Samsung 2tb ssd review: Samsung T7 Shield Portable SSD Review: Tough and Consistent Portable Storage (Updated)

Drive	Article	Interface	Controller	DRAM buffer	Fl esh ram	Firmware
ADATA XPG Gammix S70 Blade 1024GB	AGAMMIXS70B-1T-CS	PCIe 4. 0 x4	Innogrit IG5236	Yes	TLC 3D NAND, Micron	3.2.F.3C
ADATA Legend 960 1024GB	ALEG-960-1TCS	PCIe 4.0 x4	SMI SM2264	Yes	TLC 3D NAND, Micron	A200V4TM
Crucial P5 Plus 1000GB	CT1000P5PSSD8	PCIe 4.0 x4	Micron DM02A1	Yes	TLC 3D NAND, Micron	P7CR402
Samsung 980 Pro 1000GB	MZ-V8P1T0BW	PCIe 4.0 x4	Samsung Elpis	Yes	TLC 3D NAND, Samsung	4B2QGXA7
Samsung 990 Pro 1000GB	MZ-V9P1T0BW	PCIe 4.0 x4	Samsung Pascal	Yes	TLC 3D NAND, Samsung	0B2QJXD7
Seagate FireCuda 530 1000GB	ZP1000GM3A023	PCIe 4. 0 x4	Phison PS5018-E18	Yes	TLC 3D NAND, Micron	SU6SM001
WD Black SN850X 1000GB	WDS100T2X0E	PCIe 4.0 x4	SanDisk 20035	Yes	TLC 3D NAND, SanDisk	620311WD

The test system configuration was as follows:

• GHz, 30 MB L3).
• CPU cooler: Noctua NH-D15.
• Motherboard: ASUS ROG Strix Z690-F Gaming WiFi (LGA1700, Intel Z690).
• Memory: 2 × 16 GB DDR5-4800 SDRAM, 38-38-38-70 (Kingston Fury Beast KF548C38BBK2-32).

Testing was performed on Microsoft Windows 11 Pro (21h3) Build 22000.282.0 operating system with KB5008353 installed, which fixes SSD performance during random write operations. The system used the Microsoft Standard NVMe Express Controller 10.0.18362.1 driver.

The test drives were installed in the M.2 slot, to which the PCI Express lines are connected directly from the processor.

⇡#SLC caching: writing, reading and deleting files

SLC caching is the most important algorithm that is responsible for speeding up write operations in modern drives. Its essence lies in the fact that information on an SSD with TLC or QLC memory is first written in a fast single-bit mode, and its compaction occurs later, during idle moments of the drive. This means that modern drives can demonstrate high speeds only on limited amounts of data, the size of which depends on the specific implementation of the SLC caching algorithm.

To find out how it works in practice and what are the speeds of a flash memory array of specific drives when operating in various modes, we conduct a test to continuously write files to an SSD until its capacity is completely exhausted while simultaneously measuring performance. This test uses standard Windows single-threaded file copy operations to the SSD being tested (from a RAM disk), and the test is carried out in three passes: for a completely blank SSD; for an SSD half full of data; and for the SSD, which is initially three-quarters full.

Samsung calls its SLC caching algorithm the marketing term Turbo Write. In fact, this is a hybrid SLC cache, which has a fixed component and a dynamically changing appendage, consisting of TLC cells transferred to the SLC mode. In the 990 Pro, this algorithm was called Turbo Write 2.0, but its principles have not changed, only the volumes of the SLC cache have increased. A 1 TB drive has a fixed part of the cache of 6 GB, and a dynamic cache can reach up to 108 GB. For the 2TB version, these values ​​​​are 10 and 216 GB, respectively.

The graph below, based on the Samsung 990 Pro 1TB, shows that up to 114GB of data can be written to a blank SSD at high speed. The dynamic part of the SLC cache remains fully available even on a partially filled drive. Even if three-quarters of the space is occupied by data, about 100 GB of information can be written to the terabyte 990 Pro at high speed. However, the write speed after the capacity of the SLC cache is exhausted as the drive fills with data decreases. This is due to the fact that the transfer of the dynamic part of the cache to the TLC mode, which needs to be dealt with much more actively on a drive filled with data to free up space, takes away from the Samsung 9 controller90 Pro tangible part of the resources.

