Tuesday, December 17th 2024

Crucial Discontinues the MX500 SATA SSD Line

Dec 17th, 2024 07:02 Discuss (47 Comments)

Crucial has reportedly discontinued the MX500 line of SATA SSDs after nearly 7 years of market presence. The MX500 is arguably the most popular line of SATA 6 Gbps SSDs, and comes in both the 2.5-inch and M.2-SATA form-factors. The drive continued its run into 2020s given its extremely low price-per-GB, and reasonable levels of performance to serve as a warm storage solution in client PCs. The market is changing, with the advent of cheap QLC NAND NVMe SSDs, an increase in the number of NVMe slots on today's motherboards, and a reduction in SATA ports, which mean that it is time for Crucial to retire the MX500. The MX500 is still in stock with retailers, and comes in capacities of up to a respectable 4 TB, although at prices similar to NVMe Gen 3 or Gen 4 drives based on QLC NAND, such as Crucial's own P3 Plus. The 4 TB variant of the P3 Plus Gen 4 NVMe SSD in fact costs less than the 4 TB MX500, but with significantly higher performance.

Source: Tom's Hardware

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47 Comments on Crucial Discontinues the MX500 SATA SSD Line

#26

bug

VeseleilI did. @GabrielLP14 wouldn't put those words there for no reason. You want me to spoon feed you with data, or you're just being a hypocrite? If I'm wrong with the latter, you can start research from here:

www.techpowerup.com/forums/threads/rumour-that-mx500-now-has-qlc-variants.302350/

And if you think you're immune to the "fake" variants from the Ali or similar, think twice.

Ok, their web site doesn't even mention the type of NAND, that's a strong indication they switched. I'm not surprised there are several models out there, if anything I would hope they updated the controller after all these years. Going QLC is not something I think should be done under the table.

#27

nageme

TheinsanegamerNWD got their NAND production from the acquisition of Sandisk a...wait for it....CHINESE company. Uhhhhh.......

SanDisk wasn't/isn't Chinese. And anyway, now a part of WD.

And speaking more broadly about NAND manufacturers, there's also the non-Chinese Hynix and Kioxia.
Though no 2.5" SSDs anymore, as far as I know. Hynix used to, Kioxia/Toshiba nothing mainstream that I recall.

#28

bug

nagemeSanDisk wasn't/isn't Chinese. And anyway, now a part of WD.

And speaking more broadly about NAND manufacturers, there's also the non-Chinese Hynix and Kioxia.
Though no 2.5" SSDs anymore, as far as I know. Hynix used to, Kioxia/Toshiba nothing mainstream that I recall.

Can't say that I miss 2.5" drives themselves. But there was some peace of mind knowing you plug in 6 of them on the cheapest boards. With M.2, the most you can hope for is 3 drives (maybe 4 on some weirder designs).

#29

Veseleil

bugOk, their web site doesn't even mention the type of NAND, that's a strong indication they switched. I'm not surprised there are several models out there, if anything I would hope they updated the controller after all these years. Going QLC is not something I think should be done under the table.

There's a bit of controversy in the thread I've posted. The SSD database maintainer said that no QLC MX500 were reported whatsoever, but then again he put disclaimers in the database itself. Just in case? :D TBH, I was reading those reddit posts, as well as others at that time, and knowing for example what ADATA did with their SX8200 pro in the latter revisions, I don't trust SSD brands anymore. They send the best versions to the testers to look good in reviews, and then switch internals afterwards. I was in the market for the MX500 since forever, but I eventually gave up, and still stick to the HDD as an archive/slow storage, NVME for the rest.

#30

nageme

bugBut there was some peace of mind knowing you plug in 6 of them on the cheapest boards. With M.2 ...

Also, cable-based is more flexible in placement, easier to access, and doesn't take up footprint.
As long as one doesn't need NVMe speeds and there are no volume constraints.

#31

Chaitanya

nagemeSanDisk wasn't/isn't Chinese. And anyway, now a part of WD.

And speaking more broadly about NAND manufacturers, there's also the non-Chinese Hynix and Kioxia.
Though no 2.5" SSDs anymore, as far as I know. Hynix used to, Kioxia/Toshiba nothing mainstream that I recall.

WD has spun-off their Flash products into Sandisk recently. The whole situation with Toshiba/Kioxia/Sandisk/WD is quite messy.
www.techpowerup.com/327175/western-digital-spins-off-all-flash-products-to-the-sandisk-brand

#32

HeadRusch1

sudothelinuxwizardThis will suck for people who don't have NVMe slots. Now their only choices are Samsung or Chinesium.

I'd wager that in 2024+ many are using these for write-once/read-many portable external STEAM libraries, and there's not much to complain about from brands like Silicon Power and Team Group in that regard. If you are running an older rig with an emphasis on SATA, then you're running a SAMSUNG already. SATA's time has come and these days if you want long-term storage on spinning platters, you're just as well served using a USB 3.0 connection and an external dock than wiring up 7lbs of steel brick into your case, so while it does suck to see the Crucials go......it's not like the format is dead...yet.

#33

trsttte

ReadlightWho is now the best and cheapest?

There isn't one, the market is in a stupid place. There aren't any new high capacity 2.5'' marketed towards the consumer market at reasonable prices and m.2 nvme continues to go down in price. You can buy a WD 850X 4tb for a similar price to a 2.5'' 4TB ssd (wd blue, samsung qvo/evo, etc). It doesn't make sense

#34

PRSXFENG

ReadlightWho is now the best and cheapest?

