On December 1, 2024, a HotHardware Cyber Monday roundup listed Samsung’s 1TB 990 EVO internal SSD at $69.99, advertised as 53% off. The roundup also included larger internal drives and two portable SSDs. Those are historical deal prices, not verified offers today; check current listings before budgeting for a purchase.
The 2024 deals at a glance
HotHardware published these prices and advertised discounts on December 1, 2024. The approximate price-per-terabyte figures below are calculated from those listed prices; they are not current quotes or evidence that a discount was the lowest available.
| Drive | Type | Capacity | Listed price | Advertised discount | Approx. price/TB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung 990 EVO | Internal M.2 NVMe | 1TB | $69.99 | 53% | $69.99 |
| Samsung 990 EVO | Internal M.2 NVMe | 2TB | $129.99 | 46% | $65.00 |
| Samsung 990 Pro | Internal M.2 NVMe | 2TB | $159.99 | 36% | $80.00 |
| SanDisk Extreme Pro Portable SSD | Portable USB SSD | 2TB | $157.58 | 37% | $78.79 |
| Crucial X10 Pro | Portable USB SSD | 2TB | $146.99 | 30% | $73.50 |
| Crucial P310 | Internal M.2 NVMe | 2TB | $139.99 | 47% | $70.00 |
| HP FX900 Pro | Internal SSD; exact form-factor details not stated in the roundup | 4TB | $199.99 | 27% | $50.00 |
| Predator GM7000 | Internal SSD; exact form-factor details not stated in the roundup | 4TB | $219.99 | 19% | $55.00 |
Source for listed prices and discounts: HotHardware’s December 1, 2024 roundup. Price per terabyte is simple division and does not account for taxes, shipping, warranties, performance, or seller terms. The roundup did not establish retailers, comparison-price methodology, coupon or membership requirements, or how long each offer remained available.
What the Samsung 990 EVO deal offered
1TB and 2TB prices
The listed 1TB 990 EVO cost $69.99, or about $69.99 per terabyte. The 2TB version was listed at $129.99, about $65 per terabyte. For someone with a compatible computer and a growing game or media library, the 2TB listing therefore offered a lower historical cost per terabyte and more room before storage fills up. The right choice still depends on actual capacity needs and the price available when buying.
#1 Best Overall
- GROUNDBREAKING READ/WRITE SPEEDS: The 990 EVO Plus features the latest NAND memory, boosting sequential read/write speeds up to 7,150/6,300MB/s*. Ideal for huge file transfers and finishing tasks faster than ever.
- LARGE STORAGE CAPACITY: Harness the full power of your drive with Intelligent TurboWrite2.0's enhanced large-file performance—now available in a 4TB capacity.
- EXCEPTIONAL THERMAL CONTROL: Keep your cool as you work—or play—without worrying about overheating or battery life. The efficiency-boosting nickel-coated controller allows the 990 EVO Plus to utilize less power while achieving similar performance.
- OPTIMIZED PERFORMANCE: Optimized to support the latest technology for SSDs—990 EVO Plus is compatible with PCIe 4.0 x4 and PCIe 5.0 x2. This means you get more bandwidth and higher data processing and performance.
- NEVER MISS AN UPDATE: Your 990 EVO Plus SSD performs like new with the always up-to-date Magician Software. Stay up to speed with the latest firmware updates, extra encryption, and continual monitoring of your drive health–it works like a charm.
Interface and advertised speed
The roundup described the 990 EVO as an internal M.2 NVMe drive supporting PCIe 4.0 x4 or PCIe 5.0 x2, with sequential speeds of up to 5,000 MB/s read and 4,200 MB/s write. These are maximum sequential-transfer claims, not a promise that every computer or task will reach those figures. Samsung’s 990 EVO product page is the appropriate reference for product-family specifications; confirm the exact model and included hardware in any listing.
PCIe 5.0 x2 means the drive can use two PCIe 5.0 lanes, rather than the four lanes commonly associated with a full-bandwidth Gen 5 x4 drive. It can also work in a PCIe 4.0 x4 mode. A Gen 5 label on a motherboard alone does not guarantee higher results: the slot, lane allocation, firmware, cooling, workload, and drive capacity all matter. A computer with fewer lanes or an older generation can limit throughput, and thermal throttling can reduce sustained performance.
Rank #2
- GROUNDBREAKING READ/WRITE SPEEDS: The 990 EVO Plus features the latest NAND memory, boosting sequential read/write speeds up to 7,250/6,300MB/s. Ideal for huge file transfers and finishing tasks faster than ever.
