Crucial MX500 500GB
Score: 79/100
Samsung 990 PRO
Score: 81/100Rankings
The Samsung 990 PRO 1TB is a high-performance PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD delivering up to 7,450 MB/s read and 6,900 MB/s write speeds with strong security features. Its heatsink-less design and limited pSLC cache can limit sustained heavy workloads. Best suited for gamers, content creators, and professionals who need maximum PCIe 4 throughput on desktops or laptops with adequate cooling.
The Crucial MX500 500 GB is a 2.5-inch SATA SSD that delivers near-maximum SATA-III speeds, includes a 256 MB DRAM cache and AES-256 hardware encryption, and offers 180 TBW endurance with a 5-year warranty. Its drawbacks are the inherent speed ceiling of SATA and occasional write-performance throttling under heavy mixed loads. It is best suited for budget-conscious desktop or notebook upgrades seeking reliable, secure storage.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
500 GB | 1,024 GBbest | |
560 MB/s | 7,450 MB/sbest | |
510 MB/s | 6,900 MB/sbest | |
95,000 IOPS | 1,200,000 IOPSbest | |
90,000 IOPS | 1,550,000 IOPSbest | |
180 TB | 600 TBbest | |
1,800,000 hoursbest | 1,500,000 hours | |
256 MB | 1,024 MBbest |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Connectivity(1) | ||
Interface | SATA III | PCIe 4.0 x4 |
Performance(5) | ||
Sequential Read Speed (MB/s) | 560 MB/s | 7450 MB/s |
Sequential Write Speed (MB/s) | 510 MB/s | 6900 MB/s |
Random Read IOPS (4K) (IOPS) | 95000 IOPS | 1200000 IOPS |
Random Write IOPS (4K) (IOPS) | 90000 IOPS | 1550000 IOPS |
DRAM Cache (MB) | 256 MB | 1024 MB |
Storage(1) | ||
Storage Capacity (GB) | 500 GB | 1024 GB |
Reliability(2) | ||
Total Bytes Written (Endurance) (TB) | 180 TB | 600 TB |
Mean Time Between Failures (hours) | 1800000 hours | 1500000 hours |
Design & Build(3) | ||
Form Factor | 2.5-inch | M.2 2280 |
Weight (g) | 39 g | 9.1 g |
Dimensions (L×W×H) (mm) | 70×7.1×103 mm mm | 80.3×22.1×2.3 mm mm |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers consider the MX500 an ideal HDD replacement, praising its efficient SM2258 controller, strong sequential and random performance, and robust security features. However, they note that its mixed-workload write speeds and 4K random read numbers fall short of some competitors, and the SATA interface limits its appeal for high-performance scenarios.
Everyday users overwhelmingly praise the MX500 for its noticeable boost in boot speed, system responsiveness, and ease of installation, especially valuing the included cloning software.
Professional reviewers commend the 990 PRO for its exceptional speed, gaming-optimized random performance, and strong reliability, while noting the smaller DRAM cache and lack of a heatsink as potential drawbacks under heavy sustained loads.
Everyday users praise the drive's blazing speed and security, but note concerns about the smaller DRAM cache and possible throttling without a heatsink.
