by 21 reviews.
Crucial MX500 1TB 3D NAND SATA 2.5 Inch Internal SSD Review: A Game-Changer for Your PC?
If you're looking to breathe new life into an aging laptop or desktop, the Crucial MX500 1TB 3D NAND SATA 2.5 Inch Internal SSD might just be the upgrade you need. With sequential read/write speeds of up to 560MB/s and 510MB/s, this SSD promises lightning-fast performance, enhanced security, and easy installation. But does it live up to the hype? Let’s dive into the details based on real customer experiences.
Pros and Cons: What Customers Are Saying
Performance: Speed That Transforms Your System
One of the standout features of the Crucial MX500 is its blazing-fast speeds. Customers have reported significant improvements in boot times and application loading speeds. One user mentioned that their laptop now boots up in seconds, and programs that used to take forever to load are now lightning fast. Another reviewer noted that their girlfriend’s older Dell Inspiron laptop, which was previously sluggish despite being maxed out on RAM, now runs like a dream after installing the MX500.
However, not everyone had the same experience. A few users reported that while the SSD did improve performance, it didn’t meet their high expectations. One customer mentioned that their notebook became faster but not as much as they had hoped, and they encountered unexplained errors that persisted even after installation.
Usability: Easy Installation with a Few Hiccups
The Crucial MX500 is designed for easy installation, and many customers found the process straightforward. One user praised the clear instructions and the fact that the SSD fit perfectly into their laptop’s 2.5-inch drive bay. Another reviewer appreciated the frustration-free packaging, which made the unboxing experience smooth.
However, the installation process wasn’t seamless for everyone. Several users reported issues with cloning their existing drives, particularly on Windows 10 systems. One customer detailed a frustrating experience where they attempted to clone their Windows 10 drive ten times over four days without success. They eventually got it working by disabling Secure Boot and using Macrium Reflect instead of the recommended Acronis software. Another user had similar issues but found success with AOMEI Backupper Standard after Acronis failed.
Durability: Built to Last
When it comes to durability, the Crucial MX500 shines. Many customers have been using this SSD for years without any issues. One long-term user mentioned that their drive is as good as the day they got it, highlighting the SSD’s reliability over time. The 3D NAND technology ensures long-lasting performance, making it a dependable choice for everyday use.
Features: Advanced Data Protection and More
The MX500 comes packed with features like AES 256-bit hardware encryption and power loss immunity, which safeguard your data during unexpected power outages. These features were well-received by customers who prioritize data security. Additionally, the 5-year warranty provides peace of mind, ensuring that your investment is protected.
Compatibility: Mixed Results Across Systems
While the Crucial MX500 worked flawlessly for many users, some encountered compatibility issues, particularly with Windows 10. One reviewer noted that the SSD worked perfectly on their MacBook Pro but struggled with their Windows 10 machine. This suggests that while the MX500 is generally compatible with a wide range of systems, there may be some specific configurations where it doesn’t perform as expected.
Conclusion: Is the Crucial MX500 Worth It?
The Crucial MX500 1TB 3D NAND SATA 2.5 Inch Internal SSD is a solid choice for anyone looking to upgrade their system’s performance. Its blazing-fast speeds, advanced data protection features, and easy installation process make it a standout option in the crowded SSD market. However, potential buyers should be aware of the compatibility issues some users have experienced, particularly with Windows 10.
Final Verdict:
- Pros: Fast performance, durable build, advanced security features, easy installation, excellent value for money.
- Cons: Some compatibility issues with Windows 10, cloning process can be tricky.
If you’re willing to troubleshoot potential installation hiccups, the Crucial MX500 is a worthwhile investment that can significantly enhance your computing experience. For those with Mac systems or older laptops, this SSD is a no-brainer. However, Windows 10 users should proceed with caution and be prepared to experiment with different cloning software if needed.
Upgrade to the Crucial MX500 today and experience the difference solid-state storage can make!
