8 best 500GB SSDs

Review of the best according to the editorial board. About selection criteria. This material is subjective and does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.

Now more and more people are abandoning traditional hard drives. Instead, a solid state drive is inserted into the desktop PC and laptop. If the operating system is installed on an SSD, then the computer will boot up in a matter of seconds. And the operating system itself will be noticeably faster. And if earlier many buyers took SSD with a capacity of at best a hundred gigabytes, now even more capacious drives cost very little money. The editorial staff of the magazine, together with analysts of the RankQuality service, we will consider the best SSDs, whose volume is exactly 500 GB.

Selection recommendations

1. Why is an SSD better than a regular HDD? First of all, its high-speed characteristics. And they are the ones you need to pay attention to when choosing an SSD. The most inexpensive models usually offer read and write speeds of 500 MB / s. This is enough for many. With such an SSD, your operating system will boot in about 10 seconds. But if you work as a video blogger, then you will need a much faster drive to back up the material. And these also exist now! However, be prepared that such a purchase will require completely different financial investments.
2. Also, when choosing an SSD, you need to focus on the hardware installed in your computer. The fact is that modern solid-state drives can differ in the connector with which they are connected to the motherboard. The most affordable SSDs use SATA – this connector supports the maximum data transfer rate of 600 MB / s. Not so many, but several of these sockets will be found even on very old motherboards.
3. And faster SSDs are connected via the M.2 PCIe port. New desktop motherboards and some laptops have it. The throughput of such a connector can exceed 1700 MB / s! This means that data will be read about 8 times faster than from a hard drive.
4. Basically, these are all the parameters that you need to pay attention to. However, the price should be noted. If you are buying a really cheap SSD, then you shouldn't expect a decent lifespan from it. And if you plan to transfer an operating system to an SSD, then it is better not to save. If something happens to the drive, then you will have to not only buy a new one, but also install the OS and all applications. Do you want to waste your precious time on this?
5. When choosing an SSD, it will not be superfluous to get acquainted with the reviews of such devices. In them, you need to evaluate the performance of the drive. We draw your attention to the fact that many small files will be saved on the SSD at a noticeably lower speed than any videos that can weigh several gigabytes.

Best 500 GB SSDs

Nomination	a place	Name of product	price
Best 500GB SSDs in the '2.5' 'form factor	1	Samsung MZ-76E500BW	RUB 5,078
	2	Western Digital WD BLU E 3D NAND SATA SSD 500 GB	RUB 4,719
	3	SanDisk SDSSDH3-500G-G25	RUB 4 797
	4	Crucial CT500MX500SSD1	RUB 4690
	5	Seagate ZA500CM10002	RUB 5,280
Best 500GB SSDs in '2280' Form Factor	1	Samsung MZ-V6E500BW	RUB 11,999
	2	Western Digital WD BLU E 3D NAND SATA SSD 500 GB (WDS500G2B0B)	4 160 rub.
	3	Crucial CT500P1SSD8	RUB 4628

Best 500GB SSDs in the '2.5' 'form factor

Samsung MZ-76E500BW

Rating: 4.9

One of the most popular SSD drives. It comes in a 2.5-inch form factor. This makes installing the drive as easy as possible – you can simply wire the hard drive wires to it. Now Samsung MZ-76E500BW is regularly found in laptops, including those capable of boasting a minimum thickness. This is due to the fact that even in retail, the cost of the 500-gigabyte version does not exceed 6 thousand rubles, not to mention bulk purchases. And the SSD is also tiny (comparable to a bank card) and tiny bulk.

It uses TLC 3D NAND flash memory. It is distinguished not only by its high speed, but also by its decent durability. The exact service life in this case depends on what exactly the drive will do. The manufacturer claims that the maximum of his creation is capable of recording 300 TB. You can also count on 1.5 million hours of work.

Most often, Samsung SSDs are bought in order to transfer the operating system to it. In this case, the read speed of 550 MB / s will be enough for you. As for the write speed, it is slightly lower here. We can safely say that the drive squeezes out almost everything from the SATA standard.

