Are DRAM free SSDs Worth Your Money and Your Data?
Solid-State Drives (SSDs) have revolutionized data storage with their speed and reliability. Among these, DRAMless SSDs have carved a niche, offering unique advantages and disadvantages. With the emergence of models like the Samsung 990 EVO, the Phison E31T controller-based SSDs, and the WD Black SN770, the landscape of DRAMless SSDs is expanding. This assessment delves into the pros and cons of DRAMless SSDs, offering an unbiased perspective on their place in the storage market.
What Are the Advantages of DRAMless SSDs?
Choosing to opt for an SSD inside your client desktop or portable system that does not feature it’s own on-board DRAM/Memory actually opens the door to a lot of benefits that extend way beyond just buying an SSD that has a lower price per TB/GB. Here are a whole bunch of benefits to using DRAMless SSDs, like the Samsung 990 EVO, WD Black SN770 and more in 2024 onwards:
Cost-Effectiveness
The absence of DRAM chips in SSDs like the Samsung 990 EVO and WD Black SN770 makes them more affordable, offering solid-state speed at a lower price point. This is due to reduced manufacturing costs, making these drives a budget-friendly option for consumers.
Energy Efficiency
DRAMless SSDs, including those with the Phison E31T controller, are known for lower power consumption compared to DRAM SSDs. This feature is particularly beneficial in battery-powered devices, extending their battery life.
Compact and Lightweight Design
The elimination of DRAM chips allows for a more compact form factor. This design aspect is crucial in devices where space is limited, such as ultra-thin laptops or compact embedded systems.
Simplicity and Increased Reliability
Fewer components mean a simpler design, which could lead to increased reliability. DRAMless SSDs, by virtue of their simplicity, might have fewer points of failure compared to their DRAM counterparts.
Security Advantages
The volatile nature of DRAM means it can retain data temporarily. In DRAMless SSDs, like the Samsung 990 EVO, the lack of this component might reduce the risk of data recovery after power loss, enhancing data security.
Suitability for Certain Workloads
For applications that are read-intensive and don’t require high write performance, a DRAMless SSD can be a suitable choice. These drives can handle basic tasks and typical consumer workloads effectively. However, it’s important to note that DRAMless SSDs may have limitations in terms of performance, particularly in write speeds and handling large or intensive workloads, compared to SSDs with dedicated DRAM. As such, their benefits are most realized in specific use cases where the cost and power efficiency are prioritized over peak performance.
What Are the Disadvantages of DRAMless SSDs?
Commonly recognized negatives/disadvantages of SSDs that lack onboard DRAM/Memory are:
Compromised Performance
A major drawback, seen in models like the WD Black SN770, is slower write speeds and increased latency due to the absence of a DRAM cache. This impacts performance, especially in write-intensive tasks.
Limited Multitasking Efficiency
Without a high-speed buffer, DRAMless SSDs struggle with multitasking. This limitation affects their ability to handle multiple simultaneous read/write operations effectively.
Dependency on System Memory
Some DRAMless SSDs, including those using the Phison E31T controller, rely on the system’s RAM (Host Memory Buffer) for data management, which could impact overall system performance, especially in RAM-constrained environments.
Reduced Endurance and Longevity
Continuous write operations directly to NAND can accelerate wear, potentially reducing the SSD’s lifespan. This is a concern in DRAMless SSDs where direct NAND writes are more frequent.
Inadequacy for High-End Tasks
High-performance tasks like gaming or video editing may not be ideally suited for DRAMless SSDs due to their limited speed and multitasking capabilities.
DRAMless SSDs – The Verdict?
In conclusion, DRAMless SSDs like the Samsung 990 EVO, Phison E31T-based drives, and the WD Black SN770 offer a cost-effective and energy-efficient solution for basic storage needs. They are particularly well-suited for devices where space and power consumption are key considerations. However, their reduced performance and endurance make them less ideal for high-performance computing or heavy workloads. These SSDs represent a compromise, balancing affordability and efficiency against top-tier performance, making them a viable option for certain consumer segments but not a one-size-fits-all solution.
Here are Three of the leading DRAMless m.2 NVMes in the SSD market right now:
This description contains links to Amazon. These links will take you to some of the products mentioned in today's content. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Visit the NASCompares Deal Finder to find the best place to buy this device in your region, based on Service, Support and Reputation - Just Search for your NAS Drive in the Box Below
Need Advice on Data Storage from an Expert?
Finally, for free advice about your setup, just leave a message in the comments below here at NASCompares.com and we will get back to you.Need Help?
Where possible (and where appropriate) please provide as much information about your requirements, as then I can arrange the best answer and solution to your needs. Do not worry about your e-mail address being required, it will NOT be used in a mailing list and will NOT be used in any way other than to respond to your enquiry.
