Best 500GB SSD For 2023

Some great performance and budget-friendly options out there are the best 500GB SSD. They have the advantage of being significantly faster than traditional hard drives, as well as being much smaller. They’re really easy to install, provide enough capacity and most come with instructions for those who aren’t confident on that side of things.

If you’re looking for a serious speed boost to your computer, you need to check out the new line of SSD drives. With speeds much faster than traditional HDDs, your OS, programs, and games will all load a lot quicker. Once you’ve experienced the power of an SSD, you’ll never want to go back to a regular HDD again.

We’ve gathered some of the very best options on the market for you, right here, including options at various price points.

SSD vs. HDD: Which Is The Better?

There is no clear answer when it comes to SSD vs HDD. Both have their own advantages and disadvantages. For example, SSDs are generally faster and more reliable, but they also tend to be more expensive. HDDs, on the other hand, are cheaper and have larger storage capacities, but they are also slower and less reliable. Ultimately, it depends on your needs and budget as to which is the better option for you. HDDs are more durable, but they are also slower. Finding the best SSD or HDD for your specific system and needs is key if you want the best gaming PC or laptop, or even if you just want a snappy productivity machine.

We usually update and highlight the newest SSDs or HDDs for gaming and productivity here. This way you can always find the best drives for your needs. Whether you are looking for speed or more storage space, we have the drives that will fit your needs.

Today’s Best 500GB SSD Deals

2.5 Inch SATA SSD

1. Kingston Digital SSDNow V300

	Kingston SSDNow V300 Specifications
Controller	SandForce SF-2281
NAND	19nm Toshiba (?) Toggle-Mode MLC
Form Factor	2.5 Inch SATA
Capacities (GB)	480GB
Sequential Read	450 MB/s
Sequential Write	450 MB/s
4KB Random Read	Up to 85K IOPS
4KB Random Write	Up to 60K IOPS
Endurance	N/A
Warranty	3 Years
Price	Amazon

Pros:

• Available with a comprehensive desktop or laptop installation kit
• 7mm thickness for slim laptops
• Consistent speed through most tests

Cons:

• Performance in our benchmarks lagged behind less-costly alternatives

The V300 is a unique Kingston SSD introduction as it is their first product using the new Toshiba 19nm NAND flash memory process, but also, this SSD is ‘SandForce Driven by LSI’ and a key example of the success that can be had when two companies work closely together.

There is no secret that the established ‘best practice’ for consumer SSDs is to get more value for less. Manufacturers are finding ways to do this by using memory that has a smaller overall footprint. The Kingston V300 seems to be an ideal example of this value, so let’s take a closer look at where technology seems to be heading.

2. SanDisk Ultra II

	SanDisk Ultra II Specifications
Capacity	480GB
Interface	SATA 6Gbps
Controller	Marvell 88SS9187
NAND flash memory	SanDisk 2nd Gen 19nm TLC
Sequential read	550 MB/s
Sequential write	500 MB/s
Random read	98K IOPS
Random write	83K IOPS
Warranty	3 years

Pros:

• Great drive for the price!
• Easy to install and set up
• The drive includes helpful software.

Cons:

• The 120GB version is comparatively expensive.

The Ultra II internal drive is 2.5 inches wide and 7 millimeters thick. It resembles the Ultra Plus or even the newest Extreme Pro in appearance. Being the first drive from SanDisk to employ the company’s second-generation 19nm Triple Level Cell (TLC) flash memory, it differs greatly from its older brothers on the inside. Before this, Samsung SSDs like the Samsung 840 mostly utilized TLC NAND flash memory.

SanDisk claims that the Ultra II will still function effectively and have great durability because of its firmware and the Marvell 88SS9187 controller. SanDisk does not give the Ultra II a precise endurance rating, in contrast to the Extreme Pro. However, the three-year guarantee that is already included ensures that there won’t be any issues for at least the first three years.