Otherwise, this drive is not unusual. Its power consumption barely reaches 2.5W, while the SSD is able to withstand even the most severe shocks. You can be sure that when your laptop falls to the floor, all your files will remain intact, which cannot be said about the display and some other components of the laptop.

Does the Samsung MZ-76E500BW have any disadvantages? Probably not. There is even a cache here, and a very decent amount. This allows you to count on high read and write speed throughout the entire period of operation. However, for some, even such speeds will not seem enough, it must be admitted.

Advantages

• Minimum dimensions and weight;
• Decent lifespan;
• There is a 512 MB buffer;
• The popular SATA connector is used;
• Low cost;
• Easily found in most stores.

disadvantages

• There are also faster drives.

Western Digital WD BLU E 3D NAND SATA SSD 500 GB

Rating: 4.8

Recently, even those companies that were previously familiar exclusively with hard drives have switched to the production of solid-state drives. For example, a good SSD is now in the Western Digital range. Her creation uses inexpensive TCL 3D NAND flash memory, which is reflected in the product name. This reduced the cost of a 500 GB SSD to 5,000 rubles. Therefore, this is a very inexpensive way to improve the performance of a laptop purchased many years ago. The 2.5-inch form factor also allows you to do this.

This storage device is only 100 mm long and 7 mm high. It's like a small stack of bank cards. The device can also be compared with it in terms of weight, which is only 37 g. The manufacturer claims that his creation can work even at temperatures of 70 ° C. This allows you not to worry about the state of the SSD installed in a gaming computer equipped with a hot processor and video card. By the way, the warranty period for this model is 1800 days!

Speaking about the service life, it is traditional for this type of memory. In continuous operation, failure will occur in 1.75 million hours. It can also be expected after the SSD has passed 200 TB of information through itself. If we talk about speed characteristics, then they also correspond to TLC 3D NAND. Measurements show that reading occurs at 560 MB / s and writes at 530 MB / s. In short, SSD is approaching the maximum that the SATA 3 interface can provide.

If we talk about the shortcomings, then they have not been identified. We will write down only speed in their list. And only due to the fact that drives designed for the M.2 connector provide even faster system performance. But not every computer has such an interface.

Advantages

• Long warranty period;
• Very low cost;
• Modest size and weight;
• The popular SATA connector is used.

disadvantages

• In terms of speed, it is inferior to drives for M.2.

SanDisk SDSSDH3-500G-G25

Rating: 4.7

SanDisk also could not ignore the SSD market. It has been known to owners of smartphones and cameras for many years for its memory cards, which are very reliable and fast. We suggest considering the option of purchasing a solid state drive SDSSDH3-500G-G25. It has a 500GB capacity and a 2.5-inch form factor. Like previous models, this SSD is 100mm long. The height is also standard – it is 7 mm. In a word, this device can also be compared with several credit cards drawn in a pile.

As you might have guessed, this drive consists of TLC 3D NAND flash memory. This allowed the manufacturer to achieve a very low price tag. It also indicates that the SSD squeezes out almost all the juice from the SATA 3 interface. More precisely, the read speed is 560 MB / s, and the write speed is 530 MB / s. MTBF is also standard – it can only be achieved if the drive will work around the clock for many years in a row. Or if you constantly write files to it, then erase them – the drive is capable of “chewing” 200 TB in total.

Like other SSDs, the SanDisk SDSSDH3-500G-G25 easily handles serious congestion. There is no doubt that your laptop will break after a fall, while all the files on the drive will remain intact. Not a hindrance to the device and high temperature – the manufacturer stated the maximum 70 ° C. The warranty period of 1095 days is also pleasing.

Advantages

• Low cost;
• The popular SATA interface is used;
• Minimum dimensions and weight;
• Long warranty period.

disadvantages

• It is inferior in speed to its brothers for the M.2 connector.

Crucial CT500MX500SSD1

Rating: 4.7

Another SSD-drive, sold at a low price and interacting with a computer via the SATA interface. It differs from analogs in the silvery color of the case.

