SSDs are super-cheap in the intervening time. However for those who occur to see a really particular model of a preferred Samsung mannequin, the 2TB 980 Professional, be cautious of an particularly whole lot. In line with Chinese language discussion board posters, there’s a convincing counterfeit going round that swaps out the high-end PCIe 4th-gen drive for a a lot much less speedy one, actually overlaying it with the suitable Samsung sticker. The pretend drives are even loaded up with firmware that completes the phantasm, being acknowledged by Samsung’s personal official Magician SSD administration software program.
However as Tom’s {Hardware} experiences, as soon as the consumer really places the drive to the check, the jig is up. One discussion board poster mentioned that the pretend drive’s poor efficiency, about 50-60 % of the 7000 MB/s write velocity of the real 980 Professional, is what tipped them off. With the branding sticker eliminated, the cheaper elements had been on show: 3D NAND reminiscence (as an alternative of V-NAND) and an off-brand reminiscence controller. These mixed to drop the velocity right down to 4800 MB/s. Crucially, that’s gradual sufficient to make it unsuitable as expanded storage for the PlayStation 5, a preferred utility for this mannequin of M.2 drive.
Counterfeit storage is proving a persistent drawback in shopper electronics, as a result of it’s a simple factor to pretend. This one is pretty innocuous, apparently providing the precise cupboard space marketed however with cheaper elements to try to go off a slower drive as a quicker one. Extra brazen fakes provide near-impossible {hardware} and reductions, like a 30-terabyte moveable SSD for $30. A fast Amazon search reveals that these fakes are nonetheless prevalent, even on ostensibly “trustworthy” markets. In devices, as in life, comply with the outdated proverb: If it appears too good to be true, it most likely is.
