Reviewing the Beelink ME Mini NAS – Flashy Brilliance

The Beelink ME Mini NAS is a compact, six-slot network-attached storage solution aimed squarely at home users seeking a quiet, efficient, and flexible storage platform without the cost or complexity of traditional full-size NAS systems. Measuring just 99mm in each dimension and built with a minimalist cube design, the unit is designed to blend into home environments such as living rooms, bedrooms, or home offices. At its core is the Intel Twin Lake N150 processor, a 4-core, 4-thread CPU with a 6W TDP and a burst clock of up to 3.6GHz, paired with 12GB of soldered LPDDR5 4800MHz memory. This combination targets scenarios such as home media streaming, light file serving, or soft routing, rather than heavy enterprise workloads.

The ME Mini supports six M.2 2280 SSD slots, delivering a maximum theoretical storage capacity of 24TB. This includes one Gen 3 x2 slot (designed for the OS) and five Gen 3 x1 slots for storage expansion.

These SSD slots are actively cooled via an integrated heatsink and top-mounted silent fan, with thermal pads pre-attached for single-sided SSDs. Network connectivity includes dual Intel i226-V 2.5GbE ports and Wi-Fi 6 via an M.2 AX101 module, offering options for wired link aggregation or wireless deployment. Designed to support operating systems such as Unraid, OpenMediaVault, and TrueNAS, the ME Mini provides sufficient hardware for media servers like Plex or Jellyfin, personal backup, or even entry-level virtualization tasks. With a built-in power supply and no reliance on bulky external adapters, the device prioritizes simplicity and space efficiency.

Beelink ME Mini NAS Review – Quick Conclusion

The Beelink ME Mini NAS stands out as a compact, energy-efficient, and well-balanced storage solution tailored for home users seeking quiet and capable performance without the complexity of larger NAS systems. With support for six M.2 NVMe SSDs—one at Gen 3 x2 and five at Gen 3 x1—it offers up to 24TB of storage in a 99mm cube form factor, complete with an internal power supply and silent fan-assisted cooling. Its Intel Twin Lake N150 CPU and 12GB of LPDDR5 memory provide enough processing headroom for tasks like 4K media streaming, personal backups, and soft routing, while dual 2.5GbE LAN ports and Wi-Fi 6 expand its deployment options. Though the fixed memory and limited PCIe bandwidth on most slots constrain scalability, the thermal efficiency, low power draw (as low as 6.9W idle), and reliable Crucial SSD options make it a compelling value proposition. It’s not aimed at high-performance or prosumer use, but for users building a quiet, tidy, and effective DIY NAS at home, the ME Mini delivers far more than its size suggests.

BUILD QUALITY - 9/10

HARDWARE - 8/10

PERFORMANCE - 8/10

PRICE - 9/10

VALUE - 10/10

8.8

PROS

Compact cube design (99x99x99mm) ideal for discreet home deployment
Supports up to 6x M.2 NVMe SSDs with total capacity up to 24TB
Integrated PSU eliminates bulky external power adapters
Dual 2.5GbE LAN ports with link aggregation support
Wi-Fi 6 and UnRAID7 Support means not limited to 2x2.5G
Low power consumption (as low as 6.9W idle, ~30W peak with full load)
Silent fan and effective internal thermal management via large heatsink
Includes Crucial-branded SSDs in pre-configured options for reliability

CONS

Five of the six SSD slots are limited to PCIe Gen 3 x1 bandwidth
Memory is soldered and non-upgradable
Not 10GbE Upgradable (maybe m.2 adapter - messy)
Bottom panel retains heat due to lack of active ventilation

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Beelink ME Mini NAS – Design and Storage

Visually, the Beelink ME Mini sets itself apart from other mini NAS systems with its symmetrical cube-shaped design, measuring 99x99x99mm. Available in three color variants—Pearl White, Midnight Grey, and Peacock Blue—the device adopts a subtle, neutral aesthetic intended to fit into typical home environments without drawing unnecessary attention. The enclosure features rubber feet for vertical stability and ventilation grilles located at both the top and bottom, supporting a passive vertical airflow design that assists with heat dissipation.

Despite its small footprint, the chassis houses an integrated power supply unit (PSU), which eliminates the need for bulky external power bricks and simplifies cable management—an uncommon but notable design feature in NAS devices of this size.

