performance Tests

Performance testing for the Samsung 9100 PRO was conducted on a Windows 10 system with a 12th-generation Intel Core i5 processor, 16GB DDR5 RAM, and a PCIe 5.0-enabled motherboard. The operating system was installed on a separate PCIe 4.0 SSD, while the 9100 PRO was tested in an available PCIe 5.0 slot.

Benchmarking tools included ATTO Disk Benchmark, CrystalDiskMark, AJA System Test, and real-world file transfer tests to assess sequential and random performance under different workloads. The drive was tested in both bare PCB configuration and with a third-party heatsink, as the proprietary Samsung heatsink version was unavailable for this review.

In ATTO Disk Benchmark, which measures transfer speeds across different file sizes, the 9100 PRO achieved sequential read speeds of between 11.3 GB/s and 11.5 GB/s, with occasional peaks reaching 12.5 GB/s under optimal conditions. These results, while slightly lower than Samsung’s claimed 14.8 GB/s read speed, remain among the highest reported for consumer PCIe 5.0 SSDs. Write speeds in ATTO remained stable at approximately 11.0 GB/s to 12.0 GB/s, showing consistent performance across multiple test runs.

Meanwhile, CrystalDiskMark testing at a 16GB file size reported read speeds of up to 11,881 MB/s and write speeds of 12,444 MB/s, with random IOPS reaching up to 1.5 million under ideal conditions. While the drive’s performance fluctuated slightly depending on workload type, overall speeds remained close to manufacturer specifications, confirming its status as one of the fastest SSDs available in 2025.

For real-world testing, a 52GB mixed dataset comprising 1,711 files across 42 folders was transferred to the 9100 PRO from another PCIe 4.0 SSD. The transfer was completed in just over 34 seconds, with speeds sustaining well above 9,000 MB/s for most of the operation. These figures align with high-end PCIe 5.0 expectations, demonstrating the drive’s ability to maintain consistent performance under heavy workloads.

Additionally, AJA System Test, which simulates video production workloads, recorded sustained read speeds of nearly 10,000 MB/s, making the 9100 PRO a strong choice for video editing professionals working with large 8K or RAW footage files. Notably, write performance remained stable even during long transfers, likely due to Samsung’s expanded Intelligent TurboWrite 2.0 cache, which allocates up to 442GB of SLC cache on the 4TB model to handle large sequential writes without immediate slowdowns.

During testing, the 9100 PRO’s temperatures fluctuated between 45°C and 55°C at idle, while sustained workloads pushed temperatures above 81°C under extended high-speed transfers. While Samsung’s new 5nm Presto controller is more power-efficient than previous PCIe 5.0 designs, high-speed Gen 5 SSDs inherently produce significant heat, requiring adequate cooling solutions to prevent throttling. In testing with a third-party heatsink, thermal recovery was fast, and the drive quickly dropped back to safe temperature ranges within seconds after peak workloads ended. However, without a heatsink, performance throttling was observed after extended write operations, reinforcing the importance of active cooling for sustained performance in PCIe 5.0 SSDs.

Overall, the Samsung 9100 PRO delivers competitive and consistent performance across synthetic benchmarks and real-world testing. It consistently reaches 11.5 GB/s to 12.5 GB/s in most workloads, proving it to be among the fastest PCIe 5.0 SSDs available. Real-world file transfers confirm the drive’s ability to sustain high write speeds, while Samsung’s Intelligent TurboWrite 2.0 technology minimizes performance drops even under heavy loads. However, thermal management remains a key consideration, as sustained high-speed operations push temperatures close to throttling limits without a heatsink. Despite this, power efficiency is improved over previous PCIe 5.0 SSDs, making it a strong option for professionals requiring high-performance storage for AI, video production, and data-heavy workloads.

Samsung 9100 SSD Review – Verdict and Conclusion

The Samsung 9100 PRO SSD delivers top-tier PCIe 5.0 performance, offering sequential read speeds up to 14,800 MB/s and write speeds reaching 13,400 MB/s, making it one of the fastest consumer SSDs currently available. Unlike many PCIe 5.0 SSDs that rely on third-party controllers from Phison or NAND from Micron, the 9100 PRO benefits from Samsung’s fully in-house design, including its Presto PCIe 5.0 controller and V-NAND TLC (V8). This ensures better integration between hardware and firmware, resulting in more stable performance, improved power efficiency, and better overall optimization for workloads like AI computing, video production, and high-speed data processing. Additionally, Samsung claims 49% improved power efficiency over previous PCIe 5.0 SSDs, helping to reduce thermal output compared to some early PCIe 5.0 models. Its high endurance rating (up to 4,800 TBW on the 8TB model) also positions it as a strong choice for users who require reliable, long-term performance.

However, there are some key drawbacks to consider. Thermal performance remains a challenge, as the 9100 PRO can reach temperatures above 81°C under extended workloads, meaning a proper cooling solution is necessary to prevent thermal throttling. While Samsung offers a heatsink version, those using the bare PCB model may need to invest in additional cooling for sustained performance. Additionally, real-world speeds, while impressive, do not always match Samsung’s maximum advertised performance, particularly once the TurboWrite cache is exhausted. Furthermore, Samsung’s reputation for SSD reliability is generally strong, but firmware issues in previous models, such as the 990 PRO and 980 PRO, led to concerns over long-term stability. While Samsung has since addressed those problems, some users may remain cautious about potential firmware-related risks. Despite these concerns, the 9100 PRO still stands out as one of the best PCIe 5.0 SSDs available, offering fully in-house hardware, high endurance, and leading-edge performance for users who need the fastest storage available today.

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