3. Crucial MX200

Crucial MX200 Specifications
Capacity	500GB
Form Factors	2.5″ 7mm, mSATA, M.2 2260 & 2280
Controller	Marvell 88SS9189
NAND	Micron 16nm 128Gbit MLC
DRAM (DDR3-1600)	512MB
Sequential Read	555MB/s
Sequential Write	500MB/s
4KB Random Read	100K IOPS
4KB Random Write	87K IOPS
Dynamic Write Acceleration	Yes (mSATA and M.2 models only)
Endurance	160TB
Warranty	3 Years
Price	Amazon

Pros:

• Emphasis on data protection instead of maximum speed.
• Affordable per-gigabyte pricing for SATA M.2.
• Low power consumption

Cons:

• Shortish warranty, Mid-pack performance.

Crucial created the MX200 with a focus on durability and dependability, as it does with all of its drives, making this new drive a very appealing SSD alternative for many mainstream users. The MX200 family is also available in various form factors, including 2.5″ 7mm, mSATA, M.2 Type 2260, and M.2 Type 2280, to accommodate a variety of OEM use cases and applications.

According to specifications, Crucial MX200 SSDs can read data sequentially at speeds of up to 550MB/s on both compressible and non-compressible media, comparable to the MX100’s stated capability. The company’s RAIN technology, which safeguards user data at the component level, is also included in the Crucial MX200. This indicates that the data being stored on the MX200 is spread across several storage elements on the drive. As a result, user data would still be safeguarded and reserved in case one of these components failed.

mSATA SSD

1. Samsung 850 EVO

Samsung SSD 850 EVO mSATA Specifications
Capacities	500GB
Interface	SATA 6Gb/s (compatible SATA 3Gb/s and SATA 1.5Gb/s)
Controller	Samsung MGX controller
NAND Flash Memory	Samsung 40nm 128Gbit TLC V-NAND
DRAM Cache Memory	LPDDR3
Sequential Read	540 MB/s
Sequential Write	520 MB/s
4KB Random Read (QD1)	10,000 IOPS
4KB Random Write (QD1)	40,000 IOPS
4KB Random Read (QD32)	97,000 IOPS
4KB Random Write (QD32)	88,000 IOPS
Encryption	AES-256, TCG Opal 2.0, IEEE-1667 (eDrive)
Warranty	5 Years

Pros:

• Speedy performance
• Good-value
• Five-year warranty

Cons:

• Not a huge generational leap
• Definitely consumer-class SSD

Samsung released an mSATA version of the SSD 840 EVO a bit over a year ago, and when the 850 EVO 500GB was originally launched, we were told that mSATA and M.2 models would follow later. Samsung’s retail range now includes M.2, which is new, but it makes sense considering that many PC OEMs have migrated from mSATA to M.2 and that M.2 will eventually completely replace mSATA.

Architecturally the mSATA and M.2 devices are not much different from their 2.5″ brother. Except for the 1TB model, which the older MEX controller powers, the drives’ brains continue to be Samsung’s proprietary MGX controller, and their NAND is 32-layer, 128Gbit TLC (3-bit per cell), 40 nm lithography-produced V-NAND. Along with TurboWrite (Samsung’s pseudo-SLC caching), the cache sizes have not altered since the 2.5 “model.

2. Dogfish 3D NAND

Dogfish 3D NAND mSATA Specifications
Capacity	500 GB
Form Factor	mSATA
Interface	SATA 6 GB/s
Sequential Read	Up to 550 MB/s
Sequential Write	Up to 550 MB/s
4KB Random Read	N/A
4KB Random Write	N/A
Warranty	3 Years

Pros:

• High stability
• Three-year warranty
• Excellent performance
• Data safety

Cons:

• 3 Years  warranty

The mSATA 512GB Dogfish Hard Drive is a great way to store all of your important files. This hard drive has a lot of options, large capacity and is fast, making it perfect for use with a desktop or laptop computer. The drive is easy to install and comes with a three years warranty, making it a great choice for anyone looking for a reliable storage solution.