Storage capacity is a central feature of the ME Mini, with support for up to six M.2 SSDs in 2280 format, totaling a maximum of 24TB. These slots are all positioned internally in a dual-sided configuration—three on each internal face—and interface via PCIe Gen 3. Five of the slots operate at Gen 3 x1 bandwidth, while one (typically slot 4) operates at Gen 3 x2, recommended for installing the OS. The use of M.2 NVMe SSDs enables dense storage with minimal thermal output compared to 3.5” drives, which aligns with the ME Mini’s aim of delivering high-capacity, low-noise storage for homes. There is also a 64GB eMMC module included by default, recommended for lightweight OS installations or router-based platforms.

Internally, the layout is deliberately engineered to optimize thermal contact between the SSDs and the large aluminum heatsink at the center of the chassis. Each M.2 SSD slot is lined with a pre-applied thermal pad to ensure direct contact with the heatsink, enhancing passive cooling performance. This configuration is most effective with single-sided SSDs, though there is still clearance for some double-sided modules.

The passive heat management is further augmented by a silent fan located at the top, which provides active airflow without introducing noticeable noise—recorded at just 31–34 dBA during idle operation and up to 40 dBA under heavy load.

The ME Mini’s storage design is not intended for hot-swapping or tool-less drive changes, a reflection of its focus on home and small office environments where drives are installed once and left in place. While this may limit flexibility for enterprise workflows, it benefits reliability and aesthetics, especially considering the internal PSU, which would otherwise be challenged by fluctuating thermal loads from frequent disk changes.

The result is a closed, compact system that maximizes storage density while maintaining a fanless aesthetic from the exterior.

For users opting for pre-configured models, Beelink offers bundles that include Crucial P3 SSDs—either one 2TB unit or two 2TB units—depending on the chosen configuration. This co-branding with Crucial ensures a known level of SSD endurance and performance, contrasting favorably with many competing budget NAS options which often use generic or unverified storage media. The factory pairing also ensures that one of the SSDs is installed in the Gen 3 x2 slot, delivering better system responsiveness and transfer speeds for OS-hosted operations such as Plex metadata handling, RAID cache, or VM images.

Beelink ME Mini NAS – Internal Hardware

The internal hardware of the Beelink ME Mini centers around the Intel Twin Lake N150 processor, a 4-core, 4-thread chip based on Intel’s 10nm architecture. With a base TDP of 6W and burst frequency of up to 3.6GHz, it is positioned as a power-efficient solution for NAS tasks that include multimedia playback, basic file sharing, and light application hosting.

While it does not support hardware transcoding at the same level as higher-tier Intel core chips with Quick Sync, the N150 performs adequately for 4K playback in Plex and other media servers when transcoding is avoided. In real-world use, the CPU averaged 60–75% utilization during simultaneous dual 2.5GbE access and SSD activity, indicating a solid baseline for single-user or family scenarios.

Complementing the CPU is 12GB of LPDDR5 memory, soldered directly to the board and clocked at 4800MHz. While the memory is non-upgradable, the capacity is sufficient for running lightweight NAS OS environments, containers, or even some virtual machines.

Unlike most mini PCs that cap out at 8GB in similar thermal envelopes, Beelink’s decision to include 12GB offers a practical boost for users running multiple services, such as a media server alongside a VPN container or light file indexing applications. The absence of SO-DIMM slots means this cannot be expanded further, which may deter power users seeking a more scalable system, but the default capacity fits the ME Mini’s home-use intentions well.

The overall thermal design pairs the CPU and SSDs with a centrally-mounted metal heatsink that acts as both a structural element and a cooling component. The silent fan located above the heatsink assists with vertical airflow, helping to maintain internal component temperatures during prolonged operation. During extended thermal tests—such as 24-hour idle and active file transfer sessions—surface temperatures peaked between 48°C and 60°C, particularly at the base where the PSU and networking ports reside.

While the design keeps the main components within reasonable thermal ranges, there is a potential thermal buildup at the bottom under sustained load, suggesting an optional future design revision could include a base fan.

Beelink ME Mini NAS – Ports and Connections

Despite its compact dimensions, the Beelink ME Mini includes a wide array of ports suited for both networking and peripheral connectivity. On the networking side, the unit features two 2.5GbE LAN ports (Intel i226-V), located at the rear, which support link aggregation or failover configurations. These enable transfer rates well above standard gigabit networking, although in practice, real-world throughput tends to be limited by SSD performance or PCIe lane constraints. During bandwidth testing, combined throughput between the LAN ports peaked around 580–600MB/s easily.

