The Samsung 990 Pro 2TB SSD is a PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 internal drive made by Samsung, currently listed at $390 in Amazon’s Memorial Day sale — a $250 discount on a drive that TechRadar awarded five stars and called “an absolutely stellar M.2 SSD for both professional users and gamers.” That’s a significant cut on hardware that doesn’t often see meaningful discounts, and the timing matters if you’re planning a new PC build or a PS5 storage upgrade before summer.
Key Takeaways
- The Samsung 990 Pro 2TB SSD is available for $390 in Amazon’s Memorial Day sale, down $250 from its standard price.
- TechRadar benchmarked the drive at up to 7,465.49 MB/s read and 6,887.68 MB/s write speeds.
- The drive delivers 50% better performance-per-watt than the Samsung 980 PRO, according to TechRadar.
- PS5 users recorded a 6,526 MB/s result in the console’s internal benchmark, making it a top performer for Sony’s platform.
- The 990 Pro suits workstations, creative professionals, gamers, and PS5 owners looking for fast, reliable internal storage.
What Makes the Samsung 990 Pro 2TB SSD Worth Buying
The Samsung 990 Pro 2TB SSD sits at the top of TechRadar’s PCIe 4.0 testing, with the publication stating it offers “the fastest read/write performance of any PCIe 4.0 SSD we’ve tested”. Benchmark results back that up: TechRadar recorded 7,465.49 MB/s read and 6,887.68 MB/s write, alongside a 10GB file transfer completed in just 3.97 seconds and a 10GB folder transfer in 7.22 seconds. Those aren’t theoretical maximums — they’re real-world test outcomes.
The drive uses a nickel-coated controller and Samsung’s Dynamic Thermal Guard to manage heat under sustained workloads. That matters for professionals running large file transfers or gamers who push storage hard during long sessions. Thermal throttling is the silent killer of SSD performance, and Samsung’s engineering here addresses it directly rather than leaving it as an afterthought.
How the 990 Pro Compares to the 980 PRO and Other Rivals
The Samsung 990 Pro 2TB SSD improves on its predecessor in every meaningful metric. TechRadar notes the 990 Pro delivers 50% better performance-per-watt than the Samsung 980 PRO — a substantial efficiency gain that translates to lower heat output and more consistent sustained speeds. For users upgrading from a 980 PRO, the generational jump is real, not just a spec-sheet refresh.
Against other PCIe 4.0 competition, TechRadar’s roundups position the 990 Pro ahead of drives including the Crucial T500 and Kingston alternatives on speed and reliability. The Samsung 990 EVO Plus is a cheaper option in the Samsung lineup, but TechRadar’s testing places the 990 Pro firmly above it in outright performance. If raw throughput is your priority, the 990 Pro is the Samsung drive to buy — the EVO Plus makes more sense for budget-conscious builds where peak speed is less critical.
Is the Samsung 990 Pro 2TB SSD Right for PS5 Users?
For PS5 owners, the Samsung 990 Pro 2TB SSD is one of the strongest upgrade options available. TechRadar’s PS5 SSD coverage states plainly: “The Samsung 990 Pro delivers the best performance of any SSD on this list”. The drive recorded 6,526 MB/s in the PS5’s internal benchmark — well above what most competing drives achieve in the same test. Sony’s console benefits directly from faster storage through reduced load times and smoother asset streaming.
The drive is available in 1TB and 2TB configurations, and for PS5 use the 2TB version makes obvious sense — game installs have grown substantially, and 1TB fills up faster than most players expect. At $390 during the Memorial Day sale, the 2TB model offers considerably more value per gigabyte than buying two separate 1TB drives at different times.
Should you buy the Samsung 990 Pro during the Memorial Day sale?
If you need fast internal storage for a workstation, gaming PC, or PS5, yes — the Memorial Day discount makes a genuinely strong drive more accessible. TechRadar’s five-star verdict and benchmark results give the recommendation substance beyond deal-page hype. That said, sale prices on SSDs shift constantly, so treat the $390 figure as time-sensitive rather than a permanent new baseline.
How does the 990 Pro handle heat during heavy workloads?
The drive uses a nickel-coated controller combined with Samsung’s Dynamic Thermal Guard technology to regulate temperature under sustained load. This combination helps the drive maintain consistent speeds during large transfers rather than throttling down when temperatures climb — a practical advantage for creative professionals and gamers running extended sessions.
How does the 990 Pro compare to the 990 EVO Plus for everyday use?
The 990 Pro outperforms the 990 EVO Plus in raw throughput and is the better choice when speed is the priority. The EVO Plus costs less and suits lighter workloads, but users who need the fastest PCIe 4.0 performance — whether for professional workflows or gaming — should opt for the 990 Pro. The Memorial Day discount closes some of the price gap between the two drives.
The Samsung 990 Pro 2TB SSD earns its five-star reputation through real benchmark results, not marketing language. At $390 during Amazon’s Memorial Day sale, it’s a compelling buy for anyone who has been waiting for a meaningful price drop on a top-tier PCIe 4.0 drive. Don’t expect this price to stick around — storage deals at this level move quickly.
Where to Buy
Samsung 990 Pro 2TB SSD is now $390 (was $640) at Amazon | Shop all internal SSDs at Amazon | Samsung 990 Pro SSD (2TB): | 45% off TVs, AirPods, air fryers & vacuums | iPads, AirPods & MacBooks from $99
Edited by the All Things Geek team.
Source: TechRadar
