I found a used 512GB Samsung PM9A1 NVMe SSD listed for €25, and I may be able to negotiate it down to €20. The drive reports 79% health, or roughly 80% remaining according to its SMART data. Would this be a reasonable purchase for installing games, or is the remaining lifespan too uncertain?
4 Answers
Be cautious with any used storage device because you don't know how heavily it was used or whether it has been running hot. A secure erase also removes ordinary recoverable files from the previous owner, but it isn't a substitute for checking the drive's condition. If you want zero uncertainty, a new lower-capacity SSD may be the safer choice.
For game storage, that price seems reasonable. The PM9A1 is a fast OEM drive related to the 980 Pro, and 79% health doesn't mean it is about to fail. Just keep anything important backed up elsewhere, since even a brand-new SSD can die unexpectedly.
Check the complete SMART report before buying. Different SSDs calculate health differently—some base it on NAND writes, while others factor in spare blocks or usage time. Also remember that the PM9A1 is an OEM model, so Samsung Magician may not support it and firmware updates could depend on the system manufacturer it originally came from.
The drive should still have plenty of useful life left, especially for a workload like games. I would securely erase it before using it, check its temperature and SMART values, and avoid storing anything irreplaceable on it. At €20, it is easier to justify than at the full €25, but either price is acceptable if the health report looks normal.
I mainly want it for Steam games, so losing the installed files wouldn't be a big deal. The saves should be recoverable through cloud syncing.