[contact-form-7]
TRY CHAT Terms and Conditions
If you like this service, please consider supporting us.
We use affiliate links on the blog allowing NAScompares information and advice service to be free of charge to you.Anything you purchase on the day you click on our links will generate a small commission which isused to run the website. Here is a link for Amazon and B&H.You can also get me a Ko-fi or old school Paypal. Thanks!To find out more about how to support this advice service checkHEREIf you need to fix or configure a NAS, check FiverHave you thought about helping others with your knowledge? Find Instructions Here
Or support us by using our affiliate links on Amazon UK and Amazon US
Alternatively, why not ask me on the ASK NASCompares forum, by clicking the button below. This is a community hub that serves as a place that I can answer your question, chew the fat, share new release information and even get corrections posted. I will always get around to answering ALL queries, but as a one-man operation, I cannot promise speed! So by sharing your query in the ASK NASCompares section below, you can get a better range of solutions and suggestions, alongside my own.
It would be fair to say that of all the brands that exist in the SSD consumer and commercial market, few have the recognition and long-running reputation that Samsung has. A mainstay in consumer day-to-day devices, they have also been long-running pioneers in the world of solid-state storage for years now (first truly cutting their teeth in consumer M.2 NVMe SSD storage with the hugely popular Samsung 960). In the previously established PCIe Gen 4 generation of M.2 NVMe SSDs, Samsung (along with WD) in late 2020 were the very first brands to introduce 7GB/s (7000MB/s) performing drives to the market, massively overshadowing competitors such as Seagate and ultimately giving them a huge advantage, one that has been enjoyed for almost 3-4 years. Fast forward to now and the Gen 5 tier of M.2 NVMe SSDs has established itself, and despite hugely confident releases from Phison-equipped drives with Seagate, Sabrent, TeamGroup, and more that have been promising 10, 12, and 14GB/s, Samsung has been oddly silent on the consumer Gen 5 tier… Until now! The release of the Samsung 990 EVO marks the brand’s first release into an almost guaranteed large range of Gen 5 solutions in 2024/2025, but with a rather niche approach to its hardware design choices, a shift of focus on its ideal deployment, and performance numbers that seem comparatively lower to many drives on the market – is the Samsung EVO 990 SSD a rather bizarre first Gen 5 entry by the brand? Let’s review the Samsung 990 EVO SSD, discuss what makes it different from the usual crowd, benchmark it, and ultimately decide if it deserves your money and your data!
Samsung 990 EVO Gen 5 SSD Review – Quick Conclusion
The Samsung 990 EVO is a unique drive, ideal for systems with limited PCIe allocation and concerns about heat and power usage. While Samsung’s strategy aims to meet future trends, there are questions about PCIe Gen 5 bandwidth utilization and performance sustainability in modern PC architecture. The 990 EVO, being Samsung’s first DRAMless consumer Gen 5 SSD, offers a decent balance of performance and efficiency in compact systems, but its position in the market might be overshadowed by competitors’ higher-spec Gen 5×4 drives. It’s an acceptable choice for those seeking an OS drive or a base SSD for micro/compact systems, offering good durability and power efficiency. However, gamers and power users might find it lacking compared to more robust options available. The Samsung 990 EVO stands out in its niche but faces stiff competition in the broader SSD market.
BUILD QUALITY - 9/10
HARDWARE - 8/10
PERFORMANCE - 6/10
PRICE - 7/10
VALUE - 6/10
7.2
PROS
Low Power Use Low Heat Generation Ideal for Small Deployment Useful for Surgival/Careful PCIe Allocation Superior Bandwidth Use in x2 Situations Smasung Magician Still 10/10 Gen 5x4 SSDs Still Suffer Sustained Perf Issues Ideally suited for OS/OEM Level Drives Standard Durability, despite DRAMless design
CONS
Better DRAMless Gen5 Controllers out there (Phison E31T) Lower traditional Performance/IOPS than most Gen 4/5 Comparable $ Drives Feels like a Steamdeck drive...but not! No 4TB Option
Samsung 990 EVO Gen 5 SSD Review – Retail Packaging
The Samsung 990 EVO arrives in fairly standard packaging from the brand and is arguably fairly understated and regular stuff. The drive arrives without any kind of heatsink (more on that later), but comes with the M.2 NVMe SSD in a plastic shell, alongside brief information on installation, the Samsung Magician software, and details on the 5-year inclusive warranty. The retail box itself is adorned with all the usual tech spec information and, although it’s all a bit ‘meh’, at the very least still carries that Samsung charm.
The drive arrives with a base panel heatshield that arrives pre-applied on the base panel of the SSD (on the bare PCB side), and it is located under the storage NAND. It’s a little odd that this isn’t located on the top, but I am sure Samsung has done enough R&D to know this makes more sense.
