Be wary of counterfeit SSDs. In fact, some are very well made and feature packaging and a physical appearance that are nearly identical to the original. Some even go so far as to deliver solid performance. Others, however, are complete junk—there’s no other way to put it. But in the case of this 870 EVO, it’s a work of art—except when you try to get the most out of it!
870 Evo: A Counterfeit Put to the Test!
Visually identical… Or almost:
At first glance, the counterfeit model looks very similar to the original—at least in terms of packaging. We’ll just note a few misaligned labels, particularly regarding the capacity. Similarly, the color of the packaging seems slightly desaturated on the counterfeit version.
However, when you look at the product itself, a few small details stand out. First, the locations of the mounting screws do not match the original model. Next, there are a few errors on the label, including misaligned serial numbers, as well as issues with the QR code and the various barcodes. The same applies to the compliance logos.
In use:
In terms of performance, this model delivers the standard performance expected for this type of SATA storage. Read and write speeds reach 492 MB/s and 467 MB/s, respectively. In terms of detection, theSSD is correctly recognized by Windows; it shows a capacity of 2 TB, and everything seems to be working.
However, during the full-capacity test, something strange happens. After writing about 120 GB of data, the write speed drops to 0 and nothing happens. Worse still, after restarting the PC, an error message appears, the written data is inaccessible, and the SSD is no longer recognized properly. In short, it’s as if the SSD tried to write beyond its actual capacity. Most likely, it’sa 120 GB SSD disguised as a 2 TB model.
Upon disassembly:
Upon disassembly, the scam becomes apparent since the circuit board bears no resemblance to the original. First, it features a RayMX RM1135T memory controller, whereas the genuine Samsung model uses a proprietary controller. Second, only two unmarked NAND chips are installed. As a reminder, the 870 Evo also uses a DRAM cache to boost performance.