Samsung's 990 Pro 4TB SSD Hits Record Low Price of $279, Shaking Up the Storage Market
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A Premium SSD at a Bargain Price
Samsung's flagship storage solution sees unprecedented discount
The Samsung 990 Pro, widely regarded as one of the best NVMe SSDs on the market, has dropped to its lowest-ever price of $279 for the 4TB model. This represents a significant discount from its original $400+ launch price, making high-performance storage more accessible than ever.
According to tomshardware.com's August 17, 2025 report, this price cut positions the 990 Pro as a compelling option against newer competitors. The drive maintains its premium specs, including PCIe 4.0 support and Samsung's proprietary V-NAND technology, which stacks memory cells vertically for greater density and speed.
Why the 990 Pro Still Matters
Performance that outshines many PCIe 5.0 drives
Despite being a PCIe 4.0 drive in an increasingly PCIe 5.0 world, the 990 Pro's real-world performance remains exceptional. Sequential read speeds hit 7,450 MB/s, with writes reaching 6,900 MB/s - figures that rival some first-gen PCIe 5.0 SSDs while running cooler and consuming less power.
The drive's secret lies in Samsung's optimized controller and firmware. Unlike some competitors that sacrifice endurance for speed, the 990 Pro maintains a 2,400 TBW (terabytes written) rating for the 4TB model, equivalent to writing 1.3TB daily for five years.
Market Impact and Timing
Strategic pricing ahead of next-gen launches
Industry analysts suggest this aggressive pricing may be Samsung's response to impending PCIe 5.0 SSD releases from competitors like WD and Crucial. By lowering the cost barrier for high-capacity storage, Samsung could retain market share among performance-conscious buyers not yet ready to upgrade to PCIe 5.0 platforms.
The timing coincides with back-to-school sales and early holiday promotions. Retailers often use storage devices as loss leaders to attract customers building or upgrading PCs, making this price drop particularly strategic during peak buying seasons.
Technical Deep Dive: What Makes It Special
Beyond just speed numbers
The 990 Pro utilizes Samsung's eighth-generation V-NAND with double-stack technology, allowing for higher densities without compromising reliability. Its proprietary Elpis controller employs advanced error correction and wear-leveling algorithms that contribute to both performance and longevity.
Unlike some SSDs that slow dramatically when the cache fills, the 990 Pro maintains consistent speeds thanks to its large SLC (single-level cell) cache and dynamic thermal throttling. This makes it particularly suited for sustained workloads like video editing or game development.
Comparative Value Analysis
How it stacks up against the competition
At $0.07 per gigabyte, the discounted 990 Pro undercuts most comparable 4TB NVMe drives. The closest competitor, WD's SN850X, currently retails around $320 for the same capacity. Even budget options from lesser-known brands hover near $250, making Samsung's $30 premium for proven reliability and performance an easy upsell.
For content creators, the math becomes even more compelling. The combination of high capacity and sustained performance eliminates the need for multiple smaller drives in RAID configurations, simplifying workflows while reducing potential failure points.
Who Should Buy This Drive
Matching needs to technology
The 990 Pro 4TB makes most sense for power users who need both speed and capacity. Game enthusiasts with large libraries, 4K video editors working with raw footage, and data scientists processing large datasets will benefit most from this balance of attributes.
Casual users might find better value in smaller capacities or budget drives. The performance advantages diminish for everyday tasks like web browsing or document editing, where even SATA SSDs provide adequate speed for most users.
Potential Drawbacks to Consider
No product is perfect for everyone
While the 990 Pro excels in many areas, it lacks the future-proofing of PCIe 5.0 support. Buyers building new high-end systems may prefer to invest in newer technology, especially as PCIe 5.0 motherboard adoption grows. The drive also doesn't include a heatsink, which could be problematic for some compact builds.
Another consideration is Samsung's Magician software. While feature-rich for monitoring and optimization, it only runs on Windows, leaving Linux and Mac users without access to firmware updates and advanced drive management tools.
Historical Context: SSD Price Trends
How we got to this price point
SSD prices have been on a rollercoaster since 2020. Pandemic-related shortages caused spikes, while oversupply in 2023 led to dramatic drops. The current $279 price for 4TB represents a 65% decrease from early 2023 highs for comparable performance drives.
This follows the predictable pattern of storage technology, where prices fall as manufacturing processes mature. Samsung's ability to offer this price while maintaining margins suggests significant improvements in their 176-layer V-NAND production yields and cost structures.
Installation and Optimization Tips
Getting the most from your investment
For optimal performance, install the 990 Pro in a motherboard's primary M.2 slot, which typically connects directly to the CPU. Many boards share bandwidth between slots, potentially limiting speeds in secondary positions. Enabling full PCIe 4.0 x4 mode in BIOS is also crucial for maximum throughput.
Samsung recommends leaving at least 10% of the drive unallocated to maintain performance over time. The Magician software's 'Over Provisioning' feature automates this process, reserving space the controller uses for wear leveling and garbage collection.
Future Outlook for SSD Technology
Where the market is heading next
While PCIe 5.0 SSDs promise double the bandwidth of PCIe 4.0, real-world benefits remain limited by thermal constraints and lack of software optimization. Most experts believe PCIe 4.0 drives like the 990 Pro will remain relevant through 2026 for all but the most demanding professional workloads.
The next frontier is QLC (quad-level cell) NAND at higher capacities. While currently slower and less durable than the 990 Pro's TLC (triple-level cell) design, ongoing improvements could make 8TB and 16TB consumer SSDs commonplace at similar price points within two years.
Reader Discussion
Share your perspective
Quick Poll: Which factor matters most to you in an SSD purchase? 1) Price per gigabyte 2) Maximum sequential speeds 3) Long-term reliability and warranty
For current 990 Pro owners: Have you noticed real-world differences compared to previous SSDs you've used, and in what applications?
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