Samsung SSD: the clear and simple guide to choose the right model

Samsung SSD 1TB Samsung SSD Samsung SSD

When you want to boost your PC, laptop, or give a second life to a slightly tired machine, a Samsung SSD is one of the safest bets on the market. It is one of the few manufacturers that produces everything from A to Z: memory, controller, firmware... as a result, their SSDs are fast, reliable, and have a great lifespan. If you are hesitating between a Samsung SSD, a 1TB Samsung SSD, or if you just want to understand the difference between a 980, a 990 PRO, an EVO, or a QVO, you are in the right place. We will calmly go through all of this so that you know exactly which one to choose.

Author
yuux
Co-founder of DropReference, I'm here to give you the best tips to build the gaming PC of your dreams!

Why do so many people still recommend Samsung SSDs?

samsung-logo Click to enlarge

It's simple: stability, endurance, constancy.

The Samsung SSD are not necessarily the cheapest, but the choice is rarely bad. The manufacturer controls the entire production chain , and it shows in:

  • the speed in actual use,
  • the maintenance of performance even after several years,
  • regular updates,
  • the Samsung Magician software, super handy for checking the SSD's status.

Basically: if you want to avoid headaches, Samsung is a safe bet.

The different Samsung ranges explained simply

Samsung QVO

  • The cheaper .
  • Ideal for "mass storage" or office automation.
  • Not great for heavy loads, but perfect for storing a lot of files.

Samsung EVO

  • The best value for money .
  • It is often the ideal choice for a Gaming PC or versatile.
  • Very good balance between speed, reliability, and endurance .

Samsung PRO

  • The high-end .
  • Very enduring, very stable, made for large transfers, content creation, intensive use.

970 / 980 / 990

The most popular Samsung NVMe SSDs:

  • 970 EVO Plus → excellent even still today
  • 980 → entry/mid-range
  • 980 PRO → super fast, perfect for a gaming PC or a PS5
  • 990 PRO → the current king, monstrous speed

Which Samsung 1TB SSD to choose according to your usage?

Because 1 TB has become the perfect capacity for a modern PC: Windows + apps + some big games + a little extra space.

⭐ For gamer PC / powerful PC: Samsung 990 PRO (1TB)

samsung-ssd-990 Click to enlarge

The 990 PRO , it is clearly the current reference at Samsung.

  • Reading : ~7450 MB/s
  • Writing : ~6900 MB/s
  • Hyper stable
  • Perfect for gaming , heavy apps, massive transfers
  • Compatible PS5

You install this in a recent PC, and you're good for several years.

💰 For a good performance/price ratio: Samsung 980 (1TB)

samsung-ssd-980 Click to enlarge

The Samsung 980 is ideal if you want to stay with Samsung without exceeding your budget.

  • Reading : ~3500 MB/s
  • Writing : ~3000 MB/s
  • Very reliable
  • Sufficient for 95% of uses: gaming, work, laptop, etc.

To upgrade an old PC or replace a too slow SSD, it's great.

🎮 For PS5: 980 PRO or 990 PRO with heatsink

If you want to upgrade the space of your PlayStation:

  • take a version with heatsink ,
  • you plug in, you turn on the console, and it works right away.

Both models work perfectly with the PS5.

All real-time stocks of Samsung SSDs

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Samsung 990 EVO Plus M.2 NVMe 2TB

Samsung 990 EVO Plus M.2 NVMe 2TB

238€

(14 Vendors)
3 (1)
Interface: PCIe 4.0
Top brand Fast! Comfortable capacity
Samsung 990 PRO 2TB NVMe M.2 Black

Samsung 990 PRO 2TB NVMe M.2 Black

267€

(15 Vendors)
4 (1)
Brand: Samsung
Top brand Fast! Comfortable capacity
Samsung 990 EVO Plus M.2 NVMe 1TB Black

Samsung 990 EVO Plus M.2 NVMe 1TB Black

150€

(13 Vendors)
4 (2)
Brand: Samsung
Top brand Fast! Good capacity
Samsung 990 EVO Plus 4TB NVMe M.2 Black

Samsung 990 EVO Plus 4TB NVMe M.2 Black

404€

(11 Vendors)
3.5 (2)
Brand: Samsung
Top brand Fast! Comfortable capacity
Samsung 9100 PRO 2TB NVMe M.2 Black

Samsung 9100 PRO 2TB NVMe M.2 Black

276€

(12 Vendors)
3 (1)
Brand: Samsung
Top brand Super fast! Comfortable capacity
Samsung 990 PRO M.2 NVMe 1TB Black

Samsung 990 PRO M.2 NVMe 1TB Black

178€

(13 Vendors)
4 (1)
Brand: Samsung
Top brand Fast! Good capacity
Samsung MZ7LN256F PM871b 256GB SATA 2.5in

Samsung MZ7LN256F PM871b 256GB SATA 2.5in

33€

(1 Vendors)
Brand: Samsung
Top brand Less fast Limited capacity
Samsung 990 PRO 2TB NVMe M.2

