Kingston
Kingston KC3000 1TB
PCIe 4.0 · 7000/7000 MB/s · 1TB
86
/ 100
From $90
VS
Samsung
Samsung 990 Pro 4TB
PCIe 4.0 · 7450/6900 MB/s · 4TB
86
/ 100
From $360
Specdex verdict
Dead heat — it comes down to priorities.
In our weighted Specdex score, Kingston KC3000 1TB lands at 86 and Samsung 990 Pro 4TB at 86. With scores tied, the decision hinges on which sub-scores matter most to you.
Pick Kingston KC3000 1TB if…
- ✓M.2 NVMe
- ✓Competitive per-GB cost
- ✓TBW scales with capacity
Pick Samsung 990 Pro 4TB if…
- ✓M.2 NVMe
- ✓Competitive per-GB cost
- ✓TBW scales with capacity
Kingston KC3000 1TB 86
vs 86 Samsung 990 Pro 4TB
Score breakdown
Kingston KC3000 1TB
86 read 90
write 88
endurance 88
value 84
Samsung 990 Pro 4TB
86 read 90
write 88
endurance 88
value 84
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Kingston KC3000 1TB | Samsung 990 Pro 4TB |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 4.0 |
| Capacity | 1TB | ▲ 4TB |
| Read/Write | 7000/7000 MB/s | 7450/6900 MB/s |
Kingston KC3000 1TB
Pros
- +M.2 NVMe
- +Competitive per-GB cost
- +TBW scales with capacity
Cons
- −Thermals on Gen 5 drives
- −DRAM-less models slower under sustained load
- −Require heatsinks in many systems
Samsung 990 Pro 4TB
Pros
- +M.2 NVMe
- +Competitive per-GB cost
- +TBW scales with capacity
Cons
- −Thermals on Gen 5 drives
- −DRAM-less models slower under sustained load
- −Require heatsinks in many systems
FAQ: Kingston KC3000 1TB vs Samsung 990 Pro 4TB
Which is better, Kingston KC3000 1TB or Samsung 990 Pro 4TB? +
Both score 86 on our weighted rubric — tied. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Kingston KC3000 1TB worth the price? +
At $90, Kingston KC3000 1TB delivers a Specdex score of 86 — strongest in read.
Is Samsung 990 Pro 4TB worth the price? +
At $360, Samsung 990 Pro 4TB delivers a Specdex score of 86 — strongest in read.
Does Kingston KC3000 1TB or Samsung 990 Pro 4TB last longer? +
Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.