For me that's going to be the Transcend SSD230S

It's basically the same guts as a MX500 inside

#35

kapone32

lexluthermiesterTo be fair, KingSpec is a solid "budget" brand.

I see therm on Newegg all the time for less than competing brands. With pretty good performance claims too.

#36

_roman_

ReadlightWho is now the best and cheapest?

Those guys who ask that cry later because their data is lost.

I do risk a month worth of work usually with my backups.

HeadRusch1write-once/read-many portable external STEAM libraries

Steam is most likely not WORM (like a write once dvd)
I hardly use steam - the user interface annoys me. ~50% of my free epic games - games get's an update.

HeadRusch1you're just as well served using a USB 3.0 connection and an external dock than wiring up 7lbs

Instead of SATA ports I would think about using those unused USB connectors on the mainboard. The tricky part will be to keep the cable length short from the internal usb header to the nvme bridge.

I have a 10gbps USB 3 NVME bridge. The 20gbps are unaffordable. The 40gbps are the future and more unaffordable.
I make my backup on a crucial p5 plus 1tb one in aroudn 4 minutes for ~80-90 GiB.
The previous sold WD Blue SN570 1TB took around 5 minutes.

-- I also used SATA - USB cases - mixed ~60-70GiB data took around 25-30 minutes for a backup.

#37

GabrielLP14

SSD DB Maintainer

VeseleilThere's a bit of controversy in the thread I've posted. The SSD database maintainer said that no QLC MX500 were reported whatsoever, but then again he put disclaimers in the database itself. Just in case? :D TBH, I was reading those reddit posts, as well as others at that time, and knowing for example what ADATA did with their SX8200 pro in the latter revisions, I don't trust SSD brands anymore. They send the best versions to the testers to look good in reviews, and then switch internals afterwards. I was in the market for the MX500 since forever, but I eventually gave up, and still stick to the HDD as an archive/slow storage, NVME for the rest.

They were fake drives, at the end of the day there were almost identical, but they ended up being fake

just like these chinese make fake samsung, or fake Kingston drives, they tried with Crucial, it was a SM2258H + DRAM + QLC, but the Crucial software didnt recognized it as original

#38

bug

GabrielLP14They were fake drives, at the end of the day there were almost identical, but they ended up being fake

just like these chinese make fake samsung, or fake Kingston drives, they tried with Crucial, it was a SM2258H + DRAM + QLC, but the Crucial software didnt recognized it as original

Ok, so still TLC. Back to pondering whether to snatch some before they're gone.

#39

r00lz

Any good SATA SSD with DRAM cache apart MX500 and Samsung EVO in 2024-2025?

#40

bug

r00lzAny good SATA SSD with DRAM cache apart MX500 and Samsung EVO in 2024-2025?

Not really, getting rid of the DRAM cache and relying on HMB seems to be everyone's cop-out when it comes to reducing cost.

#41

GabrielLP14

SSD DB Maintainer

r00lzAny good SATA SSD with DRAM cache apart MX500 and Samsung EVO in 2024-2025?

Kingston KC600, so far i've only seen 3 variants, Micron B16A 64-Layers 256Gb TLC, Micron B27A 96-Layers 512Gb TLC and Micron B47R 176-Layers 512Gb TLC so far.
There's also ADATA SU800 but that has a toon of variants

#42

lexluthermiester

kapone32I see therm on Newegg all the time for less than competing brands. With pretty good performance claims too.

I have been using them in my shop and personally for inexpensive upgrades. For budget SSDs, they compete well. Low defective rates and reasonable performance for dramless drives.

#43

kapone32

lexluthermiesterI have been using them in my shop and personally for inexpensive upgrades. For budget SSDs, they compete well. Low defective rates and reasonable performance for dramless drives.

I might pull the trigger next time they are on sale.

#44

sudothelinuxwizard

lexluthermiesterTo be fair, KingSpec is a solid "budget" brand.

Really? I've heard nothing but bad things about them.

TheLostSwedeWD, SanDisk, Seagate, Kingston, Team Group, Silicon Power, PNY and Patriot aren't xinesium afaik.

True. I meant more along the lines of "premium SATA SSD" and IIRC none of these brands make high end SATA drives.

#45

lexluthermiester

sudothelinuxwizardReally? I've heard nothing but bad things about them.

I've actually used them. I own a shop. There have been a few defectives, but not many and not above the average for other drive makers. As I said above, they're not screaming banshee performers, but they're fast enough to be a very zippy upgrades from HDDs.

#46

TheLostSwede

News Editor

sudothelinuxwizardTrue. I meant more along the lines of "premium SATA SSD" and IIRC none of these brands make high end SATA drives.

They all make drives very similar to MX500 and all are still available in retail.

#47

TechBuyingHavoc

bugWth, I thought the MX500 will be with us forever :cry:
Maybe I should snag a 4TB one, just in case.

Yes you should (if the price is right). I have a 2 TB MX500, it is a great SATA SSD. Just make sure it has TLC and not QLC, I can't comment on the latter's quality.

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Crucial Discontinues the MX500 SATA SSD Line

47 Comments on Crucial Discontinues the MX500 SATA SSD Line

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