Samsung 870 EVO 500GB 2.5-inch SATA SSD: features, specs and who it suits

The Samsung 870 EVO is a 2.5-inch SATA solid-state drive, here in the 500GB size. It is designed as a straightforward upgrade for a desktop or laptop that still uses a SATA drive bay, replacing a slower hard drive or adding fast storage to an older machine.

What the speeds mean

Samsung quotes sequential speeds of up to 560MB/s for reads and 530MB/s for writes. These figures sit close to the practical ceiling of the SATA interface, which is why the brand says the drive "maximizes the SATA interface limit". A newer NVMe SSD can be several times faster, but SATA drives are typically perfectly responsive for booting, loading applications and general use, and a big step up from a spinning hard drive.

Samsung notes that performance varies with firmware, system hardware and configuration, and that write speeds rely on its Intelligent TurboWrite technology, which uses a buffer to speed up writes.

Endurance and warranty

Samsung rates the 500GB model at 300 TBW (terabytes written), under a five-year limited warranty, whichever limit is reached first. TBW is a measure of how much data can be written over the drive's life. For ordinary use, 300 terabytes is a very large amount, although heavy video work writes more.

Compatibility and installation

The drive uses the standard 2.5-inch SATA form factor, so it fits many desktop PCs and laptops. It is just 0.3 inch (about 7 mm) thick and weighs about 0.1 lb (roughly 50 g). Samsung says it has been compatibility tested with major chipsets, motherboards, NAS devices and video recording devices, naming test partners that include AMD, MSI, Gigabyte, Synology, QNAP, Blackmagic Design and ATOMOS.

Samsung's migration software is meant to help copy an existing system to the new drive. For a clean install, you can also install your operating system from scratch.

Management software

Samsung Magician 6 lets you monitor drive health and status, check for firmware updates and adjust performance settings. The drive also supports S.M.A.R.T. monitoring. The listing describes its memory as 512MB of low-power DDR4 SDRAM, which is used as a cache for the drive's mapping data, and says Samsung makes the firmware and key components in-house.

Who it suits

It suits people reviving an older laptop or desktop that has a SATA bay but no NVMe slot, those who need a secondary drive for files and projects, and NAS users who need a SATA drive that has been tested in common enclosures. It is a less natural choice for a new build that has NVMe slots.

What to check before you buy

• Interface: confirm that your computer has a 2.5-inch SATA bay and a free SATA data connection.
• Thickness: most 2.5-inch bays accept 7 mm drives, but check your model.
• Power and cable: desktops need a SATA data cable and power connector; a USB adapter is needed for an external setup.
• Capacity: pick a size that covers your files and operating system with room to spare.
• Backup: copy your data before cloning or swapping, and keep a separate backup.
• Warranty terms: the five years apply up to the TBW limit, so read the warranty statement.

The short version

• A 500GB 2.5-inch SATA SSD with sequential speeds up to 560/530 MB/s.
• Rated at 300 TBW for the 500GB model, with a five-year limited warranty.
• Tested by Samsung with a range of motherboards, NAS devices and recorders.
• Samsung Magician 6 software handles monitoring and updates.
• A simple upgrade for SATA-based computers rather than the fastest option available.

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