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Use Samsung Magician or Samsung’s official 990 PRO support listing to check your installed firmware, find the current release, and view the drive’s health status. Samsung’s listing currently shows firmware 8B2QJXD7, released in December 2025 to improve read-operation stability. Back up important files before maintenance and compare the version shown on your drive with Samsung’s latest listing before proceeding.
Check your 990 PRO’s installed firmware
- Download Samsung Magician from Samsung’s official consumer storage support page. Samsung provides Windows and macOS downloads there and recommends using the latest version.
- Open Magician and confirm that the detected drive is your Samsung 990 PRO. Check the drive’s firmware version in the app; labels and layout can vary by Magician version.
- Compare the installed version with Samsung’s current 990 PRO support listing. Make sure you are looking at the entry for the 990 PRO and the appropriate model, rather than another Samsung SSD.
Samsung’s support listing currently identifies 8B2QJXD7 as 990 PRO series firmware. Samsung says it was released in December 2025 “To improve read-operation stability.” Support listings can change, so check the official page again when you update rather than treating this version as permanently current.
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Update the firmware
- In Samsung Magician, select the 990 PRO and use the firmware update option if one is offered. Follow the on-screen instructions and allow the update process to complete.
- If you are using Samsung’s firmware listing instead, confirm the firmware applies to your exact 990 PRO model and follow the instructions on Samsung’s page. Do not use firmware from third-party mirrors.
- After the update, reopen Magician and check the reported firmware version.
Back up important files before firmware maintenance. Keep the computer powered and follow the prompts shown for your system; do not interrupt the process while it is underway. Samsung’s current listing should be treated as the authority for the release and its applicable models.
What Samsung’s recent firmware notes say
| Firmware | Samsung’s listed release date | Samsung’s stated purpose |
|---|---|---|
| 8B2QJXD7 | December 2025 | Improve read-operation stability. |
| 7B2QJXD7 | September 2025 | Address intermittent non-recognition and blue-screen issues. |
| 4B2QJXD7 | December 2024 | Address reports of high temperatures logged in Samsung Magician. |
These are Samsung’s descriptions of the releases, not evidence that every 990 PRO has experienced the cited issue. The download page also lists Samsung Magician for Windows and macOS; its retrieved listing showed version 9.0.1, but app versions are subject to change. Use the support page for the current download.
#1 Best Overall
- MEET THE NEXT GEN: Consider this a cheat code; Our Samsung 990 PRO Gen4 SSD helps you reach near max performance with lightning-fast speeds; Whether you’re a hardcore gamer or a tech guru, you’ll get power efficiency built for the final boss
- REACH THE NEXT LEVEL: Gen4 steps up with faster transfer speeds and high-performance bandwidth; With a more than 55% improvement in random performance compared to 980 PRO, it’s here for heavy computing and faster loading
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Check Samsung 990 PRO health in Magician
- Open Samsung Magician and select the 990 PRO from the detected drives.
- Open the app’s health or status view and review the drive’s reported condition and SMART monitoring information.
- If Magician displays a warning, preserve a backup of important data and consult Samsung’s model-specific support information before deciding what action to take.
Health monitoring is useful for spotting reported status changes, but the available Samsung support material does not establish universal SMART thresholds for diagnosing failure. Do not treat one SMART value by itself as proof that the drive is failing or that failure is imminent.
If Magician does not detect the drive
First verify that the drive is in fact a Samsung 990 PRO and that your system recognizes it. Samsung identifies the 990 PRO as a PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD; physical fit, heatsink clearance, and access depend on the computer or motherboard. Check your system documentation and Samsung’s support information for the exact model and capacity. If the drive is not detected or Magician reports a warning, back up data if it remains accessible and consult Samsung’s model-specific support rather than installing firmware intended for another drive.
