Gamers and PC enthusiasts are currently grappling with escalating storage costs, largely attributed to the insatiable demand for memory, particularly NAND, fueled by advancements in AI infrastructure. This surge has made upgrading PC storage a challenging endeavor. While premium solid-state drives (SSDs) like the WD_Black SN7100 have witnessed astronomical price increases, a more budget-friendly yet capable option, the Samsung 990 Evo Plus, presents itself as a pragmatic choice for those needing to expand their gaming libraries.
This market reality necessitates a careful consideration of value and performance. The Samsung 990 Evo Plus, a 2TB NVMe PCIe 4.0 drive, stands out as a compelling compromise. Despite its lack of a DRAM cache, a design choice that contributes to its lower manufacturing cost, it maintains robust performance for gaming applications and boasts a respectable endurance rating. This makes it an intelligent acquisition for users prioritizing expanded storage capacity without succumbing to the exorbitant prices of its high-end counterparts.
The Current Landscape of Gaming Storage Costs
The gaming community is experiencing a significant challenge in acquiring affordable storage solutions, as game sizes continue to grow exponentially and digital libraries expand. This issue is compounded by the widespread impact of increased demand for memory components, including both DRAM and NAND, primarily driven by the rapid growth of AI infrastructure. This phenomenon has led to a dramatic escalation in the prices of solid-state drives, leaving many gamers struggling to find economical ways to expand their PC's storage capacity. The once-standard advice of opting for a 2TB drive for optimal balance between capacity and cost is now under scrutiny, as market dynamics have shifted drastically.
Retail prices for popular gaming SSDs have seen unprecedented hikes. For instance, the WD_Black SN7100, previously lauded as a top-tier gaming SSD, has experienced a staggering price increase of over 200% in just a few months. This makes it an unrealistic option for many consumers. The search for viable alternatives has become critical. The Samsung 990 Evo Plus offers a glimmer of hope, with a more moderate price increase compared to other high-performance drives. This highlights a market where value is increasingly defined by relative affordability rather than absolute low cost, forcing consumers to adjust their expectations and purchasing strategies.
Samsung 990 Evo Plus: A Balanced Choice for Gamers
In this challenging market, the Samsung 990 Evo Plus emerges as a compelling option for gamers needing additional storage. Despite the general upward trend in SSD prices, this 2TB drive offers a more accessible price point compared to some of its pricier competitors. It utilizes efficient NVMe technology with a PCIe 4.0 interface, ensuring rapid data transfer speeds for an enhanced gaming experience. While it operates without a dedicated DRAM cache, a feature often found in high-end SSDs, this design choice contributes to its comparative affordability. Crucially, for gaming, the performance difference resulting from the absence of DRAM is often negligible, allowing players to enjoy smooth gameplay and quick load times without a significant impact on their experience.
Furthermore, the Samsung 990 Evo Plus is built with high-quality TLC NAND, distinguishing it from drives that might use cheaper, less durable QLC memory. This choice of flash memory, combined with an impressive endurance rating of 600 TBW (Terabytes Written) and a comprehensive five-year warranty, assures users of the drive's longevity and reliability. While it may not match the absolute peak performance of the most expensive SSDs, its robust build and dependable performance make it an intelligent investment for gamers seeking a balance between cost, capacity, and speed. It represents a practical solution for navigating the current expensive storage landscape, offering ample space and satisfactory speeds for a demanding game library.