The top of the drive has a simple adhesive label with all the relevant drive information, but this is not any kind of metallic heatshield.
Peeling this back reveals an unusual arrangement of components on the PCB (on both the 1TB and 2TB version), at least compared with the bulk of both Gen4 and Gen5 SSDs in the market. Let’s discuss the hardware that the Samsung 990 EVO runs on.
Samsung 990 EVO Gen 5 SSD Review – Hardware Design
As mentioned above, the Samsung 990 EVO is a different kind of drive in the market. But this is especially unusual when you see that Samsung is attempting to straddle both the Gen4 and Gen5 market with this drive. Advertised as a Gen 5 M.2 NVMe, its architecture and the bandwidth afforded to it are very unconventional (at least by 2023/2024 Gen5 standards, but this could change in the near future – something Samsung is likely banking on with this drive).
The 1TB and 2TB versions of the Samsung 990 EVO are largely the same (barring the capacity, of course) and are built using all ‘in-house’ proprietary components – much like most other Samsung SSDs. Much like one of their biggest SSD rivals, Western Digital, Samsung likes to keep the development and onboard parts limited to 1st party design (or at the very least using subsidiaries). This can often mean that Samsung runs its own race when it comes to rolling out consumer and commercial storage drives – as they cannot overly rely on the likes of Phison for an SSD controller, MICRON for storage NAND, or SK Hynix for DRAM. The Samsung 990 EVO continues this trend, arriving with the following specs:
AES 256-bit Full Disk Encryption, TCG/Opal V2.0, Encrypted Drive (IEEE1667)
The controller and its management of the bandwidth with other components is actually quite a unique one in the current Gen 5 market, as it is able to negotiate between Gen 5×2 bandwidth and Gen 4×4 bandwidth. Although auto-negotiation is something that has always existed in SSDs (thanks to PCIe architecture scaled down into PCIe Gen 5>4>3>2, etc.). However, this is something a little different and something that has been developed in order to respond to rising needs in more streamlined systems, PCIe cards, and developing SoC CPUs that have fewer lanes afforded to them (as well as lower power consumption thresholds and temperature limits).
Normally, if you were to put a Gen 5 SSD into a Gen 4 system, the SSD would downgrade to PCIe Gen 4×4, which is exactly what this drive does. But what about the reverse? With newer compact systems arriving with 5×2 bandwidth allocated to storage (as these mini newer Intel Core SoC PC systems, portable ultrathin laptops, and even RAID storage cards with multiple NVMe have begun to do), a PCIe Gen 4×4 SSD that is installed inside would be downgraded to PCIe Gen 4×2. Whereas a Gen 5×4 SSD would be able to use the full Gen 5×2 bandwidth. Ultimately, Samsung is clearly hoping to provide a single affordable drive in their EVO (i.e., affordable/value) series that is able to facilitate both the Gen 4 and Gen 5 compact systems, or those with more careful or curated PCIe lane allocation.
However, realistically, more current PC builders, gamers, and storage enthusiasts are going to question the widespread allocation of Gen 5×2 at the manufacturer level. There is certainly an argument to be made that 2023/2024 released mini PCs (i.e., Intel NUCs and their budget clones), NAS server systems, M.2 storage upgrade cards, and even pre-attached SoC motherboards (see Topton, Erying, and similar) are going to lead to more appearances of x1 and x2 speed M.2 slots.
However, there are very few Gen 5 examples in the market right now compared with Gen 4 and in those systems, the 5×2/4×4 Samsung 990 EVO will be of little benefit in bandwidth over other SSDs in the market. However, the PCIe bandwidth allocation and speed is not the only area in which Samsung has clearly decided is an area ripe for efficient redesign in storage.
The Samsung 990 EVO is also a DRAMless SSD. This means it is a drive that does not arrive with any onboard memory, instead relying on a client memory use system known as HMB – Host Memory Buffer. HMB means that the SSD will need to reserve a small area of RAM on the client machine it is installed inside. So, is this a good thing or a bad thing? DRAMless SSDs, which operate without a dedicated DRAM cache, offer several benefits. DRAMless SSDs, operating without a dedicated DRAM cache, present a unique set of benefits. Their primary advantage lies in cost-effectiveness, as the absence of DRAM chips leads to lower manufacturing costs, making these drives more affordable for consumers seeking SSD speeds on a budget. They are also more energy-efficient than their DRAM-equipped counterparts, consuming less power, which is especially beneficial in battery-powered devices like laptops and mobile phones, thereby extending battery life. The design of DRAMless SSDs is another plus; the elimination of DRAM chips allows for a more compact and streamlined form, ideal for space-constrained devices like ultra-thin laptops. These SSDs tend to be simpler and potentially more reliable due to fewer components, reducing the complexity of the drive’s architecture and possibly leading to fewer points of failure. Additionally, the lack of a DRAM cache can enhance data security, as there’s less risk of data being recovered from temporary storage after power loss. DRAMless SSDs are particularly suitable for read-intensive applications and basic tasks, where high write performance is not a priority.
