Key takeaways
- Know your slot. M.2 slots may be PCIe, SATA or both, and sizes include 2280 and 2230. Read your motherboard or laptop manual.
- PCIe generation. A PCIe 4.0 drive works in a PCIe 3.0 slot at reduced speed.
- Heatsinks. Fast drives may throttle without cooling. Many motherboards include M.2 heat spreaders; check clearance if you add a drive with its own heatsink.
- Cloning and data. Back up before swapping drives, and use the maker’s cloning tool or a clean install.
- Warranty and endurance. Look at TBW ratings and warranty length, usually five years for the models listed, though smaller capacities have lower TBW.
- Backups still matter. An SSD can fail suddenly, so keep copies of important files.
For a modern desktop or laptop with an M.2 slot, a 500GB drive such as the WD_Black SN7100 suits buyers who want fast PCIe 4.0 performance, the Crucial P3 Plus, Kingston NV3 or WD Blue SN580 suit those who want the lowest cost for everyday use, and the Crucial MX500 or Samsung 870 EVO suit older machines that only have a 2.5-inch SATA bay. For a PlayStation 5, reviewers point to a heatsink-equipped drive such as the Corsair MP600 Pro LPX. A 500GB drive is a sensible boot and apps drive, but it fills quickly with games and video, so the right choice also depends on how much you will store.
Our top picks
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500GB SSDs at a glance
The table lists models that review outlets such as Tom’s Hardware, PC Guide, PCGamesN and Engadget say are available in 500GB, with speeds as stated by makers or relayed by those outlets. Real-world speeds depend on your system, and many drives slow down once their fast cache fills.
| Drive | Interface | Stated speeds | Best for | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WD_Black SN7100 | PCIe 4.0 NVMe | Up to 7,250 MB/s read, 6,900 MB/s write per Tom’s Hardware | Fast boot drive, laptops and handhelds | Premium tier for the capacity |
| Crucial P3 Plus | PCIe 4.0 NVMe | Up to 5,000 MB/s read | Budget NVMe, PC Guide’s budget pick | Slower writes once cache fills; budget NAND |
| Kingston NV3 | PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe | Up to 6,000 MB/s read, 5,000 MB/s write | Value NVMe | Component choices can vary between batches |
| WD Blue SN580 | PCIe 4.0 NVMe | Not confirmed here | PCGamesN’s budget pick | Mid-pack sustained speed |
| Crucial P310 | PCIe 4.0 NVMe | Up to about 7,100 MB/s read, 6,000 MB/s write per Club386 (listed for the larger model) | Compact builds and handhelds | 500GB figures may be lower |
| Crucial MX500 | SATA 2.5-inch | Up to 560 MB/s read, 510 MB/s write | Older PCs and laptops | Capped by SATA |
| Samsung 870 EVO | SATA 2.5-inch | SATA-class speeds | Reliable SATA upgrade | Capped by SATA |
| Corsair MP600 Pro LPX | PCIe 4.0 NVMe with heatsink | Not confirmed here | PlayStation 5 | Heatsink height only matters in cramped slots |
One note on what is missing. The WD_Black SN850X and Samsung 990 Pro, which dominate many best-SSD lists, are listed by their makers starting at 1TB, so they are not 500GB options. That is why this guide centres on other models.
NVMe or SATA?
NVMe drives connect over PCIe and plug into an M.2 slot on the motherboard. They are several times faster than SATA drives on paper, which helps with large file copies, game loading and boot times, though everyday tasks such as web browsing feel similar. SATA drives use the older 2.5-inch connection and top out around 550 MB/s. They remain relevant for older desktops and laptops that lack an M.2 slot, and for secondary storage in newer machines.
If your motherboard supports PCIe 4.0, a PCIe 4.0 drive is the common sweet spot. PCIe 5.0 drives are faster still, but PC Guide’s top gaming SSD, the WD_BLACK SN8100, is a PCIe Gen 5 model and likely more than a 500GB build needs. Gen 5 drives also tend to run hotter and cost more.
The picks in more detail
WD_Black SN7100
Tom’s Hardware lists the SN7100 in sizes from 500GB to 4TB on PCIe 4.0 with stated speeds of 7,250 MB/s read and 6,900 MB/s write. Tom’s also recommends it for laptops and handhelds. It offers flagship-level speed at the smallest capacity, which makes sense if you want performance on a small boot drive.
Crucial P3 Plus
PC Guide calls it the best budget SSD. It comes in 500GB, uses PCIe Gen 4 and reads at up to 5,000 MB/s. Budget NVMe drives like this are generally great for light work and general use, with less consistent sustained writes, so they are better as a system drive than as a scratch disk for large video files.
Kingston NV3
Listed in a roundup as available in 500GB at PCIe 4.0 x4 with up to 6,000 MB/s read and 5,000 MB/s write. Check the model label because Kingston has used different internal components across production runs, a common practice in the budget tier.
