by 4 reviews.
Crucial T500 2TB Gen4 NVMe M.2 SSD Review: A Game-Changer for Speed and Storage
If you’re looking to supercharge your gaming rig or boost your creative workflow, the Crucial T500 2TB Gen4 NVMe M.2 SSD might just be the upgrade you need. With blazing-fast read/write speeds of up to 7,400MB/s and 7,000MB/s, this SSD is designed to handle demanding tasks like gaming, video editing, and 3D rendering with ease. Plus, it comes with a 1-month Adobe Creative Cloud All-Apps plan, making it a compelling choice for creators.
But does it live up to the hype? Let’s dive into the pros and cons based on real customer experiences.
Pros: Why Customers Love the Crucial T500
1. Lightning-Fast Performance
One of the standout features of the Crucial T500 is its speed. Customers rave about how much faster their systems feel after upgrading. One user swapped out their stock 512GB SSD in an HP ProBook and noted that booting became significantly quicker. Another reviewer mentioned that their friend’s computer, which previously had an older SATA drive, now starts up in a flash.
The Microsoft DirectStorage support also gets a thumbs-up, as it enhances gaming performance by reducing CPU utilization and speeding up texture rendering.
2. Easy Installation and Cloning
Many customers praised the straightforward installation process. One user shared that they used a SABRENT USB-C M.2 SSD Enclosure to clone their old drive to the T500 using Acronis drive cloning software (available for free on Crucial’s website). They described the process as quick and hassle-free, even for someone with basic hardware knowledge.
3. Ample Storage and High Capacity
With 2TB of storage, the Crucial T500 offers plenty of space for games, media, and large files. After formatting, users reported having around 1.8TB of usable space, which is more than enough for most needs.
4. Excellent Thermal Performance
The T500’s thermal management impressed several users. One reviewer highlighted that the drive’s controller stays cool, even in low-airflow situations, preventing throttling. Another user added a 1.5mm ARCTIC TP-3 thermal pad to improve heat dissipation, noting that idle temps remained around 26-27°C.
5. Versatile Compatibility
Whether you’re upgrading a laptop, desktop, or even a Synology NAS, the T500 fits seamlessly. One user installed a pair of T500 SSDs in their Synology DS1821+ as read/write cache, praising the pre-installed heatsinks and compact design that didn’t interfere with their HDD cages.
Cons: A Few Drawbacks to Consider
1. Gen4 Compatibility Required for Full Speed
While the T500 is a Gen4 SSD, some users pointed out that its full potential can only be realized in systems that support Gen4 NVMe. One customer mentioned using it in a laptop with a Gen3 slot, which still delivered faster boot times but didn’t fully utilize the drive’s capabilities.
2. Secondary SSD Slot Confusion
A few users upgrading HP ProBooks encountered confusion about the secondary SSD slot. While the primary slot supports M.2 2280, the secondary slot’s compatibility is less clear. One reviewer tried installing a shorter M.2 2230 SSD but found it didn’t reach the screw hole, though it still functioned securely.
3. Overkill for Some Use Cases
Some customers admitted that the T500’s high performance was overkill for their needs. For example, one user installed it in a Synology NAS, acknowledging that older, slower NVMe SSDs would have sufficed but were more expensive at the time.
Final Thoughts: Is the Crucial T500 Worth It?
The Crucial T500 2TB Gen4 NVMe M.2 SSD is a powerhouse that delivers exceptional speed, ample storage, and reliable performance. Its ease of installation, excellent thermal management, and compatibility with a wide range of devices make it a top choice for gamers and creators alike.
However, it’s worth noting that to fully harness its capabilities, your system needs to support Gen4 NVMe. Additionally, if you’re upgrading a laptop with a secondary SSD slot, double-check compatibility to avoid any installation hiccups.
Overall, the T500 is a fantastic investment for anyone looking to future-proof their system or tackle demanding workloads. As one satisfied customer put it, “This is THE drive to get.”
Final Verdict:
- Pros: Blazing-fast speeds, easy installation, excellent thermal performance, versatile compatibility, ample storage.
- Cons: Requires Gen4 support for full speed, secondary slot compatibility confusion, overkill for some use cases.