However, DRAMless SSDs also have notable drawbacks, especially when compared to DRAM-equipped SSDs. The most significant downside is reduced performance, particularly in write speeds and handling large or intensive workloads, due to the reliance on slower NAND flash memory without a DRAM buffer. This limitation affects multitasking capabilities, as they lack a high-speed buffer for quick data access and organization. Some DRAMless SSDs compensate for the absence of onboard DRAM by using a portion of the system’s RAM (Host Memory Buffer), which can affect overall system performance, especially in systems with limited RAM. These SSDs may also have lower endurance due to continuous direct-to-NAND write operations, leading to faster wear of memory cells. Users might experience slower random access speeds and noticeable performance degradation over time as the SSD fills up and managing the mapping table becomes more complex. Consequently, DRAMless SSDs are not ideal for heavy workloads like video editing or gaming, where high-performance storage is crucial, making them a less suitable choice for users with demanding data needs.
While DRAMless SSDs offer benefits in terms of cost and power consumption, they are generally less suited for high-performance or heavy workload applications, making them more appropriate for budget-conscious consumers with moderate storage needs. Needless to say, Samsung has been quite clear about the performance and ideal deployment of the 990 EVO, with power efficiency and temperature management being crucial considerations. Therefore, HMB and a DRAMless design make a modicum of sense here – it just also means that Samsung’s first consumer Gen 5 SSD looks rather underwhelming in terms of traditional performance in comparison to existing Gen 4 and Gen 5 SSDs in the market right now.
The storage NAND on the drive is another comparatively low bar compared with existing fully featured Gen 5 and Gen 4 SSDs in the market (including Samsung’s own 980 Pro and 990 Pro). The Samsung 990 EVO is a drive that has been targeted to replace/refresh the 970 EVO and in THAT regard, it is a substantial upgrade! With high bandwidth allocation, higher degrees of saturation of it in traditional throughput, higher 4K random IOPS, and just generally better thermal/power management when in operation, the 990 EVO is a confident upgrade over the 970 EVO indeed. However, there is still the question of buying the 990 EVO as a storage drive for your Gen 4 system (or even Gen 5 premium rig) when even Samsung’s 2020 released 980 Pro drive dominates the 2024 released 990 EVO in pretty much all areas and is even a similar/lower price in a lot of retailers.
Samsung 990 EVO SSD
Samsung 990 Pro SSD
The storage NAND is of a lower layer count but is still Samsung’s in-house 3D TLC V-NAND. This, the lack of onboard DRAM, and (in certain deployments) the x2 speed all add up to a drive that doesn’t stand especially tall against its competitors at a glance. Nevertheless, there is also the argument that the Samsung 990 EVO is going to be the best SSD that you never realize that you already own in years to come! Its design is ripe for deployment as the OS drive at the OEM/factory level in the same way as the widespread use of the 970 EVO was for Windows machines and laptops the world over! Indeed, in a different context, the specifications for the Samsung 990 EVO would make it a GREAT upgrade for a Steam Deck or one of its many clones in the last 12-18 months. If the Samsung 990 EVO was a 2230 or 2240 sized SSD, this review would be very different – as the market is crying out for high performing, yet power-efficient small form factor M.2 SSDs – however, the Samsung 990 EVO’s 2280 length eliminates this use sadly.
Additionally, the fact the SSD arrives at 1TB and 2TB, but not a 4TB, is going to disappoint users who are looking at this drive in terms of efficiency but also know that our daily data creation rates are bigger than ever! However, we cannot really use this as a stick to beat the 990 EVO with, as this could be part of a staged rollout and a 4TB version coming down the line (Samsung already provides numerous 4TB NVMe SSD examples in other ranges). All the mixed points so far aside, I have to hand it to Samsung for releasing this DRAMless SSD that supports Gen 4 and Gen 5 deployment – yet still maintains a standard 600/1200 TBW (so over 0.3 DWPD). Jargon aside, that means that this power and heat-efficient SSD can withstand up to over 300/600GB of daily write/rewrite on the 1/2TB respectively. Outside of SSD cache utilization in servers and as a daily backup drive without differentials, this SSD is going to last a LONG TIME and hopefully way, way beyond the 5yrs manufacturer’s hardware warranty (standard across the industry). There are still points to be made that the lower performance bears closer examination on these number’s virtues, but nonetheless, this still all adds up to good durability for a drive that is going to be used in compact deployments where heat generation is a real concern!