M.2 SATA SSD

1. WD Blue 3D NAND

WD Blue 3D NAND Specifications
Capacity	500GB
Interface	SATA III 6Gbps
NAND Type	SanDisk BiCS3 3D 1024Gb 64-layer TLC 3D NAND
Controller	Marvell 88SS1074
Sequential Read	Up to 560 MB/s
Sequential Write	Up to 530 MB/s
Random Read	95 000 IOPS
Random Write	84 000 IOPS
Endurance	N/A
Dimensions	100.2 mm X 69.85 mm X 7.0 mm
Weight	37.4 gram
Warranty	5 years

Pros:

• No loss of sustained write speed as with other TLC SSDs
• Excellent price per gigabyte
• Available in 2.5-inch and M.2 form factors

Cons:

• Boring label design could turn off PC enthusiasts
• Shorter warranty than 850 EVO.

A SATA SSD, the WD Blue 3D SSD has a less-than-secret twin in Sandisk’s Ultra 3D SSD. Since WD owns Sandisk, they are the same drive with various labels. The name “3D” denotes the usage of stacked (layered, vertical, etc.) NAND in the drives. That translates practically to more storage in a less horizontal area.

The WD Blue 3D ships in the M.2 form factor, whereas the Ultra 3D does not, and these are the only substantial differences between the drives aside from their exterior design and marketing. Beyond that, they are similar to one another. That’s fantastic, especially considering how much better they perform than other TLC NAND drives.

2. PNY CS900

PNY CS900 SATA M.2 SSD specifications
Interface	SATA-III (6 Gb/s)
Capacity	500GB
NAND	Micron’s 64 layers TLC 3D NAND
Max Sequential Read/Write	550 MB/s (Read), 535 MB/s (Write)
Dimensions (L x W x H)	22 x 80 x 4 mm (Max)
(MTBF)	2,000,000 Hours
Warranty	3 Years Limited

Pros:

• Speedy performance
• Good-value
• Three-year warranty

Cons:

• Not a huge generational leap
• DRAM-Less SSD.

The PNY CS900 is the company’s entry-level performance SSD range. It is a fantastic option for upgrading from a hard drive (HDD). The PNY CS900 was created as a quick and affordable HDD replacement for your current PC setup without compromising performance. The CS900 SSD upgrade will give your system overall performance improvement. You can boot up, shut down, and load applications within seconds.

The PNY CS900 is extremely sturdy and comes with a 3-year limited warranty because it has no moving parts. The PNY CS900 is a great energy conservation option and uses much less power than hard drives. Less power is used, batteries last longer, and a cooler, quieter system are all advantages for users. Less time worrying about battery life means more time enjoying your system.

3. Samsung 860 EVO

	Samsung 860 EVO Specifications
Capacity	500GB
Interface	6 Gbps SATA
Form Factor	2.5″, mSATA, M.2 2280
Controller	Samsung MJX
NAND	Samsung V-NAND 3bit MLC (TLC)
LPDDR4 DRAM	512MB
SLC Write Cache	22 GB
Sequential Read	560 MB/s
Sequential Write (SLC Cache)	520 MB/s
Sequential Write (TLC)	500 MB/s
4KB Random Read	100k IOPS
4KB Random Write	90k IOPS
Endurance	300 TBW
Warranty	5 years
Price	Amazon

Pros:

• Significant power savings
• Five-year warranty
• Very fast

Cons:

• High price
• Less long-lived than the MLC (2-bit) SSDs

Samsung released the 860 EVO M.2 series in four capacities ranging from 250GB to 2TB. The series introduced the new MJX controller and updated LPDDR4 DRAM to Samsung’s SSD lineup. Both go relatively unnoticed next to Samsung’s new 64-layer flash memory that brings industry-leading endurance to consumer-facing SSDs. The performance is consistent across the 860 EVO M.2 series.