If you’re ready to take your system’s performance to the next level, the Crucial T500 2TB Gen4 NVMe M.2 SSD is a solid choice that won’t disappoint.
Specification Crucial T500 2TB Gen4 NVMe M.2 Internal Gaming SSD, Up to 7400MB/s, Laptop & Desktop Compatible + 1mo Adobe CC All Apps - CT2000T500SSD8:
Comments from Amazon:
Perfect shipping and timetable. I was able to install it, format it, mirror my old HDD onto it, and dedicate to boot without hiccup, and this was with only having basic knowledge of computer hardware. It is fast and is a solid drive all around. After everything was transferred, the total available of the capacity was 1.8TB which is understandable from previous experiences.
When I bought this, it was on sale. Crucial is a very reputable brand that makes it's own nvme SSDs with their own micro controllers and memory chips. This is widely reviewed as a great Gen4 SSD and is a great upgrade to any computer. Just make sure that your laptop or motherboard supports Gen4 SSDs to take full advantage of it read and write speeds. I'm using it on an hp laptop that has a Gen3 nvme slot. Start up to Windows is quick. Cloning my old drive was simple. I am very happy with my purchase. I am using a 1.5mm ARCTIC TP-3 thermal pad cut to size. Makes good contact with laptop case for improved heat dissipation and performance.
Put a pair of 1TBs into my Synology DS1821+ as read/write cache. Love how it comes pre-installed with a decent heatsink. These high performance nvme SSDs always get hot. They fit perfectly and don't have too much height to them. They sit flush enough that they don't block the HDD cages of my first hot swap bay. These ssds are completely overkill for my use case, but literally buying older gen slower NVME ssds are more expensive than these atm. I am glad they have DRAM, so none of this DRAM-less HMB buffer crap. Should be able to keep up with large sequential writes. The pSLC write cache isn't as large as say the WD SN850X, but its good enough. Idle temps are amazing (26-27C).
One of the best 'quality' PCIe 4 drives available. If you have a laptop, SFF, or even a modded handheld this is THE drive to get. All THREE temps stay within spec. When people review NVMe drives they never look at the controller temps which only show up in HWinFO64 or other similar robust applications. This drive's controller actually stays cool and thus doesn't throttle, even in low or no air flow situations. Other manufacturers can't say the same. Don't worry about chasing sequential speed. Worry more about random 4K and delay. For 95% of people those will show the greatest impact.
The Crucial 2TB is a high quality nvme that offers a ton of storage capacity, fast boot time and it works well. I am pleased with this product.
In a friend's computer I replaced an older SATA drive with this NVME drive. Wow, the startup now is so much faster. And a very good price as well! I got this drive because it consistently shows to be great in tests, and it definitely us, even in a computer where the main board does not make full use of the blazing speed of the drive.
I swapped out the stock 512GB M.2 SSD on my HP ProBook 450 15.6 inch G10 Laptop (Model#: 822P5UT#ABA) with this Crucial T500 M.2 SSD and it runs considerably faster now. Booting seems quicker too. The ample storage space is quite nice👌 Install was stupid easy and only took a few minutes. You'll need a precision screwdriver set if you're upgrading your laptop. I used a SABRENT USB-C M.2 SSD Enclosure to externally connect this SSD to my laptop in order to clone my old SSD to it (before installing/swapping SSDs). The Acronis drive cloning software (available for free on Crucial's website) is quick and easy to use. You don't need to format the new drive beforehand, the cloning software handles everything. I highly recommend upgrading to one of these Crucial T500 SSDs, it's absolutely worth the money. Side note: If you're upgrading your HP ProBook, there's also a secondary SSD slot next to the battery. The HP specs/datasheet are vague about what size M.2 is compatible for this secondary slot, but some online reviews suggest a shorter form-factor M.2 2230 (the ProBook's primary SSD is a M.2 2280, which is physically longer). This M.2 2230 suggestion appears to be wrong, as I installed one and it isn't long enough to reach the screw hole post (which secures the SSD in place). It still works though and the SSD sits firmly in place, even despite not being screwed down. I haven't had issues with it and I handle my laptop somewhat roughly. Also, if you do decide to install a second SSD, you'll need a screw for the screw post (it doesn't come with one).