The hardware, in the right context, is all great. But inevitably, we are going to need to look at how this all adds up to performance. Let’s put the SSD through some benchmarks with popular test software, as well as discuss the Samsung Magician client software and how it allows you to use your 990 EVO beyond just traditional target storage.
Using CrystalDisk, we got a good measure of the drive and verified that this PCIe Gen 5×2 / 4×4 SSD was indeed using the 5×2 lane. Additionally, the temp averaged out around 55C between each test being conducted and the highest temp registered for 68 degrees.
Samsung 990 EVO Gen 5 SSD Review – Performance and Software
It is REALLY important that we look at the performance of the Samsung 990 EVO SSD in the right frame of mind! We have reviewed A LOT of Gen 4 and Gen 5 SSDs here on NASCompares in the last few years, and we have to at least acknowledge that in terms of traditional throughput and responsive IOPS, the Samsung 990 EVO is going to come across lower in most cases. However, in the context of a DRAMLESS SSD and one that is designed towards more flexible deployment, we have more flexible thresholds in mind. Equally, Samsung has been very clear on the reported performance of the 990 EVO in their marketing, stating maximum performance numbers of 5000MB/s Seq Read and 4200MB/s Seq Write, as well as Read and Write 4K Random IOPS numbers of 800,000 and 700,000 respectively. These are good, healthy numbers and if sustained, would make this drive very attractive to those streamlined deployments. So, to the testing.
For the sake of fairness, let’s compare the results of the Samsung 990 EVO in some of its tests against the other DRAMless Gen 4 SSD we mentioned earlier in the review, the late 2022 released WD Black SN770, as then we have a much fairer means to frame the performance results:
Samsung 990 EVO SSD
WD Black SN770 SSD
Although the numbers are comparable and there are gains/drops on either side, the winner is largely going to come down to your perspective of priorities. If traditional throughput of chunking MB/s and GB/s is your focus, the SN770 has the upper hand. But for IOPS, larger-scale databases of volume, and deployments made up of high-frequency data, the Samsung 990 EVO holds its ground the firmest. Let’s conclude this review.
Samsung 990 EVO Gen 5 SSD Review – Verdict
All this adds up to a drive that, in a very specific context of use in a powerful, yet curated/limited PCIe allocated system (with concerns of heat and power use), is ready to be a hero! Samsung is clearly banking on this being an established future trend, and you cannot really blame them. Alongside numerous examples of strategic PCIe allocation in modern consumer hardware throughout 2023 and planned for 2024, there are also still question marks about just what percentage of PCIe Gen 5 bandwidth can actually be saturated long term on modern PC architecture before the inevitable overfilling of cache and performance numbers plummeting. We have seen numerous examples using synthetic testing that has shown the first and second phase of Gen 5 releases reach anywhere from 20-60 seconds of sustained transfer before bottling down! This raises the idea of a drive that does have the ability to hit those highs, because it doesn’t need to, and instead can provide a sustained performance number that on balance works out better (not just in those more compact deployments too).
However, I think the first drive from Samsung into consumer Gen 5 SSDs being DRAMless is a little odd and would have been best served as a derivation/2nd wave of Gen 5 Samsung SSDs that allow choice – much like how WD released the WD Black SN850, then followed it up with the WD Black SN770 DRAMless Gen 4 alternative and the WD Black SN850X premium upgrade. Starting with the DRAMless 990 EVO and rolling out at the same time as their competitors are providing comparatively priced Gen 5×4 alternatives with higher transfers and IOPS ratings might be something of a marketing misstep. Only time will tell, and, as ever, storage trends are first and foremost going to follow client hardware trends (the PS5 exploded the Gen 4 generation in a way that PC Gaming hadn’t yet), and more affordable Power use SoC/Mobile Embedded versions of Intel/AMD chips led to massive uptake in Gen 4 higher cap drives. The Samsung 990 EVO is an SSD with acceptable performance, IOPS numbers, durability, and power use when it’s looked at in its own context/light, but draws weak comparisons with bigger and bolder drives in the market. Gamers and serious power users will want to look elsewhere, but if you are looking for an OS drive or base SSD for your next micro/compact system, you are going to find a reliable and long-term drive choice here.
PROs of the Samsung 990 EVO SSD
CONs of the Samsung 990 EVO SSD
Low Power Use
Low Heat Generation
Ideal for Small Deployment
Useful for Surgival/Careful PCIe Allocation
Superior Bandwidth Use in x2 Situations
Smasung Magician Still 10/10
Gen 5×4 SSDs Still Suffer Sustained Perf Issues
Ideally suited for OS/OEM Level Drives
Standard Durability, despite DRAMless design
Better DRAMless Gen5 Controllers out there (Phison E31T)
Lower traditional Performance/IOPS than most Gen 4/5 Comparable $ Drives
Feels like a Steamdeck drive…but not!
