Overview

The Samsung 860 EVO M.2 500GB SSD is a well-established SATA drive that brings the reliability of the best-selling EVO series to the compact M.2 2280 form factor. With sequential reads up to 550MB/s and writes up to 520MB/s, it delivers a noticeable speed boost over traditional hard drives for everyday tasks like booting Windows, launching applications, and loading games. Powered by Samsung's 4th-generation V-NAND (3-bit MLC) and the in-house MJX controller, this SSD also includes a DRAM cache and an enlarged TurboWrite buffer (up to 78GB) for sustained write performance. It sits comfortably in the mid-range segment of SATA SSDs, offering a great balance of price, performance, and proven durability. Although several years have passed since its release, the 860 EVO M.2 remains a popular choice for upgrades in older laptops and desktops where NVMe is not supported or not needed.

Compatibility Guide

Form factor: M.2 2280 (22mm x 80mm). Fits any motherboard with an M.2 slot that supports SATA interface. Interface: SATA III (6Gbps). Not compatible with NVMe-only M.2 slots. Check your motherboard manual before purchase. Compatible devices: Desktop PCs and laptops with an available M.2 SATA slot. For laptops, verify physical clearance and slot type. Power: Powered directly through the M.2 connector; no additional cables required.

Product Info

The Samsung 860 EVO M.2 500GB SSD launched in 2018 and is still widely available through major retailers. Pricing typically hovers around ¥5,600 on Japan, though it fluctuates. The drive carries a 5-year limited warranty (or until TBW is reached). Market positioning: A reliable mid-range SATA SSD for budget-conscious upgrades and secondary storage. While not as fast as NVMe, it offers top-tier consistency and endurance within the SATA category. Key specifications: Capacity: 500GB Sequential read: up to 550 MB/s Sequential write: up to 520 MB/s Random read (QD32): up to 98,000 IOPS Random write (QD32): up to 90,000 IOPS TBW: 300 TB MTBF: 1,500,000 hours Controller: Samsung MJX NAND: Samsung 64-layer 3-bit MLC V-NAND DRAM cache: 512MB LPDDR4

Best Use Cases

Upgrading an older laptop or desktop from HDD: The most common and impactful use. The 860 EVO M.2 breathes new life into systems with SATA-only M.2 slots, making boot times and application launches dramatically faster. Secondary storage for media and documents: Use your NVMe slot for the OS and demanding applications, then install this SATA M.2 drive for bulk storage of photos, videos, and project files at a lower cost per gigabyte. Budget-friendly build for office or home use: If your workflow consists of web browsing, email, Office apps, and streaming, this SSD provides all the speed you need without paying a premium for NVMe. Who should NOT buy: Creative professionals who regularly move large video files or 3D assets will be bottlenecked by SATA speeds. Also, anyone building a new high-end PC should invest in an NVMe drive instead.

Things to Consider

SATA is significantly slower than NVMe (roughly 5x in sequential throughput). If you frequently transfer large files or run workloads that benefit from high queue depths, consider an NVMe SSD. Some motherboards (e.g., certain Intel 200-series and later, AMD AM5 boards) have M.2 slots that are NVMe-only. Verify SATA support in your motherboard manual before buying. 500GB fills up quickly with modern games and large applications. If you plan to store multiple AAA titles, step up to the 1TB version or consider a secondary HDD. In 2026, NVMe SSDs have become very affordable. For a new build, the price premium for NVMe is often small enough that choosing SATA is only justified by strict compatibility requirements or extreme budget constraints. ## FAQ
Q: Can I use this SSD in a PS4 or PS5? A: The PS5's M.2 slot requires NVMe, so this SATA drive is not compatible. For PS4, the internal drive bay uses a 2.5-inch SATA form factor, not M.2, so this drive cannot be used internally either. Q: What's the difference between the 860 EVO and 870 EVO? A: The 870 EVO uses 6th-generation V-NAND and doubles the TBW rating (600TB for the 500GB model). Real-world speed differences are minimal, but the 870 EVO offers better long-term endurance. If the price gap is small, the 870 EVO is the better buy. Q: Does this drive come with cloning software? A: Yes, Samsung provides the Samsung Data Migration tool for free download. It allows you to easily migrate your existing OS and data from an HDD to this SSD.

Product Disclosure (Amazon)

  • Manufacturer: サムスン(SAMSUNG)
  • Seller: PENNY LANE
  • Fulfilled by: PENNY LANE
  • ASIN: B078218TWQ
  • Note: This article covers a manufacturer-made product based on Amazon listing details.