Kingston KC3000 or Samsung 990 Pro: Which to Choose?
The world of storage technology is rapidly evolving, and understanding the distinctions between high-performance Solid State Drives (SSDs) can be quite challenging. Among the frontrunners in the NVMe market are the Kingston KC3000 and the Samsung 990 Pro. Both are designed to cater to enthusiasts and professionals seeking exceptional performance and reliability. In this comprehensive comparison, we will delve into their specifications, benchmark results, and practical applications to help you make an informed decision.
At the core of both drives are advanced technologies that promise remarkable speed and efficiency. The Kingston KC3000 utilizes Micron's B47R FortisFlash TLC, featuring a 176-layer design, while the Samsung 990 Pro boasts a more advanced V8 V-NAND architecture, which enhances both density and efficiency. This article will not only compare their theoretical specifications but also explore real-world performance, endurance ratings, and pricing, allowing you to determine which SSD is best suited for your needs.
Comparing theoretical specifications
Both the Kingston KC3000 and Samsung 990 Pro operate on the PCIe 4.0 interface, but there are notable differences in their NVMe protocols. While the Kingston KC3000 is based on NVMe 1.4, the Samsung 990 Pro supports the more recent NVMe 2.0. Although this might seem like a minor detail, it indicates that Samsung has integrated more advanced firmware and command handling features.
Performance-wise, the 990 Pro excels in both sequential and random operations across different capacities. In particular, its random IOPS performance is impressive, reaching up to 1.55 million writes compared to Kingston's 1 million IOPS. This difference can significantly impact workloads that involve heavy multitasking or database operations.
- Controller: Samsung's Pascal controller is newer and more efficient than Kingston's Phison E18.
- NAND technology: Samsung's V8 V-NAND features more layers (236) than Kingston's 176-layer design.
- Power efficiency: The 990 Pro demonstrates superior power management capabilities.
Benchmark scores comparison
To provide a clearer picture of how these SSDs hold up in practical scenarios, we will analyze benchmark scores for their 2TB variants. The following tests will showcase their performance across various applications:
PCMark 10 Full Drive Benchmark
This benchmark simulates real-world tasks to evaluate the SSDs' performance in everyday scenarios such as web browsing, photo editing, and video processing.
The Samsung 990 Pro achieved a score of 4,617, surpassing Kingston's score of 3,370 by 1,247 points, equating to a 37% improvement. Additionally, Samsung's bandwidth was measured at 732 MB/s compared to Kingston's 552 MB/s, marking a 32.6% increase. Samsung also outperformed Kingston in latency with a response time of 36 µs versus 51 µs.
3DMark Storage Test for Gamers
This benchmark is specifically designed for gaming-related tasks and assesses the SSDs' performance in gaming scenarios.
In this test, the Samsung 990 Pro scored 4,678, while Kingston scored 4,304, illustrating a 9% faster bandwidth for Samsung. Despite the close scores, Samsung's latency again showed an advantage at 38 µs compared to Kingston's 42 µs.
CrystalDiskMark sequential read/write performance
In testing sequential read and write operations, both drives exhibited remarkable performance, with Samsung leading slightly at 7,153 MB/s for reads compared to Kingston's 7,053 MB/s. For writes, both drives were nearly tied.
CrystalDiskMark random read/write performance
When assessing random IOPS, the Samsung 990 Pro significantly outperformed Kingston in high-queue 4KB reads, reaching over 1.4 million IOPS compared to Kingston's 940K. However, in 4KB QD1 writes, Kingston excelled with 93K IOPS versus Samsung's 69K IOPS.
File transfer rate
In file transfer rate tests, the Kingston KC3000 showed slight advantages in write speeds, but the Samsung 990 Pro excelled in read speeds, indicating that both drives are capable of delivering similar performance in real-world data transfers.
Power consumption and efficiency
Power efficiency is a critical factor, particularly for users concerned about energy consumption and heat generation. The Kingston KC3000 is less efficient than the Samsung 990 Pro, consuming more energy in both active and idle states. This difference can impact battery life in portable devices and overall system efficiency.
Endurance ratings: TBW, DWPD, MTBF, and warranty
Endurance is a vital consideration when choosing an SSD, especially for users who frequently write large amounts of data. The Kingston KC3000 boasts higher TBW (Terabytes Written) ratings across its capacities, indicating that it can handle more data written before wearing out. Additionally, it offers a DWPD (Drive Writes Per Day) rating of 0.4, compared to Samsung's 0.3, enhancing its appeal for heavy users.
In terms of Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF), the KC3000 also has an edge with a rating of 2.0 million hours versus Samsung's 1.5 million hours. Both drives come with a five-year warranty, but the higher durability ratings of Kingston's KC3000 may make it the better option for long-term use.
Technical specifications breakdown
When comparing the technical specifications, the Samsung 990 Pro excels in controller and NAND technology. The newer Pascal (Cortex-R8) controller outperforms Kingston's Phison E18 (Cortex-R5) in command handling and latency. Samsung's V8 V-NAND technology provides enhanced per-die read and write speeds, which can be crucial for demanding applications.
The following table summarizes the key specifications of both drives:
| Specification | Kingston KC3000 | Samsung 990 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Controller | Phison E18 | Pascal (Cortex-R8) |
| NAND Type | Micron B47R TLC | Samsung V8 V-NAND |
| Sequential Read Speed | 7,000 MB/s | 7,450 MB/s |
| Sequential Write Speed | 6,900 MB/s | 6,900 MB/s |
| Random IOPS (Read) | 1,000,000 | 1,550,000 |
| Random IOPS (Write) | 940,000 | 690,000 |
| Warranty | 5 years | 5 years |
Price comparison
Pricing plays a crucial role in the decision-making process. As of now, the Kingston KC3000 1TB variant is priced at approximately $113.99, while the 1TB Samsung 990 Pro is available for around $109.99. Interestingly, the 2TB KC3000 is roughly $8 cheaper than the 990 Pro, retailing at $175.55. However, the 4TB variant of the KC3000 tends to be more expensive than its Samsung counterpart.
The cost-effectiveness of each drive often hinges on the specific capacities and the performance you require. While the KC3000 may present some savings upfront, the overall performance and advanced features of the Samsung 990 Pro often justify its price point.
Which one should you choose?
In conclusion, the Samsung 990 Pro stands out as the superior choice for users seeking top-notch performance, supporting NVMe 2.0 along with advanced NAND technology. Its ability to handle demanding workloads, combined with impressive random performance and low latency, makes it the preferred option for gamers, content creators, and power users alike.
While the Kingston KC3000 offers competitive specifications, it doesn’t quite match the performance of the 990 Pro. However, it could be a viable option if you find it at a significant discount. For tasks that involve heavy sequential write transfers, the KC3000 can still hold its ground due to its larger SLC write cache.
Ultimately, your choice will depend on your specific use case and budget. If performance is your top priority, the Samsung 990 Pro is the clear winner. For users looking for more endurance and potential savings on certain capacities, the Kingston KC3000 remains a respectable alternative.
For a deeper dive into the performance of these SSDs, you might find this video comparison helpful:
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