Relative Value60balanced preset
Samsung 990 Pro 2TB vs Seagate FireCuda 530R 2TB — value comparison
Relative Value49balanced preset
Samsung 990 Pro 2TB shows higher Relative Value under balanced weights at the current dataset offers: 60 vs 49. The result crosses over if Seagate FireCuda 530R 2TB reaches about $451 or below.
Price data · US · USD · New · A 2026-08-31 · B 2026-08-31Coverage · 8 tracked new-offer records across both modelsBenchmark confidence · no estimate flags on these two recordsAffiliate links · We may earn a commission from these links. Scores are calculated separately using our methodology.
02 · Decision matrix
One decision, three separate questions
Capability ignores price. Relative Value adds the current dataset offers and your priorities. Keeping them separate prevents a cheap product from being mistaken for the faster product.
The decision, split by questioncapability · value · price are separate answers
Capability by task
| Scenario | Samsung 990 Pro 2TB | Seagate FireCuda 530R 2TB |
|---|---|---|
| System Drive | S#47 | S#66 |
| Game & File Storage | A#100 | A#102 |
| Heavy Creative Work | S#51 | S#59 |
They grade identically in all 3 graded scenarios — the tier table won't decide this one, so compare price and Value below. These are the same S–F grades as the tier list — capability only, price excluded. The value rows below add prices from the 2026-08-31 offer frame. How tiers are assigned →
Relative Value by priority
Balancedhigher relative value lit
60 ✓
49
System Drivepractically even (≤3 pts)
30
28
Game & File Storagehigher relative value lit
62 ✓
49
Heavy Creative Workpractically even (≤3 pts)
25
28
Strict Budgethigher relative value lit
49 ✓
33
Both products are normalized within the same in-stock market frame per preset. A check marks the higher Relative Value; a difference of 3 points or less is shown as practically even.
03 · Price crossover
The price changes the answer
Current offers, crossover points and Strong Value thresholds answer different questions. Thresholds are calculations, not price forecasts.
A · Samsung 990 Pro 2TB
- Current dataset offer · NewUS · USD · snapshot 2026-08-31
- $390
- Beats Seagate FireCuda 530R 2TB atbalanced weights; rival offer held fixed
- $518
- Strong Value at80+ Relative Value threshold
- $260
B · Seagate FireCuda 530R 2TB
- Current dataset offer · NewUS · USD · snapshot 2026-08-31
- $599
- Beats Samsung 990 Pro 2TB atbalanced weights; rival offer held fixed
- $451
- Strong Value at80+ Relative Value threshold
- $300
04 · Capability
Capability indexes, side by side
Price is intentionally excluded here so the more capable product and the better-value product cannot be confused.
Drive capability
7450
7400
7400
Sequential read (MB/s)
7450
7400
7400
Sequential write (MB/s)
6900
6900
6900
A · Samsung 990 Pro 2TBB · Seagate FireCuda 530R 2TBEach row keeps the unit or category index named in its label; bar length compares A and B within that row.Samsung 990 Pro 2TB shows higher Value under every weighting we test — a stable result in the 2026-08-31 offer frame.
05 · Platform & ownership
Fit, compatibility and ownership context
Only verified structured compatibility and ownership fields are shown. Check the exact system, board manual and vendor QVL before purchase; missing fields are never guessed.
A · Samsung 990 Pro 2TB
- InterfaceM.2 PCIe 4.0 x4
- Form factorM.2-2280
- Capacity2,000 GB
- DRAM cache2GB
- Heatsink includedNo
- Write endurance1,200 TBW
- Warranty (typical new)60 mo
B · Seagate FireCuda 530R 2TB
- InterfaceM.2 PCIe 4.0 x4
- Form factorM.2-2280
- Capacity2,000 GB
- DRAM cacheDDR4
- Heatsink includedNo
- Write endurance2,400 TBW
- Warranty (typical new)60 mo
06 · Specifications
Key specifications
Directional checkmarks appear only on numeric fields where more or less has a clear meaning. They are not an overall verdict.
| Specification | Samsung 990 Pro 2TB | Seagate FireCuda 530R 2TB |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | M.2 PCIe 4.0 x4 | M.2 PCIe 4.0 x4 |
| Form factor | M.2-2280 | M.2-2280 |
| Capacity | 2,000 GB | 2,000 GB |
| Sequential read | 7,450 MB/s✓ | 7,400 MB/s |
| Sequential write | 6,900 MB/s | 6,900 MB/s |
| Random read | not tracked | 1,300,000 IOPS |
| Random write | not tracked | 1,300,000 IOPS |
| Write endurance | 1,200 TBW | 2,400 TBW✓ |
| DRAM cache | 2GB | DDR4 |
| NAND type | Samsung TLC V-NAND | 3D TLC |
| Controller | Samsung Pascal (8nm) | Phison PS5018-E18 |
| Heatsink included | No | No |
Show additional verified specifications
“Not tracked” means the source data does not contain a verified value; no default or guessed specification is substituted.
07 · Customize
Try other models and your own priorities
Presets are starting points. Swap either side, then open Advanced weights only if you want to tune the formula directly.
08 · Alternative
A third option worth checking
The same scenario and market frame checks whether another currently priced model offers a cleaner trade-off.
Worth considering instead
Crucial T710 1TB — same S-tier capability for System Drive, about $180 cheaper · Value 100.
Neither of the two above is the only answer — this one clears the same bar for less. ⇄ Compare all three
09 · Decision guide
Choose based on the trade-off you actually want
These are evidence-linked conditions, not universal buying verdicts. Feature ecosystems, software support and platform preferences remain your call.
Choose A · Samsung 990 Pro 2TB if…
- Your priorities resemble Balanced, Game & File Storage, Strict Budget — it has higher Relative Value under those presets at the snapshot offers.
- You can find it at or below its Strong Value threshold of $260 under balanced weights.
Choose B · Seagate FireCuda 530R 2TB if…
- You can find it at or below its Strong Value threshold of $300 under balanced weights.
10 · Methodology & FAQ
Read the methodology →How to read this comparison
The formula is a linear weighted sum inside the current comparison frame. Capability, price and user priorities stay visible as separate inputs so the result can be challenged and changed.
- Which is better value right now: Samsung 990 Pro 2TB or Seagate FireCuda 530R 2TB?
- Under the balanced preset and the 2026-08-31 offer frame, Samsung 990 Pro 2TB has higher Relative Value under this configuration (60 vs 49). Value is price-dependent and moves with your weighting; capability is a separate question, answered by the tier table.
- Which one is more capable, ignoring price?
- They grade identically in all 3 graded scenarios — the tier table won't decide this one, so compare price and Value below.
- At what price does the Seagate FireCuda 530R 2TB become the better value?
- Holding the Samsung 990 Pro 2TB offer dated in the 2026-08-31 frame fixed, the calculation flips in favour of the Seagate FireCuda 530R 2TB at roughly $451 or below (balanced preset). Not a price forecast.
- Where can I compare current offers for both?
- Dated offer snapshots for both models are listed on their product pages (linked above); the interactive calculator recalculates both with your own weights and budget.
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Offer frame: 2026-08-31 · dataset generated 2026-09-01 · formula ssd-value-v1.5-benefit-cost-product · Value Score is an estimate based on our current dataset, selected weights, market prices and methodology — not an official product rating or a price forecast. Target prices are calculation thresholds, not predictions. Methodology · Report a data error