Rank #2
- HUGE SPEED BOOST: Get random read/write speeds that are 40%/55% faster than 980 PRO; Experience up to 1400K/1550K IOPS, while sequential read/write speeds up to 7,450/6,900 MB/s reach near the max performance of PCIe 4.0*
- BREAKTHROUGH POWER EFFICIENCY: Use less power and get more performance; Enjoy up to 50% improved performance per watt over 980 PRO, plus optimal power efficiency with max PCIe 4.0 performance**
- SMART THERMAL CONTROL: Samsung's own nickel-coated controller delivers effective thermal control; With its slim size, 990 PRO is a perfect fit for desktops and laptops that meet the PCI-SIG D8 standard***
- THE CHAMPION MAKER: Up to 65% improvement in random performance enables faster loads for an ultimate gaming experience on PS5 and DirectStorage PC games****
- SAMSUNG MAGICIAN SOFTWARE: Get the most out of your SSD with Samsung Magician's advanced yet intuitive optimization tools; Monitor drive health, protect valuable data, and receive important updates for your 990 PRO
Samsung’s official starting points are its consumer storage support and download page and the 990 PRO information available there. Use those pages for current software, firmware, and model-specific details.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- OUR ULTIMATE SSD: Reach near max performance with PCIe 4.0*; The in-house controller's smart heat control delivers our best power efficiency while maintaining ferocious performance that always keeps you at the top of your game
- MAXIMIZED PCIE 4.0 SPEED: Get random read/write speeds that are 40%/55% faster than 980 PRO; Experience up to 1400K/1550K IOPS and read/write speeds up to 7450/6900 MB/s for gaming, video editing, 3D modeling, data analysis and more**
- BREAKTHROUGH POWER EFFICIENCY: Get more performance while using less power; Enjoy up to 50% improved performance per watt over 980 PRO***
- THERMAL CONTROL: Samsung's nickel-coated high-end controller delivers thermal control and prevents performance drops from overheating; 990 PRO with Heatsink is a perfect fit for PlayStation 5, desktops, laptops that meet the PCI-SIG D8 standard****
- THE CHAMPION MAKER: A more than 55% improvement in random performance enables faster loads for an ultimate gaming experience on PS5 and DirectStorage PC games; With RGB LED lights, Heatsink’s futuristic design adds style to function*****
Rank #4
- High-performance PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD for high-end PC gaming as well as 4K video and 3D editing, data analytics and more.
- Exceptional speed: Sequential read/write speeds of up to 7,450 MB/s and 6,900 MB/s respectively for all variants from 1 to 4 TB of storage capacity.
- High reliability and long-lasting performance thanks to Heat Spreader and Dynamic Thermal Guard technology to protect against overheating
- Storage capacities of up to 4 TB in compact M.2 form factor (2280), Ideal for high-performance (gaming) PCs and notebooks/ultrabooks
- Easy drive management, with user-friendly Samsung Magician software for drive updates and performance optimisation
Rank #3
- BLAZING SPEED. COOL VICTORY: Consider this a cheat code; Our Samsung 990 PRO Gen 4 with Heatsink SSD helps you reach near max performance* with lightning-fast speeds and Heatsink for improved temperature control
- REACH THE NEXT LEVEL: Gen4 steps up with faster transfer speeds and high-performance bandwidth; With a more than 55% improvement in random performance compared to 980 PRO, it’s here for heavy computing and faster loading
- THE FASTEST SSD FROM THE WORLD'S #1 FLASH MEMORY BRAND**: The speed you need for any occasion; With read and write speeds up to 7450/6900 MB/s* you’ll reach near max performance of PCIe 4.0*** powering through for any use
- PLAY WITHOUT LIMITS: Give yourself some space with storage capacities from 1TB to 4TB; Sync all your saves and reign supreme in gaming, video editing, data analysis and more
- MADE w/ PS5 IN MIND: Ultra-slim Integrated Heatsink is designed to dissipate heat from your device to stabilize its temperature and prevent performance issues; It’s compatible with PlayStation 5 and PCI-SIG D8 standard desktops and laptops****
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