No 4TB Option
If you are thinking of buying storage, please use the links below as it results in us at NASCompares receiving an affiliate fee from Amazon:
Need More Help Choosing the Right Storage Solution?
Choosing the right data storage solution for your needs can be very intimidating and it’s never too late to ask for help. With options ranging from NAS to DAS, Thunderbolt to SAS and connecting everything up so you can access all your lovely data at the touch of a button can be a lot simpler than you think. If you want some tips, guidance or help with everything from compatibility to suitability of a solution for you, why not drop me a message below and I will get back to you as soon as possible with what you should go for, its suitability and the best place to get it. This service is designed without profit in mind and in order to help you with your data storage needs, so I will try to answer your questions as soon as possible.
This description contains links to Amazon. These links will take you to some of the products mentioned in today's content. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Visit the NASCompares Deal Finder to find the best place to buy this device in your region, based on Service, Support and Reputation - Just Search for your NAS Drive in the Box Below
Need Advice on Data Storage from an Expert?
Finally, for free advice about your setup, just leave a message in the comments below here at NASCompares.com and we will get back to you.Need Help?
Where possible (and where appropriate) please provide as much information about your requirements, as then I can arrange the best answer and solution to your needs. Do not worry about your e-mail address being required, it will NOT be used in a mailing list and will NOT be used in any way other than to respond to your enquiry.
[contact-form-7]
TRY CHAT Terms and Conditions
If you like this service, please consider supporting us.
We use affiliate links on the blog allowing NAScompares information and advice service to be free of charge to you.Anything you purchase on the day you click on our links will generate a small commission which isused to run the website. Here is a link for Amazon and B&H.You can also get me a Ko-fi or old school Paypal. Thanks!To find out more about how to support this advice service checkHEREIf you need to fix or configure a NAS, check FiverHave you thought about helping others with your knowledge? Find Instructions Here
Or support us by using our affiliate links on Amazon UK and Amazon US
Alternatively, why not ask me on the ASK NASCompares forum, by clicking the button below. This is a community hub that serves as a place that I can answer your question, chew the fat, share new release information and even get corrections posted. I will always get around to answering ALL queries, but as a one-man operation, I cannot promise speed! So by sharing your query in the ASK NASCompares section below, you can get a better range of solutions and suggestions, alongside my own.
Samsung Finally Releasing a Consumer Gen5 SSD – The 990 EVO M.2 NVMe SSD
With so many Gen 5 SSDs being revealed during CES 2024, it probably won’t come as a tremendous surprise that Samsung (a big [player in both the consumer and business SSD market) is on the verge of rolling out its very first consumer-focused PCIe Gen 5M.2 NVMe SSD – The Samsung 990 EVO.
As surprising as it might sound, although home/consumer Gen 5 SSDs have been rolling out for the better part of 2 years, Samsung held off rolling out their own till now. That isn’t to say that they have ignored this area of the market, though all attention from them towards Gen5 storage has been exclusively enterprise-focused (eg the PM1743 Flash), but many were surprised how long it was taking them to enter the growing Gen5 SSD marketplace. Rewind back to the Samsung 980 Pro Gen 4 launch in Nov 2020, wiping practically every other Gen4 drive off the map at that time in terms of performance, and you can see why users have been rather perplexed on Samsung’s reluctance this time around. However, better late than never, right? Thank you numerous leaks online spotted by ComputerBase.de, which ranged from the Samsung Magician tool leaking the 990 EVO product name, and to references on the PCISiG here.
Then there was an appearance (albeit briefly) of the official product being listed on official UA Samsung pages, although now largely just resulting in a blank search result (see below). Finally, it appeared on Amazon Germany, at €115 and €190 for the 1TB and 2TB models respectively (both now taken offline) which listed delivery as the 25th of Jan and 24th of February – so clearly we are looking at drives that are pretty much imminent for official launch!
So, now we know the Samsung 990 EVO exists – should you care? With so, so many Gen5 SSDs being released or revealed in Q1 2024, have Samsung left this a little too late? Let’s discuss the specifications we know about.
