SSDs, or Solid State Drives, are often preferred over Hard Disk Drives when it comes to enhancing a computer’s speed and performance. They are particularly popular among gaming enthusiasts because of how fast, reliable, heat-resistant, durable, and energy efficient they are. And two of the most highly regarded SSDs on the market are the Samsung 870 EVO and Crucial MX500.
So, if you want to get an excellent SSD for your PC, then you should keep these two in mind. However, whereas both the SSDs offer amazing performance, some differences between them may create confusion about which one to choose.
Simply put, both the Samsung 870 EVO and Crucial MX500 have a speed limit of 600MB/s as both use the SATA protocol. However, Samsung 870 EVO SSDs offer 530MB/s sequential writing speed, which is 20MB/s more than the Crucial MX500 SSDs. Also, Samsung 870 EVO is more expensive than the Crucial MX500, which is also a factor to consider.
But to clearly understand which SSD will offer you the most value, we will need to dig deeper. Hence, let’s take a closer look at who will win the fight between Samsung 870 EVO vs Crucial MX500.
Overview of Samsung 870 EVO SSD
Samsung 870 EVO was introduced in January 2021. This SSD series quickly became popular because of its performance, reliability, capacity, and compatibility. Here is a breakdown of what Samsung 870 EVO has to offer.
Design
Samsung 870 EVO follows the iconic design of almost every Samsung SSD, such as the 860. You will notice a plain and simple matte black enclosure with a gray square just under the brand and product name. On the back, you will find all the necessary information printed. From the model and serial number to the specifications, all of it is written here.
Samsung’s 128-layer, 3-bit MLC (also known as TLC) 3D V-NAND is the center of the whole build of the 870. Peeking under the hood, you will find these NAND comes packed with the MKX controller with DRAM on its PCB. Overall, the Samsung 870 EVO’s minimalistic and simple design impressed us quite a bit.
Form Factor
The form factor of an SSD basically indicates its overall physical configuration, such as its size and shape. It is an important aspect to note when evaluating an SSD’s capability, compatibility, interchangeability, and, sometimes, cost.
The Samsung 870 EVO SSDs have a 2.5-inch form factor. As we have already mentioned, the 870 SSDs are manufactured with 3-bit TLC flash memory, which is known for its reliability and performance. These SSDs also use the SATA III (SATA 6Gb/s) interface – a backward-compatible SATA interface establishing a connection to the rest of the system.
Therefore, Samsung 870 EVO SSDs will comfortably fit into most computer casings. In addition, it is compatible with a wide range of host systems and applications.
Capacity
The capacity of an SSD indicates the measure of its available storage. The Samsung 870 EVO is available in five capacity variants- 250 GB, 500 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB, and 4 TB. However, when discussing an SSD’s capacity, you need to consider the TBW measures as well. TBW or Terabytes Written indicates how many terabytes of data an SSD can write in its lifetime.
Based on the capacity, Samsung 870 EVO SSDs offer TBW measures from 150 TB to 2,400 TBW, which is pretty impressive.
Performance
With the 6th generation VNAND technology and SATA interface limit of 560MB/s sequential reading and 530 MB/s writing speeds, the Samsung 870 EVO offers incredible performance. Whether you are gaming or working, these SSDs accelerated write speeds and larger variable buffers will ensure high performance for a long time. In addition, your data will be kept secure thanks to the full disk encryption within the hardware.
Endurance
The Samsung 870 EVO comes with a 5-year warranty, emphasizing its reliability. In its lifetime, you can expect 150 to 2400 TBW based on the capacity option you choose. Whether you are a normal or hardcore computer user, the Samsung 870 EVO will give you consistent performance for a long period of time.
Another measure you have to consider here is the MTBF or Mean Time Between Failure. MTBF measures the interval between one system failure and the next. The Samsung 870 EVO has an MTBF measure of 1.5 million hours. That means if you run 1.5 million of these SSDs simultaneously, you can expect one to fail.
Software
Manufacturers of SSDs usually develop special software for their products. These software add some amazing features that enhance your user experience. The Samsung 870 EVO is no different.
Samsung offers Magician software for all its SSDs. This user-friendly software is free to download. With its easy-to-understand user interface, you can easily manage the storage of the drive and update it whenever necessary. You will find multiple features on this software that will help you to optimize the SSD’s stability and performance.
Pros and Cons
So, after all this discussion about the specifications, what are the pros and cons of the Samsung 870 EVO?
Pros
- Availability of larger capacity options
- No slowing down in long writing operations
- Amazing performance
- User-friendly Magician software
- Secure built-in encryption
Cons
- Comparatively expensive
Overview of Crucial MX500
Crucial MX500 is three years older than the Samsung 870 EVO. This series was released on January 2018. These SSDs are also highly regarded among the PC user community because of the quality and performance level they offer at a very reasonable price.