It’s worth noting here that the flash memory array built on Samsung’s 176-layer TLC 3D V-NAND doesn’t look very fast. If you look at the maximum single-thread write speed that is achieved in SLC mode, then the 990 Pro 1 TB, although it outperforms its predecessor, cannot offer performance higher than Micron’s 176-layer memory in competing drives.

When measuring the minimum write speed in Samsung TLC mode 990 Pro again remains without first place. In this case, it loses to its predecessor, the 980 Pro. However, this should not be surprising. Suffice it to recall that the new drive uses 512-Gb chips, which means that the degree of parallelism of the flash memory array has decreased.

However, in terms of average write speed across the entire capacity, the Samsung 990 Pro is equivalent to the 980 Pro and outperforms drives on all other platforms. In order to fill the new terabyte Samsung to the eyeballs with files, you need to spend only 8.5 minutes.

With single-threaded reading of files, the relative result of the Samsung 990 Pro is slightly worse. It runs almost as fast as its predecessor, which means that in this case, the decrease in parallelism of the flash array was quite compensated by its acceleration. At the same time, there are faster models among the current SSD models. In other words, in terms of simple file copying using Windows, the new Samsung 990 Pro cannot be called a clear leader. The speed it offers is good, but nothing more: it cannot offer any fundamental separation from the flagship models already on the market.

Where Samsung’s innovation consistently shines is when it comes to handling file deletion operations. Like its predecessor, the 990 Pro can clean up flash memory and carry out garbage collection completely imperceptibly for the user. Therefore, hesitation after erasing significant amounts of information is not about the 990 Pro. To illustrate, below is the performance of small block reads immediately after releasing 64 GB of data on the SSD, and no dips are visible in this graph.

Moreover, in Samsung 990 Pro engineers were able to eliminate bursts of latency, which in similar conditions are observed in the 980 Pro.

⇡#Performance of complex file operations

When copying files inside the drive, the Samsung 990 Pro manages to show the best performance among all rivals, but its advantage over the 980 Pro is symbolic. However, the situation is different for asymmetric operations. In the case of archiving files, the new 990 Pro noticeably loses to both its predecessor and the WD Black SN850X. And when unzipping, the result is like that of Samsung 980 Pro, the new 990 Pro only outputs in a special Full Performance Mode (abbreviated FPM in the diagrams). In its normal state, it is noticeably slower and comparable in speed to drives based on the Phison E18 platform.

Summing up all this, it remains to be concluded that in terms of ordinary file operations, the Samsung 990 Pro is not at all better than its predecessor, and it does not deserve the title of the fastest PCIe 4. 0 SSD.

⇡#Performance in applications

The SPECworkstation 3.1 benchmark evaluates the performance of drives by simulating workstation workloads. And as you can see from the results, the Samsung 990 Pro is very well suited for heavy professional applications. Here, the new SSD of the South Korean company boasts not only the maximum result at the moment, but also a noticeable advantage over other PCIe 4.0 SSDs, which we previously classified as flagships. For example, it is very significant that the common Phison E18 platform, as well as the WD Black SN850X drive, turned out to be slower than the Samsung 990 Pro by more than 40%.

Graphs based on the results in various scenarios help to understand why the Samsung 990 Pro made such a powerful breakthrough. The novelty «fired» in two load cases: when working with multimedia and 3D content and in specialized applications for solving problems from the natural sciences.

SPECworkstation 3.1

⇡#Performance in games

But the best SSD for games from Samsung 990 Pro did not work out. The new drive is significantly faster than the Samsung 980 Pro and bypassed all SSDs on public platforms, but could not catch up with the leader in this discipline in the face of the vertically integrated WD Black SN850X. Even with the inclusion of a special mode of maximum performance, which additionally and very noticeably increases the gaming performance of the 990 Pro, it only catches up, and does not overtake Western Digital’s flagship SSD.

And if you look at the components that make up the result in 3DMark, it becomes clear that the titles of the best SSD for games Samsung 9The 90 Pro doesn’t deserve it, even with Full Performance Mode. The fact is that in those operations that are of interest to gamers in the first place, namely when loading games from a drive, the Samsung 990 Pro is inferior to the WD Black SN850X.