- LARGE STORAGE CAPACITY: Harness the full power of your drive with Intelligent TurboWrite2.0's enhanced large-file performance—now available in a 4TB capacity.
- EXCEPTIONAL THERMAL CONTROL: Keep your cool as you work—or play—without worrying about overheating or battery life. The efficiency-boosting nickel-coated controller allows the 990 EVO Plus to utilize less power while achieving similar performance.
- OPTIMIZED PERFORMANCE: Optimized to support the latest technology for SSDs—990 EVO Plus is compatible with PCIe 4.0 x4 and PCIe 5.0 x2. This means you get more bandwidth and higher data processing and performance.
- NEVER MISS AN UPDATE: Your 990 EVO Plus SSD performs like new with the always up-to-date Magician Software. Stay up to speed with the latest firmware updates, extra encryption, and continual monitoring of your drive health–it works like a charm.
990 EVO versus 990 Pro
The roundup also listed a 2TB Samsung 990 Pro at $159.99, or about $80 per terabyte. It was the higher-priced Samsung option in that group; the article did not provide a direct performance comparison between the two models. A premium drive is not automatically worthwhile for ordinary browsing, office work, or game loading. Sequential throughput is more relevant when moving large files, backing up data, or handling some media-production workflows. Review the workload and the host system before paying more. Samsung’s 990 Pro product page provides manufacturer information for that family.
Portable drives: SanDisk Extreme Pro and Crucial X10 Pro
Portable SSDs solve a different problem from internal drives: they connect over USB and can move between devices, but actual speed depends on the host port, cable, and any hub or dock in the path.
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- READ/WRITE SPEEDS UP TO 5,000/4,200 MB/s: Load games and save files in a flash. Bring power to your productivity with read and write speeds of up to 5,000/4,200 MB/s.* The 990 EVO provides continuous speed to keep you going.
- POWER EFFICIENCY: Save the power for your performance. Get power efficiency all while experiencing up to 70% improved performance per watt over the 970 EVO Plus.* It makes every move more effective with less power consumption overall.
- SMART THERMAL CONTROL: Now you can ramp things up without overheating the system. Samsung’s fine tuned controller and heat spreading label deliver effective thermal control to avoid sudden performance drops mid project. It cools things down even when things are running high, so your hard earned checkpoints are saved.
- PCIe 5.0 INTERFACE: Optimized to support the latest technology for SSDs 990 EVO is compatible with PCIe 4.0 x4 and PCIe 5.0 x2. This means you get more bandwidth and higher data processing and performance. Overall, it does more to support smooth storage with less power consumption.
- ALWAYS UP TO DATE VIA MAGICIAN SOFTWARE: It’s not hocus pocus. Your 990 EVO SSD performs like new with the always up to date Magician Software. Stay up to speed with the latest firmware updates, extra encryption and continual monitoring of your drive health it works like a charm.
| Feature in the 2024 roundup | SanDisk Extreme Pro Portable SSD, 2TB | Crucial X10 Pro, 2TB |
|---|---|---|
| Listed price and advertised discount | $157.58; 37% off | $146.99; 30% off |
| Sequential speed claim | Up to 2,000 MB/s read/write | Up to 2,100 MB/s read and 2,000 MB/s write |
| Ingress protection reported | IP65 | IP55 |
| Drop protection reported | Up to 3 meters | Up to 7.5 feet |
| Other features reported | Forged aluminum enclosure described as a heatsink, carabiner loop, 256-bit AES hardware encryption, password protection, Memory Zone app | USB-C plug-and-play across several device categories, 256-bit AES hardware encryption and password protection |
These feature and performance figures were reported in the December 1, 2024 roundup. Product revisions can share similar names, so check the exact capacity and generation against the manufacturer’s listing: SanDisk portable SSDs and the Crucial X10 Pro.
Connection and protection limits
The advertised portable-drive speeds require a sufficiently capable USB connection. An older USB port, unsuitable cable, hub, docking station, or mobile device can be the bottleneck; “USB-C” describes a connector shape, not a guaranteed data rate. Phone and tablet use also depends on operating-system support, power, filesystem, and the specific model. The roundup mentioned iPhone 15 compatibility for the X10 Pro, but that should not be generalized to every iPhone.