Like the examples discussed above, the Crucial CT500MX500SSD1 is based on TLC 3D NAND flash memory. It made it possible to make the drive very cheap – in Russia, the 500-gigabyte version is sold for only 5 thousand rubles, and sometimes a little cheaper. At the same time, the SSD fully complies with the declared characteristics. He writes information at speeds up to 510 MB / s. Reading files is even faster – it happens at speeds up to 560 MB / s. For a product to fail, continuous operation is required for 1.8 million hours. Or so that it will pass through itself about 180 TB. In short, you can expect to use the drive for six to seven years even if you intend to use the computer every weekday.

Inside this SSD there is a Silicon Motion SM2258 controller. Like other drives, this model supports encryption. The SSD does not differ in terms of its size either – it is comparable to a bank card. The product can work even at temperatures up to 70 ° C.

As you may have noticed, several of the SSDs in our rating have almost identical characteristics. Which model should you choose? You can actually buy any of the drives. Take the one that is available in the assortment of your favorite online store. Absolutely all SSDs reviewed are capable of boasting many positive reviews, so they are unlikely to disappoint you. However, we must admit that the total number of bytes written for the Crucial CT500MX500SSD1 is slightly less than that of its competitors.

Advantages

• Low cost;
• Can work at any temperature;
• There is TRIM support;
• Minimum dimensions and weight;
• A familiar connector is used.

disadvantages

• In terms of speed, it is inferior to models for the M.2 connector;
• I would like more bytes to write.

Seagate ZA500CM10002

Rating: 4.6

Above, we have already talked about a solid state drive from a hard drive manufacturer. Well, it's time to tell about the creation of another company, familiar to us from HDD. In Russian stores they ask for 5 thousand rubles for the Seagate ZA500CM10002. Already from one price tag, we can safely say that the product contains a TLC 3D NAND flash memory. It should be noted that this manufacturing technology makes the drive not record long lasting. But this is a problem with all inexpensive SSDs – in terms of service life, they are inferior to the usual HDDs. But, you see, and 1.8 million hours for the eyes will be enough for most computer owners. Well, users of round-the-clock computer stations usually don't even look towards such cheap solutions.

Like the other examples discussed above, Seagate ZA500CM10002 exchanges information via the SATA interface. It is advisable to connect the product to its third version, only in this case you will be able to squeeze the maximum out of it. The manufacturer announced a read speed of 560 MB / s and a write speed of 535 MB / s. The real indicators are as close as possible to the declared ones – this is confirmed by numerous reviews and reviews.

Otherwise, this is a familiar 2.5-inch solid state drive. You can easily guess what size it has. The design is also standard here. Like other similar examples, Seagate's creation is capable of withstanding severe overload. Not afraid of SSDs and temperatures up to 70 ° C.

Advantages

• The usual SATA interface is used;
• Very small size and weight;
• Affordable price tag;
• Withstands serious overload.

disadvantages

• I would like even higher read and write speed;
• It is relatively rare on sale.

Best 500GB SSDs in '2280' Form Factor

Samsung MZ-V6E500BW

Rating: 4.9

This SSD is for M.2 slot. Unfortunately, not every motherboard is equipped with it. But if it is still present, then it is better to look towards buying just such an SSD drive. The fact is that it is capable of boasting such speeds that a device with a SATA interface never dreamed of!

Despite using the standard TLC 3D NAND technology, the South Korean manufacturer has managed to significantly improve the speed characteristics. Data reading from this drive occurs at speeds up to 3200 MB / s. This makes the 500GB drive the best choice for the person who regularly works with 4K videos. As regards file recording, it is carried out at speeds up to 1800 MB / s, which can also be considered an excellent result.

It should be noted that the aforementioned technology for manufacturing flash memory still affected the MTBF. It here is 1.5 million hours. Of course, most home PC owners will have enough for years to come. But if the work at the computer is carried out on an ongoing basis, then after a couple of years certain problems may begin. In a word, it all depends on how large amounts of data you will be pumping daily through this drive.

Like other SSDs designed for the M.2 slot, the Samsung MZ-V6E500BW has a modest size and only 8 grams. Also, he is not at all afraid of the temperature rise inside the system unit up to 70 ° C.