3DMark Storage

⇡#Synthetic tests: linear operations

Recall that in this section we are comparing not uninteresting for users peak performance values ​​that CrystalDiskMark gives, but indicators close to real life. For measurements, IOmeter is used with loads with a request queue depth of no more than 4 commands — these are the SSD operations that you have to deal with when working in a PC.

The Samsung 990 Pro shows a relatively weak result for linear reads, an average result for linear writes, and a rather high result for mixed operations. Moreover, in the case of reading, it noticeably loses to its predecessor, which is due to the transition of the novelty to the use of NAND devices with a volume of 512 Gb and a decrease in array parallelism.

⇡#Synthetic tests: small-block operations

The Samsung 990 Pro does not perform well in random operations with 4-KB blocks either. He definitely became faster than his predecessor, but he is far from leading. Despite all the victorious reports of Samsung, there is no fundamental separation from drives from other manufacturers 990 Pro does not show.

⇡#Temperature

SSD heating during operation depends mainly on two factors: on the process technology by which its controller is made, and on performance. The first parameter of the Samsung 990 Pro remains the same as in the 980 Pro. The new Pascal chip, like the previous Elpis, is produced according to 8nm standards, although Samsung has already transferred some controllers for SSDs to the 5nm process technology. The performance of the Samsung 990 Pro has become higher, so it is natural that the new drive turned out to be hotter.

The thermogram below, made during the active operation of the 990 Pro, shows the heating of the Pascal chip to 95 degrees, while the maximum temperature that we recorded with the Samsung 980 Pro controller was only 80 degrees. Stronger began to warm up and flash memory. Chips of 176-layer TLC 3D V-NAND reach temperatures of 85 degrees.

Curiously, at the same time, Samsung talks about a 1.5-fold superiority of the 990 Pro over its predecessor in energy efficiency. But let’s leave this statement on the conscience of the manufacturer, perhaps it is based on the temperature indicators that the new drive reports itself through S. M.A.R.T. And they are quite noticeably underestimated: having warmed up to 95 degrees, the SSD reports that its temperature has only reached 83 degrees.

The graph below shows the change in S.M.A.R.T. SSD temperatures under a five-minute read-dominated mixed load.

Although the graph looks smooth, there is some throttling here. The protective temperature mechanism turns on the Samsung 990 Pro at 83 degrees. That is, it turns out that with continuous loads, this SSD is capable of delivering high performance for no more than two and a half minutes.

However, keep in mind that this result was obtained when the SSD was operated without additional cooling means. Obviously, when it is installed in a board equipped with an M.2 slot heatsink, the drive will not be in danger of overheating quickly. For those cases when the motherboard does not have such a radiator, Samsung is ready to offer a version of the drive with its own cooling system.

⇡#Conclusions

As follows from the above, the Samsung 990 Pro cannot be called a breakthrough drive. In order to become a real «king of the market», he lacks support for the PCIe 5.0 bus, and, frankly, he did not show any fantastically high performance. It is much more correct to talk about it as an evolutionary update of Samsung 980 Pro, achieved by optimizing the base controller and moving to the next generation of flash memory.

However, the combination of new components does not always give a clear positive result. In some cases, such as normal file operations, the Samsung 990 Pro is no faster than its predecessor, which benefits from the wider flash array parallelism.

At the same time, the new Pascal controller is clearly more powerful than the previous Elpis, and in complex mixed workloads Samsung 9The 90 Pro really looks good. He demonstrated his abilities in the best way in the professional test SPECworkstation, focused on comparing components for workstations. And this result shows well who should like the new Samsung.

As for gaming configurations, the WD Black SN850X remains the best choice for them, but it should be noted that with the advent of games based on the Microsoft DirectStorage library, the situation may change. In them in favor of Samsung 9The 90 Pro is capable of playing high IOPS with deep request queuing. But it is not yet possible to verify this assumption.

To be honest, we expected more from the new Samsung hard drive. The memories of the 960 or 970 series products are still fresh in the memory, which conquered peaks of performance inaccessible to other products. With the transition to PCIe 4.0, Samsung’s drive development began to stagnate. Yes, they are still good, but there are no more situations where Samsung-branded SSDs are head and shoulders above any alternatives.

