Crucial is expanding the MX500 series of SSDs with a capacity of 4 Tbytes. This is the manufacturer’s first 4 TB SSD – previously it was always a maximum of 2 TB. In the case of the MX500 4 TByte, Crucial continues to use NAND flash from the parent company Micron, which saves three bits per cell (Triple Level Cells, TLC). In contrast to the inexpensive PCI Express SSD P2, Crucial apparently does not provide for the optional use of QLC memory with four bits per cell.
The MX500 series uses 2.5-inch housing, SATA 6 Gbit / s for data transfer and SM2258 controllers from Silicon Motion. For all capacities from 250 GB to 4 TB, Crucial specifies sequential transfer rates of 560 MB / s reading and 510 MB / s writing. In the case of random access, the performance of the 4TB model is expected to drop from 95,000 to 90,000 IOPS, while the manufacturer continues to name 90,000 IOPS in writing.
In a short practical test, we were able to reproduce the information to a large extent. In terms of random access, the 4 TB version of the MX500 was actually slightly faster with a good 91,000 IOPS than its sister with 2 TB. The power consumption was a maximum of 2 watts under load – half a watt less in comparison. The newcomer consumed 0.6 watts in idle, a good value.
Five year guarantee
With the increase in capacity, Crucial also increases the expected lifespan from 700 TBytes written (for the 2 TB model) to 1000 TB (Total Bytes Written, TBW). The guarantee period remains unchanged at five years.
The delivery of the MX500 with 4 TByte storage is to begin shortly. Crucial has not yet commented on the price. The 2 TB version is currently available (from € 169); the cheapest 4 TB SSD comes from Samsung in the form of the 870 QVO for 315 euros, but with QLC NAND flash. Other models cost at least 350 euros, but quickly exceed the 400 euros mark.
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