Quick answer: The best crucial SSD is the Crucial MX500 due to its great balance of price, performance and reliability. The MX500 provides fast speeds for a SATA SSD, good endurance ratings for its price point, and comes from a reputable brand known for making quality SSDs.
An SSD (solid state drive) is a type of storage device that uses flash memory instead of a spinning hard disk platter. SSDs are much faster than traditional HDDs (hard disk drives) and provide huge improvements in system performance. Crucial is a leading brand for SSDs, and their MX500 model hits the sweet spot for value and performance.
SSD Basics – What is an SSD?
An SSD utilizes NAND flash memory chips to store data, unlike an HDD which uses magnetic disks for storage. Flash memory does not have any moving mechanical parts, allowing SSDs to operate silently and have much faster read/write speeds.
Some key advantages of SSDs over HDDs include:
– Faster start up, shut down, loading, and boot times for your operating system and programs. SSDs can access data instantly.
– Superior responsiveness. Applications and files load almost instantly with an SSD.
– Better reliability and durability due to no moving parts. SSDs can withstand bumps and vibration better.
– Lower power consumption for improved laptop battery life.
– Smaller and lighter form factors available.
The downsides of SSDs include lower capacities and higher prices per gigabyte compared to HDDs. However, SSD prices have been dropping rapidly while capacities continue to increase. For most computing tasks, an SSD provides huge benefits over an old-school hard drive.
Types of SSDs
There are several types of SSDs to be aware of:
– SATA SSDs: The most common and affordable type, connecting via the SATA interface found in most desktops and laptops. Maximum speeds capped at around 550 MB/s.
– M.2 SSDs: Small form factor SSDs that mount directly onto the motherboard. M.2 SSDs provide up to 4x the speeds of SATA SSDs.
– NVMe SSDs: Utilize the PCIe interface for blazing fast speeds. NVMe drives are the fastest SSDs available.
For general home and office use, a SATA SSD like the Crucial MX500 provides an excellent blend of affordability and performance. M.2 and NVMe SSDs are better suited for demanding tasks like high-end gaming, 4K video editing and production workloads.
Why Choose a Crucial SSD?
Crucial is a well-respected brand under the Micron group, known for making excellent SSDs using Micron’s own NAND flash memory and controller technology. Here are some of the reasons why Crucial SSDs like the MX500 are a great choice:
Performance
Crucial SSDs offer competitive speeds across the board. The MX500 SATA SSD delivers up to 560MB/s sequential read and 510MB/s write speeds, on par with the fastest SATA drives on the market. Even the entry-level Crucial BX500 SSD provides an impressive boost over any hard drive.
Reliability
Crucial drives are engineered for long-lasting endurance. For example, the MX500 is rated for up to 360 TB of total bytes written – equivalent to writing 200GB daily for 5 years! Crucial SSDs have a mean time between failures (MTBF) rate of 1.5 million hours for additional peace of mind.
Security
Crucial SSDs offer security features like AES 256-bit hardware encryption to protect your data. The MX500 and BX500 models include TCG Opal 2.0 compliance for full-disk encryption capabilities.
Value
While not the cheapest SSDs available, Crucial drives provide excellent bang for your buck. Performance and features are competitive with premium SSDs at more budget-friendly price points. For instance, a 1TB Crucial MX500 costs around $100 while comparable Samsung 860 EVO 1TB and WD Blue 1TB SATA SSDs cost $140 and $105 respectively at the time of writing.
Warranty and Support
Crucial provides a limited 5-year warranty on most of its SSDs which is on par with other leading brands. You can download the Storage Executive monitoring software for health stats and updating firmware. Support is available via email or live chat on Crucial’s website.
Crucial MX500 Review
The Crucial MX500 is an excellent all-around SATA SSD that offers a winning combination of performance, endurance, security features, and value. Here’s an overview of its key features and specifications:
Speed
With sequential reads/writes up to 560/510 MB/s and random reads/writes up to 95k/90k IOPS, the MX500 is right up there with the fastest SATA SSDs for responsive system boot ups and application launches. The densely packed 3D NAND flash gives it a performance boost over previous generation Crucial drives.
Capacity
Available capacities range from 250GB up to 2TB so you can get the right amount of storage you need. The 1TB model strikes a good balance for most users.
Endurance
The MX500 is rated for 360 TB total bytes written (TBW) on the 1TB model – that’s like writing 200GB every day for 5 years! This makes it very suitable for heavy usage scenarios like a primary OS or scratch disk drive.
Encryption
TCG Opal 2.0 compliance and AES 256-bit hardware encryption keep your data protected if your SSD gets lost or stolen.
Form factor
The MX500 comes in a compact 2.5-inch 7mm form factor that fits in laptops and desktops. You can also get it in M.2 2280 size for motherboard or laptop upgrades.
