Samsung Electronics, a world leader in advanced memory technology, today announced the release of SSD 990 EVO — the newest addition to the company’s lineup of consumer SSDs — which delivers powerful performance with better energy efficiency. Designed to enhance everyday computing experiences like gaming, work and video/photo editing, the NVMe SSD is expected to be an ideal solution for a diverse range of users.

“Samsung has been leveraging its advanced memory technologies for optimized SSD solutions, and for our latest consumer product, we’ve combined both innovation and practicality to enhance the computing experiences for users,” said Hangu Sohn, Vice President of Memory Brand Product Biz Team at Samsung Electronics. “The 990 EVO balances performance, power efficiency and reliability, making it a versatile choice for the latest interface that is suitable for a variety of everyday tasks, including gaming, business workflow and creative endeavors.”

Enhanced Performance

The 990 EVO offers enhanced performance of up to 43% compared to the previous model, 970 EVO Plus. Sequential read speeds come up to 5,000 megabytes-per-second (MB/s) and write speeds up to 4,200 MB/s. Random read and write speeds also get a boost with up to 700K input/output operations per second (IOPS) and 800K IOPS, respectively.

By using Host Memory Buffer (HMB) technology to directly link to the host processor’s DRAM, the SSD can achieve optimized performance even with a DRAM-less design. Users upgrading from previous mainstream SSDs will experience significantly faster loading speeds for games and swift access to large files.

Improved Power Efficiency and Smart Thermal Solution

The Samsung 990 EVO improved power efficiency of up to 70% when compared to the 970 EVO Plus, allowing users extended usage on PCs without the constant concern for battery life. It also supports Modern Standby,[1] which enables an instant on/off function with uninterrupted internet connectivity and seamless notification reception, even in low-power states.

The 990 EVO’s heat spreader label effectively regulates the thermal condition of the NAND chip, allowing operations to consistently run at their highest levels without compromising drive integrity.

A Versatile SSD for Current and Future Computing

The 990 EVO is a versatile SSD created to meet current computing needs and in anticipation of future requirements. Users can experience seamless multitasking with a single SSD that caters to the demands of everyday such as gaming, business and creative workflow.

Supporting both PCIe 4.0 x4 and PCIe 5.0 x2 interfaces, the 990 EVO fits the needs for today’s PCs supporting PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots while it also offers compatibility along with thermal control and power savings for PCIe 5.0 interfaces in upcoming applications.

The 990 EVO comes in 1 terabyte (TB) and 2TB capacity options.

Samsung Magician Software Support

Samsung Magician software presents a suite of optimization tools for enhanced functionality for all Samsung SSDs, including the 990 EVO. Users can streamline the data migration process for SSD upgrades effortlessly and securely. In addition, Samsung Magician protects valuable data, monitors drive health and notifies timely firmware updates.

The 990 EVO will be available in Malaysia from next month. For more information — including warranty details — please visit samsung.com/SSD or semiconductor.samsung.com/internal-ssd/.

Samsung SSD 990 EVO Specifications

For more information, please visit: https://www.samsung.com/my/memory-storage/all-memory-storage/?memory-card

[1] For detailed information about Modern Standby, please visit the Microsoft website (https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/design/device-experiences/part-selection#ssd-storage).

[2] The NVM Express® design mark is a registered trademark of NVM Express, Inc.

[3] 1GB = 1,000,000,000 bytes by IDEMA. A certain portion of capacity may be used for system file and maintenance use, so the actual capacity may differ from what is indicated on the product label.

[4] Sequential and random performance measurements are based on IOmeter1.1.0. Performance may vary based on an SSD’s firmware version, system hardware & configuration.
Test system configuration: AMD Ryzen9 7950x 16-Core Processor CPU@4.5GHz, DDR5 4800MHz 16GBx2 (PC5-38400), OS-Windows 11 Pro 64bit, Chipset – ASRock X670E Taichi

[5] Sequential and random performance measurements are based on IOmeter1.1.0. Performance may vary based on an SSD’s firmware version, system hardware & configuration.
Test system configuration: AMD Ryzen9 7950x 16-Core Processor CPU@4.5GHz, DDR5 4800MHz 16GBx2 (PC5-38400), OS-Windows 11 Pro 64bit, Chipset – ASRock X670E Taichi

[6] Samsung Electronics shall not be liable for any loss, including but not limited to loss of data or other information contained on Samsung Electronics’ products or loss of profit or revenue which may be incurred by the user. For more information on the warranty, please visit https://www.samsung.com/my/memory-storage/all-memory-storage/?ssd and https://semiconductor.samsung.com/consumer-storage/internal-ssd/

[7] Five years or total bytes written (TBW), whichever comes first. For more information on the warranty, please refer to the enclosed warranty document in the package.

