Fake 2TB Samsung 870 EVO SSDs are floating around that are actually 120GB

Q: How did CrystalDiskMark and H2testw results differ when testing the counterfeit drive in the article?

CrystalDiskMark reported read and write speeds in the range expected from a real 870 EVO, about 492 MB/s read and 467 MB/s write. H2testw, which fills the drive with data and verifies it, showed the drive stopped writing at roughly 117,227 MB (about 120 GB), with write speeds dropping to zero and the previously written data becoming unreadable after a restart.

Q: Where does the article recommend buying SSDs to reduce the risk of receiving counterfeit drives?

The article recommends buying SSDs directly from Samsung or from an authorized retailer rather than from third-party marketplace sellers. It also suggests checking stickers and running full-capacity write tests if anything seems suspicious.

A fake Samsung 870 EVO 2TB SSD has been discovered that looks nearly identical to the real thing, but it dies after writing about 120GB of data.

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Hassam Nasir

Tech Reporter

Published Jul 14, 2026 6:18 PM CDT

3-minute read time

TL;DR: Counterfeit Samsung 870 EVO 2TB SSDs mimic packaging and report correct capacity and speeds but fail after about 120GB of writes. Teardown revealed a Realtek RayMX controller and unmarked NAND, not Samsung components. Buy from authorized sellers, inspect stickers, and run full-capacity write tests like H2testw to verify drives.

Voice: Hassam NasirSpeed

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Counterfeit SSDs are getting harder to spot, and the latest one making the rounds is a fake Samsung 870 EVO 2TB SATA drive that can't take more than 120GB of real writes. Japanese outlet Akiba PC Hotline tore one down after testing it, and the results are a good reminder that fakes are getting more and more convincing.

Fake 2TB Samsung 870 EVO SSDs are floating around that are actually 120GB 4

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On the surface, this fake looks close to the genuine 870 EVO. The box, label, and enclosure all closely mimic Samsung's real packaging, and Windows detects it as a proper 2TB SATA SSD. CrystalDiskMark even reported read and write speeds in the range you'd expect from a real 870 EVO, around 492 MB/s read and 467 MB/s write. On paper, everything checks out, and the scammers have made software-level tweaks to ensure it appears to be the real thing.

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The problem showed up during a full-capacity write test using H2testw, a tool that fills a drive with data and verifies that it can be read back correctly. Around 117,227MB in, or roughly 120GB, the drive stopped writing entirely. Write speeds dropped to zero, and the previously written data became unreadable after a restart. This is a tell-tale sign of fake storage media.

Fake 2TB Samsung 870 EVO SSDs are floating around that are actually 120GB 5

Opening up the drive confirmed the deception. Instead of Samsung's own controller, NAND, and DRAM cache, the fake uses a Realtek-based RayMX RM1135T controller paired with two unmarked NAND packages. None of the internals have anything in common with a real 870 EVO.

Fake 2TB Samsung 870 EVO SSDs are floating around that are actually 120GB 7

Fake 2TB Samsung 870 EVO SSDs are floating around that are actually 120GB 8

This isn't the first time we've seen fake Samsung storage circulating. We recently covered a Redditor who bought a fake 990 PRO that ran at just 20MB/sec, and an even messier case where a buyer ordered a 990 PRO on Amazon and received a 970 EVO with a fake sticker instead. Fake Samsung drives have apparently been around for years too, as we've seen similarly convincing fakes that performed worse than a cheap USB stick.

Fake 2TB Samsung 870 EVO SSDs are floating around that are actually 120GB 1

With NAND prices doubling over the past several months and Samsung reportedly winding down SATA SSD production, it's likely counterfeiters will keep targeting cheap and high-demand drives like the 870 EVO, so buyers probably need to stay more alert than usual.

Fake 2TB Samsung 870 EVO SSDs are floating around that are actually 120GB 2

If you're shopping for an SSD, you would be better off buying directly from Samsung or an authorized retailer rather than from third-party marketplace sellers. Check the sticker for sloppy edges or signs it's been peeled and reapplied.

Frequently Asked Questions

TweakBot answers common questions about this news using TweakTown's own coverage from this page and related content from our archive. Tap a question to reveal the answer, or type your own below.

Question #1

How can I tell if a Samsung 870 EVO SSD I bought is fake based on its external packaging and sticker?

Check the sticker and box for sloppy edges or signs the label has been peeled and reapplied, since counterfeiters may reapply fake labels to genuine enclosures. Cross-check the serial number on the sticker against what Samsung Magician reports from the drive firmware; if those numbers do not match, that is a strong sign the drive is fake. The article also recommends buying from Samsung or an authorized retailer rather than third-party marketplace sellers.

Answered

Question #2

What symptoms during use indicate a fake 2TB 870 EVO that actually has only ~120GB of writable space?

The drive will appear normal at first, Windows detects it as a 2TB drive and benchmarks (CrystalDiskMark) can report expected read/write speeds, but during a full-capacity write it will stop writing at roughly 117,227MB (about 120GB). Write speeds drop to zero and the drive may stop responding partway through the write test, and data that had been written can become unreadable after a restart.

Answered

Question #3

How did CrystalDiskMark and H2testw results differ when testing the counterfeit drive in the article?

Question #4

Where does the article recommend buying SSDs to reduce the risk of receiving counterfeit drives?

Have a question not listed here? Ask below and TweakBot will answer it.

If something rings alarm bells, run a full capacity write test with something like H2testw before trusting a drive with anything important, and cross-check the serial number on the sticker against what Samsung Magician reports from the drive's firmware. If those numbers don't match, or the drive stops responding partway through a write test, it's probably fake.