In general, Samsung 990 Pro can be described as the answer of the South Korean giant to the spawning fast drives with Phison and Innogrit controllers, which challenged, and not unreasonably, the superiority of 980 Pro in performance. Now Samsung has put them in their place: no SSD on the Phison E18 controller can shake the position of the 990 Pro. The only problem is that the superiority of the new Samsung cannot be called unshakable, and the same Phison has a new platform on the way, which has a chance to again shift 990 Pro from the pedestal.

the fastest SSD today, although not as expected / HDD, SSD, flash drives, other storage media / iXBT Live

They say that waiting for the holiday is usually better
the holiday itself. Usually. But not when the holiday is cancelled. Or
turns out not to be as expected. For the second time in a row, Samsung has released a completely different top-end SSD, as individual enthusiasts and
company fans.

The first such event was recorded around
three years ago — when everyone was waiting for Samsung 980 pro. Well, since it’s “Pro”, then by analogy with other models with
this suffix was expected to use MLC memory. Only on the new interface — not SATA (as in 840 / 850 / 860 Pro) and not even PCIe Gen3 x4 (950 / 960 / 970 Pro), but already PCIe Gen4 x4. That is, in the opinion of many, the same reference “Gen4” should have turned out, which was the reference “Gen3” performed by Samsung 970 Pro. And no one was embarrassed that everyone else
manufacturers have already completely abandoned MLC-memory — Samsung continued to produce SSDs on it. Let in limited quantities and not
very willingly — no one expected so much. The main thing is the fact itself. Especially since
the market for PCIe Gen4-enabled systems was limited to
a small part of computers (and even then — only desktop, that is, a priori
minorities) based on AMD processors. Well, it seemed logical to stake out a place
on a small, but top — and show all competitors, where crayfish hibernate .

In fact, everything turned out quite differently. Having shown the 980 Pro at the beginning of 2020 at the exhibition, Samsung further about this line for a long time.
were silent, waiting for their holiday. Which did not fail to happen in the autumn of the same
year: when Intel brought to market a new laptop platform with PCIe Gen4 support. Instantly, the solution became much more widespread — and it immediately became clear that the Samsung 980 Pro is aimed not at some kind of elite consumption, but
is a normal SSD on TLC memory.
Just like others. Only fast. Even if not the fastest, but one of the most
continues to remain until now — although more than two years have passed and a
a host of superior competing products. Only here and much more
even more slow ones have appeared — since the market develops first of all
thanks to the budget segment. No wonder — he is the majority
sales have always been necessary, so it would be strange to expect the opposite. Basically 980 Pro can
it was calm to continue selling further — but last year the company began to talk
about the 990 Pro.

What was expected of him? They have already stopped counting on the return of MLC memory even
the most violent — with the fact that this page of history is turned upside down forever, resigned
already they. But there were systems with support for PCIe Gen5. Intel was the first to bring its platform to the market a year and a half ago, but limited to only 16 lines
new interface. By default directed to the video card — but no one
prevents them from being taken away from such. At least a part. A year later, AMD rolled out its AM5 platform. And as one of the advantage
such has repeatedly emphasized that the PCIe controller of new processors provides Gen5 on all lines — including
designed to connect SSD. Due to the lack of such, there was little sense at first — but Phison has already announced its E26. Now SSDs based on it have begun to appear, and
as yet no model even the potential capabilities of the controller fully realize
it can’t, but the real gain from the new interface is… well, you get the idea.

But many were sure that the Samsung 990 Pro would be designed specifically for PCIe Gen5 x4. Because somehow
it just so happened — it was planned for the fall of last year and the AMD AM5 platform was supposed to appear at the same time. So, apparently, one under the other. And about others
many did not even imagine the reasons for the release of a new line. Especially,
Samsung fans are confident
is that the 980 Pro is the best SSD on the market. And since the best, there is nothing to change it for — only for
even more best . Is not it?

