Crucial BX500 1TB 3D
SAMSUNG 990 PRO SSD
When it comes to upgrading your PC or laptop, choosing the right solid state drive (SSD) can make a world of difference. Whether you’re looking to breathe new life into an aging system or building a high-performance gaming rig, the SSD you pick will directly impact your boot times, application load speeds, file transfer rates, and overall system responsiveness. Two standout options currently dominating the market in their respective categories are the Crucial BX500 1TB 3D NAND SATA 2.5-Inch Internal SSD, up to 540MB/s – CT1000BX500SSD1, Solid State Drive and the SAMSUNG 990 PRO SSD 2TB NVMe M.2 PCIe Gen4, M.2 2280 Internal Solid State Hard Drive, Seq. Read Speeds Up to 7,450 MB/s for High End Computing, Gaming, and Heavy Duty Workstations, MZ-V9P2T0B/AM. While both drives serve the same fundamental purpose—replacing slow mechanical hard drives with blazing-fast flash storage—they represent two very different ends of the SSD spectrum.
The Crucial BX500 1TB 3D is a budget-friendly SATA SSD designed for mainstream users, offering excellent value, energy efficiency, and a significant performance boost over traditional hard drives. In contrast, the SAMSUNG 990 PRO SSD is a high-end NVMe PCIe Gen4 drive engineered for power users, gamers, content creators, and professionals who demand extreme speed, low latency, and top-tier reliability. This comprehensive comparison will explore every aspect of both drives: performance benchmarks, interface technologies, power consumption, durability, warranty, use cases, and real-world usability. By the end of this guide, you’ll have a clear understanding of which SSD aligns with your needs, budget, and system capabilities. Whether you’re upgrading a laptop for everyday use or building a workstation for 4K video editing, this head-to-head analysis will help you make an informed decision backed by data, expert insights, and practical considerations.
In-Depth Look: Crucial BX500 1TB 3D
The Crucial BX500 1TB 3D is a SATA-based SSD that brings affordable, reliable, and efficient storage to everyday users. Built with Micron’s 3D NAND technology—a legacy of over 40 years in memory innovation—this drive is designed to replace aging hard drives in older desktops, laptops, and even some entry-level workstations. With a 2.5-inch form factor and a standard SATA III (6 Gb/s) interface, the Crucial BX500 1TB 3D is universally compatible with nearly every system that supports SATA drives, making it an ideal drop-in upgrade for users with legacy hardware.
One of the standout features of the Crucial BX500 1TB 3D is its energy efficiency. It consumes significantly less power than traditional hard drives—up to 45x more efficient—which translates into longer battery life for laptops and reduced heat generation in desktops. This is especially important for mobile users who rely on their devices for extended periods without access to power. Additionally, the drive operates silently, as it has no moving parts, unlike mechanical HDDs that produce noise and vibration during operation.
Performance-wise, the Crucial BX500 1TB 3D delivers sequential read speeds up to 540 MB/s and write speeds up to 500 MB/s. While these figures are far below what NVMe drives like the SAMSUNG 990 PRO SSD can achieve, they represent a massive improvement over typical 7200 RPM hard drives, which average around 100–160 MB/s. In real-world use, this means faster boot times—often under 10 seconds—and near-instant loading of applications, documents, and media files. The drive also features a Phison S12 controller paired with Micron’s 3D TLC NAND, which ensures stable performance and decent endurance for everyday tasks. The 300 TBW (Terabytes Written) endurance rating is more than sufficient for average users who write a few hundred gigabytes per month.
The Crucial BX500 1TB 3D also comes with a 3-year limited warranty, which is standard for budget SATA SSDs. While it lacks advanced features like hardware encryption, DRAM cache, or SLC caching (which can improve burst performance), its simplicity is part of its appeal. It’s a no-frills, reliable, and cost-effective solution for users who want a straightforward upgrade without breaking the bank. Crucial also provides free Acronis True Image HD software for easy drive cloning, which makes migrating from an old HDD a breeze.