Software
Crucial’s Storage Executive software lets you monitor the drive’s health, temperature and disk usage. Update to the latest firmware to keep it running optimally.
The MX500 hits a sweet spot between value, endurance and performance. It’s simply one of the best SATA SSD options out there for the money.
Benchmark Performance
Here’s how the Crucial MX500 1TB model stacks up against some other popular SATA SSDs in benchmark tests:
CrystalDiskMark Sequential Read
| SSD | Seq. Read MB/s |
| Crucial MX500 1TB | 555 |
| Samsung 860 EVO 1TB | 553 |
| WD Blue 3D NAND 1TB | 563 |
The MX500 ties the 860 EVO and essentially matches the WD Blue SSD in sequential read speeds. Any of these SSDs will feel incredibly fast compared to a hard drive.
AS SSD Copy Benchmark
| SSD | Copy GB/s |
| Crucial MX500 1TB | 501 |
| Samsung 860 EVO 1TB | 508 |
| WD Blue 3D NAND 1TB | 379 |
For file transfer speeds simulating copying a Steam game folder, the MX500 narrowly beats the 860 EVO and is significantly faster than the WD Blue SSD.
PCMark 10 Storage Benchmark
| SSD | Score |
| Crucial MX500 1TB | 2576 |
| Samsung 860 EVO 1TB | 2807 |
| WD Blue 3D NAND 1TB | 2519 |
In PCMark 10’s comprehensive storage benchmark comprised of real-world traces, the MX500 isn’t far behind the leading Samsung 860 EVO while beating the WD Blue SSD. It delivers excellent performance for everyday tasks and productivity applications.
As the benchmarks show, the MX500 keeps pace with more expensive flagship SATA SSDs. For lighter workloads, you’d be hard pressed to notice any difference between the MX500 and pricier alternatives.
Ideal Usage for the Crucial MX500
Thanks to its great blend of speed, endurance and value, the Crucial MX500 is a versatile SSD suitable for a wide range of applications. Here are some of the best uses for it:
Primary OS Drive
The MX500 makes an excellent boot drive for your operating system. Windows 10 will boot in seconds, and apps launch instantly. With thousands of terabytes written endurance, you don’t have to worry about drive wearing out for years.
Gaming
Faster load times improve the gaming experience. Levels and textures load far quicker with the MX500, while lag and stuttering are reduced. It won’t hit the maximum speeds of NVMe SSDs, but offers a very solid boost over any HDD.
Creative Apps and Multi-Tasking
For photo and video editing software like Photoshop and Premiere, the burst speeds of the MX500 help cut down wait times when accessing or saving large files. Running many apps at once is also snappier.
Laptop/Notebook Drive Upgrades
The MX500 is an easy way to breathe new life into an older laptop. Cloning your existing HDD onto it with migration software gives you far better performance and battery life compared to keeping the mechanical hard drive.
Gaming Consoles
Sony’s PlayStation 5 and Microsoft’s Xbox Series X/S fully support installing an M.2 SSD like the MX500 for more internal storage space. Load times for games installed on the SSD are significantly reduced.
Servers/NAS
For home servers and NAS devices, the MX500 provides fast and reliable permanent storage for media files, backups and other data. It’s a cost-effective option compared to enterprise-grade SSDs.
Alternatives to Consider
The Crucial MX500 is a great pick for a SATA SSD, but here are some other excellent options that may better suit specific needs or budgets:
WD Blue SN570 (Best Budget NVMe SSD)
If your PC supports NVMe SSDs, the new WD Blue SN570 offers over 5x the speed of the MX500 at a similar price point. It’s the fastest budget NVMe SSD available.
Samsung 870 EVO (Best Premium SATA SSD)
The Samsung 870 EVO is a top-tier SATA SSD with great performance. Worth the extra cost for demanding workstation use if your budget allows.
SK hynix Gold P31 (Best for Laptops)
Purpose-built for laptops, the power-efficient SK hynix Gold P31 improves battery runtime while still delivering great speed. An excellent laptop upgrade drive.
Crucial P2 (Affordable NVMe SSD)
If you want basic NVMe performance on a tight budget, Crucial’s own P2 SSD costs less than $50 for 250GB. Great option for an older PC.
Crucial X6 Portable SSD
This compact and durable portable SSD works great with PS5 and Xbox Series X/S consoles. Also ideal for on-the-go backup.
Conclusion
For a top-performing and reliable SATA SSD backed by a reputable brand, the Crucial MX500 is an outstanding choice. It delivers leading SATA speeds, rock-solid endurance, AES encryption and a 5-year warranty – all at an affordable price point.
The MX500 works extremely well for tasks like booting an OS, gaming, creative apps and laptop upgrades. While premium NVMe SSDs are faster, the MX500 offers the best overall value and is recommended for most home and office uses. With versatile performance, Crucial durability and smart affordability, the MX500 is undoubtedly one of the best crucial SSDs you can buy today.