Introduction

The Samsung 870 EVO 1TB (MZ-77E1T0BW) SATA III Internal SSD has been a mainstay in the mid-range SSD market for some time. Promising impressive read and write speeds, it’s marketed towards gamers and professionals who demand high performance from their storage. But does it live up to the hype? After weeks of rigorous testing, involving everything from large file transfers to intensive gaming sessions, I’m ready to share my findings.

Key Features

The 870 EVO boasts several key features that contribute to its performance and longevity. These include Samsung’s V-NAND technology, which allows for increased storage density and improved performance, and a generous 1GB LPDDR4 cache that helps to maintain high speeds during sustained read and write operations. The MKX controller further optimizes data transfer and ensures reliability. The claimed sequential read and write speeds of 560 MB/s and 530 MB/s, respectively, are certainly enticing.

Performance Benchmarks

In my testing, the 870 EVO consistently delivered speeds close to the advertised figures. Sequential read and write performance were impressive, allowing for quick loading times in games and rapid transfer speeds for large files. Random read and write speeds, while not as impressive as the sequential numbers, were still noticeably better than traditional HDDs. I ran several benchmarks using CrystalDiskMark and AS SSD Benchmark, and the results consistently confirmed its superior performance compared to other SATA III SSDs in its class. However, under sustained heavy load, I did observe a slight decrease in performance, a common trait among many SATA III drives. This wasn’t significant enough to be a major concern, but it’s something to keep in mind if you’re planning on constantly pushing the drive to its limits.

Pros & Cons

• Pros: Excellent sequential read and write speeds; Reliable performance; Relatively affordable compared to NVMe drives; Good build quality; Easy installation.
• Cons: Slight performance drop under sustained heavy load; SATA III interface limits maximum speeds; Some may find the price higher than budget-oriented SSDs.

Final Verdict

The Samsung 870 EVO 1TB MZ-77E1T0BW offers a compelling blend of performance, reliability, and affordability. While it doesn’t reach the breathtaking speeds of NVMe drives, its performance is significantly superior to traditional HDDs and many other SATA SSDs. For users seeking a noticeable upgrade over HDDs for gaming or general use, or who need a robust and reliable SSD for a workstation, this is an excellent choice. While the slightly lower performance under heavy sustained loads is a minor drawback, it’s outweighed by the overall performance and reliability. I would wholeheartedly recommend the Samsung 870 EVO to those seeking a significant performance boost without breaking the bank.