As much as many of us would want 10GbE – at this scale of CPU/Lanes, Price and just HEAT – I can understand why its absent here. That said, I do want to mention that the system includes onboard Wi-Fi 6 (via Intel AX101 module) and Bluetooth 5.2, expanding its use cases to wireless media streaming, mobile backups, and wireless NAS deployment without consuming physical LAN ports. More importantly though, UnRAID recently announced that in their latest update, you can now use wireless adapters (see below) – which, alongside UnRAID’s lightweight ‘on RAM’ deployment, makes it bloody IDEAL for using on the Beelink ME Mini

In terms of USB connectivity, the ME Mini provides a balanced selection across both older and high-speed standards. The rear I/O panel houses a USB 2.0 port (480 Mbps), while the front features one USB 3.2 Gen 2 port (10Gbps) and a USB Type-C port (also 10Gbps). This offers sufficient bandwidth for attaching external storage, keyboard/mouse input for system setup, or USB-based backup devices. While a higher count of USB 3.0+ ports might have benefitted users with multiple external drives, the available ports are positioned logically and suit the intended home-focused workflows.

Display output is provided via a single HDMI port located on the rear, which supports resolutions up to 4K at 60Hz. Although display output isn’t central to most NAS workflows, this port enables users to connect the system to a monitor or TV for initial OS installation, dashboard display, or media playback when used with platforms like LibreELEC or Kodi.

However, as noted during hands-on testing, functionality via HDMI may vary depending on the operating system installed—some headless NAS platforms may not fully support graphical output. Nevertheless, for users experimenting with hybrid HTPC/NAS setups or running Linux-based OS variants with a GUI, the HDMI port remains a useful inclusion.

Beelink ME Mini NAS – Performance and Power/Heat/Noise Testing

In testing, the Beelink ME Mini demonstrated respectable throughput for a system of its class, especially when factoring in its compact size, low power draw, and passively biased thermal design. Using Unraid and TrueNAS Core for performance benchmarking, sequential read and write speeds from the five PCIe Gen 3 x1 slots averaged around 740MB/s read and 544MB/s write under repeated 1GB test files. These numbers are typical for Gen 3 x1 lanes and reflect near-maximum lane saturation, suggesting minimal internal throttling under standard conditions. The Gen 3 x2 slot, intended for the operating system, provided higher performance—averaging 1.1GB/s read and approximately 960MB/s write when paired with the bundled Crucial P3 SSD.

Transfer speeds between SSDs installed in Gen 3 x1 and Gen 3 x2 slots were tested in both directions and maintained averages of around 590–600MB/s. These figures reflect the limitations of internal bandwidth allocation rather than SSD performance. Even so, for most home NAS scenarios such as 4K media playback, multi-user access to stored documents, or photo libraries, the bandwidth is more than sufficient. It’s worth noting that SSD cooling remained effective during prolonged access, with only modest thermal variation even under full-speed transfers across all six drives.

Thermal behavior during sustained load was closely monitored using a HIKMICRO thermal imaging camera. With all six SSDs installed and periodic access maintained over a 24-hour period, temperatures peaked at 48–51°C at the top panel and 58–60°C at the base, where most of the PSU and networking activity is concentrated. Running the same tests with the case removed saw temperatures settle slightly lower—around 49–51°C across the board—confirming the effectiveness of the internal heatsink and fan assembly. However, the bottom of the unit exhibited more thermal accumulation due to the lack of active ventilation underneath, pointing to an area for potential design refinement.

In terms of power consumption and noise, the ME Mini is especially frugal. With no SSDs installed, the device idled at 6.0–6.9W. When populated with six SSDs and left idle, it drew approximately 16.9W. During peak activity—dual LAN ports active, CPU load above 70%, and all drives in use—power draw peaked between 28W and 31W. These are competitive numbers even among ARM-based NAS devices, and particularly impressive for an x86-based solution with full M.2 NVMe storage.

Acoustic output was also controlled, with idle operation measured at 31–34 dBA and full load peaking at just under 40 dBA—quiet enough for placement in shared living spaces without distraction.

