Samsung 990 PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSD: 1TB/2TB Launch

Samsung is preparing a new PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSD aimed at gaming PCs, with the “990” stepping into 1TB and 2TB capacities from mid-July 2026. Samsung positions the drive as a middle ground between raw speed and power efficiency, and it backs that pitch with headline throughput numbers, an endurance rating for the 2TB model, and a three-year warranty.

Samsung 990 Gen 4: launch window, capacities, and warranty

The new Samsung 990 PCIe Gen 4 SSD will be offered in two storage sizes: 1TB and 2TB. Samsung says both models start availability on July 14, 2026. The drive also carries a three-year warranty.

For endurance, Samsung lists an 800 TBW rating for the 2TB model—an important spec for players who install large libraries, frequently move games between drives, or expect a multi-year lifespan from a system upgrade.

Performance and what Samsung claims versus older 990 models

On sequential throughput, the box specifications target up to 7,250 MB/s for reads and up to 6,450 MB/s for writes. Samsung also claims “highest performance in its class,” attributing the gains to updated NAND technology.

Samsung’s comparisons focus on the rest of the 990 lineup:

Samsung says the new 990 is 50% faster than the older 990 EVO.
Samsung also frames the new drive as close enough in feel to older flagships for users who want performance without paying for the newest top-tier option.
For context, the 990 Pro posted 7,462 MB/s reads and 6,877 MB/s writes in one review, which is why the new model’s quoted numbers land just under the Pro’s measured peak.

For gaming, sequential speeds won’t tell the whole story, but they often correlate with faster installs and quicker large-file transfers. The practical question for buyers is whether the new 990’s real-world consistency lands close to the faster Pro tier—or whether it mainly offers a better price-to-performance split.

Efficiency: power use claims and why it matters for gaming rigs

Beyond speed, Samsung is marketing power efficiency as a key differentiator. The company states the new NAND approach can cut power consumption by up to 38% compared to earlier models.

Lower SSD power draw can matter in systems where thermals and acoustics are a concern—especially in compact builds with limited airflow. While “up to” claims will need validation under test conditions, efficiency improvements can contribute to more stable performance during extended workloads like game installs, shader caches, or frequent asset streaming.

Pricing and value: MSRP in the UK/US and how it stacks up

Samsung’s pricing guidance lists an MSRP of £212.19 / $269.99 for the 1TB model and £411.99 / $529.99 for the 2TB model in the UK and US. Availability is again set for July 14, 2026.

The source also notes that the 2TB 990 Pro has been as high as £347.99 / $639.99 in Amazon pricing during the year referenced, implying the new 990 could be a cheaper path to near-top performance if stock is available and street prices don’t overshoot MSRP.

For players, the real value will likely come down to what retailers charge at launch and how the new 990 performs in workloads that matter: moving big installs, loading game libraries, and maintaining speeds without thermal or firmware-related slowdowns.