Crucial M500From real comments

Name: Crucial M500
Rating: 3.2 (16 reviews)

Verdict distilled from 16 mentions across 9 aspects in comments under product review videos.

Positive sentiment72%

PROS 72%

CONS 28%

Rank based on 16 mentions across 9 aspects

View the verdict as

Buy this if...

You're replacing a failing or slow HDD and want a big speed boost
You want a good price-to-capacity deal, especially at 240GB-960GB sizes
You value Crucial's firmware support and customer service

What users love

Strong value/pricingKey factor0 mentions

Strongly positive

Faster than HDD0 mentions

Strongly positive

Reliable long-term use0 mentions

Strongly positive

Good customer support and firmware0 mentions

Strongly positive

Suitable for demanding builds0 mentions

Strongly positive

Skip this if...

You want class-leading benchmark performance over Plextor/Samsung
You need max write speed but are eyeing a smaller capacity (below 480GB)
You'd rather wait for a newer Crucial model like the MX100

What users complain about

Outdated by newer models0 mentions

Generally negative

Underwhelming benchmarks vs rivals0 mentions

Frequently criticized

Write speed limited on smaller capacities0 mentions

Generally negative

Reliability concerns from some users0 mentions

Generally negative

Compare in seconds

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You are here

21Mid

Crucial M500

Strong value/pricingFaster than HDDGood customer support and firmwareOutdated by newer modelsReliability concerns from some usersUnderwhelming benchmarks vs rivals

Crucial M500

Strong value/pricing

Faster than HDD

Good customer support and firmware

Outdated by newer models

Reliability concerns from some users

Underwhelming benchmarks vs rivals

Fast boot times
1. Samsung 860 EVOarrow_upward12
2. Samsung 840 Proarrow_upward6
3. Samsung 850 EVOarrow_upward6
Good value
1. WD Black SN750arrow_upward9
2. Crucial M500arrow_upward6
3. Samsung 850 EVOarrow_upward5
Fast speed
1. Kingston Fury Renegade DDR5arrow_upward16
2. Seagate FireCuda 520arrow_upward6
Setup confusion
1. Crucial MX100arrow_downward4
2. Samsung 860 EVOarrow_downward7
Reliable
1. Samsung 840 Proarrow_upward5
2. Crucial MX100arrow_upward4

Overall Impression

Everyday speed gains are the standout for real owners. Multiple buyers describe dramatic boot-time drops (from 15-16 seconds down to about 7) and generally snappier program launches and game loading after moving from HDDs to the M500. This was often their first SSD, and it changed how they used storage going forward, with some later replacing secondary HDDs too. The drive is seen as reliably fast for typical desktop and laptop use.

Pricing and perceived value drove a lot of purchase decisions. Commenters frequently mention finding the M500 on sale, at prices from around $105 for 240GB up to roughly $600 for 960GB, and call these good deals compared to competitors. One user even built a RAID 10 array from four 960GB drives despite the high total cost, showing strong confidence in the line's price-to-performance ratio for larger builds.

Support quality and capacity-based speed limits round out the picture. One long-time Crucial user highlights excellent customer support and simple firmware updates, including a fast replacement for a failing drive. However, other commenters note that write speed varies by capacity, with only 480GB and 960GB reaching the higher 400MB/s tier, and a couple felt the M500 lagged rivals like Plextor, Samsung, or Crucial's own newer MX100 in outright performance.

Outdated / Not-accurate data?

attach_moneyStrong value/pricingKey factor

6 mentions

Strongly positive

Many buyers highlight getting the M500 at attractive prices across capacities, from budget 120-240GB models to large 960GB drives, often calling it a great deal.

@saiyansnake

Oh wow the 240GB is on sale on Amazon right now for $105. Must buy!

smart_display

May 22, 2014

@pe1eterek

I buy it in Poland for 400 zl (130$) still nice price and the performance - it's terrific. I had really optmized system on HDD 1TB WD Blue - was starting in 15-16 sec. - now is staring in 7 seconds. It's really good, and in programs it's way faster, the games don't lag on the start up, I think it's the best my buy ever :D

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April 21, 2014

@williamebertz8828

Just got the 240 gb version for $120 on newegg. Can't wait to try it out.

smart_display

April 2, 2014

@whyismyusernametaken...

Nice. Just bought one for $120 on a nice deal and wanted to know what I was getting.

smart_display

February 6, 2014

speedFaster than HDD

2 mentions

Strongly positive

Users report large real-world speed gains after switching from HDDs, including much quicker boot times and reduced lag when opening programs or loading games.

