For the last two weeks, I’ve been running the Samsung 990 PRO 2TB SSD as my primary drive in my main work and gaming rig, and honestly, the difference is more pronounced than I expected. I didn't think I could squeeze much more performance out of my current build, but this drive proved me wrong.
Why I Needed the Upgrade
Before the 990 PRO, I was using a highly-rated Gen3 drive. It was fine, but
I noticed real slowdowns whenever I was doing something that hit the storage
hard: compiling massive codebases, loading the gigantic texture packs in Cyberpunk
2077, or trying to manage dozens of layers in Photoshop while a backup ran
in the background. My CPU and GPU were loafing, but my storage was tapping out.
That’s the definition of a bottleneck.
The Real-World Difference
Yes, the synthetic benchmark numbers (that $7,450
\text{ MB/s}$ read speed!) are impressive, but the real joy comes in
daily use.
1. Boot
Up? What Boot Up?: My Windows login screen appears almost instantly after
hitting the power button.
2. Game
Load Times: Loading into Starfield or Forza Horizon 5 feels
genuinely 20-30% faster. The system isn't just reading the files faster; the
improved random performance means it’s pulling all the tiny, scattered
necessary files simultaneously with far less fuss.
3. Project
Handling: As a creator, this is the biggest win. Loading my main 100GB
video editing project used to take 90 seconds. With the 990 PRO, it's under a
minute. Over a year of work, that time saving adds up to days.
For the PC Enthusiast
If you're skeptical that you'll feel the difference between a high-end Gen3
and a high-end Gen4 drive, let me reassure you: you will. Especially if
you are a multi-tasker or a high-resolution gamer. This isn't just about
sustained sequential speed; it's about the responsiveness of the controller and
the efficiency of the power use. The drive runs incredibly cool under heavy
load, which is a testament to Samsung's engineering.
The Verdict: Is it Worth the Investment?
Absolutely. Storage is the foundation of your entire PC experience. If
you’ve spent money on a high-end CPU and GPU, you are selling their potential
short by pairing them with slow storage. The 990 PRO is the premium fuel your
machine needs to run at max efficiency. I highly recommend picking up the 2TB
model for the best balance of price and capacity.
What performance upgrade are you considering next? Let me know in the
comments below!
Link: https://amzn.to/4inJnek
C8KE: https://c8ke.com/JOYSHOP
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