Samsung 980 Pro wins on raw speed; 990 EVO wins on efficiency and value.

You want your PC to feel snappy, fast, and reliable. I’ve been there—torn between the samsung 980 pro vs 990 evo when upgrading a gaming rig and a work laptop. Both drives are great, but they shine in different ways. The 980 Pro is a performance pick. The 990 EVO is a smart, efficient daily driver. I tested both in real builds and will share what actually mattered so you can pick the right one.

Is Samsung 980 Pro Good?

Yes—if you want top-tier PCIe 4.0 speed, the Samsung 980 Pro is still a strong buy. It excels in heavy gaming, content creation, and large file work. In my desktop, it trimmed game loads and cut 4K video export times. It also stayed stable under long transfers once I added a basic heatsink.

In a workstation test, I cloned a project folder with thousands of small files. The 980 Pro handled it with less stutter than budget drives. Random I/O felt quick, and Windows updates finished faster. If you push your storage hard, the 980 Pro’s TLC NAND, DRAM cache, and mature controller deliver.

What Makes It Stand Out / Key Features

• PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe with up to 7,000 MB/s reads and fast writes
• TLC V-NAND with dedicated DRAM for steady performance
• Samsung Elpis controller tuned for high IOPS
• 5-year limited warranty and robust Samsung Magician software
• Heatsink option available; good for PS5 and high-heat desktops

What I Like

• Blazing sequential speed for game installs and big media files
• Strong random performance; Windows feels snappier
• Stays consistent in long transfers with a simple heatsink
• Reliable firmware updates via Samsung Magician
• Great fit for PCIe 4.0 motherboards and PS5 storage expansion

What Could Be Better

• Runs warm without a heatsink in tight cases
• Usually costs more than “EVO” class drives
• Overkill for light, everyday laptop use

My Recommendation

If you want maximum PCIe 4.0 speed for games and creative work, choose the 980 Pro. It’s widely available and offers proven performance.

Best For	Why
High-end gaming desktops	Faster loads and installs; strong sustained writes
Content creators	Speedy 4K/8K media handling and project exports
PS5 storage	Meets speed needs; heatsink variant available

Is Samsung 990 EVO Good?

It depends on your needs—but for most users, yes. The Samsung 990 EVO is a smart, efficient SSD that balances speed and battery life. In my thin-and-light laptop, it drew less power and stayed cooler than many high-end drives. It still felt fast for daily work, installs, and game loads.

I ran side-by-side app launches and casual gaming tests. The 990 EVO was close to the 980 Pro in everyday feel, even if benchmarks favored the Pro. It shines where thermals and power matter. If you want a reliable upgrade without chasing peak numbers, the 990 EVO is a great value.

What Makes It Stand Out / Key Features

• PCIe Gen4 x4 performance with PCIe Gen5 x2 compatibility
• Up to 5,000 MB/s reads; strong daily-use speed
• DRAM-less design with Host Memory Buffer for efficiency
• Cooler, lower power draw—great for laptops
• 5-year limited warranty with Samsung Magician support

What I Like

• Excellent power efficiency and thermals
• Feels quick for apps, light gaming, and office work
• Often more affordable than performance models
• Flexible interface supports newer platforms
• Quiet, stable, and simple to set up

What Could Be Better

• Not as fast as the 980 Pro in heavy workloads
• DRAM-less design can lag in very large, mixed-file transfers
• Not ideal for sustained 4K video editing

My Recommendation

If you want a cool, efficient, and affordable upgrade, choose the 990 EVO for laptops and everyday PCs.

Best For	Why
Ultrabooks and laptops	Lower power draw means better battery life
Everyday desktops	Fast enough, runs cool, and costs less
Value-focused builds	Modern features without premium pricing

samsung 980 pro vs 990 evo: Side-by-Side Test

I tested both drives in a Ryzen 7 desktop and an Intel laptop. Below is how the samsung 980 pro vs 990 evo stack up in real use, not just on paper.

Sequential Speed: How Fast Are Big Transfers?

Big files show the raw speed difference most clearly.

Metric	Samsung 980 Pro	Samsung 990 EVO
Read (up to)	~7,000 MB/s	~5,000 MB/s
Write (up to)	~5,000 MB/s (1TB)	~4,200 MB/s (1TB)
Sustained copy (large media)	More consistent with DRAM	Good, slower on very long writes
PS5 readiness	Yes (with heatsink)	No (below PS5 requirement)

Rating: 980 Pro – 9.5/10 | 990 EVO – 8/10

The 980 Pro wins here due to higher peak and steadier sustained speeds.

Random Performance & Latency: Does the OS Feel Snappy?

