Are These NVMe SSD Deals Worth It?
Current NVMe SSD deals show that PCIe 4.0 storage, from flagship Samsung 990 PRO models to budget drives like Fanxiang’s S880E, is becoming affordable again after a year of volatile pricing and rising memory costs that pushed many high-end upgrades out of reach.
If you want the short answer: yes, these are worthwhile prices for fast PCIe 4.0 storage, as long as you match each drive to the right workload. The Samsung 990 PRO 2TB sits at USD 389.99 (approx. RM1,790), down from USD 640 (approx. RM2,940), which is a big drop for a premium NVMe SSD that still runs near the limits of PCIe 4.0. Meanwhile, the Fanxiang S880E 1TB drops from USD 189.99 (approx. RM870) to USD 170.99 (approx. RM785), offering strong budget SSD performance without high-end pricing. An additional USD 80.50 (approx. RM370) discount on the 990 PRO 1TB further lowers the barrier to flagship-level speeds.
Samsung 990 PRO: Flagship Speed at a Reduced Price
The Samsung 990 PRO 2TB remains a premium PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD, but its current pricing makes it far more tempting than earlier in the year. It is now priced at USD 389.99 (approx. RM1,790), down from USD 640 (approx. RM2,940), a sizeable cut given rising SSD and memory chip costs. Sequential read speeds reach up to 7,450 MB/s and writes up to 6,900 MB/s, putting the drive right at the edge of what PCIe 4.0 can handle. One quotable way to put it: “Sequential read and write speeds of up to 7,450 and 6,900 MB/s put the Samsung 990 PRO near the top of what PCIe 4.0 allows.”
Random performance is equally strong, with the 2TB model rated for up to 1.4 million read IOPS and 1.55 million write IOPS under heavy queues, translating to snappy app launches, short game load times, and smooth heavy multitasking. Samsung pairs its controller with 176-layer V-NAND TLC flash and a 2GB LPDDR4 DRAM cache, helping it hold speed even when the drive is getting full or sustaining long writes. Average active power draw of around 5.5 W, peaking near 8.5 W, keeps it reasonable for desktops and thinner laptops. Durability is rated at 1,200 TBW with a five-year warranty and hardware AES 256‑bit encryption support, making it well suited as a main drive for professional and gaming workloads.
Samsung 990 PRO 1TB: A Cheaper Gateway to High-End PCIe 4.0 Storage
If 2TB is more than you need or your budget prefers something smaller, the Samsung 990 PRO 1TB deal is the most accessible way into this performance tier. It shares the same quoted sequential read and write speeds of up to 7,450 and 6,900 MB/s, plus random read/write performance up to 1,400K and 1,550K IOPS respectively, which Samsung rates as 40 percent and 55 percent faster than the older 980 PRO. That performance uplift matters for modern games and creative workloads that hit both sequential and random I/O hard.
The 1TB model currently benefits from an USD 80.50 (approx. RM370) discount, making it a much easier upgrade for builds that only need a fast OS and main-games drive. The nickel-coated controller helps manage thermals without needing extra cooling hardware in most systems, and the M.2 2280 form factor fits standard PCIe M.2 slots that meet the PCI-SIG D8 standard. It is also a practical choice for PS5 storage expansion and for PC gamers running DirectStorage-ready titles, where Samsung cites up to a 65 percent improvement in random performance for those gaming workloads. You can check current pricing at major retailers like Newegg, which is highlighted as a key storefront for this discount.
Fanxiang S880E 1TB: Budget PCIe 4.0 Storage with 7,000 MB/s Reads
On the other side of the NVMe SSD deals, the Fanxiang S880E 1TB targets mid-range builders who want PCIe 4.0 speeds without flagship prices. It is a Gen4 NVMe SSD with a peak read speed of 7,000 MB/s, delivering quick boot times, faster app and game loading, and a general lift in system responsiveness compared with older Gen3 drives. Thanks to a 10 percent discount, its price drops from USD 189.99 (approx. RM870) to USD 170.99 (approx. RM785), and it is described as good value for money, especially for gaming PCs and PS5 storage expansion.
This drive includes a heatsink in the box, so you do not need to budget separately for cooling, and it is designed to fit in the PS5’s expansion slot without extra fuss. Although its write speed tops out at 3,900 MB/s, which is lower than the very fastest Gen4 SSDs and makes Gen5 drives more suitable for some AI or workstation tasks, the combination of 7,000 MB/s reads, 3D NAND memory, and an active controller that manages wear and distribution gives it strong everyday and sustained-load performance for the price. A five-year warranty plus lifetime technical support further strengthens its case for budget-conscious builders who still care about reliability.
Market Stabilization: How to Choose Between Flagship and Budget PCIe 4.0 SSDs
Rising SSD and memory chip costs earlier in the year made high-end NVMe feel out of reach for many builders and upgraders, but the current Samsung 990 PRO and Fanxiang S880E deals suggest the storage market is stabilizing toward more reasonable price tiers. Flagship PCIe 4.0 drives like the 990 PRO push sequential speeds to 7,450 MB/s reads and 6,900 MB/s writes, which helps professionals handling large media projects and gamers who want the fastest possible load times on modern titles. Budget PCIe 4.0 storage such as Fanxiang’s 1TB drive still delivers 7,000 MB/s reads and a noticeable upgrade from Gen3 NVMe without stretching your budget.
In practice, that means you should match the drive to how you use your system. If you are editing 4K video, juggling huge game libraries, or want one drive to handle everything, the Samsung 990 PRO price cuts make the 2TB and discounted 1TB models compelling premium choices. If you are putting together a mid-range gaming PC or expanding a PS5 without overspending, the Fanxiang S880E offers the kind of budget SSD performance that keeps load screens short and the system feeling fast. With both ends of PCIe 4.0 storage finally seeing more realistic pricing, it is a good time to upgrade before the next swing in the market.
- Buy the Samsung 990 PRO if you want top-tier PCIe 4.0 speeds for demanding gaming or professional workloads and can afford a premium drive.
- Skip the Samsung 990 PRO if your tasks are light, like basic web use and office apps, where you will not notice its extra performance.
- Buy the Samsung 990 PRO if you need strong random I/O performance and durability for a main OS drive that will see heavy daily use.
- Skip the Samsung 990 PRO if your budget is tight and you care more about capacity per dollar than absolute speed.
- Buy the Fanxiang S880E if you want budget PCIe 4.0 storage with 7,000 MB/s reads for a mid-range gaming PC or PS5.
- Skip the Fanxiang S880E if you run AI, workstation, or ultra-heavy write workloads where a faster Gen5 SSD would be better suited.
- Buy the Fanxiang S880E if you want a ready-to-go PS5-compatible SSD with a bundled heatsink and a long warranty.
- Skip the Fanxiang S880E if you already own a solid Gen4 NVMe drive and the performance upgrade would be minor for your usage.
