Got A Samsung 0KG5N3, How to Format?

Overview of Samsung PM9A1 NVMe PCIe 3.0 0KG5N3 SSD

Samsung 0KG5N3 SSD is more known as Samsung PM9A1 SSD for laptops. is a high-performance NVMe SSD designed primarily for OEM applications. It is based on PCIe 4.0 x4 technology and utilizes Samsung’s V-NAND and in-house controller, providing excellent speed and reliability. This SSD is commonly found in pre-built systems such as laptops and desktops from major manufacturers.

Basic info of Samsung PM9A1 SSD:
Interface: PCIe 4.0 x4, NVMe 1.4
Form Factor: M.2 2280
Read Speed: Up to 7,000 MB/s
Write Speed: Up to 5,200 MB/s (varies by capacity)
Capacities: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB
Endurance: Varies by capacity (TBW rated)
DRAM Cache: Yes

🧐 Pros & Cons of PM9A1 NVMe Samsung SSD

Pros:
✔ High Performance – Delivers blazing-fast PCIe 4.0 speeds, making it ideal for gaming, content creation, and professional workloads.
✔ Reliable OEM Quality – Used by top PC manufacturers, ensuring good durability and stability.
✔ Energy Efficient – Optimized for laptops, consuming less power while maintaining high speed.
✔ DRAM Cache – Improves responsiveness and performance compared to DRAM-less SSDs.

Cons:
✘ OEM-Only Availability – Not officially sold in retail markets, making it harder to buy separately.
✘ Limited Warranty – No official Samsung support for end users, as it is meant for system integrators.
✘ Runs Hot Under Load – Can get warm during intensive tasks, requiring good cooling in some cases.
✘ No Samsung Magician Support – Lacks compatibility with Samsung’s SSD management software for firmware updates and monitoring.

We could say that, Samsung PM9A1 is best suited for OEM system builders, gamers, and professionals who need high-speed storage in a PCIe 4.0-compatible system. However, casual users may prefer a retail model like the Samsung 980 Pro, which offers similar performance with official support. (You can check the comparison between the PM9A1 and other SSDs at the end of this post.)

Why should you format Samsung 0KG5N3 SSD?

Samsung SSDs are among the most widely used storage devices, valued for their high performance and reliability. However, before using a Samsung 0KG5N3 SSD, formatting is essential. Here’s why:

▍Enable Data Storage: A Samsung SSD without a file system cannot store data. Formatting assigns a file system, making it ready for use.

▍Adjust File System Compatibility: Different operating systems and platforms require specific file formats. Formatting ensures the SSD works seamlessly with your system.

▍Optimize Storage Efficiency: If your SSD hasn't been formatted for a long time, formatting can free up space and improve performance. Be sure to back up important data beforehand.

Samsung 0KG5N3—How to format in 2 ways

Although the 0KG5N3 SSD is from Samsung, Samsung’s SSD management software—Samsung Magician doesn’t support it. So, this leaves us only two solutions: either you use Windows built-in tools, or you need a third-party disk tool. Don’t worry, both solutions will be detailed in this part.

Way 1. Format Samsung SSD via Disk Management

Let’s start with the system's built-in tool. Disk Management is an invaluable utility for users of Windows PCs, enabling them to effectively manage their disk partitions. This includes functions such as creating, deleting, extending, and shrinking partitions, as well as modifying drive letters and paths, and designating a partition as active, among other capabilities.

Step 1. Press the “Win+X” combination, and select “Disk Management” from the pop-out menu.

Step 2. Right-click on the Samsung SSD partition and choose “Format…” from the drop-down menu.

Step 3. In this pop-up window, you can select a file system as you need, tick the checkbox for “Quick Format”, then click “OK” to start formatting the Samsung solid-state drive.

Way 2. Use Diskpart commands to format SSD

Diskpart is a command-line utility for disk partitioning that assists users in managing the drives of their personal computers. Before utilizing Diskpart commands, it is imperative to first enumerate and subsequently select the target object to establish and concentrate on it. Once an object has focus, any Diskpart commands you type will act on it. Please refer to the instructions on how to utilize this utility for formatting a Samsung hard drive.

Step 1. On your keyboard, press the "Windows + R" at the same time to open the "Run" Window, then type "Diskpart" and click "OK"(click Yes if prompted by the User Access Control).

Step 2. DISKPART will open in a command prompt window. Now execute the following commands in turn.

list disk
select disk 1: supposing the Samsung SSD is the disk 1.
list partition
select partition X: X refers the partition number that you need to format.
format fs=fat32 quick or other file systems

Way 3. Format Samsung SSD via free disk format tool

Disk Management is a robust tool; however, it does possess certain limitations, particularly when dealing with high-capacity solid-state drives (SSDs). Consequently, you may utilize a third-party, complimentary Samsung SSD formatting utility, specifically AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard.

This is a professional and dependable freeware application, characterized by its compact size, which is capable of formatting large hard drive partitions to the FAT32 file system. Certainly, it also facilitates the formatting target disks/drives to NTFS, exFAT, Ext2, Ext3, and Ext4 file systems.

In terms of compatibility, it is operable on Windows operating systems, including Windows 11, 10, 8.1, 8, 7. Should you wish to utilize it on Windows Server, you have the option to upgrade to the Server version.

AOMEI Partition Assistant

The Best Windows Disk Partition Manager and PC Optimizer

Free Download
Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7

Step 1. Install this format tool.

Step 2. Locate the Samsung SSD partition that’ll be formatted, right-click it and choose “Format Partition” in the drop-down menu.

Step 3. Select a proper file system for your Samsung SSD and click “OK” (Here FAT32 is chosen).

PS: Partition Label can be added and Cluster Size is allowed to be adjusted in this window.

Step 4. Confirm the pending operation. Click “Apply”>“Proceed” to perform Samsung SSD format.

Conclusion

Now, you know for Samsung 0KG5N3 SSD, how to format it. Remember, safely formatting a Samsung SSD is essential, as it may be necessary to alter the file system format or to reclaim additional storage capacity.

This article presents an overview of 3 distinct formatting tools for Samsung SSDs. Select one based on your specific needs and circumstances. To format a write-protected or corrupted hard drive on a Windows PC, AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard can be utilized effectively.

Further reading: Comparison between Samsung PM9A1 and other disks

1. Samsung PM9A1 vs. Samsung 980 Pro

Verdict: The Samsung 980 Pro is the retail equivalent of the PM9A1, offering similar performance but with official Samsung support, firmware updates, and a longer warranty. The PM9A1 is better for system integrators, while individual buyers should opt for the 980 Pro.

2. Samsung PM9A1 vs. WD Black SN850X

Verdict: The WD Black SN850X outperforms the PM9A1, especially in write speeds. It is a better choice for gaming and heavy workloads, offering software support, firmware updates, and a full warranty—unlike the PM9A1. However, the PM9A1 is still a good budget-friendly alternative if found at a lower price.

3. Samsung PM9A1 vs. Crucial P5 Plus

Verdict: The PM9A1 is slightly faster in read/write speeds, but the Crucial P5 Plus is easier to find and comes with official support. The P5 Plus is better for users needing a reliable, well-supported SSD, while the PM9A1 is a good alternative for OEM systems.