WD Blue SN580
PCGamesN names the SN580 its best budget pick. It comes in 500GB and sits as a straightforward, no-heatsink drive for general use.
Crucial P310
Club386 names the P310 the best choice for handheld PC storage and reports 7,100 MB/s read and 6,000 MB/s write for larger models. It is available in 2230 form for compact devices, and Tom’s Hardware says the 2TB 2230 version is the fastest of that size it has tested. For a 500GB drive, rely on the capacity-specific datasheet.
Crucial MX500
Engadget names it the best SATA SSD. Crucial’s 500GB model is rated up to 560 MB/s read and 510 MB/s write, 180 TBW of endurance and a five-year warranty, with a DRAM cache. For an old laptop, it can feel like a new machine compared to a hard disk.
Samsung 870 EVO
Also offered at 500GB, it is a mainstream SATA choice often grouped with the MX500 in reviews. Makers rate endurance and warranty for each capacity, so read the datasheet.
Corsair MP600 Pro LPX
Engadget recommends it for PS5 expansion, noting it includes a heatsink and comes in 500GB. Sony’s console has requirements for speed, size and cooling, so consult Sony’s guidance before buying any drive.
Is 500GB enough?
Tom’s Hardware says 500GB is the bare minimum anyone should consider and that 1TB is the practical minimum for any build in the mid-range or above. Windows and updates, plus office tools and a browser, fit comfortably in 500GB. Modern games often require tens of gigabytes each, and a handful will fill the drive. If you work with video or large photo libraries, consider a larger drive or an external one. A 500GB drive can also work well as a dedicated boot drive paired with a larger secondary drive.
One more factor is the market. A buyer’s guide notes that NAND supply constraints linked to data-centre demand are pushing prices up in 2026, which can narrow the gap between 500GB and 1TB options. Compare tiers rather than assuming the smaller drive is always the better deal.
Pick this if you need this
| If you… | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Want a fast boot drive for a modern PC | WD_Black SN7100 | Stated 7,250 MB/s reads at 500GB |
| Want the lowest-cost NVMe upgrade | Crucial P3 Plus or WD Blue SN580 | Budget picks from PC Guide and PCGamesN |
| Want value with high stated speeds | Kingston NV3 | 6,000 MB/s read stated |
| Upgrade an older laptop or desktop | Crucial MX500 or Samsung 870 EVO | SATA fits older bays |
| Expand a PS5 | Corsair MP600 Pro LPX | Heatsink included per Engadget |
| Use a handheld PC | Crucial P310 or WD_Black SN7100 | Recommended for handhelds by reviewers |
Fit and compatibility notes
- Know your slot. M.2 slots may be PCIe, SATA or both, and sizes include 2280 and 2230. Read your motherboard or laptop manual.
- PCIe generation. A PCIe 4.0 drive works in a PCIe 3.0 slot at reduced speed.
- Heatsinks. Fast drives may throttle without cooling. Many motherboards include M.2 heat spreaders; check clearance if you add a drive with its own heatsink.
- Cloning and data. Back up before swapping drives, and use the maker’s cloning tool or a clean install.
- Warranty and endurance. Look at TBW ratings and warranty length, usually five years for the models listed, though smaller capacities have lower TBW.
- Backups still matter. An SSD can fail suddenly, so keep copies of important files.
Alternatives to consider
- 1TB drives. The WD_Black SN850X, Samsung 990 Pro and others start here and offer headroom.
- External SSDs. The Kingston XS2000 is reviewed by Club386 as a pocket-sized option at up to 2,000 MB/s.
- Hybrid setups. Keep a 500GB SSD for the system and a hard drive for bulk storage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 500GB enough for a gaming PC?
It can host the operating system and a few games, but modern titles are large. Many reviewers suggest 1TB as a practical minimum for gaming builds. A 500GB drive works best as a boot drive with extra storage elsewhere.
Is NVMe worth it over SATA at this size?
If your machine has an M.2 slot, an NVMe drive is usually worth it for faster large-file transfers and loading. For basic office use, SATA is perfectly adequate. Choose based on the slots you have.
Will a PCIe 4.0 drive work in my PCIe 3.0 slot?
Yes, it should work at the slower speed of the slot. You simply will not reach its stated maximum.
What does TBW mean?
TBW stands for terabytes written, the amount of data a maker rates the drive to handle within its warranty. For example, Crucial rates the 500GB MX500 at 180 TBW. Most home users stay far below such limits.
Do I need a heatsink?
Many drives run fine without one in typical use, but fast PCIe 4.0 and 5.0 drives can throttle under heavy sustained loads. A motherboard heat spreader often covers this. PS5 drives need cooling per Sony’s requirements.
How do I move my data to a new SSD?
Use the maker’s cloning software or a disk-imaging tool, or install the system fresh and copy files back. Back up first and confirm the clone boots before wiping the old drive.
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