Specification Crucial MX500 1TB 3D NAND SATA 2.5 Inch Internal SSD, up to 560MB/s - CT1000MX500SSD1(Z):
Comments from Amazon:
My girlfriend's older Dell Inspiron N5110 Laptop was starting to get pretty slow despite being maxed out on ram, so I talked her into letting me install an SSD for her. I had previously installed a 525 gb MX300 on my laptop and was impressed with the results. The MX500 has good reviews, a fair price, excellent reliability, solid performance and a 5 year warranty. C/Net has an excellent article on installing an SSD so I used that as a guide. The hardest part was actually getting to the hard drive. My HP was easy to access, but her Dell required a fairly major disassembly. Luckily I had previously replaced the motherboard to fix a charging problem, so I am familiar with the disassembly. I bought a simple external SSD enclosure with a USB connection so I could clone the old hard drive. C/Net suggested using Macrium Reflect software to create the clone. The program is easy to use and worked flawlessly. Crucial offers their own software, but I was already familiar with Reflect. Compared to the old hard drive, the MX500 is lightweight, fast and quiet. After the installation, I used Crucial's free Storage Executive software to make sure I had the most up to date firmware. My girlfriend was very happy with the significantly shorter boot time as well as the time it takes to open a program. No more lag time and freeze ups. I had done everything I could to speed up her older drive, but nothing worked and it is probably 10 years old.
I bought two of these. This first review is for the 500GB SSD. My review for the 1TB drive is below. This serves two purposes for me. It greatly speeded up myToshiba i3 laptop as compared to the HDD. Also, the HDD now serves as a backup in case the SSD fails. The original HDD is 500GB so I went for the same size SSD. I downloaded and installed the Acronis True Image software from the Crucial web site. I cloned the drive using a USB to SATA adapter and the software said it was successful. The software runs in the Windows 10 environment. I removed the HDD, installed the SSD and the computer booted up much faster. Programs also start much faster. I did not need the included spacer for this computer. This second review is for the 1TB SSD. I downloaded and installed the Acronis True Image software from the Crucial web site. I cloned the drive using a USB to SATA adapter and the software said it was successful. However, when I installed it into my laptop, the computer would not boot. I put the HDD back in and connected the SSD. Windows Explorer did not recognize the drive, but it was visible in disk management. After spending a lot of time trying to figure out what was wrong, I found cloning software called AOMEI Backupper Standard. This software successfully cloned the HDD to the SSD. The computer boots up and works normally. It greatly speeded up myToshiba i5 laptop as compared to the HDD. After doing more research, I found out that the recommended process is to create a Media Recovery CD or USB flash drive to boot from that, and also to have the SSD installed in the computer and the original HDD connected to a USB to SATA adapter. This will enable the SSD to be bootable after the cloning. However, I believe that the original HDD will no longer be bootable after cloning it using this method. I have not tried doing it this way since I had success with AOMEI Backupper Standard. I needed the included spacer for this computer. I recommend both of these drives since the end result of cloning the HDDs with SSDs is much faster laptop computers, and having drop-in backups of the original HDDs in case a drive fails.
Been using this one for a few years now, and it's as good as the day I got it, and the price isn't bad as well. If you need a 2.5" SSD and are looking at this, I wholly recommend it.
Realmente pensei que esse produto fosse transformar o meu notebook em uma máquina um pouco mais veloz, aumentou, mas não como era esperado. Deu muito erro e até agora continua dando erros inexplicaveis, mas infelizmente não está satisfazendo as minhas expectativas. Valor pago muito caro, para pouca satisfação.
performance, durability,easy to install, work flow becomes extremely fast.
