Samsung has unveiled its fastest consumer SSD yet, the 9100 Pro, boasting cutting-edge PCIe Gen 5.0 transfer speeds. This advancement positions the 9100 Pro as a compelling storage solution for power users, gamers, and professionals demanding high-speed performance for resource-intensive tasks.
Samsung claims the 9100 Pro achieves sequential read speeds up to 14,800MB/s and sequential write speeds up to 13,400MB/s. This represents a near doubling of performance compared to its predecessor, the 990 Pro, and establishes it as the fastest PCIe Gen 5 consumer SSD currently available. A close competitor is the Crucial T705, offering read and write speeds of up to 14,500MB/s and 12,700MB/s, respectively.
Samsung 9100 Pro Specifications
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 5.0 x4, NVMe 2.0 |
| Form Factor | M.2 (2280) / M.2 (2280 with heatsink) |
| NAND | Samsung V NAND TLC (V8) |
| Controller | In-house controller |
| Cache Memory | 1GB, 2GB, 4GB, 8GB LPDDR4X |
| Sequential Read/Write (MB/s) | Up to 14,800 / 13,400 |
| Random Read/Write (IOPS, QD32) | Up to 2,200K / 2,600K |
| Power Consumption (Active Read/Write) | Varies by model (see below) |
| Device Sleep (L1.2) | Varies by model (see below) |
| Intelligent TurboWrite 2.0 | 114GB, 226GB, 442GB (varies by capacity) |
| Data Encryption | Class 0 (AES 256), TCG/Opal v2.0, MS eDrive (IEEE1667) |
| Total Bytes Written (TBW) | 600TB, 1,200TB, 2,400TB, 4,800TB (varies by capacity) |
| Warranty | Five years |
Power Consumption and Device Sleep Power
The 9100 Pro’s power consumption varies based on capacity:
- 1TB: 7.6W/7.2W (Read/Write), 4.0mW/3.3mW (L1.2 Sleep)
- 2TB: 8.1W/7.9W (Read/Write), 4.8mW/4.0mW (L1.2 Sleep)
- 4TB: 9.0W/8.2W (Read/Write), 6.5mW/5.7mW (L1.2 Sleep)
- 8TB: TBD
Pricing and Availability
The 9100 Pro will launch next month with the following pricing:
- 1TB: $200
- 2TB: $300
- 4TB: $550
An 8TB model is planned for the second half of 2025.
Thermal Management and Heatsink
Beyond sheer speed, Samsung emphasizes the 9100 Pro’s “advanced heat management system,” effectively a heatsink designed to address the higher heat output typical of PCIe 5.0 SSDs. Models from 1TB to 4TB feature an 8.8mm heatsink, while the 8TB variant incorporates a larger 11.25mm heatsink. The optional heatsink adds $20 to the price.
PCIe 5.0 Adoption and Compatibility
Despite the impressive performance gains, PCIe Gen 5 SSD adoption remains limited. Existing PCIe Gen 4 and even Gen 3 drives offer ample performance for most everyday tasks, including high-resolution gaming. Furthermore, PCIe Gen 5 M.2 SSD compatibility is currently restricted to newer motherboards supporting Intel and AMD platforms.
Conclusion
The Samsung 9100 Pro raises the bar for consumer SSD performance, offering a substantial leap over previous generations. However, the current limited adoption of PCIe 5.0 technology and the premium price point may make it a less practical choice for mainstream users. Those with compatible hardware and a need for top-tier storage performance will find the 9100 Pro a compelling option.
