SAMSUNG 870 EVO 500GB SSD Review

 High-Performance Storage with Reliability and Speed in Mind

If you're looking for a high-performance SSD with industry-leading reliability, the SAMSUNG 870 EVO 500GB 2.5" Internal SSD offers an impressive blend of speed, durability, and ease of use for both gaming and productivity setups. In this review, we'll break down its strengths and weaknesses to help you decide if it's the right choice for your next upgrade. Whether you're seeking to boost your system’s performance or looking for reliable storage for long-term use, this review will cover all the key details you need to know.

Design and Build Quality: Premium Look and Feel

The SAMSUNG 870 EVO follows the same sleek, minimalist design that Samsung’s EVO series is known for. The SSD comes in a compact 2.5-inch form factor, housed in a solid metal casing that feels sturdy and well-built. It’s a step above budget SSDs like the Kingston A400, which feels more lightweight and plastic in comparison. The 870 EVO’s construction gives off a premium feel, and it's designed to withstand the rigors of daily use with a focus on longevity and durability, which shows in its high-endurance rating.

Performance: Consistently Fast Across All Use Cases

In terms of performance, the SAMSUNG 870 EVO 500GB SSD lives up to its reputation, delivering some of the fastest speeds available in the SATA category. With sequential read speeds reaching up to 560 MB/s and write speeds up to 530 MB/s in real-world testing, it’s close to saturating the maximum possible speed of SATA III. Boot times were almost instant, and loading heavy applications like Adobe Photoshop was a breeze. Compared to the Crucial MX500, which is one of its closest competitors, the 870 EVO outperforms it by a small margin, particularly in write performance, which is crucial for tasks like video editing and large file transfers.

Gaming and Load Times: Fast, But Limited by SATA Interface

When it comes to gaming, the 870 EVO excels in reducing load times and ensuring a smooth experience across modern AAA titles. For games like Call of Duty: Warzone and Cyberpunk 2077, the drive offered quick load times and snappy performance, although it’s important to note that the gains over an NVMe drive are minimal when factoring in the limits of the SATA interface. If you're comparing it to an M.2 NVMe drive like the SAMSUNG 970 EVO Plus, you won’t see the same lightning-fast speeds, but for gamers still on older systems, this is a solid upgrade from HDDs or even older SATA SSDs.

Endurance and Durability: Built for Long-Term Use

One of the strongest points of the SAMSUNG 870 EVO is its impressive endurance. With a 5-year warranty and a total bytes written (TBW) rating of 300 TB, this SSD is designed for long-term reliability. For casual users and even content creators who rely on heavy file transfers, this drive can handle years of use without showing signs of degradation. Compared to other SSDs in its class, like the WD Blue 3D NAND, which offers a slightly lower endurance rating, the 870 EVO is clearly built for more demanding tasks and prolonged usage.

Over-Provisioning and Software Features: A Nice Bonus

SAMSUNG’s Magician software offers additional value by providing easy-to-use features like over-provisioning, drive health monitoring, and performance optimization. This software gives users more control over their SSD and allows for tweaks to enhance long-term performance. While many other SSD manufacturers, like Crucial with their Storage Executive, offer similar software, Samsung’s Magician interface is more refined and provides smoother usability. The software is optional, but for power users, it’s a useful tool to get the most out of the 870 EVO.

Thermal Performance: Cool and Consistent

Thermal management is a non-issue with the 870 EVO, as the drive remains cool even under heavy workloads. After several hours of stress testing, which included continuous read/write operations and gaming, the drive’s temperature stayed well within safe limits. This is a significant improvement over some cheaper SSDs, like the ADATA SU800, which tends to run hotter under load. In well-ventilated cases, you should experience zero thermal throttling, making it ideal for users who perform sustained, intensive tasks like video rendering or high-resolution photo editing.

Installation and Compatibility: Simple and Seamless

The installation process is straightforward, especially for users familiar with SSD upgrades. The SAMSUNG 870 EVO is compatible with most systems that support a 2.5-inch SATA drive, making it a flexible choice for upgrading both laptops and desktops. One standout feature is the inclusion of Samsung's Data Migration software, which makes it easy to clone your existing drive. This sets the 870 EVO apart from budget SSDs like the PNY CS900, which lacks cloning tools out of the box. The migration process took just under 15 minutes and was completely error-free, making it perfect for users who need a hassle-free upgrade.

Price and Value: Worth the Premium

While the SAMSUNG 870 EVO is priced higher than budget SSDs like the Kingston A400 or the WD Green SSD, the extra cost is justified by its superior performance, reliability, and long-term durability. For users who want a balance of speed, endurance, and ease of use, the 870 EVO is well worth the investment. Even compared to its closest rival, the Crucial MX500, the 870 EVO slightly edges it out in terms of sustained write performance and overall reliability. If you’re on a budget, the MX500 is a solid choice, but for those willing to spend a bit more, the 870 EVO offers greater peace of mind and longevity.

Conclusion: Top-Tier SATA SSD with Unmatched Reliability

The SAMSUNG 870 EVO 500GB is one of the best SATA SSDs on the market, offering high-speed performance, long-lasting durability, and a suite of useful features that make it stand out. It excels in read and write speeds, surpassing most of its competitors, and it’s perfect for both casual users and professionals who demand reliability. While it's not as fast as NVMe SSDs, it’s one of the fastest options in the SATA space and an excellent upgrade for anyone looking to improve their system’s responsiveness.

Pros:

• Blazing-fast read and write speeds for a SATA SSD
• Industry-leading endurance rating and 5-year warranty
• Seamless software integration for drive management and cloning
• Cool and efficient thermal performance under load

Cons:

• Higher price compared to other SATA SSDs
• SATA interface limits maximum potential speed
• Marginal performance improvement over cheaper alternatives

Recommendation:

If you need a SATA SSD with excellent reliability, fast speeds, and a long lifespan, the SAMSUNG 870 EVO is a top choice. For users who don’t require this level of endurance or are on a tighter budget, the Crucial MX500 offers similar performance at a lower price, but the 870 EVO’s superior endurance and software tools make it worth the premium for most users

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