I purchased the Crucial MX500 1 TB SSD to upgrade my old Sony laptop, which had been getting painfully slow. The installation process was straightforward, and once I had everything set up, the difference in performance was night and day. My laptop now boots up in seconds, and programs that used to take forever to load are now lightning fast. The build quality of the SSD is excellent. It’s compact and fits perfectly into the 2.5-inch drive bay of my laptop. The included instructions were clear and helpful, making the upgrade process smooth even for someone who isn’t particularly tech-savvy. Packaging was sturdy and ensured that the SSD arrived in perfect condition. The delivery was impressively fast, arriving well before the estimated date, which is always a plus when you’re eager to get your device up and running again. Amazon’s service was impeccable, as always, providing a seamless purchasing experience. In terms of value for money, the Crucial MX500 is outstanding. The speed increase alone is worth the investment, but the additional storage capacity is a huge bonus. If you have an old laptop that’s slowed down over the years, I highly recommend this SSD. It’s an easy and cost-effective way to breathe new life into your device and significantly improve its performance.
Update (11 Feb 18): I'm not sure whether it is the drive or the solution provided by Crucial in the comments to this review, but I now have a working SSD on my troublesome Windows 10 machine. I followed the suggestion to turn off "Secure Boot" for the clone to see what would happened. I cloned my Win10 HD to a Micron 1100 2TB SATA 6Gb/s 2.5-inch MTFDDAK2T0TBN-1AR1ZABYY using Macrium Reflect (rather than Acronis) with Secure Boot disabled. Cloned fine, installed fine, booted up and...froze. Thought I was going to be in the same place as before. But I hard rebooted, got to the "Windows Repair" screen, rebooted and let it run. This time it fully booted and is running. I've been using it now for about two hours and have only experienced one hiccup where Windows froze for about 30 seconds (I attribute it to "break-in" if there's such a s thing!). Anyway, I started with a 3-star review/rating. Then, when it installed flawlessly into a MacBook Pro I upgraded to 4 stars. Now that I have been able to clone my Win10 machine successfully using the suggestions provided by Crucial I've upped it to 5 stars (maybe I'm wrong, but Micron and Crucial to me are the same company (or used to be, anyway)). Frankly, this is the level of satisfaction and support I've received in the past and come to expect from Crucial. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Original Review: "Ten Attempts Over 4 Days; No Success Attempting A Win 10 Clone. Worked Like A Charm On A Mac" This SSD is a bit of a mess. Previously having great results with Crucial SSDs I should have read reviews at Crucial's web site before purchasing. There are a number of threads that detail issues with Crucial's edition of the Acronis cloning software. Sure enough, I had problems with Acronis locking up. So out with Acronis, in with two other cloning software packages. They didn't lock up, but the computer would always hang mid-boot (Windows 10). Sure enough, there are threads about this drive not playing nice with Windows 10 (on certain laptops?). Finally, I pulled out another computer and attempted a clone with the source drive on USB and the target SSD on USB. And guess what, same problem. Can't even get it to boot far enough to try to put Crucial Storage Exec into action (not that that would have necessarily helped; but it certainly could have). Anyway, after ten or so attempts over four days (and quite a bit of lost sleep) I gave up. (FYI, this is not my first rodeo with SSDs; so while I'm no IT expert I'm not a beginner either.) Next try will be to a Mac OS laptop. Reviews here on Amazon seem to say no worries. We'll see. If successful, will keep and potentially up-rate this drive. If not, it's a definite down-rate and a return to Amazon. Update (01 Feb 18): Installation on my MacBook Pro was a breeze. Cloned using Bombich's Carbon Copy cloning software, installed without issue, ran without a single glitch. Very pleased. So we know the SSD works just fine. What I can't say for sure is if the issue is an SSD construct problem with regard to Windows or a Windows 10 failing. At this point, very disappointed. Will probably give another manufacturer a shot (have also had luck with Samsung SSDs). We'll update as required. 3 stars. Tops (at this point). Update (01 Feb 2018): As promised, rating up one star to 4 stars. Runs like a charm on my MBP13. Very pleased.