While performance is clearly limited by the Gen 3 x1 interface speeds on most slots, the device’s thermal and power efficiency arguably matter more for its intended audience. This NAS isn’t designed for high-throughput, multi-client virtualization tasks or heavy 10GbE video editing pipelines. Instead, it excels in delivering balanced, stable, and low-noise performance across general-purpose NAS workloads. For users building a Plex server, family backup archive, soft router, or even an experimental home lab appliance, the ME Mini offers just enough headroom to handle real-world demands without overwhelming complexity or cost.

Beelink ME Mini – Performance and Environmental Metrics (Over 3 Days)

Beelink ME Mini NAS Review – Verdict and Conclusion

The Beelink ME Mini NAS delivers an uncommon blend of size, functionality, and efficiency in a market segment often dominated by larger, louder, and less integrated alternatives. It is not designed to compete with traditional enterprise-grade NAS devices or modular, scalable solutions for prosumers. Instead, its strengths lie in targeting the needs of home users who want a quiet, energy-efficient storage solution that is easy to deploy, aesthetically unobtrusive, and capable of handling daily tasks such as media streaming, file backup, or soft routing. The inclusion of six M.2 NVMe SSD slots—paired with a Gen 3 x2 system slot—offers a rare level of expansion in such a small enclosure. The integration of an internal PSU, silent fan-assisted cooling, and a surprisingly effective thermal design are thoughtful touches that differentiate it from the majority of DIY NAS mini PCs.

That said, it is not without limitations. The memory is non-upgradable, thermal accumulation at the base suggests room for improvement, and bandwidth ceilings imposed by Gen 3 x1 lanes will constrain users who demand high parallel throughput. Still, for its price point—particularly when pre-order discounts are applied—the ME Mini offers significant value, especially when compared to ARM-based NAS solutions with similar or lower specifications. With bundled Crucial SSD options and support for a wide range of NAS operating systems, it positions itself as a ready-to-go platform for tech-savvy users wanting to avoid the assembly of a fully DIY system. Overall, while not a product for every use case, the Beelink ME Mini succeeds in its aim to be a compact, stylish, and capable home NAS.

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Visiting Minisforum’s China Office – What Did I See and Are Minisforum Legit?

As part of an extended trip to Shenzhen to explore the operations of Chinese hardware manufacturers, I had the opportunity to tour the headquarters and production facilities of Minisforum.

Known primarily for their compact desktop PCs, Minisforum has grown into a recognizable name in the mini PC sector, especially among users seeking unique form factors and high-spec internals.

My visit was independently arranged—not funded or sponsored by Minisforum—and I was given broad access to their facilities, with the only restriction being a small section of their R&D operation involving future product development. This level of transparency allowed for a thorough, hands-on look at their operations, from production lines to internal workflows.

The visit came about through direct outreach. After arriving in China, I contacted several companies I regularly report on and review. Minisforum was among the few who responded affirmatively, agreeing to host a tour with very little advance notice. On the morning of the visit, I was picked up by three Minisforum team members, including their livestream and media lead, who also served as my translator for the day.

The visit took place across several floors of their Shenzhen headquarters, located in a commercial building they moved into in 2021, having launched the brand in 2018. They estimated they had around 300 staff globally, and based on what I saw, 150 to 170 people were active onsite, spread across administration, production, and support.

The headquarters occupied a full floor of the building, and it was apparent that expansion had been part of their strategy when they relocated in 2021. Though some office spaces were unoccupied, most of the floors were operational, with logistics and packaging activities ongoing. I observed pallets and packaging materials prepared for distribution, and a fair amount of sitting stock awaiting shipping. The layout was structured but busy, and of all the factory and office environments I toured during my trip, this one was arguably the cleanest and most organized. That said, I fully acknowledge that all facilities likely prepared for my visit to some extent.

The core office space was divided into five main sections: regional (domestic) sales, international sales (including platforms like Amazon), marketing and communications, product development, and web/app support. One notable area was their in-house video production studio used for livestreams and YouTube content.

It was professionally equipped and a far cry from many DIY setups I’ve seen elsewhere. The R&D section, while smaller in headcount, was well-defined, with product managers assigned to own specific hardware designs. Their approach appeared to give individual developers significant autonomy, from concept to execution.

Minisforum’s production line blended automation with human-led processes. Compared to other factories I toured in Shenzhen, theirs leaned more heavily toward manual labor, with an approximate 70/30 split in favor of human involvement. Tasks such as component placement, assembly, and basic testing were handled by line workers, while machines were used for stress tests and basic automation.

