Samsung has launched the 990 EVO, an NVMe SSD that breaks the traditional mold by supporting both PCIe 4.0 x4 and PCIe 5.0 x2. For 3D professionals, this is not just a technical curiosity: it is a gateway to solid performance without the cost or heat of pure PCIe 5.0 SSDs. We analyze how this hybrid drive performs in modeling, texturing, and rendering scenarios, and whether it can truly compete with the thoroughbred beasts on the market.
Technical performance in 3D workflows ⚙️
In real-world workloads with Blender and Unreal Engine, the 990 EVO offers sequential read speeds around 5,000 MB/s in PCIe 4.0 x4 mode, and up to 7,450 MB/s when connected to a PCIe 5.0 x2 slot. This translates to a noticeable reduction in loading times for complex scenes: a 10 GB file with 4K textures opens in less than 3 seconds. Transferring 8K textures from an external drive is snappy, and the intelligent cache prevents performance from dropping during sustained operations. In Maya, navigating viewports with dense geometry shows no perceptible latency, as long as the rest of the system is up to par. However, when compared to a pure PCIe 5.0 SSD (like the 990 Pro in x4 mode), the 990 EVO loses some speed in massive simulation file transfers, though it gains in thermal efficiency and power consumption.
Balance or compromise for the 3D creator? 🔥
The 990 EVO's main selling point is its energy efficiency. It consumes up to 30% less than a pure PCIe 5.0 SSD under intensive loads, making it an ideal choice for workstation laptops or desktops with limited cooling. For the 3D professional working with medium-sized scenes and 4K textures, this drive offers more than sufficient performance without overheating the system. If your workflow constantly involves 50 GB simulation files or massive 8K textures, you might need the raw speed of a PCIe 5.0 x4. But for the upper-mid-range user seeking a balance between speed, temperature, and price, the 990 EVO is a smart and durable option.
By adopting a PCIe 5.0 x2 interface instead of the usual x4, how does this reduced bandwidth affect real-world performance in intensive 3D modeling and rendering workflows with high-resolution textures, compared to a standard PCIe 4.0 x4 SSD?
(PS: If your computer is smoking when opening Blender, you might need more than a fan and faith)