Samsung 990 EVO Plus SSD Review: Is It Good for NAS Caching?

When choosing an SSD for your NAS system, there are several factors to consider, especially durability, endurance, and performance. In this article, we’ll examine the Samsung 990 EVO Plus, a new addition to Samsung’s high-performance SSD lineup, and how it compares to other popular drives such as the Samsung 970 Pro, 990 Pro, WD Red SN700, Seagate FireCuda series, and Synology SNV3400.

We’ll look at the DWPD (Drive Writes Per Day) ratings and other specifications to determine if this SSD is suitable for NAS caching or more general use cases like gaming or content creation.

Overview: Samsung 990 EVO Plus Specifications

The Samsung 990 EVO Plus is a PCIe 4.0 SSD that promises blazing-fast speeds, high efficiency, and ample storage capacities up to 4TB. Here are some of the highlights:

• Sequential Read/Write Speeds: Up to 7,250 MB/s and 6,300 MB/s
• Random Read/Write IOPS: 1,050K / 1,400K
• TBW (1TB Model): 600TB
• DWPD: 0.33

This SSD is equipped with Samsung’s latest 8th-gen V-NAND technology, boasting significantly better power efficiency (73% greater than its predecessor, the 990 EVO) and enhanced performance. However, its 0.33 DWPD endurance rating could limit its use in write-heavy environments like NAS caching.

Understanding DWPD and Why It Matters for NAS Caching

DWPD (Drive Writes Per Day) is a critical metric for assessing an SSD’s durability, especially in environments where high write volumes are typical, like NAS caching or enterprise workloads.

For NAS caching, drives need to endure frequent write and read cycles. A higher DWPD indicates that the drive can handle more data writes daily, which is essential for multi-user NAS systems, virtualization, or heavy database operations.

How the Samsung 990 EVO Plus Compares to Other SSDs

Here’s a breakdown of how the 990 EVO Plus stacks up against other SSDs based on DWPD, performance, and use cases:

Samsung 990 EVO Plus: Great for Gaming, Not Ideal for NAS Caching

Strengths:

• Blazing-fast performance: The 7,250 MB/s read and 6,300 MB/s write speeds of the 990 EVO Plus make it perfect for high-speed applications like gaming and content creation.
• High random IOPS: With 1,050K read IOPS and 1,400K write IOPS, it can handle a wide range of consumer workloads.
• Competitive pricing: Starting at around $110 for 1TB, it offers excellent value for gamers and content creators looking for top-tier performance.

Limitations for NAS Caching:

• Low DWPD (0.33): The 990 EVO Plus is not built for environments with frequent writes like NAS caching. Drives like the WD Red SN700 (1.0 DWPD) or Seagate FireCuda 520 (0.9 DWPD) offer more endurance and are better suited for write-intensive tasks.
• TBW: With 600TBW for the 1TB model, the 990 EVO Plus can handle average consumer workloads, but this is lower compared to other drives like the WD Red SN700 (500-5,100 TBW depending on capacity) or the FireCuda 530 (640TB for 1TB).

Best SSDs for NAS Caching

If your primary concern is NAS caching, where endurance is a critical factor, here are some better options:

1. WD Red SN700: With 1.0 DWPD and up to 5,100 TBW for the 4TB model, this drive is designed specifically for NAS systems and offers excellent durability for continuous workloads.
2. Seagate IronWolf 525: Another strong contender for NAS caching, with 0.7 DWPD and up to 5,100 TBW (for 4TB), making it ideal for NAS and small business environments.
3. Synology SNV3400: Tailor-made for NAS caching, offering 0.68 DWPD and specialized performance, though it has a lower maximum capacity (up to 800GB).

Conclusion: Is the Samsung 990 EVO Plus a Good Choice for NAS Caching?

While the Samsung 990 EVO Plus excels in performance, offering some of the highest read and write speeds in the market, its low endurance (0.33 DWPD) makes it less suitable for NAS caching or write-heavy environments. It’s best used for gaming, content creation, or high-speed data access where write endurance is less of a concern.

For those building a NAS setup or using an SSD for caching in a business environment, you’ll want to consider alternatives like the WD Red SN700 or Seagate IronWolf 525, which offer higher DWPD ratings and better endurance for long-term reliability.

In short, the Samsung 990 EVO Plus is an excellent consumer-grade SSD but is not the best choice for demanding NAS caching workloads. Choose a drive with a higher DWPD if durability is your priority.

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