If you’ve been shopping for high-performance NVMe storage lately, you’ve likely noticed the “deals” on Samsung 990 PROs that look a little too good to be true. In 2026, we are witnessing a sophisticated surge in counterfeit hardware that doesn’t just look real—it’s designed to lie to your operating system.
But the industry is finally fighting back. Between the latest update to CrystalDiskInfo and our own sustained-stress testing, the era of the “untraceable fake” is coming to a close.
CrystalDiskInfo 9.9.0: The End of the “Blind Buy”
Japanese developer hiyohiyo just dropped CrystalDiskInfo 9.9.0 Beta 3, and it is a must-have for anyone buying second-hand or from third-party marketplaces.
Historically, identifying a fake 990 PRO meant peeling back labels to inspect the NAND or relying on Samsung Magician. The new beta cuts through the noise:
- The “Maxio” Smoking Gun: Most fakes use a generic Maxio controller flashed with a dead-giveaway firmware:Â
8888888. - The [FAKE] Label: If the software detects this firmware mismatching a Samsung model string, it now prepends a [FAKE] tag directly to the drive name.
Community Call to Action
Counterfeiters are fast, and they will change these strings once they realize they’re being tracked. The developer is requesting that users submit text logs (File > Save (Text)) of any confirmed fakes to the official bulletin board. Your data is the only way to keep the “blacklist” current.
The Technical Deception: How Spoofing Works
These drives aren’t just using fake labels; they are using firmware-level manipulation to deceive your benchmarks and your file explorer.
1. The SLC Cache “Sprint”
Synthetic benchmarks like CrystalDiskMark are often fooled because these Maxio-based fakes use aggressive SLC (Single-Level Cell) caching. For the first few GBs of a test, the drive hits “Gen4” speeds to pass a quick check. Once that cache is exhausted, the speed collapses from 7,000 MB/s to a pathetic 200 MB/s—slower than a mechanical HDD.
2. The “Ghost Capacity” Loop
This is the real danger. Scammers often take a cheap 128GB drive and program the controller to report 2TB.
- The Loop:Â When the drive hits its actual 128GB limit, it doesn’t stop writing. It loops back and starts overwriting your oldest data.
- The Result:Â Your Windows Explorer says the files are there, but they are corrupted, empty shells.
The “Truth Serum” Test
If CrystalDiskInfo is inconclusive, you need to push the drive past its “comfort zone” with a sustained write test.
Step 1: The Marathon Write
Don’t use Windows Copy; use FastCopy. Transfer a massive 100GB+ non-compressible file (like a 4K movie rip) to the drive.
- If it’s real: The speed should remain relatively stable.
- If it’s a Maxio fake: You will hit the “Performance Cliff” around the 20GB mark, where speeds crater to double digits.
Step 2: Verification with H2testw
Run H2testw (or f3 for Linux/Mac). This tool fills every sector of the drive and reads it back. If it reports “Data Corrupted” or “Write Error” halfway through a 2TB test, you’ve found the ghost capacity.
Where the Fakes are Hiding
In 2026, the primary vectors for these drives are:
- Amazon/Walmart Third-Party Sellers:Â Look for names like “Samsung Store Official” that aren’t actually verified.
- eBay & Mercari:Â Beware the “Unopened Gift” listings.
- Blue PCBs: Genuine Samsung 990 PROs use Black PCBs. While it’s rare, if you see blue circuit board material through the packaging, it’s 100% a fake.
Final Verdict
Data integrity is not a gamble you want to lose. If you aren’t buying from a tier-one authorized retailer, run these tests the second the drive arrives. If it fails, file your dispute immediately—don’t give the scammers a cent of your hard-earned money.
Source: hiyohiyo, Back2Gaming
