Samsung 990 EVO 4000GB

SSD Description

The Samsung 990 EVO 4000GB represents a distinct architectural shift in Samsung's lineup, utilizing the proprietary 5nm S4LY022 "Piccolo" controller. The drive uses a DRAM-less architecture and leverages Host Memory Buffer (HMB) technology to manage address mapping tables in system RAM. It is built on Samsung V-NAND TLC flash and supports a hybrid interface that allows operation over PCIe 4.0 x4 or PCIe 5.0 x2. The PCIe 5.0 x2 capability does not increase bandwidth over PCIe 4.0 x4 but provides compatibility for platforms that bifurcate PCIe 5.0 lanes. Thermal testing indicates the Piccolo controller is power-efficient, allowing the drive to maintain sequential throughput with only a heat-spreading label, making it suitable for restricted-airflow environments like laptops.

Key Specifications

• Interface: PCIe 4.0 x4 / PCIe 5.0 x2 Hybrid
• Sequential Speeds: 7250 MB/s (Read) / 6300 MB/s (Write)
• Controller: Samsung S4LY022 (Piccolo)
• NAND Flash: Samsung V-NAND TLC
• Form Factor: Single-sided M.2 2280
• Encryption: AES 256-bit / TCG Opal 2.0 supported
• Architecture: DRAM-less with Host Memory Buffer (HMB)

Hardware Alternatives

• WD Black SN770 / SN580: Competes directly in the DRAM-less NVMe tier, offering similar positioning in systems without onboard DRAM
• Lexar NM790 4000GB: Serves as a primary architecture rival, offering similar "near-flagship" sequential performance without onboard DRAM
• Samsung 990 PRO 4000GB: Acts as the internal alternative; the PRO uses the "Pascal" controller with dedicated DRAM, providing superior random I/O latency compared to the EVO's HMB implementation