Samsung is finalizing its SSD 990, a new M.2 NVMe Gen 4 solid-state drive positioned at the value end of its client SSD lineup. The drive briefly appeared on the company's Canadian website before being pulled, though Video Cardz captured screenshots of the specifications. This represents Samsung's push into more affordable Gen 4 storage options.

The SSD 990 differs significantly from the 990 EVO Plus, which targeted performance users with DRAMless design and flexible interface options. Samsung's new drive sticks to Gen 4 x4 interface exclusively and likely uses QLC NAND flash instead of TLC, explaining the endurance differences. It features an in-house controller and maintains the DRAMless architecture typical of budget SSDs.

Performance figures place both capacities in the upper tier of Gen 4 capability. The 1 TB model delivers up to 7150 MB/s sequential reads and 6450 MB/s writes, while the 2 TB variant reaches 7250 MB/s reads. Write endurance ratings show 400 TBW for the 1 TB unit and 800 TBW for the 2 TB version, notably lower than the 990 PRO's TLC-based design.

Samsung's strategy here focuses on making Gen 4 speeds accessible without premium pricing. The QLC NAND and reduced endurance suggest a trade-off that positions this drive for mainstream users who prioritize read performance over intensive write workloads.