@stalker-svk

this was my first experience with SSDs, Crucial M500 120 GB bought in 2014 for 80 EUR, from that time I used only SSDs on my computers and HDD only as secondary drive, now replacing also secondary drives with SSDs and HDDs remain only as external drives...btw I still have that M500, it has 97% remaining life and now it is used in my old PS2 FAT console

smart_display

November 25, 2021

@pe1eterek

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April 21, 2014

check_circleReliable long-term use

1 mentions

Strongly positive

One user reports their 120GB M500 bought in 2014 still has 97% of its rated life remaining years later, now repurposed into an older console.

@stalker-svk

smart_display

November 25, 2021

support_agentGood customer support and firmware

1 mentions

Strongly positive

A long-time Crucial customer praises free, simple firmware updates and outstanding customer support, including a quick replacement drive when one failed.

@andymawbzee

I have a few M4 SSD's and crucial's service is second to none.\nFree firmware updates that are real simple to do, outstanding customer support, outstanding quality. I had my 1st 64GB M4 start to drop of my system, I let crucial know i had a problem and I had a brand new SSD within 4 days.\nI just wish they would put the stickers on the other-way round, so the logo sticker is on the top and the service sticker is on the bottom.

smart_display

April 17, 2013

dnsSuitable for demanding builds

1 mentions

Strongly positive

One user built a high-end desktop using four 960GB M500 drives in RAID 10 for nearly 4TB of fast storage, expressing satisfaction with the setup for years of use.

@Gray13475

I did a complete overhaul of my Desktop based around these. (Asus Rampage Extreme IV, Intel Extreme Edition Core i7-3970X 4.5GHz(Overclocked up to 5.2 GHz), 64GB Corsair Dominator Platnium 1600MHz(8x8GB), 4x Crucial M500 960GB's (3.84TB total) with RAID 10, 4x EVGA Nvidia GTX Titan 6GB, ASUS Xonar Essence STX, Linksys Wireless-N Adapter). Costed me M500's were $2,394.72, alone. The only thing original from my desktop now is the Casing. I love it. It will be all I need for the next 5+ years.

smart_display

August 18, 2013

updateOutdated by newer models

2 mentions

Generally negative

Some viewers felt the M500 was no longer worth buying given newer, faster drives on the market, including Crucial's own MX100.

@HACKSTOCK32

Good speed but i don't think it's worth buying for today, there are newer and faster models out. Btw what monitor is that? I like it.

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May 13, 2015

@calutuu

Please try to review the new MX100 from Crucial. I think it's better than M500 series from Crucial.

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January 5, 2015

warningUnderwhelming benchmarks vs rivals

1 mentions

Frequently criticized

At least one commenter cites disappointing performance numbers and a shorter three-year warranty as reasons to pick Plextor or Samsung instead, feeling Crucial should have improved firmware.

@thefizzle656

I was considering a M500 for my next SSD, but after seeing the disappointing performance numbers and the three year warranty I'm gonna pass and go with either a Plextor or a Samsung. Yes I realize that in real world scenarios for home usage most SSDs perform similar, but for the price that they cost Crucial should have put more work into the firmware IMO.

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April 17, 2013

speedWrite speed limited on smaller capacities

1 mentions

Generally negative

Only the 480GB and 960GB versions reach the higher 400MB/s write speed tier, meaning smaller-capacity buyers get reduced performance.

@Ghhrjovi

The write speed of M500 varies with capacities, only 480GB and 960GB SSDs can reach a write speed of 400MB/s.You can find the specification on the official website.

smart_display

April 17, 2013

errorReliability concerns from some users

1 mentions

Generally negative

One commenter reports having over a dozen Crucial SSDs die on them in recent years, though mostly referencing the related M4 model rather than the M500 specifically.

@iceman1972ca

personally have had over a dozen crucial ssd's die on me in past couple yrs, mostly the M4's

smart_display

April 17, 2013

Crucial M500chat_bubble_outlineFrom real comments

thumb_up_off_altBuy this if...

What users lovefavorite_border

thumb_down_off_altSkip this if...

What users complain aboutheart_broken

Compare in seconds

Who wins on what

Fast boot times

Good value

Fast speed

Setup confusion

Reliable

auto_awesomeOverall Impression

Crucial M500From real comments

Buy this if...

What users love

Skip this if...

What users complain about

Overall Impression