Installing a Samsung 990 Pro takes about 10 minutes and requires no tools
The Samsung 990 Pro is an NVMe solid-state drive that plugs directly into an M.2 slot on your motherboard. You do not need a screwdriver, thermal paste, or special software — the drive comes with a heatspreader already attached. Power off your PC, locate the M.2 slot, insert the drive at a 30-degree angle, and press down until it clicks. That is the entire installation.
The only real decision is which M.2 slot to use if your motherboard has more than one. Most modern boards have two or three M.2 slots, but they may not all run at the same speed. Your motherboard manual will tell you which slot supports PCIe 4.0 (the speed the 990 Pro needs) and whether using one slot disables a SATA port or another M.2 slot. Check that before you open the case.
Key Takeaways
- The Samsung 990 Pro installs into an M.2 slot on your motherboard without tools, screws, or thermal paste.
- Check your motherboard manual to find which M.2 slot supports PCIe 4.0, because some boards have multiple slots that run at different speeds.
- Power off your PC completely, ground yourself by touching the metal case, and insert the drive at a 30-degree angle until it clicks into place.
- Windows will recognize the drive when ready after you restart; you do not need to install drivers or initialize it in most cases.
What you need before you start
Gather these items before you open your PC: your motherboard manual (or the model number so you can look it up online), the Samsung 990 Pro drive itself, and a grounded workspace. You do not need a screwdriver, thermal paste, or any other tools. The drive comes with the heatspreader already mounted.
The motherboard manual is the most important item. It will show you exactly where the M.2 slots are, which one supports PCIe 4.0, and whether installing the drive in a particular slot will disable any SATA ports or other features. If you do not have the manual, search for your motherboard model number (printed on the board itself) plus "manual" and read the PDF from the manufacturer's website.
Locating the M.2 slot on your motherboard
The M.2 slot is a narrow horizontal socket, usually located near the bottom-right area of the motherboard, though placement varies. It looks like a thin rectangular slot about 2 inches long. If your motherboard has multiple M.2 slots, they are usually stacked vertically or spread across the board. Your manual will label them as M.2_1, M.2_2, and so on.
The critical step is confirming that the slot you plan to use supports PCIe 4.0. The Samsung 990 Pro is a PCIe 4.0 drive, and while it will physically fit into a PCIe 3.0 slot, it will run at half speed. Your motherboard manual will specify which slot is PCIe 4.0. If you have a newer board (2020 or later), the primary M.2 slot is almost always PCIe 4.0, but do not assume — check the manual.
Powering down and preparing your PC
Shut down Windows completely and unplug the power cable from the back of your PC. Do not just put it to sleep or restart — the power must be off. Wait a few seconds, then press the power button once to discharge any remaining power in the system. This is a safety step that takes five seconds and prevents static electricity from damaging the drive.
Touch the metal frame of your PC case with your bare hand before you touch the drive. This grounds you and removes static charge from your body. If your case is plastic or you are working on a carpeted floor, touch a metal part of the case, then touch the drive, then touch the case again before inserting it. Static electricity is rare but can destroy an SSD, so this precaution is worth the three seconds it takes.
Inserting the Samsung 990 Pro into the M.2 slot
Hold the drive by its edges, not the gold connector or the heatspreader. Look at the M.2 slot and locate the small notch on the right end — this is the key that prevents you from inserting the drive backward. The Samsung 990 Pro has a matching notch on its connector end. Align the drive so the notch lines up, then insert it at a shallow 30-degree angle into the slot.
Push the drive down gently and steadily. You will feel it slide into the slot, and when it is fully seated, press down on the end until you hear or feel a click. The drive should now be held at that 30-degree angle by the slot itself. Do not force it — if it does not slide in smoothly, stop and check that the notch is aligned correctly. Once it clicks, the drive is installed.
Some motherboards include a small screw and standoff to find the drive flat against the board. If your board has this, you can use it, but it is not required for the drive to work. The click of the slot is sufficient to hold the drive in place during normal operation.
Powering on and checking Windows
Plug the power cable back in and turn on your PC. Windows will boot normally. In most cases, the drive will appear in File Explorer under "This PC" within a few seconds, and you can start using it when ready. You do not need to install drivers — Windows recognizes NVMe drives automatically.
If the drive does not appear, restart your PC once more. If it still does not show up after a restart, open Disk Management (right-click the Start button and select "Disk Management") and look for an uninitialized drive. If you see it there, right-click it and select "Initialize Disk", then choose MBR or GPT (GPT is the modern standard for most users). After initialization, the drive will appear in File Explorer and you can format it as NTFS.
If the drive does not appear in Disk Management either, restart your PC, enter the BIOS (usually by pressing Delete or F2 during startup), and check that the M.2 slot is enabled. Some motherboards disable certain slots by default. Your motherboard manual will show you where this setting is located in the BIOS menu.
Troubleshooting if the drive is not recognized
The most common reason a newly installed drive does not appear is that it needs to be initialized in Disk Management. This is normal and takes one minute. Open Disk Management, find the uninitialized drive (it will show as "Unknown" or "Not Initialized"), right-click it, and select "Initialize Disk". Choose GPT unless you have a specific reason to use MBR. After initialization, the drive will appear in File Explorer.
If the drive does not appear in Disk Management at all, the second most common cause is that you used a PCIe 3.0 slot instead of PCIe 4.0. The drive will still work, but it may not be recognized if the slot is disabled or not fully supported. Check your motherboard manual again and try moving the drive to the primary M.2 slot (usually M.2_1). Power off completely, remove the drive, and reinstall it in the correct slot.
If you have tried both of these steps and the drive still does not appear, the drive itself may be faulty, or the M.2 slot may be damaged. Contact Samsung support with your drive's serial number (printed on the label) and describe what you have tried. Do not attempt to repair the drive or slot yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to update my BIOS before installing the 990 Pro?
No, not in most cases. The Samsung 990 Pro is a standard NVMe drive and works with any motherboard that has an M.2 slot. If your motherboard is more than five years old, a BIOS update may improve compatibility, but it is not required. Check your motherboard manufacturer's website if you want to update, but do not do it unless you have a specific reason.
Can I use the 990 Pro in a laptop?
Yes, if your laptop has an M.2 slot. Most modern laptops do, but some ultrabooks do not. Check your laptop's manual or contact the manufacturer to confirm. Installation is the same: power off, locate the M.2 slot (usually under a small panel on the bottom), and insert the drive at a 30-degree angle until it clicks.
Will the heatspreader on the 990 Pro fit under my motherboard's M.2 heatsink?
Usually yes. The Samsung 990 Pro heatspreader is thin and fits under most motherboard heatsinks. If your board has a large heatsink that covers the M.2 slot, you may need to remove it first, install the drive, and then reinstall the heatsink. Your motherboard manual will show whether the heatsink is removable.
Do I need to format the drive before I can use it?
Not if you are using it as a secondary drive for storage. Windows will format it automatically when you right-click it in File Explorer and select "Format". If you want to use it as your boot drive (where Windows is installed), you will need to reinstall Windows on it, which includes formatting as part of the installation process.
What is the difference between the 990 Pro and other Samsung drives?
The 990 Pro is Samsung's fastest consumer NVMe drive, with PCIe 4.0 speeds. Older Samsung drives like the 970 EVO Plus use PCIe 3.0 and are slower. The 990 Pro is worth the cost if you do video editing, large file transfers, or gaming, but for everyday use like web browsing and office work, the speed difference is not noticeable.