Staff wore ESD-safe gear like anti-static wrist straps, and their stations showed signs of regular use, such as floor wear and desktop clutter. There was no visible use of airlock or dust-control chambers, unlike in some other facilities, which may reflect a different internal standard or assessment of risk.

Minisforum included several test-specific environments within their production pipeline, which were not present in other factories I visited.

These included an aging room, where products were stress-tested under load over extended periods; a mute room, used to measure noise output under different system conditions.

Aand a shock testing room, used to simulate shipping and logistical handling stress.

These rooms provided an additional layer of quality control and indicated a focus on post-assembly validation. It is unclear how many units are tested this way—it may be based on statistical sampling—but the presence of these facilities in-house suggests a desire to validate performance prior to distribution.

The R&D tour provided insight into how Minisforum develops their hardware. While I could not film certain prototype designs, I was shown internal presentations, CAD models, and development slides covering current and future projects. Minisforum stated that all design IP is developed in-house and not resold or licensed out.

This was consistent with what I saw: unique PCB layouts, chassis concepts, and airflow strategies not commonly replicated by other brands. According to staff, each product is led by a dedicated product manager responsible for feature planning, design iterations, and incorporating customer feedback from forums and surveys. While I will cover this in more depth in a dedicated piece, one highlight was a preview of their upcoming NAS product line. Minisforum’s modular approach includes optional upgrades like M.2 to NVMe expansion cards and vertical mounting kits designed for optimal cooling. The design team emphasized airflow challenges when scaling NVMe bays and showed plans for vertical chassis configurations to help with thermal dissipation. Their willingness to walk through product iterations, including some early failures, was appreciated. I was also shown how they collect and incorporate customer usage data into next-generation revisions—a refreshing level of engagement with the post-sales cycle.

Throughout the tour, there were signs of an internal culture focused on autonomy and personalization. Employee desks in the sales and marketing areas included personal decorations, small toys, and hobby-related items—a contrast to the uniform, sterile environments in some tech companies. Staff I interacted with expressed general satisfaction, though naturally, any factory visit is likely to showcase a best-case scenario. That said, the absence of NDAs or filming restrictions during the majority of the tour does suggest a level of confidence in how operations are run. Meetings were conducted openly, and even during informal interviews with staff, the tone remained consistent: proud but not overly rehearsed.

Minisforum presented a distinctly integrated model of hardware development. Based on what I observed, they appear to retain full ownership of their hardware IP, from motherboard schematics to chassis design. Their hardware does not seem to be rebranded or redistributed through external labels, which distinguishes them from companies that act more as OEM aggregators or rely on ODMs. While their mini PCs are priced slightly higher than some competitors, that premium may reflect the additional effort in R&D, custom design, and modular flexibility.

Furthermore, Minisforum seems to focus on a smaller product catalog with longer development cycles, suggesting a strategy that prioritizes refinement over market saturation. In contrast to other manufacturers that may sell their designs through multiple storefronts or aliases (such as Beelink or Geekom), Minisforum appears to retain control over both design and distribution, offering a more vertically integrated approach. While no factory visit can fully capture day-to-day operations, this visit offered a grounded, independent view into how one of the more visible Chinese mini PC brands functions behind the scenes.

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Depuis plusieurs mois, le marché des NAS connaît un regain d’effervescence. Longtemps dominé par une poignée d’acteurs, ce segment attire désormais des entreprises issues de secteurs connexes, bien décidées à se faire une place. Qu’est-ce qui motive cet intérêt soudain ? Quels enjeux pour les acteurs établis comme Synology ou QNAP ? Décryptage…

Un nouvel appétit pour un marché de niche

Ce que l’on observe actuellement n’est pas l’émergence de start-up, mais plutôt l’arrivée de groupes déjà bien installés sur d’autres segments technologiques. Citons notamment UGREEN, réputé pour ses accessoires, ou encore des spécialistes du Mini-PC comme Minisforum, Beelink, ORICO ou Aoostar. Tous ont récemment investi le marché des NAS avec une stratégie affirmée : concurrencer les leaders traditionnels en s’appuyant sur leurs capacités industrielles existantes.

Un marché restreint, mais en croissance

Le NAS reste un produit de niche, à destination d’un public averti, professionnel ou technophile. Toutefois, il continue d’afficher une croissance régulière (souvent à 2 chiffres). Dans un contexte de diversification nécessaire pour les industriels chinois, ce segment représente un relais de croissance crédible, d’autant plus attractif qu’il ne requiert pas de rupture technologique majeure.