M.2 NVME (PCIe) SSD

1. Crucial P5 Plus

	Crucial P5 Plus Specifications
Capacity	500GB
NAND	176L 3D TLC
Controller	Micron DM02A1
Interface	PCIe 4.0×4 NVMe 1.4
Durability	300 TBW
Read speed	6,600 MB/s
Write speed	4,000 MB/s
Random Read (4K, QD32) (Max.)	Up to 360,000 IOPS
Random Write (4K, QD32) (Max.)	Up to 700,000 IOPS
Encryption	Hardware-based – 256-bit AES
Reliability (MTTF)	2,000,000 hours
Warranty	5 years
Price	Amazon

Pros:

• Competitive performance and price
• Hardware-based AES 256-bit encryption
• Works with PS5
• Attractive design
• Software package
• 5-year warranty

Cons:

• Slightly disappointing 4K performance
• Runs a little warm

For revolutionary computing, the Crucial P5 Plus SSD offers fantastic performance and data security with consecutive reads up to 6600MB/s. The Crucial P5 Plus, designed by Micron using the most recent Gen4 NVMe technology, has cutting-edge features like full hardware-based encryption, dynamic write acceleration, and adaptive heat protection to protect your data while boosting system dependability. The P5 Plus is backward compatible with most Gen3 systems for maximum flexibility and was created primarily for intensive workloads, high-quality creative output, and intense gaming.

2. Samsung 980

	Samsung 980 Specifications
Interface/Form Factor	x4 PCIe 3.0/NVMe/M.2 2280
Storage Sizes	500 GB
Sequential Read	3,100 MB/s
Sequential Write	2,600 MB/s
4KB Random Read	400,000 IOPS
4KB Random Write	470,000 IOPS
Bus Type	PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe 1.4
Controller	Samsung Pablo
NAND Type	Samsung 128L 3D TLC
Power Consumption	5.3 W Max
TBW	300 TBW
Warranty	5 years
Price	Amazon

Pros:

• Competitive performance
• Large, fast-recovering dynamic SLC cache rating for MLC
• AES 256-bit hardware encryption
• Software package
• 5-year warranty

Cons:

• Slow write speeds after the SLC cache fills

With the launch of the 980 NVMe SSD, Samsung intends to build on its position as one of the most dependable and high-performing SSD manufacturers in the industry. Samsung’s 980 is intended for casual PC users and gamers. Still, given that its performance ratings are six times higher than those of a typical SATA SSD, it may also be attractive to lower-budget video producers.

A perk of Samsung’s DRAMless design, which the firm claims make it the highest-performing DRAMless SSD on the market, is that the 980 is substantially less expensive than the 980 Pro and 970 Evo Plus. This combination of technology, powered by the business’s V6 V-NAND and an effective DRAMless controller that originally made its debut in the Portable SSD T7 Touch, offers quick PCIe Gen3 performance and respectable performance endurance ratings.

3. Addlink S70

Addlink S70 NVMe M.2 SSD Specifications
Interface	NVMe PCIe Gen 3.0 x 4 Lanes
Capacities	500 GB
Controller	Phison E12 with DDR3L cache
NAND	Toshiba 64-layer 3D TLC
Encryption	AES 256-bit
Sequential Read/Write	3,400 / 2,000MB/s
Random 4K Read/Write	350,000 / 500,000 IOPS
Total Bytes Written (TBW)	600 TBW
Power Consumption Read/Write	4.5 W / 5.0 W
MTBF	1,800,000
Warranty/Support	Limited 5-year warranty with free technical support
Price	Amazon

Pros:

• Great value.
• Fast sequential speeds.
• High durability rating.
• Five-year warranty.

Cons:

• 4K speeds proved lacking in our tests.
• No software management tools.

A Taiwan-based company called Addlink is well known for creating storage that is used in mobile devices and traffic cameras. However, the company is putting the leading producers of consumer-facing storage on notice with the introduction of the Addlink S70 NVMe cheap solid-state drive (around $89 at the 1TB capacity tested). The Addlink S70 is a performance and durability value play that can compete with drives that cost much more money.