Pros:
- ✅ Extremely affordable price per GB (often under $0.06/GB)
- ✅ Universal SATA compatibility with 2.5-inch form factor
- ✅ Significant performance boost over HDDs (300% faster)
- ✅ Energy efficient—great for laptops and low-power systems
- ✅ Silent operation with no moving parts
- ✅ Includes free cloning software (Acronis)
- ✅ Trusted brand (Micron) with decades of NAND expertise
Cons:
- ❌ Limited to SATA III speeds (capped at ~550 MB/s)
- ❌ No DRAM cache (can affect sustained performance)
- ❌ Lower endurance compared to high-end NVMe drives
- ❌ Shorter warranty (3 years vs 5+ years on premium drives)
- ❌ Not ideal for heavy multitasking or large file transfers
Best For: The Crucial BX500 1TB 3D is perfect for budget-conscious users, laptop upgraders, students, office workers, and anyone replacing a failing hard drive. It’s also ideal for building a secondary storage drive in a desktop system where primary boot duties are handled by a faster NVMe drive. If your goal is to eliminate HDD bottlenecks without spending much, the Crucial BX500 1TB 3D is one of the best value SATA SSDs on the market.
Check out the Crucial BX500 1TB 3D on Amazon to see current pricing and availability.
In-Depth Look: SAMSUNG 990 PRO SSD
The SAMSUNG 990 PRO SSD is Samsung’s flagship PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD, designed to push the boundaries of what’s possible in consumer storage. As the successor to the highly acclaimed 980 Pro, this drive leverages Samsung’s latest Elpsis V2 controller and 176-layer 3D TLC NAND to deliver near-maximum PCIe 4.0 performance. With sequential read speeds up to 7,450 MB/s and write speeds up to 6,900 MB/s, the SAMSUNG 990 PRO SSD is one of the fastest SSDs available for consumer desktops and high-end laptops.
What sets the SAMSUNG 990 PRO SSD apart is its optimized performance for heavy workloads. Whether you’re a hardcore gamer, a video editor rendering 4K/8K footage, a 3D animator, or a data analyst crunching large datasets, this drive is built to handle it all. Samsung claims a 55% improvement in random performance over the 980 Pro, which translates into faster application launches, smoother multitasking, and quicker file transfers. The drive excels in 4K random read/write operations, achieving up to 1.4 million and 1.55 million IOPS respectively—numbers that are essential for professional workflows.
Another key advantage of the SAMSUNG 990 PRO SSD is its power efficiency. Samsung has engineered the drive to deliver up to 50% better performance per watt compared to its predecessor. This means you get top-tier speed without excessive heat or power draw, which is crucial for maintaining system stability during long rendering sessions or gaming marathons. The drive also features Dynamic Thermal Guard technology to prevent thermal throttling, ensuring consistent performance even under sustained loads.
The SAMSUNG 990 PRO SSD comes in multiple capacities: 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB. The 2TB model we’re reviewing offers an excellent balance of speed, endurance, and value for professionals. It boasts a 1,200 TBW endurance rating—four times that of the Crucial BX500 1TB 3D—making it suitable for users who frequently write large files. Backed by a 5-year limited warranty, this drive is built to last and is trusted by professionals worldwide.
Samsung also includes advanced software tools with the SAMSUNG 990 PRO SSD. The Samsung Magician software suite allows users to monitor drive health, optimize performance, update firmware, and even enable hardware encryption (AES 256-bit). This level of control and visibility is a major selling point for power users who want to get the most out of their investment.
Pros:
- ✅ Blazing-fast PCIe Gen4 speeds (7,450 MB/s read)
- ✅ Exceptional random IOPS for multitasking and heavy workloads
- ✅ High endurance (1,200 TBW) for long-term reliability
- ✅ 5-year warranty with excellent customer support
- ✅ Power-efficient design with Dynamic Thermal Guard
- ✅ Samsung Magician software with encryption and monitoring
- ✅ Available in 4TB for massive storage needs
- ✅ Trusted brand with world-leading flash memory technology
Cons:
- ❌ Requires PCIe Gen4 M.2 slot (not compatible with older Gen3 or SATA systems)
- ❌ Higher price per GB (~$0.08–$0.10/GB for 2TB)
- ❌ Can generate more heat under load (may require heatsink in some cases)
- ❌ Overkill for basic web browsing or office tasks
- ❌ M.2 form factor limits compatibility with older laptops/desktops
Best For: The SAMSUNG 990 PRO SSD is ideal for gamers, content creators, software developers, data scientists, and high-end PC builders who demand the fastest storage possible. It’s also perfect for users running resource-intensive applications like Adobe Creative Suite, Blender, AutoCAD, or virtual machines. If you’re building a new system with a modern motherboard (AMD Ryzen 5000/7000 or Intel 12th Gen+), the SAMSUNG 990 PRO SSD is a top-tier choice that will future-proof your storage needs.