Well, what disadvantages does this drive have? First of all, the price tag should be noted. Not every consumer agrees to give about 12 thousand rubles for 500 GB. It should also be admitted that the maximum speed is achieved by no means on all computers. The fact is that Rapid Mode works fine only on laptops and PCs with a processor Intel. If at one time you took a chip from AMD, then you have to put up with a speed that is slightly lower than the stated one.

Advantages

• Very high read and write speed;
• Able to withstand any overload;
• Minimum dimensions and weight;
• Works even at high temperatures.

disadvantages

• Not the most popular connector used;
• Very high cost.

Western Digital WD BLU E 3D NAND SATA SSD 500 GB (WDS500G2B0B)

Rating: 4.8

Another solid state drive designed for installation in the M.2 slot. Above, we have already talked about the SSD included in the Western Digital Blue series. However, that drive was connected to a different interface. However, a similar controller and the same type of flash memory are used here, so the product cannot boast of a record speed of reading and writing. More specifically, files are written at 530 MB / s, and read at 560 MB / s.

Experts will say that such a drive does not squeeze out even half of the capabilities of the M.2 connector. It really is. And that is why they ask for only 5 thousand rubles for this model. When should you buy it? In those when the computer simply does not have a SATA interface. For example, it may not be on a modern Ultrabook. Of course, in this case it is better to take a model with higher speed characteristics. But not every laptop owner will agree to pay 12 thousand rubles for it.

As you may have guessed, this SSD is based on TLC 3D NAND flash memory. A Marvell 88SS1074 is used here as a controller. The drive life is close to standard. This means that a refusal should be expected after 1.75 million hours or after about 200 TB of information has passed through the SSD. As for shock resistance, everything is in order with it – the drive can withstand even the most severe overloads. Therefore, in this respect the product significantly surpasses the capabilities of a hard disk. Nothing bad can be said about the operating temperature – the SSD continues to function even when it rises to 70 ° C.

What pleases most is the warranty period of this 7 gram baby. It is 1800 days! Now do you understand how confident the manufacturer is in his product?

Advantages

• Very low cost;
• Miniature size and negligible weight;
• Incredibly long warranty period;
• It can work at any temperature.

disadvantages

• A not very popular connector is used;
• I would like more speed.

Crucial CT500P1SSD8

Rating: 4.7

Another SSD that connects to the M.2 slot, but doesn't take full advantage of this standard. Here, too, the speed is deliberately lowered. But on the other hand, such a drive can be purchased for only 6 thousand rubles, and most often it is even cheaper.

Above we mentioned that the manufacturer of the product has underestimated the speed indicators. It really is. But this SSD is still noticeably faster than its SATA-connected counterparts. The computer will be able to read data from this drive at speeds up to 1900 MB / s! For recording, this process is slower. But 950 MB / s should suit many buyers.

The Crucial CT500P1SSD8 has one major problem. It cannot be purchased for permanent use. If you write hundreds of gigabytes to it every day, the drive will soon fail. The manufacturer said that this will happen after 100 TB. This is why this SSD is so inexpensive. If we talk about the MTBF, then it is standard – 1.5 million hours. Nothing bad can be said about the warranty period, which is 1825 days. In a word, not everything is so bad!

Otherwise, this is a familiar SSD-drive designed for the M.2 interface. It is 80 mm long and 22 mm wide. The product will be able to work even when the temperature rises to 70 ° C.

Advantages

• Very high reading speed;
• Can work at any temperature;
• Low cost;
• Very long warranty period.

disadvantages

• Not the most popular connector used;
• Not very large number of bytes to write.

Conclusion

Now you know which SSDs are the best. You have also seen the prices for such devices. Surely you didn't expect 500GB SSDs to sell for so little money. However, this applies to the most common models. Alas, ultra-fast SSDs are much more expensive. But they are required mainly only by those who solve specific problems on a computer. Standard read speeds, usually 400-500 MB / s, will suffice for the average user.

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Attention! This rating is subjective and does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.