Offering blazing-fast speeds and ultimate power efficiency, the 990 PRO series is optimized for massive data volumes, such as 3D/4K graphics work, data analytics and high-quality games, making it the ideal SSD for today’s PCs, laptops, game consoles and computing systems. With improved total bytes written (TBW) ratings of up to 2,400TB, the 990 PRO series ensures increased SSD reliability and longevity, ideal for those with highly demanding workloads and large storage capacity needs.

“Today’s gamers and creative professionals require high-capacity, high-performance SSDs and Samsung’s new 4TB SSD 990 PRO is the perfect storage solution to meet their needs,” said Hangu Sohn, Corporate Vice President of the Memory Brand Product Biz Team at Samsung Electronics. “As the demand for high-resolution content and ultra-fast data-processing speeds continues to grow, high-performance NVMe[2] storage has become a core requirement.”

Best-in-class Performance and Capacity

Featuring Samsung’s V8 technology and improved controller, the 4TB 990 PRO offers near-max performance in a PCIe 4.0 interface, with sequential read speeds of up to 7,450 megabytes-per-second (MB/s) and write speeds of up to 6,900MB/s. The newly expanded capacity of 4TB delivers boosted random read and write speeds of up to 1,600K and 1,550K IOPS[3] respectively, making it the ideal solution for gamers, creative professionals and tech enthusiasts seeking top-tier performance and storage space.

With the fastest random read performance among PCIe 4.0 interface consumer SSDs on the market[4], the 4TB 990 PRO significantly reduces mid-game stalls and accelerates the loading of high-quality videos, increasing gamers’ enjoyment and immersion. For high-end games that support the latest in game-loading technology, the 990 PRO series can help reduce lag, allowing users to enjoy real-time gameplay experiences with consistently high frames per second (FPS).

Enhanced Power Efficiency and Reliable Thermal Control

The 990 PRO series achieves breakthrough power efficiency, with an up to 50% performance improvement in comparison to the previous 980 PRO series. It also incorporates a nickel coating on the controller and features a heat spreader label on the back side of the SSD, ensuring optimal temperature level maintenance and minimal performance fluctuations over time. The 990 PRO with Heatsink is equipped with an effective, slim heatsink, giving users the full experience in sustained high-performance computing and gaming capabilities. Furthermore, the drive is compatible with the latest game consoles, so it can speed up game installation and loading times, while also preventing performance drops that can result from overheating.

Single-Sided 4TB SSD for Ultra-Slim Laptops

Thanks to Samsung’s V8 1Tb high-density NAND and the company’s memory stacking technology, the 4TB 990 PRO was designed with a single-sided M.2 form factor, which makes it slimmer than other double-sided M.2 SSDs. This frees users from the concerns that double-sided M.2 SSDs can cause when installed into ultra-thin laptops, such as an inability to install the SSD or the risk of damaging other components. With a single-sided M.2 form factor, the streamlined design provides abundant storage capacity and sustainable performance.

Samsung Magician Software and Availability

The Samsung Magician software ensures optimal performance in SSDs by keeping firmware, drivers and other settings up to date, while also offering the flexibility to customize power and performance optimization, according to user preferences. Moreover, the software supports RGB functionality for the 990 PRO with Heatsink, so gamers have the option to customize color and LED effects. Set to be released in September 2023, the new version of Magician 8.0 will be an integrated software solution for SSDs, portable SSDs, memory cards and USB flash drives.

The 4TB capacity models of the 990 PRO and 990 PRO with Heatsink will be available in Malaysia from early November 2023 onwards. The 990 PRO series’ 1TB and 2TB models are currently available for purchase. For more information, including warranty details, please visit samsung.com/SSD or semiconductor.samsung.com/internal-ssd/.

Samsung SSD 990 PRO | 990 PRO with Heatsink Specifications

[1] PCIe: Peripheral Component Interconnect express.

[2] NVMe: Non-Volatile Memory express.

[3] IOPS: Input/output Operations Per Second.

[4] As of Aug, 2023, fastest random read performance among PCIe 4.0 interface consumer SSDs on the market, with random read speeds of up to 1,600K IOPS and random write speeds of up to 1,550K IOPS.

