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2TB Samsung 990 PRO deal drops hundreds off the recent peak prices this year as the global shortage continues

Sequential speeds of up to 7,450MB/s and strong random performance make this a capable drive for gaming and demanding workstation use
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2TB Samsung 990 PRO deal drops hundreds off the recent peak prices this year as the global shortage continues
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The Samsung 990 PRO 2TB remains one of the fastest PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSDs on the market, combining excellent throughput, dedicated DRAM and a substantial endurance rating. It is well-suited to high-performance desktops, compatible laptops, creative workstations and PlayStation 5 storage expansion when adequate cooling is provided. Newer PCIe 5.0 drives are faster in systems taht have a compatible motherboard, however they cost considerably more; for most users though, the less expensive Gen4 models can provide almost indistinguishable gaming performance. Grab this SSD now for $389.99!

Prices and savings subject to change. Click through to get the current deal prices.
Save 39% NOW!

Samsung 990 PRO SSD 2TB

NVMe M.2 PCIe Gen4, M.2 2280 Internal Solid State Hard Drive, Seq. Read Speeds Up to 7,450 MB/s for High End Computing, Gaming, and Heavy Duty Workstations, MZ-V9P2T0B/AM

At approximately 80 x 22 x 2.3mm, the bare drive fits standard M.2 2280 slots in compatible desktops and many laptops. It weighs about 9g and has no cables or external enclosure. Prospective buyers should confirm that their machine accepts an 80mm PCIe NVMe drive. Some compact systems use shorter M.2 formats or support only SATA-based M.2 storage. Read on for more details on the specifications, or see the foot of this page for alternative SSD deals.

What we like about this Samsung 990 PRO 2TB NVMe SSD

Near-maximum PCIe 4.0 throughput

A rated 7,450MB/s sequential read speed places the 990 PRO close to PCIe 4.0’s usable limit. Large game installations, high-resolution media files, project folders and disk images can be transferred rapidly when the source and destination are equally capable. Sequential write performance of up to 6,900MB/s is also strong. Actual results vary according to free capacity, temperature, firmware, motherboard design and whether the TurboWrite cache remains available.

Excellent random performance

Random access affects operating-system responsiveness, application launches, game asset loading and workloads involving many small files. The 990 PRO’s controller, NAND and dedicated DRAM allow it to perform strongly across mixed and random activity rather than relying only on headline sequential figures. The largest IOPS numbers require high queue depths that are uncommon during normal desktop use. Even so, the underlying latency and controller performance contribute to a responsive system.

2TB capacity

The drive provides 2,000GB of raw capacity, with a lower usable amount after formatting and system overhead. It offers enough space for Windows, applications and a substantial game library without the tight capacity management associated with smaller drives. Modern games can exceed 100GB each, so 2TB is a practical capacity rather than an excessive one for an enthusiast gaming system. Video editors and other creative users may still require additional storage for archives and completed projects.

Dedicated 2GB DRAM cache

The 2TB model includes 2GB of low-power DDR4 memory. This allows the SSD to maintain its logical-to-physical address tables in fast local memory, supporting consistent performance and reducing unnecessary NAND access. Dedicated DRAM is not essential for every workload, but it remains desirable in a premium system drive or workstation SSD. Many cheaper alternatives use host-memory-buffer technology instead.

Strong power efficiency

Samsung claims substantially improved performance per watt compared with the preceding 980 PRO. The 990 PRO has an average specified consumption of approximately 5.5W and can reach around 8.5W during burst activity. Efficiency matters in laptops because storage power contributes to battery drain and internal heat. The drive can still become hot during sustained transfers, so it should not be installed without appropriate airflow or thermal contact.

Integrated thermal-management features

The controller uses a nickel coating, while the label assists with heat spreading. Dynamic Thermal Guard monitors operating conditions and can reduce performance if necessary to keep the drive within a safe temperature range. Thermal throttling protects the hardware but reduces sustained speed. A motherboard M.2 heatsink is advisable for long transfers, intensive content creation and restricted cases.

Suitable for PlayStation 5 expansion

The 990 PRO’s performance comfortably exceeds Sony’s recommended sequential-read requirement for PS5 storage expansion. Its 2TB capacity can significantly increase the number of installed games without moving titles between internal and external storage. This specific model number is the bare drive rather than the factory-heatsink version. Sony requires an installed M.2 SSD to use suitable heat dissipation, so PS5 buyers should add a compatible low-profile heatsink or select the 990 PRO variant supplied with one.

Five-year or 1,200TBW warranty

Samsung covers the 2TB model for five years or 1,200 terabytes written, whichever occurs first. Reaching 1,200TBW would require writing roughly 650GB every day for five years, well beyond typical consumer activity. Warranty coverage applies subject to Samsung’s terms and does not replace a backup. Important data should always exist on another device or service because any storage product can fail unexpectedly.

Samsung Magician management software

Samsung Magician can display drive health, temperature, total bytes written and firmware information. It also provides diagnostic, secure-erase and performance-configuration functions for supported Samsung SSDs. Checking for current firmware immediately after installation is advisable. Firmware updates can address stability, compatibility and health-reporting problems, but important files should be backed up before any update is applied.

Hardware encryption support

The 990 PRO supports AES 256-bit hardware encryption, TCG Opal and IEEE 1667 functionality. These capabilities can assist compatible business and security configurations without requiring all encryption work to be handled by the CPU. Encryption support depends on the operating system, firmware settings and management environment. Simply installing the drive does not automatically configure hardware-based protection.

Who should buy this 2TB SSD deal?

The Samsung 990 PRO 2TB is best suited to users who want a premium PCIe 4.0 system drive with high sequential throughput, strong random performance and comprehensive management software. It is particularly appropriate for enthusiast gaming PCs, creative workstations and machines regularly handling large files. It is also a strong PlayStation 5 upgrade when paired with a compliant heatsink. Buyers wanting the simplest console installation should consider Samsung’s version with a heatsink already attached.

Users with PCIe 3.0 systems can install the drive, but they will not receive its full sequential performance. A cheaper PCIe 3.0 or mainstream Gen4 SSD may represent better value unless the drive will later be transferred to a faster system.

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About the Author

Aaron's laptop knowledge makes him the go-to guy on PC Guide. But he still finds time for features, deals and much more.