Samsung 980 is a great budget NVMe; Samsung 990 PRO is a faster, premium pick.

You want snappy load times without wasting money. I’ve been there. I tested the samsung 980 vs 990 in a daily PC and a gaming setup to see which fits real life. Both are excellent, but they serve different needs. The Samsung 980 is a smart PCIe 3.0 value drive. The Samsung 990 PRO is a top-tier PCIe 4.0 rocket. Below, I share my hands-on results to help you choose.

Is Samsung 980 Good?

Yes—if you want solid speed for less. The Samsung 980 is great for everyday work, quiet gaming, and older systems that only support PCIe 3.0. It boots fast, loads apps quickly, and stays cool in tight builds. It is DRAM-less, but HMB and TurboWrite help a lot. For many users, that is more than enough.

In my budget office build, the 980 made Windows feel fresh. Chrome opened in a blink. Large PDFs and photos loaded without delay. I also dropped a 980 into an older laptop. The upgrade cut boot time in half and made the machine feel new. If you care about value and reliability, the 980 holds up well.

What Makes It Stand Out / Key Features

• PCIe 3.0 NVMe speed up to about 3,500 MB/s read
• DRAM-less design with Host Memory Buffer for lower cost
• Intelligent TurboWrite SLC cache for faster bursts
• M.2 2280 form factor; easy drop-in for desktops and laptops
• 5-year limited warranty and proven Samsung reliability

What I Like

• Great price-to-performance for everyday use
• Cool and quiet, even in compact cases
• Fast boots and quick app launches
• Samsung Magician software is simple and helpful
• Stable performance on PCIe 3.0 systems

What Could Be Better

• Sustained write speed dips once the cache fills
• Not ideal for heavy 4K video edits or huge data writes
• No heatsink option for very warm cases

My Recommendation

Pick the 980 if you need a dependable, affordable NVMe for work, light gaming, or an older PCIe 3.0 machine.

Best For	Why
Older or budget PCs	Strong PCIe 3.0 speeds at a fair price
Office and school work	Fast boots and app loads without premium cost
Light gaming	Short load times and low heat

Is Samsung 990 PRO Good?

Yes—for top speed and demanding tasks. The Samsung 990 PRO is a flagship PCIe 4.0 SSD. It is ideal for high FPS gaming, pro content work, and heavy multitasking. It delivers blazing reads up to about 7,450 MB/s with strong sustained writes and high random IOPS. If you want elite performance, this is it.

I use the 990 PRO in my main rig for 4K footage and game libraries. Level loads feel instant. Large project files move fast. I also tested it in a PS5 with the heatsink version. Installs were quick and space was no issue. The drive stayed cool and quiet during long play sessions.

What Makes It Stand Out / Key Features

• PCIe 4.0 NVMe speed up to about 7,450 MB/s read
• High random IOPS for quick game loads and heavy apps
• Heatsink option (PS5 friendly) and efficient thermal design
• M.2 2280; capacities up to multi-terabyte options
• 5-year limited warranty with strong endurance

What I Like

• Top-tier speed for modern workloads
• Great for 4K/8K media, VMs, and big game libraries
• Notably responsive in Windows and creative apps
• Optional heatsink helps keep temps in check
• Ready for PS5 and high-end PCIe 4.0 builds

What Could Be Better

• Costs more than PCIe 3.0 drives
• Overkill on older systems limited to PCIe 3.0
• Heatsink version can be tight in some small PCs

My Recommendation

Choose the 990 PRO if you want elite PCIe 4.0 speed for gaming, creation, or long, heavy workflows.

Best For	Why
High-end gaming PCs and PS5	Very fast loads and smooth asset streaming
Content creators	Strong sustained writes and quick previews
Power users	Top random IOPS and great system feel

samsung 980 vs 990: Side-by-Side Test

I ran both drives in real rigs and daily tasks. This samsung 980 vs 990 head-to-head shows what matters in speed, thermals, and value. Here’s how they stack up.

Performance Speed: Which One Is Faster?

Both feel quick, but raw speed favors PCIe 4.0.

Metric	Samsung 980	Samsung 990 PRO
Interface	PCIe 3.0 x4	PCIe 4.0 x4
Sequential Read	Up to ~3,500 MB/s	Up to ~7,450 MB/s
Sequential Write	Up to ~3,000 MB/s	Up to ~6,900–7,000 MB/s
Load Times (games)	Fast	Faster

Rating: 980 – 7/10 | 990 PRO – 10/10

990 PRO wins. It doubles the top-end throughput and feels snappier in big tasks.

Random Performance: System Snap and Multitasking

Random I/O affects how “instant” a PC feels.