Un contexte favorable à l’entrée de nouveaux acteurs

Historiquement, la conception de NAS impliquait des investissements significatifs (matériel et logiciel). Aujourd’hui, la donne a changé. Des systèmes comme OpenMediaVault, TrueNAS, Unraid ou encore ZimaOS permettent aux utilisateurs de déployer eux-mêmes une infrastructure de stockage avancée, sans expertise pointue.

Par ailleurs, l’essor de Docker facilite la gestion et l’installation d’applications sur les NAS, réduisant encore la nécessité pour les fabricants de développer des interfaces logicielles propriétaires. Une économie de ressources considérable pour les nouveaux entrants.

Résultat : les barrières à l’entrée se sont considérablement abaissées, rendant ce marché bien plus accessible qu’il ne l’était il y a encore quelques années.

Des positions historiques sous pression

Les marques traditionnelles comme Synology, QNAP et Asustor ont longtemps prospéré grâce à la robustesse de leur matériel, à leur écosystème logiciel intégré et à un service après-vente éprouvé. Mais l’arrivée d’acteurs disposant de capacités industrielles comparables (voire supérieures) rebat les cartes.

Une bataille tarifaire en perspective

L’écart de prix entre les 2 marques est notable : les NAS  UGREEN sont proposés à des tarifs sensiblement inférieurs à ceux de Synology, pour un nombre de baies équivalent et des composants souvent plus récents. Un positionnement agressif qui n’implique pas nécessairement de compromis sur les performances, lesquelles se révèlent parfois supérieures.

Des consommateurs mieux informés

Autre évolution majeure : les utilisateurs, qu’ils soient professionnels ou particuliers, sont aujourd’hui plus avertis. Ils scrutent les composants, exigent une évolutivité tangible et comparent systématiquement les rapports qualité/prix. Les nouveaux venus pourraient tirer parti de cette exigence accrue, à condition de répondre aux standards attendus.

Vers une transformation du marché ?

Si le cycle de renouvellement des NAS reste relativement lent, les précédents ne manquent pas pour illustrer la rapidité avec laquelle un marché peut se transformer. L’exemple des robots aspirateurs est éclairant : iRobot (Roomba), autrefois leader incontesté, a été rapidement dépassé par des challengers asiatiques comme Roborock, Dreame ou Mova. Le NAS pourrait-il suivre une trajectoire similaire ?

La question reste ouverte. Mais elle mérite d’être posée, tant les conditions semblent réunies pour une recomposition accélérée du secteur.

En synthèse

Le marché du NAS est à l’aube d’une profonde recomposition. Sous l’effet combiné d’une pression concurrentielle accrue, de l’évolution des attentes utilisateurs et de la baisse des barrières technologiques, les lignes sont en train de bouger. Si les leaders historiques disposent encore de solides atouts, ils ne peuvent ignorer la montée en puissance de nouveaux acteurs agiles, bien décidés à redistribuer les cartes.

Réputé pour ses Mini-PC fiables et performants, Beelink élargit son champ d’action avec une toute nouvelle gamme de solutions de stockage réseau : la série ME. L’entreprise chinoise fait son entrée sur le marché des NAS, avec une ambition claire : proposer une alternative compacte, silencieuse et performante aux solutions traditionnelles. Le premier modèle, baptisé Beelink ME mini, sera disponible très prochainement…

Beelink ME mini

Le Beelink ME mini est un boitier avec des dimensions réduites (99 × 99,2 × 98,3 mm) et un poids plume de 730 g. Malgré sa petite taille, il offre une capacité de stockage importante (jusqu’à 24 To) grâce à ses 6 emplacements M.2 SSD NVMe. Le NAS sera décliné en trois coloris sobres et élégants : blanc perle, bleu paon et gris nuit.

À noter qu’une version pré-configurée avec des SSD Crucial sera également proposée.

Architecture

Le Beelink ME mini  est construit autour d’un processeur Quad Core Intel N200 capable d’atteindre 3,70 GHz, épaulé par 12 Go de RAM en DDR5. Une configuration suffisamment musclée pour répondre aux usages typiques d’un NAS moderne, mais aussi pour d’autres fonctions plus complexes, comme le transcodage, exécuter des machines virtuelles, etc.