The S70 is now one of the greatest deals in NVMe SSDs, but its 4K read and write benchmark speeds weren’t the fastest, and it doesn’t offer any software management features. It receives an Editors’ Choice for cheap M.2 drives as a super-quick bargain selection.

How Did We Select The Best Internal SSDs?

Before deciding on the final list, we tested a large number of internal SSDs. The following key sections were helpful to us throughout the entire review process:

Disk Capacity

More storage space is always better. You’ll need enough room to store your files, videos, programs, music, movies, pictures, and other media. Unfortunately, your computer’s internal drive is not always up to the task. When buying hard drives, think about what you want to store and choose one according to the disk’s storage capacity.

Speed of Transferring Data

The speed of transfer is another critical factor. For example, the read/write speed of an SSD is reflected in its transfer rate. The most important metric to consider when it comes to transfer speed is megabytes per second (MB/s). Your audio files will be copied to the drive at a faster rate if your save speed is faster than your read speed. The read speed is critical when transferring files that will be read rather than saved.

Value

Although the cost of internal SSDs has significantly decreased, some models are still very expensive. We chose the top internal solid-state drives available at the greatest price.

Manufacturer

The most prosperous producers constantly strive to offer their devoted customers the most dependable solid-state SSDs.

Ratings

We were able to select the top-rated goods in the internal SSD category thanks to consumer reviews.

SSD Setup: What You Need to Know?

If you’re looking to upgrade your computer’s storage, you may be considering a solid state drive (SSD). SSDs can provide a significant speed boost over traditional hard drives, but there are a few things you’ll need to know before making the switch. Memoright.com will walk you through everything you need to know about SSDs, from how they work to how to set them up.

What Are The Key Benefits Of Owning An Internal SSD?

Enhanced reliability

The main reason for all the hard drive failures was the excessive heat caused by the continuous disk movement. And, since the solid-state drive has no moving parts, they’re a lot more durable and shock-resistant than their mechanical alternatives.

Faster boot times

The hard drive goes through a warm-up period before they start operating properly, whereas the SSDs power up almost instantly. The average boot time of the SSD is roughly 10 seconds, and the boot time for a computer that’s running an HDD storage is around 40 seconds, which is at least four times slower.

Quiet operation and less weight

Thanks to the lack of oscillating parts and fans, the SSDs work more quietly than the regular HDDs, which can be pretty disturbing because of their excessive vibrations and sounds. Moreover, they are lighter – making it easier for you to carry around your laptop.

More practical

Considering that the solid-state drives are noticeably smaller in size, you will have more free room on your PC or laptop, which gives you the opportunity for additional upgrades.

FAQs

Are cheap SSDs worth it?

The cheaper SSDs tend to have worse performance than expensive ones with extensive write file operations, though it may or may not be a problem depending on how often said operations are done. Also since cheaper SSDs tend to exclude DRAM, there’s the potential to wear out faster due to using flash to cache things.

Will SSD prices go down 2023?

As a result, TrendForce predicts consumer product prices will decline 8% to 13% in the third quarter of 2023, while enterprise SSDs will drop 5% to 10% in Q3, and the trend may continue into the fourth quarter if demand doesn’t improve.

Is a 500GB SSD enough for gaming?

500gb is enough storage for most gamers, but if you’re planning to download a lot of games or store a lot of files on your computer, then you might want to consider upgrading to a larger SSD. Keep in mind that not all games require a lot of storage space.

How many games can 500GB hold?

So games run from about 30-50 GB, and we can average them at 40 GB for argument’s sake and exclude the idea of DLC. At that size, a 500 gb hard drive will fit 12 games. So once you’ve got a full hard drive, you’ll need to uninstall some games if you want to play more.

Conclusion

There are plenty of options out there if you’re in the market for the best 500GB SSD. A short list of alternative products above that we think is your great choices. If you have any thoughts or suggestions about our list, let us know in the comments below!