The Samsung 990 EVO SSD Hardware Specifications
I think it would be an understatement to say that Samsung have “gone their own way” when it comes to the Samsung 990 EVO SSD. As mentioned earlier, they have certainly approached it differently to the Gen4 generation of SSDs where they took a early massive lead across the whole market with the (still popular) Samsung 980 PRO.The hardware specifications of the Samsung 990 EVO are…unusual, in a conventional sense. Samsung has clearly decided that the Samsung 990 EVO is a drive targeting the bridging between Gen4 and Gen5 users, as well as low power use and economical SSD buyers. In short, this drive is not designed with performance in mind – which is going to sound rather unusual, given that is the focus of 99% of the rest of Gen5 SSDs launched in the last 18 months. The Samsung 990 EVO is a Dramless (i.e no onboard memory/DRAM) that can be used on a Gen 4 connection to 4×4 bandwidth or a Gen5 connection at 5×2. The result is that this more economical and efficiency-focused drive peaks at 5,200MB/s (5.2GB/s) Sequential Read and 4,200MB/s (4.2GB/s) Sequential Write. This rather pales in comparison to the Gen 4×4 Samsung 990 PRO at 7,450MB/s and 6,900MB/s Seq Read/Write respectively. This lower peak performance also extends to the 4K Random IOPS at 700K/800K Read//Write respectively on the 990 EVO vs the 1.5Million and 1.6Million 4K R/W IOPS of the 990 PRO. Alot of these shortfalls can be attributed to the lack of onboard memory (with the drive relying on using a portion of host client memory, aka HMB) and the PCIe Gen 5×2 architecture – but the drive hitting these numbers in a 4×4 environment is a little disappointing (even when you consider the efficiency focus that this drive has been built under). Here are the specs:
The following specifications are based on the above-leaked information from ComputerBase, cached pages that are now offline and using specifications of similar OEM PM9C1a SSD that shares many similarities with the Samsung 990 EVO SSD:
Model
Samsung SSD 990 EVO
Interface
PCIe 4.0 x4 / 5.0 x2 NVMe 2.0
Capacity
1TB, 2TB (Possible 4TB)
Controller
Samsung in-house Controller
NAND Flash Memory
Samsung V-NAND TLC (176-layer TLC V-NAND V7 ? TBC
Memory
HMB (Host Memory Buffer)
Form Factor
M.2 (2280)
Sequential Read
Up to 5,000MB/s
Sequential Write
Up to 4,200MB/s
4K IOPS Random Read
680KIOPS (1TB), 700KIOPS (2TB) (TBC)
4K IOPS Random Write
800KIOPS (TBC)
MTBF
1.5 million hours
Warranty
5 years limited, TBW: 600TB (1TB), 1,200TB (2TB) (TBC)
Supporting Features
TRIM, Garbage Collection, S.M.A.R.T
Data Security
AES 256-bit Full Disk Encryption, TCG/Opal V2.0, Encrypted Drive (IEEE1667)
The Samsung 990 EVO is PCIe Gen 5×2 – Wait, What?
So, let’s drill into that 5×2 / 4×4 architecture a little and look at the positives. On the face of it, technically ALL Gen5 SSDs can work at 4×4 if placed in a 4×4 M.2 slot – that is the nature of PCIe backwards compatibility. However, if you place a Gen4 drive in a Gen5 m.2 slot, you will be downgraded to Gen4 speeds (no different than a USB 2.0 device in a USB 3.2 connector). The Samsung 990 EVO allows this 4×4 drive to enjoy 5×2 speeds in devices with carefully curated PCIe lane layouts or PCIe cards that have to be very selective about the allocation (i.e RAID cards of combo storage/network cards). Additionally, in devices such as ultra-thin laptops and compact mini PCs, heat is a real concern and 5×4 architecture will noticeably reduce power consumption and lessen the need for comprehensive heat dissipation.
However, we also have to look at this objectively and as a new buyer considering a Gen 5 SSD in 2024, and in that context the Samsugn 990 EVO is a rather odd proposition. First, there is the fact that this drive seemingly under performs compared with the majority of Gen 4 SSDs released in the last 4 years (many of which carry at minimum 5,500MB/s Seq Read performance and most now surpassing 7,000MB/s). Even if you make a direct comparison with a DRAMless Gen4 SSD that relies on Host Memory Buffer released back in 2022, such as the WD Black SN700 (currently at $75 for 1TB and $119 for 2TB), that drive still hits 5,150MB/s and 4,850MB/s Seq R/W and 650/800K IOPS – which is VERY close to what the 2024 releasing Samsung 990 EVO is proposing here. It’s an odd choice to make their first consumer(ish?) focused M.2 SSD for the Gen5 tier a Gen 5×2 drive and DRAMless, as these are the sort of specifications I expect in a more specialized/OEM drive that likely goes directly in a laptop at production or in bulk in a more PCI curated RAID card. Gen 5×2 is by no means a common m.2 bandwidth allocation and although many system allow customization at BIOS/Chipset for efficiency, most Gen5 buyers are looking at this generation with performance as the driving motivator. We are still awaiting confirmation on details such as durability (DWPD/TBW), but one imagines that with such a focus on efficiency and power consumption savings, that durability on this drive will be welcomingly high! Lets drill down a little into the choice to go ‘RAM free’ on the Samsung 990 EVO Gen5 SSD.
