Samsung 9100 Pro SSD Review: Gen5 Performance for Professionals and AI

The Samsung 9100 Pro SSD clearly targets demanding users who don’t want to compromise on speed and performance. In this review, we examine the 2TB variant and test how the SSD performs in both synthetic benchmarks and realistic workloads. Is this the new standard for Gen5 storage?

The Samsung 9100 Pro is not an entry-level model and does not target the average user. This SSD is developed for power users, creative professionals, software developers, and IT enthusiasts who want to get the most out of their system. Think of users who regularly work with heavy workloads such as 4K or 8K video editing, running multiple virtual machines, or manipulating large datasets. In that respect, the Samsung 9100 Pro (299 euros including VAT) positions itself as a powerful solution.

With its support for PCIe 5.0, Samsung clearly invests in future-proofing. The 9100 Pro offers theoretical speeds significantly higher than what Gen4 drives can offer today, although the practical benefits naturally remain dependent on the overall system — including motherboard and cooling.

Design and Installation: Functional and Solid

For this review, we are testing the version without passive cooling. You need to provide this yourself (often included with your motherboard). No RGB lighting or striking designs, functionality over flair. With Gen5 SSDs, thermal management is a crucial point of attention. Without proper cooling, performance can quickly degrade due to thermal throttling.

Feature	9100 Pro	990 Pro	990 EVO
Years	2025	2022	2023
Interface	PCIe Gen5 x4	PCIe Gen4 x4	PCIe Gen5 x2 / Gen4 x2
Maximum Capacity	Up to 8 TB	Up to 4 TB	Up to 2 TB
NAND Type	Gen 8 V-NAND TLC	Gen 7 V-NAND TLC	Gen 7 V-NAND TLC
Heatsink Option	Yes	Yes	No
Lifespan (TBW)	Up to 4,800 TB	Up to 2,400 TB	Up to 1,200 TB
Sequential Read/Write	Up to 14,800 MB/s / 13,400 MB/s	Up to 7,450 MB/s / 6,900 MB/s	Up to 5,000 MB/s / 4,200 MB/s
Random Read/Write	Up to 2,200K / 2,600K IOPS	Up to 1,600K / 1,550K IOPS	Up to 700K / 800K IOPS

The installation of the 9100 Pro is straightforward, provided you have a compatible motherboard with a PCIe Gen5 slot. When used in a Gen4 slot, the SSD does function, but naturally at lower speeds. Those who want to benefit from the full potential of this SSD must have a recent AMD or Intel platform. Do your homework before spending extra money on more expensive PCIe 5.0 hardware.

Benchmarks: Impressive Speeds

In synthetic benchmarks, the Samsung 9100 Pro records excellent figures. According to our measurements, the SSD achieves read speeds up to 14,000 MB/s and write speeds up to about 12,000 MB/s. These performances were confirmed via tools such as CrystalDiskMark and ATTO Disk Benchmark. In terms of IOPS, the 9100 Pro also scored impressively, with more than 2.5 million IOPS for random reads and about 1.8 million for random writes. This places this SSD at the absolute top of what is currently available to consumers.

In practical tests, we particularly noticed the speed in tasks such as copying large video files, exporting video projects, and loading virtual machines. The SSD performs consistently, even under prolonged load. Important to know: our motherboard provides a heatsink that can handle the heat from this drive well.

With smaller files or less intensive tasks, the differences with Gen4 drives are less pronounced. As soon as the workload increases, the speed advantage of Gen5 clearly comes to the fore.

Temperature and Thermal Behavior: Heat is a Factor

As with any PCIe Gen5 SSD, heat generation is a significant concern. During intensive loads, we saw temperatures quickly rise towards 70 to 75°C. We read online that the version with a heatsink shows similar temperature measurements. Fortunately, the SSD maintains stable performance, and no noticeable throttling occurred in our test environment, which provided sufficient airflow.

However, without passive or active cooling, it is possible that performance may degrade over time. It is therefore recommended to use this SSD only in systems with good air circulation or active cooling on the M.2 slot.

Samsung seems to have its firmware and thermal tuning well in order, although it remains a fact that this type of SSD has a higher entry threshold in terms of system requirements.

Software and functionality: Magician software remains useful

The Samsung Magician software has been included with Samsung SSDs for years, and the 9100 Pro is no exception. The application provides extensive information about the health of the drive, supports firmware updates, and allows advanced settings such as provisioning or performance optimization. For professional use, it’s beneficial to have this tool at hand, especially if you want to closely monitor the lifespan and reliability of the SSD.

What is noticeable, however, is the absence of hardware encryption. For business users who need, for example, TCG Opal support or eDrive integration with Windows BitLocker, this might be a missed opportunity. In that respect, the 9100 Pro remains primarily focused on individuals and professionals prioritizing performance rather than security or compliance.

Durability and warranty: solid but not exceptional

The 2TB variant of the Samsung 9100 Pro has a stated TBW (Total Bytes Written) of 1,200 TB, which equates to approximately 0.66 full drive writes per day for five years – the duration of the standard warranty. That’s a decent specification, although there are competitors who use higher values for comparable models. The NAND used is Samsung’s 8th generation V-NAND with 236 layers, which provides higher density and better performance during simultaneous data access.

For the vast majority of users, the TBW will be more than sufficient, especially given the target audience. Creative professionals or developers who regularly process large amounts of data can rely on a reliable storage solution with predictable behavior.

Pricing: premium performance at a premium price

With a suggested retail price of about 300 euros for the 2TB variant, the Samsung 9100 Pro is in the higher segment of the SSD market. For that price, you do get one of the fastest SSDs currently available.

The price premium compared to Gen4 models is considerable, making the 9100 Pro less attractive for users who don’t have a Gen5 platform or simply run less intensive workloads. However, those who have a system that can fully utilize this SSD get top performance in return that will remain relevant for years to come.

Conclusion

The Samsung 9100 Pro is an impressive SSD that maximizes the PCIe Gen5 platform. With speeds up to 14 GB/s and a stable thermal profile, this drive positions itself as one of the best options for those who prioritize performance above all else. The SSD is aimed at demanding users and professionals working with heavy data-intensive applications, who are willing to invest in a powerful and future-proof system.

Although the absence of hardware encryption and the relatively high price are some drawbacks, the 9100 Pro more than makes up for it with brute speed and stable performance.