Design
The MX500 SSD is somewhat flatter in design, with a 7mm height. It has an elegant shape, with two opposite beveled corners and two opposite 90-degree corners.
The front side has a color gradient of black and blue, with “MX” written on it. Over this background, a metal stripe accommodates the brand logo and product name. The back side displays all the necessary information, just like the 870 EVO. Moreover, it includes Micron 3D NAND technology in its build.
Form Factor
The Crucial 500MX also uses the SATA III interface connection and 3-bit TLC flash memory. But, along with the 2.5-inch format, Crucial MX500 also offers an M.2 2280 SSD plug-in card. SSDs with this technology offer faster performance and greater capacity than mSATA. Therefore, the Crucial MX500 SSDs are compatible with a vast range of PC chassis, host systems, and applications.
Capacity
Previously, the Crucial 500MX only offered a capacity of upto 2TB. But recently, the manufacturer has included a 4 TB version in the series. However, when it comes to TBW measures, Crucial MX500 falls behind Samsung 870 EVO, indicating a shorter lifetime. A 250 GB Crucial MX SSD offers 100 TBW, whereas a 250 GB Samsung 870 EVO offers 150 TBW.
Performance
The Crucial MX500 SSDs have a SATA III interface, offering a maximum speed of 600 MB/s. In sequential reading, the speed measure reaches 560 MB/s, just like the 870 EVO. However, its sequential writing speed is less than its Samsung counterpart at only 510 MB/s. However, this performance difference is difficult to notice in everyday operations.
Furthermore, with the AES 256-bit hardware-based encryption, your data will remain safe. The integrated Power Loss Immunity also stores all of your saved data in the events of unexpected power loss.
Endurance
The Crucial MX500 offers a 5-year warranty. However, as we have previously mentioned, the TBW measure is lower in Crucial MX500 SSDs. In contrast, their MTBF measure is 1.8 million hours, which is higher than Samsung 870 EVO SSDs. Overall, the reliability of Crucial MX500 SSDs is good enough for everyday use and gaming.
Software
Crucial offers a manufacturer’s software for its SSDs as well. You can download the Crucial Storage Executive software for free and use it to monitor your SSD’s storage and temperature. It also keeps your Crucial SSD up-to-date with the latest firmware update patches. Moreover, this software can switch on the Momentum Cache feature, which makes the SSD run significantly faster.
Pros and Cons
The pros and cons of Crucial MX500 SSDs are summarized below.
Pros
- Very Affordable
- Power failure protection
- A 5-year warranty
- Adequate performance
- Excellent software features
- Availability of both 2.5-inch and M.2 SATA versions
Cons
- Low endurance rating
- Lower sequential writing speed
Samsung 870 EVO vs. Crucial MX500: Key Differences
In the table below, we have summarized all the similarities and differences between Samsung 870 EVO and Crucial MX500 SSDs.
| Specification | Samsung 870 EVO | Crucial MX500 |
|---|---|---|
| Form Factor | 2.5-inch SATA | 2.5-inch SATA and M.2 2280 |
| Interface | SATA III | SATA III |
| Capacity | 250 GB, 500 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB, 4 TB | 250 GB, 500 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB, 4 TB |
| NAND Type and Layer | 128 Layers 3D TLC NAND | 64/96 Layers 3D TLC NAND |
| Controller | Samsung MKX | SMI SM2258 |
| Controller Configurations | Tri-Core, 8-Channels, 8-CE/channel | Single-Core, 4-Channels, 8-CE/Channel |
| Caching DRAM | Low-Power DDR4 SDRAM | DDR3 DRAM |
| Sequential Reading Speed | 560 MB/s | 560 MB/s |
| Sequential Writing Speed | 530 MB/s | 510 MB/s |
| Random Write | 88.000 IOPS | 90.000 IOPS |
| Random Read | 98.000 IOPS | 95.000 IOPS |
| MTBF | 1.5 million hours | 1.8 million hours |
| TBW | 150 TB for 250 GB, 300 TB for 500 GB, 600 TB for 1 TB, 1200 TB for 2 TB, 2400 TB for 4 TB | 100 TB for 250 GB, 180 TB for 500 GB, 360 TB for 1 TB, 700 TB for 2 TB |
| Warranty | 5-year limited | 5-year limited |
Samsung 870 EVO vs. Crucial MX500: Which One Should You Buy?
“If you do not mind the lower random reading and sequential writing speed or slight endurance shortage, the Crucial 500MX can be a fantastic option to consider. It offers excellent value and performance for the money. On the other hand, if you want excellent service in terms of specifications, features, reliability, and performance, the Samsung 870 EVO will be the best option to go for.”
There is no denying that the Samsung 870 EVO offers some of the best-quality SSDs, but they are expensive. Therefore, based on your budget and needs, choose the one that best serves your requirement.