Ready to experience next-gen speed? Check the SAMSUNG 990 PRO SSD on Amazon today.
Head-to-Head Comparison
Interface & Form Factor: SATA vs NVMe M.2
The most fundamental difference between the Crucial BX500 1TB 3D and the SAMSUNG 990 PRO SSD lies in their interface and physical design. The Crucial BX500 1TB 3D uses a SATA III (6 Gb/s) interface with a 2.5-inch form factor, which means it connects via a SATA data cable and requires a 4-pin power connector (or Molex-to-SATA adapter). This design makes it compatible with nearly every desktop and laptop from the past 15 years, including older systems that lack M.2 slots. However, the SATA interface is a bottleneck—it caps theoretical speeds at around 600 MB/s, which is why the Crucial BX500 1TB 3D maxes out at 540 MB/s.
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In contrast, the SAMSUNG 990 PRO SSD uses a PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe interface in an M.2 2280 form factor. This means it plugs directly into the motherboard’s M.2 slot and leverages the PCIe bus for data transfer. PCIe Gen4 offers up to 8 GB/s of bandwidth per lane (x4 = ~4 GB/s), allowing the SAMSUNG 990 PRO SSD to achieve speeds over 7,000 MB/s. However, this comes with a caveat: your system must support PCIe Gen4. If you’re using an older motherboard (e.g., Intel 10th Gen or AMD Ryzen 3000), you’ll be limited to Gen3 speeds (~3,500 MB/s), which still outperforms SATA but doesn’t fully utilize the drive’s potential.
For compatibility, the Crucial BX500 1TB 3D wins hands down. For raw speed and future-proofing, the SAMSUNG 990 PRO SSD is unmatched.
Performance: Speed, IOPS, and Real-World Use
When it comes to performance, the gap between these two drives is enormous. The SAMSUNG 990 PRO SSD is in a completely different league. With sequential reads of 7,450 MB/s and writes of 6,900 MB/s, it’s over 13x faster than the Crucial BX500 1TB 3D in read speeds and nearly 14x faster in writes. But raw throughput isn’t the only metric—random IOPS (Input/Output Operations Per Second) is equally important for system responsiveness.
The SAMSUNG 990 PRO SSD delivers 1.4 million random read IOPS and 1.55 million write IOPS, compared to the Crucial BX500 1TB 3D’s ~90K/88K. This means the Samsung drive can handle hundreds of simultaneous file requests—like opening multiple apps, loading game assets, or rendering video effects—with minimal lag. In real-world scenarios, this translates into:
- ✅ Faster boot times (under 5 seconds on modern systems)
- ✅ Near-instant app launches (Photoshop, Premiere Pro, etc.)
- ✅ Quicker game level loads (especially in open-world titles)
- ✅ Smoother multitasking with dozens of browser tabs and programs
The Crucial BX500 1TB 3D, while much slower, still offers a massive improvement over HDDs. For everyday tasks—web browsing, email, document editing, and light photo editing—it’s more than sufficient. But if you’re editing 4K video, running virtual machines, or playing modern AAA games, the SAMSUNG 990 PRO SSD’s performance advantage is undeniable.
Endurance & Reliability: TBW and Warranty
Endurance, measured in TBW (Terabytes Written), is a critical factor for long-term reliability. The Crucial BX500 1TB 3D offers 300 TBW, which translates to about 82 GB written per day over its 3-year warranty period. For average users—those who write 10–20 GB per day—this is more than adequate. However, power users or those running databases, video editing, or frequent backups may exceed this limit sooner.
The SAMSUNG 990 PRO SSD 2TB boasts 1,200 TBW, allowing for 328 GB written per day over its 5-year warranty. This makes it far more suitable for heavy-duty workloads. Additionally, Samsung’s 5-year warranty (vs Crucial’s 3-year) provides longer peace of mind and reflects the brand’s confidence in the drive’s longevity.
Both drives use 3D TLC NAND, but Samsung’s 176-layer technology is more advanced and durable than Micron’s older 3D NAND. Samsung also includes power-loss protection in its controller, which helps prevent data corruption during unexpected shutdowns.
