We are not fans of M.2 SATA based devices and yet the MX500 M.2 variant is the exception that proves the rule. This drive is perfectly suited for numerous builds and the fact that you can actually get it slightly cheaper than the 2.5-inch version makes it a veritable no-brainer.
Our editors hand-pick related products using a variety of criteria: direct competitors targeting the same market segment, or devices that are similar in size, performance, or feature sets.
Storage Performance Roundup: Inevitably, the prospect of spending about $100 for a terabyte of fast solid state storage, or a mere $58 for 500GB (Crucial MX500) makes us smile. They're noticeably faster than mechanical hard drives, but don't cost that much more.
We are not fans of M.2 SATA based devices and yet the MX500 M.2 variant is the exception that proves the rule. This drive is perfectly suited for numerous builds and the fact that you can actually get it slightly cheaper than the 2.5-inch version makes it a veritable no-brainer.
The Crucial MX500 is as nippy a SATA SSD as you can find, without opting for a pro-level drive. With competitive pricing and a lengthy five-year warranty, it's now the drive to put at the top of your...
Now as expected in a market that already counts many M.2 NVMe drives the M.2 variant of the MX500 may seem a bit “weak” but it should be more than just enough for the majority of users out there and since it delivers on everything Crucial promises it gets our Golden Award.
After testing the 500GB MX500 M.2 model, we can say for sure that the MX500 is still one of the best values in the market. The new form factor is great for those of you with small form factor systems with an M.2 slot, like an Intel NUC, or even those who just want to save on space in your case an not use any SATA power or data cables. Just like we have said before, there is no reason to hesitate to get your own. Stop reading and go buy one now!
The MX500 M.2 is a great choice for a small form factor PC where you don't want to deal with bulky 2.5" drives or the cable mess in a larger case. It's nice to see that Crucial is not charging a small-form-factor tax for the M.2 version—both the MX500 2.5" and M.2 are priced the same. All we now need from Crucial is an affordable high-performance M.2 NVMe SSD.
It is funny how the mind works. A 2.5" regular SSD showing the perf numbers we've seen today, would be considered fast. However, on M.2, that same result set all of the sudden feels, or seems, slow? Weird huh? Yeah, an M2 SSD at these read/write levels is simply not what many expect, however, the MX500 M2 units are not designed to be super-fast NVMe devices.
Traditional hard drives won't disappear anytime soon, but unless you need heaps of storage space for as little money as possible, you should buy an SSD instead. If you're a regular computer user, an affordable SATA SSD such as the Samsung 860 Evo is a...