Not really. What everyone is working on
flash memory manufacturers (and Samsung is no exception) — reducing its cost. The main way to do this
now is to increase the number of layers, or the packing density of bits in
each cell (remaining unchanged since the 80s of the last century — this is exactly
one FET). But the second radically spoils the speed and endurance
memory, so it is unsuitable for top-end SSDs. But the first is good everywhere. And with this
point of view 128-layer memory in line 980 Pro has already become archaic. Second way
cost reduction — increase in the size of crystals and pages. For
performance is also not very good, but the price decides. And crystals by 256
Gbps, which were used in the 980 Pro with a capacity of up to a terabyte, have also become archaic. In 2020
year, the company still had no choice — if only because it wanted to produce
fast models for 250 and 500 GB. But now they are no longer needed — buy a small
SSD on the top
platform is meaningless: it will still not be too fast, but it will cost
noticeably more expensive than a sensible «middling» on a cheaper controller. Those
in 2020 it wasn’t, but it is now. Not yet at Samsung — but you can not go to a fortuneteller so that
understand: what will be the new 990 «without suffixes». Yes — with a probability of 146% there
there will be a four-channel bufferless controller, but with support for PCIe Gen4. Such a company would have been needed already yesterday — since today it has to
OEM PM9B1 release on Marvell controllers, not their own. But potential
orders for such models are large — so that their own analogue will appear. And «take away»
all those who need an inexpensive, but fast SSD up to a terabyte. And the 990 Pro should be the top no-compromise solution for those who
wants to buy a capacious and fast SSD — and is ready to pay for it. So the target capacity is the same 2
TB, like competitors. Well, for terabytes, of course, there is a steady demand,
but if such a modification is already slower than the older one, you can safely do this
close eyes. Previously, it was impossible. But support for PCIe Gen5 is still needed . .. almost no one. Except for a certain amount
enthusiasts, and even those for the most part will not buy it, limiting themselves
reading reviews and writing thoughtful comments.

All in all, it’s no surprise that the Samsung 990 Pro turned out to be nothing like what some expected. But precisely
the way it should have been. 176-layer memory with 512 Gb chips economically
more profitable than the old 128-layer with 256 Gb crystals. Concerning
speed, then with the appropriate controller it can also increase —
the old memory had an interface with a speed of 1200 MT / s per channel, and the new one “squeezes”
up to 2000 MT/s: today this is the maximum on the market. So, ceteris paribus, the performance
may grow. But with equal — which is the capacity of 2 TB, on which and
previously used crystals of 512 Gbit. Terabyte will now become
slower — fewer crystals, so double alternation instead of
quadruple. But in the previous line it was a little, but faster — about
this is worth remembering.

Memory with a new interface required modification
and controller. Although it cannot be said that the chip codenamed «Pascal» has become something radically new — in fact
this is a modified «Elpis»
previous family. With the correction of errors, refinement of algorithms, etc., but
nothing more — even the technical process remained old. Many would prefer something
thinner as it would reduce power consumption and
heat dissipation, which is large for top controllers when fully loaded,
but that didn’t happen. But the “Full Performance Mode” mode appeared, in which the
energy-saving technology, allowing you to stuff a little more parrots into
some tests — albeit at the cost of increased power consumption. Turns on like
and put in the proprietary utility. In fact, there is nothing new here — the first in these
games started playing WD yet
four years ago. As well as many manufacturers complete their SSD with heatsinks,
Yes, and Samsung itself quietly began to do this even with the previous line. Another
the question is that now the radiator will receive RGB backlighting, but, firstly, these versions need to
wait, and second, experience 980 Pro shows what is possible for Samsung’s «branded» markup and what is better on the market
search (if you want to).

From a consumer point of view, the Samsung 990 Pro is not too different from the 980 Pro. Rather, it is a modified version — and more
beneficial for the manufacturer: the actual cost is lower, but you can sell
more expensive — new. Well, formally — the controller is new, the memory is also new, so
that it is quite pulling to update the model number. Upgrade from 960 Evo/Pro to 970 Evo / Pro was in
the same accuracy. And the 970 Evo Plus cost an additional suffix
just because only the memory changed there, but not the controller. Well, the previous
«Update» of the Pro-line
as a replacement for the 970 Pro
980 Pro and
at all upset many — because everything has changed in general, but far from everything in
better side. Here at least there will be no such problem — it has not become worse
Nothing. As for performance, let’s see. Comparing 990 Pro with PM9A1 (OEM equivalent of 980 Pro) the same
capacities — fortunately, I repeat, in the new line just 2 TB are targeted.

We see almost nothing in such simple scenarios.
Except that the speed of writing to the SLC cache has increased significantly from 4.1 to 5.5 GB / s. But outside it we get
only 300 MB/s extra. However, once on their own 300 MB / s records
looked beautiful, and now — in addition to what was. So get hit
in cash, perhaps we will be more often — which is good. Yes, and in itself an increase in speed
records within it are useful — after all, in fact, most operations fit into it.
But fundamentally, the behavior of the new generation of Samsung drives has not changed. Cache a little more — but
we remember that earlier it was simply slightly reduced for 2 TB models. Now
returned to the place.

