Samsung 990 Pro – the SSD dubbed the “speed king” – is becoming the focus of a distressing issue: sophisticated counterfeiting. In the context of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) craze driving component prices to skyrocketing levels, unscrupulous traders are exploiting the desire for low prices to flood the market with low-quality products wrapped in glamorous packaging. Alarmingly, these fraudulent tactics have reached a master level, capable of bypassing even the most reputable software inspection tools, turning a user’s computer upgrade into a high-risk gamble.
Counterfeit Samsung 990 Pro Tactics: Premium Shell, Rotten “Guts”
In the past, detecting a “fake” hard drive was quite simple. Simply plug it in, and the operating system would report an error or display fake capacity. However, the new generation of counterfeits is many times more dangerous. They are loaded with deeply manipulated firmware designed to deceive computers. When you connect these devices, everything from Windows File Manager and Disk Management to the famous health check tool CrystalDiskInfo reports them as authentic Samsung 990 Pro drives, complete with “dreamy” technical specifications.
A typical case that recently caused a stir on Reddit serves as a stark warning to users. A victim purchased a 2TB hard drive for approximately $205 (equivalent to 5 million VND) from a third-party component distributor. All displayed specifications were perfect until the user began transferring data. The actual write speed crawled at a mere 20 MB/s—a speed comparable to a cheap USB 2.0 drive from a decade ago, whereas the standard speed of Samsung’s “masterpiece” should reach up to 6,900 MB/s.
The terrifying part is that the victim tried everything from reinstalling drivers to updating the BIOS, but found no issues. It was only when using the specialized software Samsung Magician that the mask was stripped away, as the software flagged the drive as counterfeit. In some previous cases, counterfeits were so sophisticated they even bypassed official software, forcing users to delid the drive to inspect the internal components to realize they had been scammed.
Samsung SSD Prices Double: A Lesson for Consumers
Why is the counterfeiting of Samsung SSD lines exploding so intensely right now? The answer lies in supply shortages. NAND and DRAM chip manufacturers are prioritizing their entire production capacity for AI data centers, leaving the general consumer market behind. As a result, the price of a high-end hard drive has more than doubled in just a few months, rising from under $150 last October to over $300 at present.
When the value of components rises “like gold,” it becomes a lucrative target for unscrupulous traders. They use discarded memory chips that are slow and lack durability, then package them in the glamorous branding of major manufacturers. Kioxia—a giant in the flash memory industry—has even warned that the budget SSD segment under $50 has almost become extinct, and this shortage could last until 2027.
So, how can you buy genuine products? First, remember the mantra “you get what you pay for.” If you see an unexpectedly low price, be immediately suspicious. Second, after purchasing, do not rely solely on the displayed name. Use CrystalDiskMark immediately to push the drive to its full capacity (Benchmark). Counterfeits can fake a name, but they cannot fake physical speed. Finally, prioritize purchasing from major retail chains or authorized distributors in Vietnam to ensure official warranty coverage.