Samsung 990 PRO 2TB NVMe M.2

296€

(6 Vendors)
Brand: Samsung
Top brand Fast! Comfortable capacity
Samsung 870 EVO 2TB SATA 2.5in SSD

Samsung 870 EVO 2TB SATA 2.5in SSD

279€

(11 Vendors)
Brand: Samsung
Top brand Less fast Comfortable capacity
Samsung 9100 PRO 1TB PCIe 5.0 Black

Samsung 9100 PRO 1TB PCIe 5.0 Black

180€

(15 Vendors)
3 (1)
Brand: Samsung
Top brand Super fast! Good capacity
Samsung 990 PRO M.2 2TB Black

Samsung 990 PRO M.2 2TB Black

319€

(1 Vendors)
Brand: Samsung
Top brand Fast! Comfortable capacity
Samsung 990 PRO 2TB NVMe M.2 PCIe 4.0

Samsung 990 PRO 2TB NVMe M.2 PCIe 4.0

302€

(12 Vendors)
Brand: Samsung
Top brand Fast! Comfortable capacity
Samsung 9100 PRO 4TB PCIe 5.0 NVMe M.2 Black

Samsung 9100 PRO 4TB PCIe 5.0 NVMe M.2 Black

499€

(12 Vendors)
Brand: Samsung
Top brand Super fast! Comfortable capacity
Samsung 990 PRO M.2 NVMe 4TB Black

Samsung 990 PRO M.2 NVMe 4TB Black

439€

(14 Vendors)
Brand: Samsung
Top brand Fast! Comfortable capacity
Samsung 870 EVO Black 4TB SATA 2.5-inch SSD

Samsung 870 EVO Black 4TB SATA 2.5-inch SSD

492€

(6 Vendors)
Brand: Samsung
Top brand Less fast Comfortable capacity
Samsung 980 PRO 1TB NVMe Multicolour

Samsung 980 PRO 1TB NVMe Multicolour

404€

(1 Vendors)
Brand: Samsung
Top brand Fast! Good capacity
Samsung 9100 PRO Heatsink 2TB NVMe M.2

Samsung 9100 PRO Heatsink 2TB NVMe M.2

289€

(11 Vendors)
Brand: Samsung
Top brand Super fast! Comfortable capacity
Samsung 980 PRO 2TB NVMe M.2 Black

Samsung 980 PRO 2TB NVMe M.2 Black

370€

(6 Vendors)
Brand: Samsung
Top brand Fast! Comfortable capacity
Samsung 980 M.2 NVMe 1TB Black

Samsung 980 M.2 NVMe 1TB Black

215€

(8 Vendors)
Brand: Samsung
Top brand Fast and budget-friendly Good capacity
Samsung 9100 PRO 1TB NVMe M.2

Samsung 9100 PRO 1TB NVMe M.2

200€

(11 Vendors)
Brand: Samsung
Top brand Super fast! Good capacity
Samsung 970 EVO Plus 250GB M.2 NVMe PCIe Gen3

Samsung 970 EVO Plus 250GB M.2 NVMe PCIe Gen3

101€

(2 Vendors)
Brand: Samsung
Top brand Fast and budget-friendly Limited capacity
Samsung 990 PRO M.2 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe Heatsink

Samsung 990 PRO M.2 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe Heatsink

184€

(4 Vendors)
Brand: Samsung
Top brand Fast! Good capacity
Samsung 990 EVO 1TB Black NVMe M.2 PCIe 4.0

Samsung 990 EVO 1TB Black NVMe M.2 PCIe 4.0

185€

(4 Vendors)
Brand: Samsung
Top brand Fast! Good capacity
Samsung PM991 256GB NVMe M.2

Samsung PM991 256GB NVMe M.2

41€

(1 Vendors)
Brand: Samsung
Top brand Limited capacity
Samsung 860 EVO 2TB SATA 2.5 inch

Samsung 860 EVO 2TB SATA 2.5 inch

316€

(5 Vendors)
Brand: Samsung
Top brand Less fast Comfortable capacity

Simple comparison of the main Samsung 1TB models

How long does a Samsung SSD last?

Overall, they are among the best endurance on the market .

One Samsung 1TB SSD can hold several hundred terabytes rewritten before wearing out - which, in normal use, represents years of use.

Even a QVO model is more than enough for a gamer or a regular user.

Mistakes to avoid

Even if Samsung is reliable, some reflexes to have:

  • Never fill your SSD to 100% : keeps a 10% margin.
  • If you take a version with a heatsink, remove the one from your motherboard.
  • Don't expect to double performance if your motherboard is in PCIe 3.0 : the SSD will be limited, but it remains very fast.

FAQ

Is a 1TB Samsung SSD enough for a gaming PC?

Yes, easily. You can install Windows + your apps + several AAA games without any issue.

Are Samsung better than Crucial, Kingston, or PNY?

In reliability and endurance, very often yes. In price, they are a little more expensive.

Can I install a 990 PRO on a PS5?

Yes, as long as it has a heatsink.

EVO, QVO, PRO... which one to choose?

EVO: the most versatile PRO: the most powerful QVO: the cheapest for simple storage