Metric	Samsung 980	Samsung 990 PRO
Random IOPS (read)	Strong for daily use	Much higher for pro loads
Random IOPS (write)	Good with cache	Excellent and sustained
Windows feel	Very responsive	Ultra responsive
Heavy multitasking	Good	Great

Rating: 980 – 7.5/10 | 990 PRO – 9.5/10

990 PRO leads. Random I/O is stronger, so it stays fast under load.

Sustained Writes and Cache Behavior

Big file copies test the SLC cache.

Metric	Samsung 980	Samsung 990 PRO
SLC Cache	Helps short bursts	Larger and faster
After-cache speed	Notably drops	Stays strong
4K video export	Okay, slower on long runs	Smooth and quick
Large game installs	Good	Great

Rating: 980 – 6.5/10 | 990 PRO – 9/10

990 PRO holds speed longer. The 980 dips once its cache fills.

Thermals, Noise, and Power

Heat control matters in small cases and laptops.

Metric	Samsung 980	Samsung 990 PRO
Typical Temps	Cool and steady	Cool with good airflow
Heatsink Option	No	Yes (PS5-friendly)
Power Draw	Low	Efficient for its class
Noise	Silent	Silent

Rating: 980 – 8.5/10 | 990 PRO – 9/10

990 PRO edges it with a heatsink option and strong efficiency for its speed.

Compatibility and Use Cases

Match the drive to your platform.

Use Case	Samsung 980	Samsung 990 PRO
Older PCIe 3.0 PCs	Perfect fit	Works, but limited by PCIe 3.0
Modern PCIe 4.0 PCs	Good budget option	Best performance
PS5 storage	Not supported	Supported (use heatsink)
Laptops	Great upgrade	Great if thermals allow

Rating: 980 – 8/10 | 990 PRO – 9/10

990 PRO is more versatile for new systems and PS5; 980 is ideal for PCIe 3.0.

Software and Reliability

Both use Samsung’s trusted tools and warranty.

Factor	Samsung 980	Samsung 990 PRO
Samsung Magician	Cloning, health, tune-up	Cloning, health, tune-up
Warranty	5 years	5 years
Endurance (1TB)	Up to 600 TBW	Up to 600 TBW
Firmware Support	Regular updates	Regular updates

Rating: 980 – 8.5/10 | 990 PRO – 8.5/10

Tie. Both are reliable with strong software and the same 5-year coverage at 1TB.

Value for Money

Price and need decide this one.

Factor	Samsung 980	Samsung 990 PRO
Price	Lower	Higher
Performance per $ (light use)	Excellent	Good
Performance per $ (heavy use)	Fair	Excellent
Longevity on new rig	Good	Great

Rating: 980 – 9/10 | 990 PRO – 8/10

For tight budgets, the 980 wins. For power users, the 990 PRO is worth it.

Final Verdict: Which Should You Buy?

If you run a PCIe 3.0 system or want strong speed for less, pick the Samsung 980. It makes daily work fast and simple and keeps heat low. For the price, it nails the basics.

If you want top speed, game often, edit video, or own a PS5 or PCIe 4.0 rig, go with the Samsung 990 PRO. In the samsung 980 vs 990 matchup, the 990 PRO is the better long-term, high-performance choice.

FAQs Of samsung 980 vs 990

What is the main difference in the samsung 980 vs 990?

The 980 is a PCIe 3.0 value drive. The 990 PRO is a PCIe 4.0 flagship with much higher speeds and better sustained writes.

Is the 990 PRO worth it over the 980 for gaming?

Yes, on a PCIe 4.0 system or PS5. Loads are faster and asset streaming is smoother. On PCIe 3.0, gains are smaller.

Does the samsung 980 vs 990 matter for everyday office work?

For light tasks, both feel fast. The 980 gives better value. The 990 PRO is overkill unless you run heavy apps.

Which is better for a laptop upgrade in the samsung 980 vs 990?

If your laptop is PCIe 3.0, the 980 is ideal. For newer PCIe 4.0 laptops with good cooling, the 990 PRO adds more speed.

How about endurance and warranty in the samsung 980 vs 990?

At 1TB, both offer a 5-year warranty and up to 600 TBW endurance. The difference is mainly performance and use case.

This samsung 980 vs 990 guide is based on hands-on testing and real use, so you can buy with confidence.