Prime Day: Top Samsung, WD SSD Deals

When it comes to premium SSDs, two brands consistently set the benchmark: WD and Samsung. Their drives are renowned for reliability, speed, and frequent availability at attractive prices. The Amazon Prime Day sale kicked off with impressive discounts on Samsung's latest 2280 M.2 solid-state drives, including the new PCIe Gen 5 9100 Pro series. As we move deeper into the sale, WD has entered the fray with significant price cuts on its two newest models, one of which is hailed by experts as the fastest SSD ever created.

Amazon Prime Day Deals on WD SSDs

WD Black SN7100 2TB PCIe Gen 4 M.2 SSD (Up to 7,250MB/s)

0$159.99 save 25%$119.98 at Amazon

WD Black SN8100 2TB PCIe Gen 5 M.2 SSD (Up to 14,950MB/s)

2$319.99 save 41%$189.99 at Amazon

If any brand matches Samsung's reputation, it's Western Digital. The WD Black SN7100 and SN8100 are their latest offerings. The SN7100 is a direct rival to the Samsung 990 Evo Plus. This DRAM-less PCIe Gen 4 SSD offers sequential speeds up to 7,250MB/s read and 6,900MB/s write, with a compelling Prime Day price. The WD Black SN8100 competes directly with the Samsung 9100 Pro. Reviewers from The SSD Review, StorageReview, and Tom's Hardware have labeled it "the fastest ever tested," "the pinnacle of SSD design," and "the most well-rounded Gen5 drive." This PCIe Gen 5 SSD achieves blistering sequential speeds up to 14,900MB/s read and 14,000MB/s write.

Amazon Prime Day Deals on Samsung SSDs

Samsung 990 EVO Plus 2TB PCIe Gen 4 M.2 SSD (Up to 7,250MB/s)

1$184.99 save 38%$113.99 at Amazon

Samsung 990 EVO Plus 4TB, PCIe Gen 4 M.2 SSD (Up to 7,250MB/s)

1$344.99 save 32%$234.99 at Amazon

The Samsung 990 Evo Plus is an outstanding choice for both gaming PCs and PlayStation 5 consoles. It exceeds Sony's minimum speed requirement for the PS5, with sequential speeds up to 7,250MB/s read and 6,300MB/s write. It's significantly faster than the standard 990 Evo, though not quite at the level of the 990 Pro. The key difference from the pricier Pro model is the absence of a DRAM cache. For PS5 performance, this is irrelevant. For PCs, it supports HMB (Host Memory Buffer), which efficiently uses a small amount of system RAM to compensate. In real-world gaming, users won't perceive a difference between the two.

Samsung 990 Pro SSD Deals for Prime Day

Samsung 990 Pro 2TB PCIe Gen 4 M.2 SSD with Heatsink (Up to 7,450MB/s)

3$209.99 save 29%$149.99 at Amazon

Samsung 990 Pro 4TB PCIe Gen 4 M.2 SSD with Heatsink (Up to 7,450MB/s)

0$479.99 save 43%$275.49 at Amazon

In the PCIe 4.0 category, the Samsung 990 Pro is widely regarded as the fastest SSD available. It delivers sequential speeds of 7,450MB/s read and 6,900MB/s write, with random speeds of 1400K/1550K IOPS. Distinctively, Samsung manufactures its core components in-house. The 990 Pro uses the new Pascal controller and 7th-gen TLC NAND flash. Unlike the Evo Plus, it includes a built-in DRAM cache, eliminating the need for HMB. As noted, PS5 gamers and most PC users won't see a tangible performance gain over the Evo Plus. However, the 990 Pro is genuinely faster, making it the top choice for users demanding maximum PCIe 4.0 bandwidth.

Samsung 9100 Pro SSD Deals for Prime Day

Samsung 9100 Pro 2TB PCIe Gen 5 M.2 SSD (Up to 14,800MB/s)

0$299.99 save 37%$189.99 at Amazon

Samsung 9100 Pro 4TB PCIe Gen 5 M.2 SSD (Up to 14,800MB/s)

0$549.99 save 30%$384.99 at Amazon

Welcome to the next generation of storage. The Samsung 9100 Pro is a true PCIe 5.0 drive, achieving sequential speeds up to 14,800MB/s and random speeds up to 2,600 IOPS. That's nearly twice the speed of the 990 Pro. Seeing a 4TB PCIe 5.0 SSD with this performance dip below $400 is rare. However, for most users—including avid gamers—this level of performance is often unnecessary for daily tasks, making it more of a luxury purchase than a practical upgrade. It is not recommended for PS5 consoles, as the console cannot utilize Gen 5 speeds, making it an inefficient use of money.

Are these SSDs a good fit for the PlayStation 5?

Both the Samsung 990 Evo Plus and 990 Pro are excellent storage expansion options for the PS5. They surpass Sony's speed requirements and come in the correct 2280 form factor. Performance is identical in console use, so budget-minded buyers should choose the Evo Plus. Note that the Evo Plus does not include a pre-attached heatsink; you'll need to purchase one separately (under $10) for proper installation. The 990 Pro is more expensive but includes an integrated heatsink for a true plug-and-play experience.

More Prime Day Deals on PS5 SSDs

Looking for more options? Check out our favorite PS5 SSDs for the PS5 console.

Crucial T500 2TB PCIe Gen 4 M.2 SSD with Heatsink (Up to 7,400MB/s)

0$209.99 save 40%$124.99 at Amazon

Lexar NM790 2TB PCIe Gen 4 M.2 SSD with Heatsink (Up to 7,400MB/s)

0$164.99 save 22%$127.88 at Amazon

Crucial P310 4TB PCIe Gen 4 M.2 SSD with Heatsink (Up to 7,100MB/s)

0$333.99 save 30%$234.99 at Amazon

Nextorage Japan 2TB PCIe Gen 4 M.2 SSD with Heatsink (Up to 7,400MB/s)

0$149.99 save 20%$119.99 at Amazon