Crucial MX500 1TB

We must admit that we did go into this review with high expectations as the MX500’s SMI controller plus second generation IMFT 3D TLC NAND (aka ‘TLC CuA 2.0’) did indeed impress us. This time with twice the NAND-interleaving and twice the RAM buffer the results did not just meet but actually exceeded what we were expecting. What we were expecting was a 1TB drive that was going to be really, really good but what we found was a 1TB drive that comes incredibly close to matching the MX300 2050GB model. That particular capacity version was our favorite SATA drive last year. We used it in a lot of builds as while it did cost a relative fortune the performance more than made up for its asking price. Now we have a new favorite.

While the MX500 1TB is not exactly a one to one match for the last generation’s MX300 2050GB model it does come awfully close. So close that just like the 500GB capacity option buyers can expect to performance that is easily one step up from what they are buying. However, unlike the 2050GB MX300, with an asking price of only $260 potential owners will not have to make major sacrifices in their budget to afford it. This alone is going to make the MX500 1TB the darling of the industry.

Equally important is now we have proof that the MX500 does indeed scale nicely along with capacity so any lingering concerns over BX vs MX options that may have still existed are now moot. The MX500 is the better choice for mainstream buyers and the BX300… well it now has a hard time justifying its existence. One the one hand it does technically use more durable NAND (MLC), but on the other it comes with a shorter warranty, tops out at only 480GB, costs more than the MX500 series, and generally is still a decent choice… but the MX500 is simply too good to ignore.

The only people who may be a touch disappointed with the MX500 series at this point are those who really need 2TB of fast storage space. However, for those people we would recommend either waiting for the soon to be released 2TB MX500 or do what we plan on doing: RAID’ing them. After all, for the price of one MX300 2050GB buyers can basically get two 1TB MX500s and get the longer warranty. All without sacrificing performance. In other words, the MX500 1TB is easily the best value, best performing SATA solid state drive consumers can actually buy right now. As such if you are interested in a good sized SATA solid state drive that will not break the bank, but offers (relative) performance to burn the MX500 1TB is the drive you have been waiting for. Buy it. You will love what it has to offer. Congratulations Crucial for once again proving why it is hard to go wrong with an MX model -TLC NAND or not.