SSD Data Recovery
Samsung Pascal Controller Data RecoverySamsung 990 PRO
Samsung's Pascal controller in the 990 PRO had a widely reported firmware bug causing rapid SMART health degradation. Affected drives lost 5-20% of reported life within weeks to months. Samsung released multiple firmware patches through 2025, but affected drives retain their degraded SMART values. Our Austin lab uses board-level diagnostics and NAND-level techniques for Samsung Pascal Controller recovery.
Samsung Pascal Controller Technical Details
Samsung's Pascal controller in the 990 PRO had a widely reported firmware bug causing rapid SMART health degradation. Affected drives lost 5-20% of reported life within weeks to months. Samsung released multiple firmware patches through 2025, but affected drives retain their degraded SMART values.
Samsung Pascal Controller Specifications
- Manufacturer
- Samsung
- Interface
- NVMe Gen4
- DRAM Cache
- Yes
- Channels
- 8-channel
- NAND Types
- 3D TLC
PC-3000 developing support. 8nm controller. The 990 EVO uses a different controller (Piccolo) and is not covered here.
Recovery Feasibility
PC-3000 developing support. 8nm controller. The 990 EVO uses a different controller (Piccolo) and is not covered here.
Drives Using the Samsung Pascal Controller
The following consumer SSDs use the Samsung Pascal Controller. If your drive is on this list, the failure modes and recovery approaches described on this page apply to your situation.
Samsung Pascal Controller Drive Models
1 model affected
Failure Modes
Each failure mode has a different root cause and requires a different recovery approach. Identifying the correct failure mode is the first step in any recovery.
Rapid SMART health degradation
SMART 'Percentage Used' degrades far faster than expected (5-20% health lost within weeks to months, depending on workload and firmware revision). Firmware 0B2QJXD7 was culprit; fix 1B2QJXD7 stops degradation but does not reset SMART.
Symptoms you may notice
- SMART health dropping rapidly
- Rapid health percentage decline (varies by unit)
- Drive health warnings in Samsung Magician
Related search terms
Multiple firmware bugs
Additional firmware fixes through September 2025 for non-recognition, BSOD, temperature logging bugs.
Symptoms you may notice
- Drive not recognized
- BSOD with 990 PRO
- Incorrect temperature readings
- Drive disappears randomly
Related search terms
How We Recover Samsung Pascal Controller SSDs
Firmware-Level Recovery
The PC-3000 does not yet have full Active Utility support for the Samsung Pascal Controller. Recovery relies on manufacturer-specific diagnostic modes, service pin access, and NAND-level techniques.
We monitor PC-3000 firmware updates for new controller support. When utility support becomes available, firmware-level recovery will be the preferred path for this controller.
Chip-Off Recovery
Chip-off is possible but complicated for Samsung Pascal Controller drives. Hardware encryption or proprietary NAND encoding reduces chip-off success rates compared to firmware-level recovery.
We attempt firmware-level recovery first and only proceed to chip-off when no other option exists.
PC-3000 developing support. 8nm controller. The 990 EVO uses a different controller (Piccolo) and is not covered here.
Pricing
SSD firmware and logical recovery for the Samsung Pascal Controller typically costs $300 to $500. Controller-level failures requiring advanced diagnostics are $500 to $1,500. Chip-off recovery, when viable, is $1,500 to $2,500.
See our full pricing breakdown for details. Our No Data, No Fee guarantee means you pay nothing if we cannot recover your files.
Hard Drive Data Recovery Standards & Verification
Our Austin lab operates on a transparency-first model. We use industry-standard recovery tools, including PC-3000 and DeepSpar, combined with strict environmental controls to make sure your hard drive is handled safely and properly. This approach allows us to serve clients nationwide with consistent technical standards.
Open-drive work is performed in a laminar-flow bench filtered to 0.02 µm, verified using TSI P-Trak instrumentation.
Transparent History
Serving clients nationwide via mail-in service since 2008.
Media Coverage
Our repair work has been covered by The Wall Street Journal and Business Insider, with CBC News reporting on our pricing transparency. Louis Rossmann has testified in Right to Repair hearings in multiple states and founded the Repair Preservation Group.
Aligned Incentives
Our "No Data, No Charge" policy means we assume the risk of the recovery attempt, not the client.
Technical Oversight
Louis Rossmann
Louis Rossmann's well trained staff review our lab protocols to ensure technical accuracy and honest service. Since 2008, his focus has been on clear technical communication and accurate diagnostics rather than sales-driven explanations.
We believe in proving standards rather than just stating them. We use TSI P-Trak instrumentation to verify that clean-air benchmarks are met before any drive is opened.
See our clean bench validation data and particle test videoFrequently Asked Questions
Why is my Samsung 990 PRO losing health so fast?
Should I update my 990 PRO firmware to fix the health degradation?
My Samsung 990 PRO is causing BSOD errors. Is this the firmware bug?
Does PC-3000 support the Samsung Pascal controller?
How much does Samsung 990 PRO data recovery cost?
Other Samsung Controllers
We also recover SSDs using these Samsung controllers.
Not an SSD issue? We also recover hard drives, RAID arrays, and iPhones.
SSD Recovery Overview →Nationwide Mail-In Data Recovery Service
We serve all 50 states with secure mail-in data recovery. Ship your failed drive to our Austin lab using our free shipping kit, and we'll diagnose it within 24-48 hours. No geographic limitations—we've successfully recovered data for customers from Alaska to Florida.
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Samsung Pascal Controller SSD not working?
Ship it to our Austin lab for a free evaluation. No data, no charge.