How Much Does it Cost?
The Samsung 9100 Pro 2TB doesn’t come cheap. At the time of writing, it commands a premium price tag, which is pretty much expected with larger capacity PCIe 5.0 SSDs. It’s currently available Scan.co.uk for £239.99, which is competitive, but remember, you’ll need to factor in the cost of a compatible PCIe 5.0 motherboard as well if you’re upgrading from an older system, which will likely mean a new CPU and maybe even RAM depending what hardware you’re upgrading from.
Conclusion
The Samsung 9100 Pro 2TB is undoubtedly a powerful SSD, and while we’ve tested some (slightly) more extreme performance drives, it certainly ranks up there with some of the best. It delivers blistering read and write speeds that push the boundaries of what’s currently achievable with consumer-grade storage. While it didn’t quite hit its theoretical maximums in our testing, the real-world performance gains are undeniable, especially when dealing with large files, demanding applications, and complex workflows. The impressive IOPS figures also highlight its suitability for tasks involving a high volume of small file operations.
Build Quality
Samsung’s reputation for high-quality components shines through with the 9100 Pro. The single-sided design is a welcome touch that aids cooling and improves compatibility. However, the larger capacity models may still use a dual-sided design, so keep that in mind. While the top sticker is basic rather than a graphite thermal layer, the underlying components, including Samsung’s own controller and V-NAND, are more efficient and run surprisingly cooler compared to some rival offerings. Overall, it inspires confidence in the drive’s longevity and sustained performance.
Read and Write Performance
The sequential and random read/write speeds achieved by the 9100 Pro are exceptional, placing it among the fastest drives we’ve tested. The drive’s ability to quickly ramp up to its top speeds, even with smaller block sizes, is particularly noteworthy. It excelled in various benchmark tests, demonstrating its capability across a range of data transfer scenarios, from video editing to gaming.
Gaming Performance
While not the sole determinant of gaming performance, the incredibly fast loading times offered by the 9100 Pro will speed up your gaming experience. Games load almost instantly, allowing for quicker transitions and less waiting. Its “Extremely High” score in the Final Fantasy Endwalker benchmark is evidence of this, but any large asset game such as the latest Call of Duty, the last Call of Duty, or I guess, the next Call of Duty, will load pretty swiftly too.
Should I Buy One?
The Samsung 9100 Pro 2TB is a top-tier SSD. If you are a professional content creator dealing with massive video files, an enthusiast gamer who demands the absolute fastest loading times, or just someone who wants an incredibly snappy and responsive PC, it ticks all the right boxes. Keep in mind that you’ll need a PCIe 5.0 compatible system, including a supporting motherboard, CPU, etc. If you tick those boxes, then this drive is certainly going to help you get the most out of it. The premium price reflects its cutting-edge performance and Samsung’s established reputation for quality. However, for more general users or those on a tighter budget, a high-end Gen4 drive might be all you really need, and they’ll still load games incredibly fast too. Of course, if you demand the best, and it’s within your budget, you can’t go wrong with the Samsung 9100 Pro.
