Chris InglisThe Samsung 9100 PRO SSD range launched in Australia in March this year and comes in 1TB, 2TB and 4TB variants, with or without a heatsink, and an 8TB variation is launching later this year. I have been putting the Samsung 9100 Pro 2TB SSD with heatsink through its paces in my wife’s new PC build and the performance and speed has been outstanding. For anyone seeking cutting-edge performance and reliability, this drive is a fantastic choice, though there are a few considerations to keep in mind, especially for those new to M.2 NVMe SSDs with integrated heatsinks.
Right out of the box, the Samsung 9100 PRO proves its phenomenal speed with near instantaneous boot speeds as it utilises PCIe 5.0. Samsung officially advertises sequential read speeds of up to 14,800 MB/s and sequential write speeds of up to 13,400 MB/s. From my testing in copying Steam game backups over to the new drive as well as utilising Samsung Magician, it was often achieving sequential reads of 10540 MB/s and sequential writes of 11,803 MB/s. My wife’s PC now feels incredibly snappy and responsive for everything from everyday browsing and schoolwork to more demanding games like The Elder Scrolls Online and Dune: Awakening.
The integrated heatsink is a crucial component for sustained peak performance. High-speed NVMe drives can generate a significant amount of heat under heavy loads, and without proper thermal management, performance can throttle. The Samsung 9100 PROs heatsink effectively dissipates this heat, ensuring the drive maintains its impressive speeds even during extended use. This is particularly beneficial for tasks like large game installations, video editing, or extensive file archiving, preventing the drive from slowing down when pushed.
However, as I discovered during the build process for my wife’s PC, the heatsink adds significant height to the drive. This is a critical point for newcomers to these types of drives. Many modern motherboards come with aesthetically pleasing and beneficial M.2 housings or covers for heat management. In our case, the added height of the Samsung 9100 PRO with heatsink meant we had to remove the motherboard’s M.2 housing entirely. The fact the drive comes with its own heatsink gave me confidence to forgo the aesthetic. It is worth noting when planning to purchase a drive with an included heatsink is to double-check your motherboard’s M.2 slot clearances before purchasing.
This integrated heatsink makes the Samsung 9100 PRO an ideal choice for expanding PlayStation 5 storage, a popular use case for this drive. Sony specifically recommends an M.2 SSD with an effective cooling solution like a heatsink to maintain optimal performance in the PS5’s constrained environment. The Samsung 9100 PRO’s integrated heatsink means you can plug it in and get playing instantly which simplifies the installation process for console users.
Beyond the heatsink clearance, physical installation was straightforward, as is typical with M.2 drives. Pop it into the slot, secure it with a screw, and you’re good to go. Software setup was equally painless, with the motherboard BIOS recognising the drive immediately so it was ready to install Windows 11 straight away. Once Windows is fully installed and updated, Samsung’s Magician software is a useful tool for monitoring drive health, optimising performance, and updating firmware.
It’s important to acknowledge that drives with these bleeding-edge speeds do come at a premium. These newly launched Samsung SSD 9100 PRO Series drives are available in Australia with the following Recommended Retail Prices (RRPs):
- SSD 9100 PRO (without Heatsink):
- 4TB RRP: $839.00 AUD
- 2TB RRP: $459.00 AUD
- 1TB RRP: $299.00 AUD
- SSD 9100 PRO with Heatsink:
- 4TB RRP: $869.00 AUD
- 2TB RRP: $489.00 AUD
- 1TB RRP: $329.00 AUD
Compared to a Samsung 990 PRO 2TB with Heatsink (PCIe 4.0), which can be found for around $329.00 (prices vary by retailer), the Samsung 9100 PRO 2TB with heatsink at $439.00 represents a significant price jump for performance that, for most current users, may not be fully utilised. PCIe 5.0 drives require compatible motherboards and CPUs (e.g. Intel 13th/14th Gen or AMD Ryzen 7000 series and newer) to unlock their full potential, so keep that in mind when looking to purchase one.
Overall, the Samsung 9100 PRO 2TB SSD with Heatsink is an outstanding performer and a worthwhile investment for anyone building a high-performance PC or for their PlayStation 5. Just be mindful of the heatsink’s added height and its potential impact on motherboard M.2 housings for PC builds. The Samsung 9100 PRO delivers a premium storage experience that is hard to beat. Keep an eye out for the 8TB version releasing later this year.
This review utilised a unit provided by Eleven PR and the Samsung 9100 PRO 2TB SSD with Heatsink is available at Samsung and stores like PLE Computers.
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