Samsung introduces 990 EVO SSD, Pioneering PCIe 5.0 x2 Interface for Enhanced Performance

Samsung Electronics America has just launched its latest solid-state drive (SSD), the 990 EVO. This new SSD promises to deliver solid performance for everyday tasks, improved interface compatibility, and better energy efficiency. With its versatile design, the 990 EVO aims to enhance the computing experiences of a wide range of users, from gamers to professionals in video and photo editing.

“The 990 EVO delivers a hybrid storage solution that lets you easily bring flexibility and future-proof your setup,” says Jose Hernandez, Senior Director of Memory Product Marketing at Samsung. “These drives balance performance, power efficiency, and reliability, making them a versatile choice for the latest interface, and great for a variety of everyday tasks, like gaming, working, editing, and more.”

One of the standout features of the 990 EVO is its compatibility with both PCIe 5.0 and PCIe 4.0 interfaces, ensuring that it can be seamlessly installed into a wide variety of systems while maintaining optimal performance. Supporting both PCIe 4.0 x4 and PCIe 5.0 x2 interfaces, this SSD caters to today’s systems that support PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots, while also offering compatibility with upcoming applications utilizing PCIe 5.0 interfaces.

But what about performance? Well, the 990 EVO boasts an impressive improvement of up to 43% compared to its predecessor, the 970 EVO Plus SSD. This means that accessing your data takes almost half the time, minimizing loading times and allowing you to get on with other tasks more quickly. With sequential read speeds of up to 5,000 megabytes-per-second (MB/s) and write speeds of up to 4,200 MB/s, the 990 EVO ensures speedy data transfer. Its random read and write speeds have also been enhanced, with up to 700K input/output operations per second (IOPS) and 800K IOPS, respectively.

One notable feature of the 990 EVO is its utilization of Host Memory Buffer (HMB) technology, which allows the SSD to directly link to the host processor’s DRAM. This enables optimized performance even with a DRAM-less design. If you’re upgrading from a previous mainstream SSD, you can expect faster loading speeds for games and quicker access to large files.

In addition to its improved performance, the 990 EVO also boasts enhanced power efficiency, with up to 70% improvement compared to its predecessor. This means that you can extend the use of your PC or laptop without worrying about running out of battery. Whether you’re working at a coffee shop or from the comfort of your couch, you can keep going for longer without needing to be near an outlet.

The drive also supports Modern Standby, ensuring quick resume from sleep mode. Even when on low power mode, you can instantly wake up your device with uninterrupted internet connectivity and seamless notification reception.

To further enhance functionality, the 990 EVO is supported by Samsung Magician software. This software offers a suite of optimization tools for Samsung SSDs, making it easier to streamline the data migration process for SSD upgrades and ensuring the protection of valuable data. It also monitors drive health and provides timely firmware updates for optimal performance.

The Samsung 990 EVO will be available at an MSRP of $124.99 for the 1 TB model and $209.99 for the 2 TB model. With its solid performance, improved compatibility, and energy efficiency, this versatile SSD is set to meet the needs of both current and future computing requirements.

Background Information

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About Samsung: Samsung, a South Korean multinational conglomerate, has established itself as a global leader in various industries, including electronics, technology, and more. Founded in 1938, Samsung's influence spans from smartphones and consumer electronics to semiconductors and home appliances. With a commitment to innovation, Samsung has contributed products like the Galaxy series of smartphones, QLED TVs, and SSDs that have revolutionized the way we live and work.

  

Technology Explained

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M.2: M.2, also known as Next Generation Form Factor (NGFF), is a computer expansion card format that is designed to replace the outdated mSATA standard. It is thinner and longer than mSATA, which gives it a much higher data transfer rate. The M.2 format measures 22mm in width and can measure up to 110mm in length. It uses the M-key and B-key connectors to interface with PC host systems, and can connect to both SATA III and PCIe for data transfer. Due to its small size, M.2 is often used for ultra-slim laptops and netbooks, as well as in embedded SSDs for tablets and other mobile devices. It is also becoming increasingly popular in the desktop computer industry, thanks to its compactness and fast transfer speeds. This makes M.2 ideal for gaming PCs, workstations, and other demanding applications that require high levels of data throughput.

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PCIe: PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) is a high-speed serial computer expansion bus standard for connecting components such as graphics cards, sound cards, and network cards to a motherboard. It is the most widely used interface in the computer industry today, and is used in both desktop and laptop computers. PCIe is capable of providing up to 16 times the bandwidth of the older PCI standard, allowing for faster data transfer speeds and improved performance. It is also used in a variety of other applications, such as storage, networking, and communications. PCIe is an essential component of modern computing, and its applications are only expected to grow in the future.

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SSD: A Solid State Drive (SSD) is a modern data storage device that employs flash memory technology to store data electronically. Unlike traditional hard disk drives (HDDs), SSDs have no moving parts, resulting in significantly faster read and write speeds. This leads to quicker boot times, faster application loading, and smoother overall system performance. SSDs are known for their durability, shock resistance, and energy efficiency, making them ideal for laptops, ultrabooks, and other portable devices. They come in various form factors, including 2.5-inch, M.2, and PCIe cards, and are favored for their reliability, quiet operation, and reduced heat generation