Connectique

Du côté de la connectique, nous avons :

• 2 ports USB 3.0 Type-A dont 1 à l’avant ;
• 1 port USB 3.0 Type-C à l’avant ;
• 2 ports Ethernet 2,5 Gbps ;
• 1 sortie HDMI ;
• Wi-Fi 6 et Bluetooth 5.2.

Mini PC ou NAS, pourquoi choisir ?

Cloud personnel

Faire du matériel c’est une chose, mais offrir un système complet, performant et ergonomique… c’est plus compliqué. Beelink fait le choix de proposer Windows par défaut sur ses machines. Le fabricant indique « Le système d’exploitation Windows comprend un service de stockage NAS intégré, qui prend en charge la connexion directe entre les téléphones mobiles et les PC au sein du réseau local, facilitant ainsi l’échange et la sauvegarde des données entre les téléphones mobiles et les PC. Polyvalent dans ses fonctionnalités, le ME mini peut être à la fois un mini PC et votre espace de stockage en nuage personnel ».

Enfin, Beelink prévoit également 2 modèles supplémentaires : ME Pro et ME MAX pour des besoins plus avancés.

En synthèse

L’arrivée de Beelink sur le marché du NAS est une bonne nouvelle. Le secteur, dominé par quelques acteurs historiques, avait bien besoin d’un vent de fraîcheur. Si la promesse matérielle est au rendez-vous, reste à voir si l’expérience logicielle sera à la hauteur. Affaire à suivre…

Le Beelink ME mini est déjà disponible en Chine en très faible quantité. Il devrait arriver prochainement sur le marché européen, on espère pour un prix autour des 400€ l’unité.

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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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Un échange entre Elon Musk et Radosław Sikorski, ministre polonais des Affaires étrangères, a reposé la question de la dépendance de l'Ukraine au réseau Internet satellitaire Starlink. Sur fond de crainte d'une interruption de service, démentie par Elon Musk, l'Europe travaille sur ses alternatives.

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Samsung Unveils 9100 PRO PCIe 5.0 SSD with Up to 14,800 MB/s Speeds and 8TB Capacity

IMPORTANT – The Samsung 9100 Pro SSD is Now LIVE and my Review can be found HERE on YouTube or HERE on the Blog.

(Original Article Below)

Samsung has officially launched its 9100 PRO Series, marking its first full-fledged PCIe 5.0 NVMe SSD and its most powerful consumer storage solution to date. Designed to meet the growing demands of AI workloads, high-performance computing, 8K video editing, and gaming, this SSD delivers sequential read speeds of up to 14,800 MB/s, making it nearly twice as fast as its predecessor, the 990 PRO. The 9100 PRO lineup includes capacities of 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, and 8TB, catering to both professionals and power users requiring high-speed data access and extensive storage capacity. With the introduction of a more power-efficient 5nm controller, improved thermal management, and a choice between heatsink and non-heatsink versions, Samsung aims to push PCIe 5.0 adoption forward while setting a new benchmark for consumer SSDs.

Samsung 9100 Pro SSD Hardware and Specifications

The Samsung 9100 PRO is built using Samsung’s in-house PCIe 5.0 controller and V-NAND TLC (V8) flash memory, providing a significant increase in performance, reliability, and efficiency. Unlike its predecessors, the 9100 PRO utilizes the NVMe 2.0 protocol, enabling better optimizations for high-speed workloads. It is equipped with LPDDR4X DRAM-based caching to further enhance performance, ensuring that data retrieval and transfer speeds remain consistent under heavy loads. Power efficiency has been improved by 49% compared to the 990 PRO, allowing the drive to operate at lower power consumption levels, with an active power draw ranging from 7.6W to 9.0W depending on the model. For added security, the 9100 PRO supports AES 256-bit encryption, TCG Opal 2.0, and Microsoft eDrive, making it a viable option for enterprise-level security and personal data protection.