[5] The NVM Express® design mark is a registered trademark of NVM Express, Inc.

[6] 1GB = 1,000,000,000 bytes by IDEMA. A certain portion of capacity may be used for system file and maintenance use, so the actual capacity may differ from what is indicated on the product label.

[7] Sequential and random performance measurements are based on IOmeter1.1.0. Performance may vary based on an SSD’s firmware version, system hardware & configuration.

[8] Test system configuration: AMD Ryzen 7 5800X 8-Core Processor CPU@3.80GHz, DDR4 3600MHz 16GBx2 (PC4-25600 Overclock), Windows 10 Pro 64bit, ASRock-X570 Taichi

[9] Samsung Electronics shall not be liable for any loss, including but not limited to loss of data or other information contained on Samsung Electronics product or loss of profit or revenue which may be incurred by user. For more information on the warranty, please visit samsung.com/SSD or semiconductor.samsung.com/internal-ssd/

[10] Five years or total bytes written (TBW), whichever comes first. For more information on the warranty, please refer to the enclosed warranty document in the package.

Samsung Malaysia Electronics today introduced its latest external storage device, the T7 Shield Portable Solid State Drive (PSSD), which brings exceptional performance and reliability in a durable, credit card size design. The T7 Shield is the newest addition to the Samsung T7 Portable SSD family that includes the T7, a daily driver that provides incredibly fast speeds in a sleek design, and the T7 Touch,[1] a CES award-winning PSSD with a built-in fingerprint sensor for enhanced data protection.

“Creative professionals and consumers want durable, high-performance and reliable SSDs with the assurance their data will remain safeguarded, even when dropped, exposed to water or used outdoors,” said KyuYoung Lee, Vice President of Memory Brand Product Biz Team at Samsung Electronics. “The T7 Shield offers extensive compatibility, enabling consumers to use the new SSD on multiple devices including PC, android smartphone and game console.”

IP65-Rated Durability

The T7 Shield is Samsung’s most durable PSSD to date, making it ideal for outdoor content creators or travelers who need data-rich experience without having to worry about data loss from exposure to the elements or life’s mishaps. Carefully engineered by Samsung from the inside out, the T7 Shield is shock-resistant from drops of up to three meters,[2] while being IP65-certified as dustproof and water resistant.[3] Despite the new rugged design, the T7 Shield is compact and lightweight, weighing a mere 98 grams.

Exceptional Performance

The T7 Shield delivers a read speed of 1,050 megabytes per second (MB/s) and a write speed of 1,000 MB/s,[4] which are the fastest transfer speeds currently available based on the USB 3.2 Gen2 standard.[5] It is approximately twice as fast as its predecessor, the T5, and up to 9.5 times faster than external hard disk drives (HDDs),[6] saving consumers, digital creators and professionals valuable time.

Samsung has also optimized the inside and outside of the product, by changing the surface material and improving the software in the T7 Shield, to solve the performance degradation and overheating that occur when transferring large files. Due to this change, there is no performance degradation even when files of 2TB are moved at once, and heat generation is minimized, which help solve the inconvenience that consumers may experience. Through this, it is possible to transmit data stably without performance drop,[7] even when performing data-heavy, continuous tasks such as high-quality video recording, editing, encoding and rendering. This alleviates concerns over inconsistent drive performance.

Wide Compatibility and Strong Security

Designed to work across multiple devices, Samsung’s T7 Shield can store large numbers of pictures, games as well as 4K and 8K videos whether on a PC, Mac, Smartphone (Android), or game console.[8] Additionally, the T7 Shield has strengthened security (*256-bit AES, Advanced Encryption Standard) with hardware encryption so that consumer data can be safely protected even if the T7 shield is lost. Plus, it provides access to Samsung’s Magician Software[9] which lets users to conveniently manage the drive.

Eco-Conscious Packaging

As with Samsung’s other portable SSD lineups, the T7 Shield uses one-third of the tray packaging compared to prior generations, while minimizing greenhouse gas emissions during its production through production efficiency.

Available in Beige, Black and Blue to satisfy user preferences, the T7 Shield is offered in 1TB and 2TB sizes, making it suitable for a wide range of use cases. The drive comes with a USB Type-C-to-C cable and a USB Type-C-to-A cable, and includes a three-year limited manufacturer warranty.