Rank #4
- MEET THE NEXT GEN: Consider this a cheat code; Our Samsung 990 PRO Gen4 SSD helps you reach near max performance with lightning-fast speeds; Whether you’re a hardcore gamer or a tech guru, you’ll get power efficiency built for the final boss
- REACH THE NEXT LEVEL: Gen4 steps up with faster transfer speeds and high-performance bandwidth; With a more than 55% improvement in random performance compared to 980 PRO, it’s here for heavy computing and faster loading
- THE FASTEST SSD FROM THE WORLD'S FLASH MEMORY BRAND: The speed you need for any occasion; With read and write speeds up to 7450/6900 MB/s you’ll reach near max performance of PCIe 4.0 powering through for any use
- PLAY WITHOUT LIMITS: Give yourself some space with storage capacities from 1TB to 4TB; Sync all your saves and reign supreme in gaming, video editing, data analysis and more
- IT’S A POWER MOVE: Save the power for your performance; Get power efficiency all while experiencing up to 50% improved performance per watt over the 980 PRO; It makes every move more effective with less consumption
IP55 and IP65 are different ratings, not equivalent promises of toughness. Water resistance does not imply safe submersion, and connectors may remain exposed. Drop-protection claims apply under specified test conditions, not every fall. Encryption can help protect confidential files, but password features may depend on supported software or operating systems and cannot recover deleted or corrupted data.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to choose by use, not discount percentage
- Internal system or gaming storage: Consider an internal NVMe drive such as the 990 EVO only if the computer has a compatible M.2 NVMe slot. A 1TB drive can suit a system and moderate library; 2TB gives more room for games and projects.
- Large-capacity internal storage: The 4TB HP and Predator listings had the lowest calculated price per terabyte in this historical table. That arithmetic alone does not establish which is better: the roundup did not state their interface configuration, NAND, controller, endurance, warranty, or heatsink details. Check the exact SKU and documentation before comparing them.
- Portable file transfer or external backup: The SanDisk and Crucial drives offer portable storage, with different listed protection ratings and speed claims. Choose based on the host devices, cable, and handling conditions—not just the headline MB/s.
- Everyday responsiveness: For browsing, office work, and many routine tasks, sequential maximums may have little practical effect. Capacity, compatibility, warranty, and price can matter more.
A percentage discount is not a complete value measure. For example, the 990 EVO 2TB had a lower calculated price per terabyte than its 1TB counterpart, while the 4TB entries looked cheaper per terabyte still. But the underlying specifications and warranty were not established for those latter entries in the roundup, so capacity arithmetic should be treated as a starting point rather than a product ranking.
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Best Value
- HUGE SPEED BOOST: Get random read/write speeds that are 40%/55% faster than 980 PRO; Experience up to 1400K/1550K IOPS, while sequential read/write speeds up to 7,450/6,900 MB/s reach near the max performance of PCIe 4.0*
- BREAKTHROUGH POWER EFFICIENCY: Use less power and get more performance; Enjoy up to 50% improved performance per watt over 980 PRO, plus optimal power efficiency with max PCIe 4.0 performance**
- SMART THERMAL CONTROL: Samsung's own nickel-coated controller delivers effective thermal control; With its slim size, 990 PRO is a perfect fit for desktops and laptops that meet the PCI-SIG D8 standard***
- THE CHAMPION MAKER: Up to 65% improvement in random performance enables faster loads for an ultimate gaming experience on PS5 and DirectStorage PC games****
- SAMSUNG MAGICIAN SOFTWARE: Get the most out of your SSD with Samsung Magician's advanced yet intuitive optimization tools; Monitor drive health, protect valuable data, and receive important updates for your 990 PRO
Compatibility checks before buying an internal SSD
- Slot and protocol: Confirm the computer supports NVMe, not merely an M.2-shaped SATA drive, and verify the required physical size, commonly listed as M.2 2280 for drives in this category.
- Generation and lanes: Check the motherboard or laptop manual for PCIe generation and lane support on the particular slot. Some systems share lanes with other M.2 slots, SATA ports, or expansion slots.
- Fit and cooling: Check clearance under a motherboard cover or laptop shield, whether a heatsink is included, and whether a single- or double-sided module is supported.
- Upgrade process: For a laptop, confirm the drive is replaceable and user-accessible. Decide whether to clone the existing system or reinstall the operating system, and check warranty terms before opening the chassis.
- Console use: Do not assume an internal drive works in a PS5 or another console. Verify the console’s generation, speed, size, capacity, and heatsink requirements against the exact product documentation.
Before paying, verify the exact model number, current price and stock, seller, return policy, warranty, and any coupon or membership conditions. The 2024 roundup did not establish those terms for every listing.
Storage is not a backup plan
An SSD can fail, be lost, stolen, or have files deleted accidentally. Keep important files in another location as well; encryption protects confidentiality, not availability. Drive-health tools can report some warning signs, but they cannot guarantee that a drive will not fail. A portable SSD used as the only copy of important work is still a single point of failure.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