The second pass «over the garbage» shows about the same
most — 250 MB / s more than before. Working with the SLC cache (and the controller, like the old static
the cache area cleans itself at the first opportunity) is normalized — but, again,
to the level inherent in terabyte models before. In fact, it is not so easy
the old family got 2 TB — such SSDs appeared later, and their parameters had to be worsened. A
now this is just the “main” capacity — like competitors.

And here are the promised optimizations — earlier in
full state SLC cache
was not enough, so in this test, the write speed in at least one stream, at least in
somewhat dropped to 2.5 GB / s. Yes, and in the ideal case, and up to 3.8 GB / s
reached, although some competitors have already stepped over four years ago. Here
in the new line, and Samsung caught up with everyone — and overtook the majority. Although the SLC cache is no longer, but the high speed
Recordings can be provided stably. Changes in the algorithms of work were enough —
although at a low level it was not reflected. But the maximum reading speed, on the contrary,
fell — although the official specifications promised the opposite. But this is ordinary
practice — manufacturers like to announce the results of low-level benchmarks,
and often with arbitrarily pretentious settings, radically divorced from practice. And it is still much more affected by reading in one stream —
where you can’t really come up with anything new.

But it is more interesting to see how it is in the complex. AND
not only in the range of Samsung, but in comparison with other SSDs of a similar level. This will allow us to do PCMark 10 Storage Full System Drive, which evaluates the performance of SSDs on a wide range of tasks — from loading the operating
systems to simple data copying. And we will take the guidelines from the previous materials.
Predecessors — two in fact: 980 Pro 1 TB and PM9A1 2 TB — because today
we are studying a new two-terabyte, but previously the fastest was a terabyte. Here is the Kingston KC3000 1 TB on the Phison E18 — you would also need a two-ter, but what is there. Digma
The Top G3 2TB is the fastest InnoGrit IG5236 SSD I’ve come across so far. And WD Black SN850 2 TB is the same age
Samsung 980 Pro, yet faster in many ways
scripts all the time. True, his replacement has also already come out, but with it somehow later
let’s get acquainted — but for now let’s see if the old 990 Pro can handle it.

Well, according to this test package, the Samsung 990 Pro is the fastest, and by a solid margin from all
competitors. In fact, he overtakes them even with a limited number
free space, but the immediate predecessors and even the same SN850 calmly bypasses even on the old
interface. Here, however, you can turn on the internal conspiracy theorist — and remember
that the firmware can be optimized for specific programs. But if everything
It was so easy, so everyone would use it. And in general: updated software for
old models — they overtook all rivals. However, nothing of the kind
observed — results in PCMark10 Storage for all
manufacturers are growing, but not from scratch — and often by low-level tests
it is possible to find the reasons for this growth. It’s just long enough and tedious, but
parrots «brand» are good for their simplicity. Well, the reduction of all quite vital
scenarios to one numerical indicator — which has its drawbacks, but not
for a quick assessment. By the way, the leaders, as before, remain Optane SSDs — even the old man 900P sample of 2017 is gaining 5000 points. But the gap, it should be noted, slowly
is shrinking.

Okay. Let’s get back to the Samsung 990 Pro. This is not the line that many were waiting for. To be fair, we waited
virtually — in practice, none of the waiters would urgently run for a new
platform with PCIe Gen5 support. Yes, and having bought such a thing, it’s not a fact that I was in a hurry
with an SSD. What Samsung understood no worse than others,
naturally, releasing such a device that can be sold in bulk (respectively
segment, of course — top-end SSDs are generally sold much worse than budget ones), and which can be usefully
take advantage now. At the forefront, of course, was the transition to a new
memory. And I would not be surprised that only a partially updated controller of her
opportunities are not perfect. But to return to the leading positions
in terms of performance and that was enough. So the only drawback is any new
are expensive. But those that have ceased to be such are sold at a discount. Well, again
well, terabytes are still popular, but the company is primarily
focused on a capacity of 2 TB — there are no “little things” in this family at all, but 1
TV will work slower.