Be one of the first to purchase Samsung T7 Shield via Lazada, Shopee and participating Samsung Authorized Dealers nationwide. For more information, please visit https://www.samsung.com/my/memory-storage/portable-ssd/t7-shield-1tb-moonrock-beige-external-storage-nvme-1050-mb-s-mu-pe1t0k-ww/

Samsung Portable SSD T7 Shield Product Specifications

[1] CES 2020 Innovation Awards honoree

[2] The drop test was conducted under controlled conditions. Drop resistance may vary depending on the actual environmental conditions. Damage caused by drop is not covered under warranty. *Test condition: Device was dropped free-fall to a metal plate from 3-meter height.

[3] IP (Ingress Protection) ratings define degrees of protection provided by mechanical casings and electrical enclosures against water and dust. T7 Shield has a IP65 rating based on internal testing conducted under controlled conditions. Water and dust resistance capabilities may vary depending on the actual environmental conditions. Damage caused by liquid and dust are not covered under warranty.

**IPX5 Test condition: Device was exposed to fresh water projected from a nozzle (Φ6.3mm) 3 meters away at 12.5 l/min for 3 minutes.

**IP6X Test condition: Device was exposed to 2kg/m³ of active dust with a pressure under 2kPa for 8 hours in a vacuum chamber.

[4] Test system configuration: ASUS Z270 ROG MAXIMUS IX HERO (USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C), Intel (R) Core (TM) i7-7700K CPU @ 4.20GHz, OS- Windows 10 19H2.

[5] USB 3.2 Gen2 is the standard protocol offered on most consumer and pro model laptops. Throughput is limited due to device ports, not the SSD. Performance may vary depending on host configuration. To reach maximum read/write speeds of up to 1,050/1,000MB/s, respectively, the host device and connection cables must support USB 3.2 Gen2, and the UASP mode must be enabled.

[6] Based on internal test results compared to a Samsung external HDD 1TB (HX-MTD10EA)

[7] The T7 Shield maintains above 900MB/s of sequential write speed with the 1TB model and 1,000MB/s with the 2TB in ambient temperature (25℃).

[8] Compatibility with host devices may vary. Some operating systems may require reformatting of the T7 Shield. Please find the compatible devices list on https://samsung.com/samsungssd.

[9] For further information, visit https://semiconductor.samsung.com/consumer-storage/magician.

[10] 1GB=1,000,000,000 bytes, 1TB=1,000,000,000,000 bytes. Lower capacity may be demonstrated by computers due to use of a different measurement standard.

[11] Exact weight of product may vary by capacity.

[12] Max data transfer speed is measured based on Samsung’s internal testing standards with the enclosed cable. Performance may vary depending on host configuration, cable and user system environment.

[13] T7 Shield has a IP65 rating based on internal testing conducted under controlled conditions. Water and dust resistance capabilities may vary depending on the actual environmental conditions. Damage caused by liquid and dust are not covered under warranty.
*IPX5 Test condition: Device was exposed to fresh water projected from a nozzle (Φ6.3mm) 3 meters away at 12.5 l/min for 3 minutes.
**IP6X Test condition: Device was exposed to 2kg/m³ of active dust with a pressure under 2kPa for 8 hours in a vacuum chamber.

[14] The drop test was conducted under controlled conditions. Drop resistance may vary depending on the actual environmental conditions. Damage caused by drop is not covered under warranty.

[15] T7 Series Software’s minimum System Requirements: Windows 7 or higher, Mac OS X 10.10 or higher, Android Lollipop or higher.

[16] Case Temperature is measured at the hottest point on the case. Sufficient airflow is recommended to be operated properly on heavier workload within device operating temperature.

[17] Samsung Electronics shall not be liable for any loss, including but not limited to loss of data or other information contained in Samsung Electronics products and in storage devices, or loss of profit or revenue which may be incurred by user. For more information on warranty, please visit https://www.samsung.com/my/memory-storage/portable-ssd/t7-shield-1tb-moonrock-beige-external-storage-nvme-1050-mb-s-mu-pe1t0k-ww/

Samsung Electronics, the world leader in advanced memory technology, today unveiled its new enterprise solid-state drive (SSD) featuring Zoned Namespace (ZNS) technology — the PM1731a. Leveraging ZNS, the SSD will maximize available user capacity and offer an extended lifespan in storage server, data center and cloud environments.

