The launch of the Samsung 9100 Pro series marks the tech giant's first foray into the consumer-ready pure PCIe Gen 5 SSD arena. Previously absent from this segment, Samsung is set to introduce its new model in March, incorporating the advanced NVMe 2.0 technology.
At launch, the Samsung 9100 Pro SSD will be offered in three capacities: 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB, with prices starting at $199.99, $299.99, and $549.99, respectively. These drives will be available in the popular M.2 form factor, with optional heatsinks to enhance performance. An 8TB configuration, a first for Samsung's NVMe SSD lineup, is expected to debut in the second half of 2025, providing even more options for consumers seeking high-capacity storage solutions.
The Samsung 9100 Pro boasts significant performance improvements over its predecessor, the Samsung 980 Pro, which was a PCIe Gen 4 SSD. With theoretical maximum random read and write speeds of 2,200K and 2,600K input-output operations per second (IOPS), respectively, the 9100 Pro is at least twice as fast. While early comparisons with competitors like Seagate’s Firecuda 540 and Crucial’s T700 showed minimal benefits for PC gaming, these enhancements are expected to be more noticeable in demanding computing workflows.
The new generation of PCIe Gen 5 SSDs offers substantial advantages for users engaged in large-volume file transfers. Professionals such as videographers or software engineers, who frequently handle large datasets, will likely appreciate the enhanced speeds. The Samsung 9100 Pro, built on Samsung's V Nand TLC V8 with a custom controller, can reach sequential read and write speeds of up to 14.8GBps and 13.4GBps, respectively. This performance is roughly double that of the last-gen 980 Pro and surpasses the speeds of the earliest PCIe 5 SSDs by 2-3GBps per second.
While the benefits of upgrading to the 9100 Pro series may not be immediately evident for all users, it offers a degree of future-proofing until the arrival of PCIe Gen 6. For those seeking the latest in storage technology, the Samsung 9100 Pro series provides a compelling choice, combining cutting-edge performance with the reliability that Samsung is known for.