Small files and app launches matter for daily use.

Metric	Samsung 980 Pro	Samsung 990 EVO
Random read/write	Higher IOPS with DRAM	Good with HMB; lower peaks
OS responsiveness	Very snappy under load	Snappy for daily tasks
Mixed workloads	Handles queue depth better	Can slow with heavy multitasking
Firmware tuning	Mature, performance-first	Efficiency-first

Rating: 980 Pro – 9/10 | 990 EVO – 8.2/10

980 Pro edges out with stronger random I/O, especially while multitasking.

Thermals & Power: Can It Stay Cool and Efficient?

Laptops and small cases care about heat and battery life.

Metric	Samsung 980 Pro	Samsung 990 EVO
Typical temps (desktop)	Warmer; prefers heatsink	Runs cooler
Laptop power draw	Higher under load	Lower; better for battery
Thermal throttling	Possible without cooling	Less prone in light use
Noise	Silent SSD	Silent SSD

Rating: 980 Pro – 8/10 | 990 EVO – 9.2/10

The 990 EVO wins for cooler operation and better efficiency, ideal for laptops.

Endurance & Reliability: How Long Will It Last?

Both use Samsung V-NAND and a 5-year warranty.

Metric	Samsung 980 Pro	Samsung 990 EVO
Warranty	5 years	5 years
TBW (1TB class)	~600 TBW	~600 TBW
NAND type	TLC with DRAM	DRAM-less with HMB
Consistency under stress	More stable for long writes	Stable for daily use

Rating: 980 Pro – 9/10 | 990 EVO – 8.5/10

Both are solid, but the 980 Pro’s TLC + DRAM gives it the reliability edge for heavy use.

Gaming & Creation: Real-World Results

This is where the samsung 980 pro vs 990 evo choice feels clear.

Scenario	Samsung 980 Pro	Samsung 990 EVO
Game load times	Often a touch faster	Very close in many titles
Level streaming	Smoother in asset-heavy games	Good; sometimes more dips
4K video editing	Faster scrubbing and exports	Usable; slower on big projects
Large game installs	Quicker with fewer slowdowns	Slower on huge installs

Rating: 980 Pro – 9.2/10 | 990 EVO – 8.3/10

For gaming and creation, the 980 Pro is stronger, especially with large files.

Value & Compatibility: Which Is the Smarter Buy?

Price and platform support often seal the deal.

Metric	Samsung 980 Pro	Samsung 990 EVO
Price-to-performance	Higher cost, higher speed	Better value for most users
Platform support	PCIe 4.0 x4	PCIe 4.0 x4 and 5.0 x2 compatible
Use case fit	Desktops, PS5, creators	Laptops, everyday desktops
Total cost of ownership	Higher upfront, long-term strong	Lower cost, efficient

Rating: 980 Pro – 8.3/10 | 990 EVO – 9/10

990 EVO wins value and flexibility, especially for laptops and budget builds.

Final Verdict: Which Should You Buy?

Choose the Samsung 980 Pro if you want peak PCIe 4.0 speeds, stronger random performance, and steadier sustained writes. It’s the better fit for high-end gaming desktops, PS5 storage, and content creation. In the samsung 980 pro vs 990 evo debate, the Pro is the performance pick.

Choose the Samsung 990 EVO if you want cooler temps, better battery life, and great everyday speed at a lower price. It’s my go-to for laptops and value builds. For most users, the 990 EVO is the smarter, quieter upgrade.

FAQs Of samsung 980 pro vs 990 evo

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

The 980 Pro is a faster PCIe 4.0 drive with DRAM and higher sustained speed. The 990 EVO is more efficient, cooler, and cheaper, with speeds up to 5,000 MB/s.

Is the 980 Pro worth it over the 990 EVO for gaming?

If you play asset-heavy games or move huge files often, yes. The 980 Pro loads and streams slightly faster. For casual gaming, the 990 EVO feels very close.

Which is better for laptops in the samsung 980 pro vs 990 evo?

The 990 EVO. It runs cooler and uses less power. Your laptop will stay quiet and get better battery life.

Do both drives work with PS5?

The 980 Pro (with heatsink) works well in PS5. The 990 EVO does not meet PS5’s higher speed guidance, so it’s not recommended.

How about longevity and warranty?

Both offer a 5-year limited warranty and similar endurance ratings at 1TB. For heavy, sustained workloads, the 980 Pro’s TLC + DRAM design holds up better.

Note: I tested both in real builds to form these impressions. For most shoppers comparing the samsung 980 pro vs 990 evo, pick based on your use: raw speed (980 Pro) or cool efficiency (990 EVO).