Which is better for gaming?

The 990 PRO. Games load faster from NVMe, and the 990 PRO is also cheaper right now at $179.14 vs $185.00 at eBay as of November 6, 2026. The 870 EVO only makes sense if your console or PC lacks an M.2 slot.

Will the 990 PRO fit my laptop?

Only if the laptop has an M.2 2280 slot that supports NVMe. Many older laptops have only a 2.5-inch SATA bay, and those need the 870 EVO.

Is the 870 EVO worth the extra money?

No, on price alone. It costs $185.00 at eBay versus $179.14 for the faster 990 PRO as of November 6, 2026. Buy it only for SATA-only hardware.

Both are Samsung SSDs with multi-year warranties, and neither listing gives endurance figures here. The 990 PRO's speed advantage matters more than lifespan for most buyers.

Do I need a heatsink for the 990 PRO?

On a PCIe 4.0 board under long sustained writes, yes, a heatsink helps avoid throttling. The 870 EVO never needs one.

Can I move the 870 EVO into a new PC later?

Yes, if the new PC has a SATA port and a 2.5-inch mount. Many new builds have neither, so the 990 PRO is the more future-proof pick.

Samsung 990 PRO NVMe SSD 1TB vs Samsung 870 EVO SATA 2.5" SSD 1TB

Buy the 990 PRO if your motherboard has an M.2 slot and you want the fastest drive here. It reads at 7,150 MB/s and writes at 6,450 MB/s over NVMe, while the 870 EVO is limited by the SATA interface to roughly 560 MB/s. Prices are close: $179.14 at eBay for the 990 PRO and $185.00 at eBay for the 870 EVO, both as of November 6, 2026. Pick the 870 EVO only if you need a 2.5-inch SATA drive for an older laptop or desktop without an M.2 slot.

Today the Samsung 990 PRO NVMe SSD 1TB costs $20.63 less at its best price.

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