Both 4TB drives carry a 2,400 TBW endurance rating and a 5-year warranty. The 9100 PRO moves to PCIe 5.0 with a rated 14,800MB/s sequential read, against 7,450MB/s for the PCIe 4.0 990 PRO, but reviewers found it premium-priced with few real-world gains for typical gaming.
| Specification | Samsung 9100 PRO 4TB | Samsung 990 PRO 4TB |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 5.0 x4, NVMe 2.0 | PCIe 4.0 x4, NVMe 2.0 |
| Form factor | M.2 2280 (a heatsink version is also sold) | M.2 2280 |
| Sequential read | Up to 14,800 MB/s (4TB, manufacturer rating) | Up to 7,450 MB/s (manufacturer rating) |
| Sequential write | Up to 13,400 MB/s (4TB, manufacturer rating; measured with Intelligent TurboWrite active) | Up to 6,900 MB/s (manufacturer rating) |
| Warranty / endurance | 5 years or 2,400 TBW (4TB) | 5 years or 2,400 TBW |
What the specifications show
The 9100 PRO 4TB is a PCIe 5.0 x4 drive with a manufacturer-rated 14,800MB/s sequential read and up to 13,400MB/s sequential write. The 990 PRO 4TB is PCIe 4.0 x4 with ratings of 7,450MB/s read and 6,900MB/s write. On paper the newer drive roughly doubles the sequential figures.
Both list the same 5-year warranty and 2,400 TBW endurance rating for the 4TB model, so endurance does not separate them. Rated speeds are manufacturer figures, and the 9100 PRO’s write rating is measured with Intelligent TurboWrite active.
What independent reviews add
HotHardware tested the 4TB 9100 PRO and found it well-rounded for a PCIe 5.0 drive, with relatively cool, low-power operation and first-place results in several storage traces. TechRadar praised its sequential write speed but judged the drive expensive and aimed at professionals rather than typical gamers, and noted that its measured reads started below the box rating before reaching it on other hardware.
Those reviews examined the 9100 PRO on its own. They are not a direct comparison with the 990 PRO, so use them to judge the newer drive rather than to size a gap between the two.
How to decide
The extra bandwidth only helps if your system has a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot, and consoles or PCIe 4.0 systems cannot use it. Compare the current price difference in your market against how often you move very large files, since gaming and everyday use rarely hit sequential limits. For many builds the PCIe 4.0 990 PRO already covers the workload.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Samsung 9100 PRO faster than the 990 PRO?
On manufacturer ratings, yes: up to 14,800MB/s sequential read for the 9100 PRO 4TB against 7,450MB/s for the 990 PRO 4TB. Real-world gains for typical gaming are small according to the reviews TWW links.
Do they have the same endurance?
Yes. Both 4TB models list 2,400 TBW and a 5-year warranty.
Will the 9100 PRO work in a PCIe 4.0 slot?
It needs a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot to reach its rated speeds. PCIe 4.0 systems and consoles cannot use the extra bandwidth, so check your motherboard or laptop first.
Has TWW benchmarked either drive?
No. The page uses Samsung’s specifications and attributed findings from HotHardware and TechRadar.
This comparison uses manufacturer specifications and attributed outside review findings of the 9100 PRO. TWW has not tested either drive.
Samsung 9100 PRO 4TB specifications and sources →