Power Efficiency & Thermal Performance
Power efficiency is where the Crucial BX500 1TB 3D shines. As a SATA drive, it consumes very little power—typically 2–3 watts under load—making it ideal for laptops where battery life is crucial. Its low power draw also means minimal heat generation, so it doesn’t require any cooling solutions.
The SAMSUNG 990 PRO SSD, while more power-hungry (up to 6–8 watts under load), is engineered for efficiency. Samsung claims 50% better performance per watt than the 980 Pro, meaning you get more speed for the energy used. However, due to its high-speed operation, it can generate significant heat—especially in compact laptops or poorly ventilated desktops. Samsung includes a Dynamic Thermal Guard to throttle speeds if temperatures get too high, but for sustained performance, a heatsink (often included with motherboards or available separately) is recommended.
Value & Price per GB
Price is a major differentiator. The Crucial BX500 1TB 3D is often priced under $60, making it one of the most affordable 1TB SSDs on the market. At ~$0.06/GB, it’s a steal for anyone on a tight budget. The SAMSUNG 990 PRO SSD 2TB, on the other hand, typically costs $160–$180, or $0.08–$0.09/GB—a premium price, but justified by its performance, endurance, and features.
For value, it depends on your needs. If you’re upgrading a laptop or building a secondary drive, the Crucial BX500 1TB 3D offers incredible bang for your buck. If you’re building a high-performance system or need maximum speed and reliability, the SAMSUNG 990 PRO SSD’s price is a worthy investment.
Software & Ecosystem
The SAMSUNG 990 PRO SSD comes with Samsung Magician, a powerful software suite that includes:
- Drive health monitoring
- Performance optimization
- Firmware updates
- Secure erase
- Hardware encryption (AES 256-bit)
- Over-provisioning tools
This level of control is unmatched in the Crucial BX500 1TB 3D, which only offers basic cloning software (Acronis). For users who want to fine-tune their storage, Samsung’s ecosystem is a major advantage.
Use Case Scenarios
- Laptop Upgrade: Crucial BX500 1TB 3D (SATA compatibility, low power)
- Gaming PC: SAMSUNG 990 PRO SSD (fast load times, high IOPS)
- Video Editing: SAMSUNG 990 PRO SSD (high throughput for 4K/8K footage)
- Office/Student Use: Crucial BX500 1TB 3D (affordable, reliable)
- Workstation/Server: SAMSUNG 990 PRO SSD (endurance, speed, reliability)
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I use the Crucial BX500 1TB 3D in a laptop?
A: Yes, absolutely. The Crucial BX500 1TB 3D has a standard 2.5-inch form factor and SATA interface, making it compatible with nearly all laptops that support SATA drives. It’s also energy efficient, which helps extend battery life. If you’re upgrading an older laptop, this is one of the best choices. Check it out on Amazon.
Q: Do I need a heatsink for the SAMSUNG 990 PRO SSD?
A: It depends. In well-ventilated desktops with good airflow, the SAMSUNG 990 PRO SSD can run without a heatsink. However, in compact builds, laptops, or systems with poor airflow, a heatsink is recommended to prevent thermal throttling. Many motherboards include M.2 heatsinks, or you can purchase one separately. Samsung also sells a version with a built-in heatsink (990 PRO with Heatsink).
Q: Is the SAMSUNG 990 PRO SSD backward compatible with PCIe Gen3?
A: Yes, it is fully backward compatible. On a PCIe Gen3 system, you’ll still get speeds up to ~3,500 MB/s, which is still significantly faster than SATA SSDs. However, to unlock its full potential (7,450 MB/s), you’ll need a Gen4 motherboard.
Q: Which drive is better for gaming?
A: For gaming, the SAMSUNG 990 PRO SSD is the clear winner. Faster load times, higher random IOPS, and lower latency improve the overall gaming experience, especially in open-world and next-gen titles. While the Crucial BX500 1TB 3D will eliminate HDD stuttering, it won’t match the responsiveness of the Samsung drive. Get the SAMSUNG 990 PRO SSD here.
Q: Can I use both drives together in one system?
A: Yes! Many users run a SAMSUNG 990 PRO SSD as the boot drive for the OS and applications, and the Crucial BX500 1TB 3D as secondary storage for documents, media, and backups. This gives you the best of both worlds: blazing-fast performance and affordable bulk storage.
Q: What if I have a motherboard without M.2 slots?
A: In that case, the Crucial BX500 1TB 3D is your only option between