Seagate Storage Expansion Card 1TB
Score: 69/100
Samsung 990 PRO
Score: 81/100Rankings
The Samsung 990 PRO 1TB is a high-performance PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD delivering up to 7,450 MB/s read and 6,900 MB/s write speeds with strong security features. Its heatsink-less design and limited pSLC cache can limit sustained heavy workloads. Best suited for gamers, content creators, and professionals who need maximum PCIe 4 throughput on desktops or laptops with adequate cooling.
The Seagate Storage Expansion Card for Xbox Series X|S adds up to 4 TB of native-speed storage via a PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe interface. Its performance is slightly lower than the theoretical maximum and it works only with the Xbox Series X|S ecosystem. Best for gamers who need seamless expansion without cables.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
1,024 GBbest | 1,024 GBbest | |
820 MB/s | 7,450 MB/sbest | |
664 MB/s | 6,900 MB/sbest | |
30,219 IOPS | 1,200,000 IOPSbest | |
684 IOPS | 1,550,000 IOPSbest | |
— | 600 TBbest | |
— | 1,500,000 hoursbest | |
128 MB | 1,024 MBbest |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Connectivity(1) | ||
Interface | PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe | PCIe 4.0 x4 |
Performance(5) | ||
Sequential Read Speed (MB/s) | 820 MB/s | 7450 MB/s |
Sequential Write Speed (MB/s) | 664 MB/s | 6900 MB/s |
Random Read IOPS (4K) (IOPS) | 30219 IOPS | 1200000 IOPS |
Random Write IOPS (4K) (IOPS) | 684 IOPS | 1550000 IOPS |
DRAM Cache (MB) | 128 MB | 1024 MB |
General(1) | ||
Warranty (years) | 3 years | 5 years |
Reliability(1) | ||
Operating Temperature (°C) | 5-35 °C | 0-70 °C |
Design & Build(3) | ||
Form Factor | Proprietary Card | M.2 2280 |
Weight (g) | 30 g | 9.1 g |
Dimensions (L×W×H) (mm) | 80x23.4x8.9 mm | 80.3×22.1×2.3 mm mm |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers praise the Seagate Expansion Card as the only true plug-and-play solution that delivers PCIe Gen4 performance and full Xbox Velocity Architecture integration, matching the console's internal SSD for optimized games. They commend its seamless installation, high capacities, and ability to run next-gen titles without transfers, while noting that real-world speeds fall short of the PCIe Gen4 ceiling and that the product's exclusivity and premium price limit its broader appeal.
Everyday users consistently highlight the card's ease of installation and the immediate boost in available storage, especially for large open-world games. Quick Resume reliability and the compact, cable-free form factor receive strong praise. Recurring concerns revolve around limited capacity on lower-tier models, the inability to use the card on other platforms, and occasional heat during prolonged sessions.
“Matches internal SSD speeds for optimized games, Quick Resume, and load times, delivering near-native performance.”
“Benchmark read speeds (~738 MB/s) are lower than the theoretical maximum of PCIe Gen4, potentially limiting peak performance.”
Professional reviewers commend the 990 PRO for its exceptional speed, gaming-optimized random performance, and strong reliability, while noting the smaller DRAM cache and lack of a heatsink as potential drawbacks under heavy sustained loads.
Everyday users praise the drive's blazing speed and security, but note concerns about the smaller DRAM cache and possible throttling without a heatsink.
