A fake Samsung 990 Pro SSD discovered in the Japanese market reveals how far counterfeiters have come in fooling both software detection and human inspection. The clone passes Windows and CrystalDiskInfo checks initially, displays flawless labeling, and arrives in legitimate-looking retail packaging—yet benchmarks expose the truth: it runs at roughly 20 MB/s, slower than a USB 2.0 drive.
Key Takeaways
- Fake Samsung 990 Pro passes initial software checks but operates at PCIe 3.0 instead of PCIe 4.0
- Benchmarks reveal ~20 MB/s performance, far below real 990 Pro speeds
- Label replication is flawless, fooling experienced users on visual inspection alone
- Counterfeit SSDs proliferating due to NAND shortage and AI-driven storage demand
- Samsung Magician and PCIe detection tools reliably identify fakes
How the Fake Samsung 990 Pro Nearly Escaped Detection
The counterfeit SSD was purchased brand new from a local distributor in Japan, suggesting fakes are infiltrating official retail channels, not just online marketplaces. Windows correctly identified the device as a Samsung 990 Pro with 2TB capacity. CrystalDiskInfo initially displayed the firmware version 0B2QJXD7, which is the legitimate firmware for real 990 Pro units, though outdated. These two checks created a false sense of authenticity that would fool most casual buyers.
The physical label was replicated so precisely that even experienced users could not distinguish it from genuine packaging. The fake arrived with all expected documentation and presented itself as a legitimate retail product. This level of counterfeit sophistication represents a significant escalation in the knock-off market, where previous fakes were often crude and easily identifiable.
The Detection Method That Works: PCIe Generation and Performance Testing
CrystalDiskInfo revealed the critical flaw: the fake SSD was operating at PCIe 3.0 instead of the PCIe 4.0 standard required for genuine Samsung 990 Pro drives. The real 990 Pro uses a Pascal controller and genuine V-NAND, delivering speeds that dwarf this counterfeit by orders of magnitude. Once identified, Samsung Magician software immediately flagged the drive as fake.
Actual benchmarking confirmed the worst fears. The fake achieved approximately 20 MB/s transfer rates—a performance level so abysmal it rivals USB 2.0 external drives rather than a modern NVMe SSD. This massive performance gap exposes the hollow core of the counterfeit: beneath the perfect label and passing software checks lies a drive with fundamentally different hardware architecture, likely containing recycled or salvaged NAND chips repackaged to mimic Samsung’s premium product.
Why Counterfeit SSDs Are Flooding the Market Right Now
The timing of this fake’s emergence is no accident. NAND flash memory shortages have created the perfect storm for counterfeiters, while explosive demand from AI data centers and large language model training has driven legitimate storage prices upward. When authentic Samsung 990 Pro drives command premium prices, the financial incentive to produce convincing fakes becomes irresistible.
This is not an isolated incident. Similar counterfeits have surfaced in India through local distributors and on platforms like AliExpress, where a fake 990 Pro 4TB was listed for just $39. Another variant contained a different controller entirely—the RTS5765DL—paired with fabricated NAND markings and a false capacity label. A separate fake Samsung 980 PRO 4TB priced around €50 initially benchmarked at 2,473 MB/s for reads and 1,057 MB/s for writes, but performance degraded rapidly under sustained use.
How to Avoid Buying a Fake Samsung 990 Pro
The most reliable detection method is running CrystalDiskInfo and checking for PCIe 4.0 operation—any 990 Pro reporting PCIe 3.0 is fake. Samsung Magician software provides another layer of verification, flagging counterfeits that pass basic Windows checks. Purchasing directly from authorized retailers rather than local distributors or third-party marketplaces reduces risk, though the Japanese case proves even distributor channels can be compromised.
Visual inspection alone is no longer sufficient. The label quality on modern fakes is so precise that human eyes cannot reliably distinguish them from genuine packaging. Performance testing is the definitive answer: if an SSD claims to be a 990 Pro but benchmarks at 20 MB/s, you have a counterfeit. Real 990 Pro drives deliver speeds in the thousands of MB/s range, making any significant discrepancy an immediate red flag.
Is the fake Samsung 990 Pro indistinguishable from the real one?
Not entirely. While the label replication is flawless and initial software checks pass, the fake operates at PCIe 3.0 instead of PCIe 4.0, which CrystalDiskInfo will reveal. Performance benchmarking exposes the fake decisively—20 MB/s versus thousands of MB/s on genuine drives. Samsung Magician also identifies counterfeits that pass other checks.
Where are fake Samsung 990 Pro SSDs being sold?
Counterfeits have appeared in the Japanese market through local distributors, in India via similar channels, and on AliExpress globally. The Japanese case involved a brand-new purchase from a local distributor, suggesting fakes are infiltrating official retail supply chains, not just online marketplaces.
Why is the fake Samsung 990 Pro so slow despite passing software checks?
The counterfeit contains fundamentally different hardware beneath the replica label. It operates at PCIe 3.0 instead of PCIe 4.0 and likely uses recycled or inferior NAND chips rather than Samsung’s genuine V-NAND. Software checks like Windows and outdated firmware versions can be spoofed, but actual hardware architecture cannot—hence the massive performance gap revealed in benchmarking.
The emergence of the fake Samsung 990 Pro is a warning sign for the entire storage market. As NAND shortages persist and AI demand keeps legitimate SSD prices elevated, counterfeiters will continue refining their tactics. The good news: detection tools exist and work reliably. The bad news: a perfect label and passing software checks no longer guarantee authenticity. Until supply chains stabilize and prices normalize, skepticism and performance testing are the only foolproof defenses.
Edited by the All Things Geek team.
Source: Tom's Hardware