Samsung 9100 PRO Specifications

Samsung 9100 Pro vs Samsung 990 EVO and EVO Plus

The Samsung 9100 PRO SSD is a pretty big jump in storage performance, surpassing previous consumer SSDs like the 990 EVO and EVO Plus in nearly every metric. While the 990 EVO and EVO Plus were developed to meet the needs of mainstream users looking for a balance of performance and affordability, the 9100 PRO is engineered specifically for professionals, power users, and high-performance computing environments. One of the most significant differences is the interface upgrade, with the 9100 PRO utilizing PCIe 5.0 x4—a major step up from the 990 EVO’s PCIe 4.0 and the EVO Plus’s PCIe 3.0. This translates to dramatically higher sequential read and write speeds, where the 9100 PRO reaches up to 14,800 MB/s read and 13,400 MB/s write speeds, whereas the 990 EVO maxes out at 5,000 MB/s read and 4,800 MB/s write, and the EVO Plus is limited to 3,500 MB/s read and 3,200 MB/s write. These figures alone make the 9100 PRO nearly three times faster than the EVO Plus and close to three times faster than the 990 EVO, delivering unprecedented speed for workloads like 8K video editing, AI processing, and high-resolution content creation.

Beyond raw speed, the 9100 PRO also dominates in efficiency, endurance, and storage capacity, areas where Samsung has significantly improved upon its previous SSD lineup. The 9100 PRO features an endurance rating of up to 4,800 TBW (Total Bytes Written) for the 8TB model, whereas the 990 EVO and EVO Plus are capped at 600 TBW, meaning the 9100 PRO can handle up to eight times the write cycles before reaching its lifespan limit. This enhanced durability makes it ideal for workstations and AI applications where large datasets are continuously processed and rewritten. Furthermore, Samsung has introduced an 8TB model in the 9100 PRO lineup, a first for its consumer NVMe SSDs, whereas the 990 EVO is limited to 4TB and the EVO Plus maxes out at 2TB. Power efficiency has also been improved by up to 49%, thanks to the 5nm controller used in the 9100 PRO, allowing it to maintain higher performance while consuming less power per operation. These advancements make the 9100 PRO not just an incremental upgrade but a transformative SSD in Samsung’s lineup, aimed squarely at professionals who demand uncompromising speed, reliability, and storage capacity.

TurboWrite – What is it?

The 9100 PRO Series introduces Samsung’s Intelligent TurboWrite 2.0, a highly optimized SLC caching system that significantly improves write speeds and overall performance consistency. amsung TurboWrite is a technology used in Samsung SSDs to make them faster. Think of it like a temporary speed boost for writing data.

1. Creates a Fast Cache – The SSD sets aside a small part of its storage as a high-speed buffer (like a VIP lane for data).
2. Speeds Up Writes – When you save files, they first go into this super-fast buffer, making it seem like the SSD is writing faster.
3. Moves Data in the Background – Later, when the SSD is idle, it moves the data from the fast cache to the main storage.

Faster file transfers (especially for small/medium-sized files).
Better everyday performance (like booting Windows, opening apps, or saving documents).
Slows down for big files – If you copy very large files that fill up the TurboWrite cache, the speed drops to the SSD’s normal (slower) write speed.

Unlike conventional SSDs, which experience a performance drop once the primary cache is exhausted, TurboWrite dynamically allocates NAND capacity as an extended cache, maintaining peak speeds for longer durations. The cache size is based on drive capacity, with 114GB allocated for 1TB models, 226GB for 2TB, and up to 442GB for 4TB variants. This feature ensures high-speed data transfers and minimizes write slowdowns, especially beneficial for video editors, software developers, and content creators working with large datasets.

Samsung 9100 Pro SSD Durability and Endurance

The Samsung 9100 PRO is designed with long-term endurance in mind, featuring Total Bytes Written (TBW) ratings of up to 4,800TB for the 8TB variant. This translates to 0.328 Drive Writes Per Day (DWPD), meaning users can rewrite roughly one-third of the drive’s full capacity daily for five years without exceeding its rated lifespan. This makes it ideal for sustained workloads, AI processing, and enterprise environments that require consistent, high-speed storage. Compared to previous-generation SSDs, the 9100 PRO offers significantly improved durability, reducing the risk of performance degradation over time.

Samsung 9100 Pro SSD Pricing and Release Information

The Samsung 9100 PRO SSD will launch in March 2025 with the following pricing:

• 1TB – $199.99
• 2TB – $299.99
• 4TB – $549.99
• 8TB – Coming in H2 2025 (pricing TBD)

The heatsink versions will be available for $20 more per model. Given its groundbreaking performance, improved efficiency, and increased storage capacity, the 9100 PRO is set to become one of the leading PCIe 5.0 SSDs in the market, competing with Seagate’s FireCuda 540 and Crucial’s T700.

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