“Samsung’s ZNS SSD reflects our commitment to introducing differentiated storage solutions that can substantially enhance the reliability and lifetime of server SSDs,” said Sangyeun Cho, senior vice president of the Memory Software Development Team at Samsung Electronics. “We plan to leverage quad-level cell (QLC) NAND technology in our next-generation ZNS drives to enable higher thresholds for storage performance and capacity in the enterprise systems of tomorrow.”

ZNS allows data to be grouped based on their usage and access frequency, and stored sequentially in independent zones within an SSD. Without the need to move and rearrange data, ZNS SSDs can significantly reduce the number of write operations, lowering the drive’s write amplification factor (WAF) — the amount of actual writes performed by the drive compared to writes initially instructed by the host system. The closer the WAF is to one, the more efficient the SSD and the longer it will last.

Based on ZNS, the new Samsung SSD can achieve a WAF close to one, a major improvement over typical server SSD values between three and four. This will make the drive last up to four times longer than conventional NVMe SSDs, making it a greener, more sustainable solution for server infrastructures. ZNS also allows users to take advantage of the SSD’s full capacity by eliminating the need for overprovisioning, which would have required reserving some storage space for background tasks. These improvements will enable enterprise customers to handle big data and artificial intelligence applications with much greater efficiency.

Built upon Samsung’s sixth-generation V-NAND, the 2.5-inch PM1731a will come in two terabyte (TB) and four TB models. The SSD will feature dual ports, ensuring the drive is fully accessible for continuous operations and minimizing downtime. This is essential for enterprises and public cloud companies who run mission-critical, data-intensive applications, and cannot afford any pause in the continuity of their businesses.

Samsung has been actively engaging in several open-source projects to help expand the ZNS ecosystem. The company will make its ZNS technology available to xNVMe, which provides software libraries and tools to improve the performance of NVMe devices. The company is also participating in the Storage Performance Development Kit (SPDK) community created by Intel, enabling SPDK users to implement ZNS more easily.

Samsung plans to mass-produce ZNS SSDs in the second half of the year and continue working with global enterprise storage companies to optimize its ZNS drives across various customer environments.

This year, WCG returned to the international stage after a six-year hiatus, making it a highly anticipated event for e-sports fans all around the world. Qualification matches have been held online by region all over the world since March, and those who advanced were invited to the WCG 2019 Grand Final, hosted from July 18-21 in Xian, China.

On top of its official sponsorship of WCG 2019, Samsung operated a 595 square meter Samsung Exhibition at the event for visitors to explore.

The 2019 World Cyber Games captivates audiences in Xian, China

Samsung Electronics SSD will also be participating in the games show China Joy in August, as well as the Tokyo Game Show this September, two games shows that make up half of the top four global game industry events. At these two events, Samsung Electronics SSD will also set up exhibition booths for visitors to enjoy a series of events, video streams and pro-gamer competition matches.

Samsung is pursuing these partnerships with global gaming shows due to the suitability of their Solid State Drives (SSDs) for the gaming industry. Take a look at the video below, produced by Samsung to showcase the industry-leading performance and speed of its SSDs, to see main character Bike overcome competitors and other obstacles by collecting Samsung SSD products.

Compared to traditional HDDs, Samsung’s SATA SSDs boost performance by up to 4 times, extract files 3 times faster and copy photos 10 times faster. For instance, it takes only 31 seconds for SDDs to extract a 4.7GB movie, while this same process takes over 3 times as long – 96 seconds – using HDDs. Accordingly, users playing high-spec games are increasingly adopting SSDs. Samsung’s V-NAND flash-based SSD (860 PRO/EVO/QVO) provides players with a fully immersive game-playing environment thanks to the overall boost it gives to PC performance. The benefits to this SSD include high-speed game loading times, low latency and seamless in-game responsiveness, even when multitasking.

The Samsung 970 EVO Plus is an SSD designed for games that support 4K or Direct X12, which call on PCs to handle the download of large files along with increased disk input/output operations. The Samsung NVMe SSD 970 EVO Plus can significantly increase the speed of such demanding games; according to Samsung’s internal test results, game loading is reduced between 7 to 37% when using an NWMe SSD compared to SATA drives.

The Samsung Portable SSD T5 can be applied to a gaming console, offering not only a fast loading speed but also the increase of a console’s storage space up to 2TB. Samsung internal testing showed that when using the Portable SSD T5, users enjoyed a significantly faster game loading speed compared to when using an external HDD.

(From left to right) 860EVO, 970 EVO Plus, Potable SSD T5