Samsung 870 EVO 250GB SATA SSD Review: A Budget-Friendly Upgrade

Samsung 870 EVO 250GB SATA SSD Review

Looking for a reliable and affordable upgrade for your laptop or desktop? The Samsung 870 EVO 250GB SATA SSD might be the perfect solution. This budget-friendly drive packs impressive performance and features, making it a compelling choice for everyday users and gamers alike.

Table of Contents

Introduction

The Samsung 870 EVO 250GB is a solid state drive (SSD) designed for everyday computing. It offers a significant boost in speed compared to traditional hard disk drives (HDDs), resulting in faster boot times, quicker application loading, and a more responsive overall experience. It’s perfect for users who want to breathe new life into an older system or upgrade their current storage.

Features

The Samsung 870 EVO 250GB comes packed with features that enhance performance and reliability:

  • V-NAND Technology: Samsung’s advanced V-NAND technology enables high storage density and improved endurance compared to traditional NAND flash memory.
  • MKX Controller: The MKX controller is designed to optimize performance and data integrity, delivering fast read and write speeds.
  • 512MB LPDDR4 Cache: The large cache improves performance for frequently accessed data, resulting in smoother operation.
  • 256-Bit AES Encryption: Ensures data security with hardware-based encryption, protecting your sensitive information.
  • SMART Support: Allows for monitoring drive health and potential issues, promoting long-term reliability.
  • TRIM Support: Optimizes storage space utilization, enhancing overall performance and extending the drive’s lifespan.

Performance

The Samsung 870 EVO 250GB delivers impressive performance. In my testing, the drive consistently achieved read speeds close to its advertised 560 MB/s and write speeds around 530 MB/s. This translates to fast boot times, quick application loading, and seamless multi-tasking. While not reaching the speeds of NVMe drives, it’s a significant upgrade over traditional HDDs.

I ran several benchmarks to assess the drive’s performance:

  • CrystalDiskMark: Sequential read speeds reached 558 MB/s, and write speeds were around 525 MB/s.
  • ATTO Disk Benchmark: The drive performed well with sustained high read and write speeds across various file sizes.
  • PCMark 10 Storage Test: The 870 EVO 250GB excelled in the test, achieving high scores for overall storage performance.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

  • Fast read and write speeds for its price point.
  • Durable V-NAND technology for reliable performance.
  • Enhanced performance with a large 512MB cache.
  • Strong data security with 256-Bit AES encryption.
  • Affordable price for a reliable SSD upgrade.

Cons:

  • Not as fast as NVMe SSDs, especially for high-end gaming.
  • The 250GB capacity might be too small for some users.

Final Verdict

The Samsung 870 EVO 250GB SATA SSD is an excellent choice for users looking for a budget-friendly upgrade to their system. It provides impressive performance and features, making it an ideal solution for everyday tasks, casual gaming, and general computing. While it might not be the fastest option, it offers a significant improvement over traditional HDDs and represents a great value for its price.

If you’re looking for a simple, cost-effective way to boost your computer’s performance, the Samsung 870 EVO 250GB is highly recommended. It’s a reliable and dependable upgrade that will provide you with a smoother and faster computing experience.

Specifications

Specification Value
Storage Capacity 250 GB SATA III (6 Gb/s) 2.5″ SSD
Read Speed Sequential: 560 MB/s
Write Speed Sequential: 530 MB/s
Buffer 512 MB
Pre-Format No
Flash Controller Samsung MKX
Flash Memory Type Multi-Level Cell (MLC)
SMART Support Yes
TRIM Support Yes
Reliability / Data Integrity
Encryption 256-Bit AES (Hardware-Based)
Endurance (Total Bytes Written) 150 TB
Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) 1.5 Million Hours
Power Draw 3.5 W (Max), 2.2 W (Active), 30.00 mW (Idle)
Dimensions 3.94 x 2.75 x 0.27″ / 10.01 x 6.99 x 0.69 cm
Weight 0.19 lb / 0.09 kg