The Samsung 990 EVO is DRAMless – Why?
Much like the choice by Samsung to opt for the Gen 5×2 architecture, there are pros and cons to this kind fo drive that are going to result in it being a much more specialized drive than many would like. DRAMless SSDs, like the Samsung 990 EVO, represent a significant evolution in solid-state drive technology. The primary advantage of DRAMless SSDs is their cost-effectiveness. By eliminating the DRAM cache, these SSDs reduce manufacturing costs, making them more affordable for consumers. This is particularly beneficial for those who require high-capacity storage but are constrained by budget. Additionally, DRAMless SSDs tend to consume less power, as they don’t have to power a separate DRAM module. This lower power consumption makes them an ideal choice for use in laptops and mobile devices, where battery life is a crucial factor. The Samsung 990 EVO leverages Host Memory Buffer (HMB) technology, which uses a portion of the system’s RAM instead of having its own dedicated DRAM. This approach can maintain a balance between performance and cost, offering decent speeds that are suitable for everyday use and mainstream applications.
However, the absence of a dedicated DRAM cache in DRAMless SSDs can also lead to certain drawbacks. The most significant of these is the potential reduction in performance, especially in write-intensive scenarios or when handling large files. DRAM in traditional SSDs acts as a high-speed buffer for the mapping table, which keeps track of where data is stored on the drive. Without this, the SSD has to rely on slower NAND or the system’s RAM (as in HMB technology) for these operations, which can result in slower write speeds and increased latency. For the Samsung 990 EVO, this might not be a significant issue for average users, but for professionals and enthusiasts who require high-performance storage for tasks like video editing, gaming, or heavy data processing, the difference could be noticeable. Additionally, depending on the implementation, relying on the system’s RAM (as in HMB) can affect the overall system performance, especially in RAM-constrained systems.
Samsung 990 EVO Release Date and Price
There is no avoiding that the Samsung 990 EVO SDD is not a drive that is going to please everyone. There is an ongoing discussion right now on whether client hardware (laptops, servers, PCs, etc) can actually fully take advantage of the performance of Gen 5 SSDs in a sustained fashion. Affording PCIe Gen5 lanes to the SSDs is only half the battle, as the drive still needs to be able to provide the throughput and response times from the onboard NAND flash to the host system. Gen5 SSDs have been promising 12-14GB/s speeds now for around 6-8 months, but how long they can sustain that speed before oversaturation and/or heat-related throttling is up for debate. The Samsung 990 EVO is clearly a drive with a different focus and one that, in the right circumstances, makes a lot of sense. However, as a first-release by the brand in the commercial sector for Gen5, it’s an odd choice and I sincerely hope it is one that is speedily followed up (and/or dual-released alongside) a more confident Prosumer version (Samsung 1000 PRO? Samsung 990 Pro Plus?), as this si quite a niche sounding drive. Expect it to formally launch later in Jan 2024 and pricingat $119 and $199 for the 1TB and 2TB models respectively.
This description contains links to Amazon. These links will take you to some of the products mentioned in today's content. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Visit the NASCompares Deal Finder to find the best place to buy this device in your region, based on Service, Support and Reputation - Just Search for your NAS Drive in the Box Below
Need Advice on Data Storage from an Expert?
Finally, for free advice about your setup, just leave a message in the comments below here at NASCompares.com and we will get back to you.Need Help?
Where possible (and where appropriate) please provide as much information about your requirements, as then I can arrange the best answer and solution to your needs. Do not worry about your e-mail address being required, it will NOT be used in a mailing list and will NOT be used in any way other than to respond to your enquiry.
[contact-form-7]
TRY CHAT Terms and Conditions
If you like this service, please consider supporting us.
We use affiliate links on the blog allowing NAScompares information and advice service to be free of charge to you.Anything you purchase on the day you click on our links will generate a small commission which isused to run the website. Here is a link for Amazon and B&H.You can also get me a Ko-fi or old school Paypal. Thanks!To find out more about how to support this advice service checkHEREIf you need to fix or configure a NAS, check FiverHave you thought about helping others with your knowledge? Find Instructions Here
Or support us by using our affiliate links on Amazon UK and Amazon US
Alternatively, why not ask me on the ASK NASCompares forum, by clicking the button below. This is a community hub that serves as a place that I can answer your question, chew the fat, share new release information and even get corrections posted. I will always get around to answering ALL queries, but as a one-man operation, I cannot promise speed! So by sharing your query in the ASK NASCompares section below, you can get a better range of solutions and suggestions, alongside my own.
Connexion
