The moment you upgrade from that creaky old hard drive to your first solid state drive (SSD), you’ll wonder how you ever tolerated those painfully slow boot and load times. And when it comes to SSDs, two titans stand above the rest: Crucial and Samsung.
But with conflicting comparisons circulating the web, how do you decide between these top contenders when upgrading your own system?
In this epic 3000 word guide, I’ll equip you with a comprehensive view of Crucial and Samsung’s SSD lineup. You’ll discover:
- How their SSD technologies, prices and performance compare head to head
- Key differences that impact real world speed, endurance and reliability
- Ideal use cases to match the right SSD model to your needs
So whether you’re a value-focused casual user or spec-driven performance junkie, read on to learn which brand offers the best SSD for your use case and budget…
A Brief History of Crucial and Samsung SSDs
Before diving into specific product lines, it helps to understand each company’s background shaping their SSD design philosophy today.
Crucial emerged from pioneering memory module maker Micron, who powered the RAM needs for personal computing since the 1970s. This heritage focused Crucial on crafting durable, affordable memory products for consumer markets early on.
In 2006, leveraging Micron’s expertise crafting NAND flash chips for SSDs, Crucial delivered its first solid state drives designed specifically for end users rather than enterprises. Since then, they’ve engineered rock-solid SSDs to accelerate personal computing applications for many generations.
Meanwhile, Samsung rode the cutting edge of SSD development on the enterprise side right from the technology’s origins in the 1980s. For decades, their high performance drives remained largely out of reach for average consumers.
Finally, in 2010, Samsung brought their proven premium SSD caliber to retail channels under the Samsung brand name. They quickly dominated rankings thanks to their vertically integrated control over SSD components like NAND flash chips, proprietary controllers and firmware.
Now in 2022, both Crucial and Samsung offer full SSD product lines spanning the budget to high performance segments. This includes SATA, NVMe PCIe, and even external portable form factors.
Next let’s pit some of their latest and greatest head to head…
SATA SSD Face-Off: Crucial MX500 vs Samsung 870 EVO
SATA SSDs offer a great bang for the buck capacity and performance upgrade. The mature technology remains a perfect choice to breathe new life into older PCs lacking faster NVMe support. Two enduring favorites for energy and reliability include:
Crucial MX500 – building on their highly successful BX line of SATA drives with Micron innovation
Samsung 870 EVO – the eagerly anticipated successor to their immensely popular 860 EVO edition
Here’s how the drives‘ specs compare:
| Specification | Crucial MX500 1TB | Samsung 870 EVO 1TB |
|---|---|---|
| Sequential Reads | Up to 560 MB/s | Up to 560 MB/s |
| Sequential Writes | Up to 510 MB/s | Up to 530 MB/s |
| Warranted TBW | 360 TBW | 600 TBW |
| NAND Flash | Micron 3D TLC | Samsung V-NAND TLC |
| Controller | Silicon Motion SM2258 | Samsung MKX |
| MFRP Price Per GB | $0.08 | $0.11 |
In repeated synthetic benchmark testing by reviewers, the MX500 and 870 EVO both scored among the fastest and most consistent SATA performers across extended file transfers.
Thanks to Samsung’s proprietary V-NAND flash memory and specially engineered controllers, the 870 EVO‘s winning edge comes from substantially higher endurance ratings. The latest MKX controller also enables impressive write performance gains over prior EVO generations.
However, the MX500 currently occupies our top recommended SATA SSD spot for its unmatched value. While lagging Samsung in some benchmarks, real-world usage remains blazing fast for its discounted price using mature Micron NAND technology.
For workstations needing supreme consistency under extreme workloads, the Samsung 870 EVO justifies its moderate premium. Yet budget-focused upgraders can save 30% or more by opting for the Crucial MX500 without sacrificing responsiveness conducting everyday tasks.
NVMe Powerhouses: Crucial P3 Plus vs Samsung 990 Pro
For new desktop PC builds or upgrading modern laptops, compact M.2 NVMe SSDs unlock next-gen performance. Today’s Gen4 PCIe interfaces blow away anything possible over legacy SATA ports. Currently two industry-leading NVMe drives include:
Crucial P3 Plus – a value-packed follow up to their award-winning P5 PCI 3.0 SSD
Samsung 990 Pro – the brand’s latest premium flagship Gen 4 drive for enthusiasts
Here‘s a head-to-head rundown of vital stats behind these cutting edge NVMe competitors:
| Specs | Crucial P3 Plus 1TB | Samsung 990 Pro 1TB |
|---|---|---|
| Seq. Read Speeds | Up to 5,300 MB/s | Up to 7,450 MB/s |
| Seq. Write Speeds | Up to 4,800 MB/s | Up to 5,150 MB/s |
| Warranted TBW | 700 TBW | 1,200 TBW |
| NAND Flash | Micron 176L TLC | Samsung V-NAND |
| Controller | Phison E20 | Samsung Elpis |
| MFRP Price Per GB | $0.10 | $0.15 |
Now Samsung’s PCIe 4.0 NVMe pedigree shows with their Elpis controller driving chart topping throughput matched only by the likes of Western Digital’s Black SN850. Stellar write consistency comes courtesy of Samsung’s proprietary triple-core V-NAND and layered turbo write cache architecture.
Yet the Phison E20 gives Crucial’s value-priced P3 Plus outstanding milestone sequential speeds above 5 GB/s in its own right. Impressively, for intensive workloads and multitasking, expert testing confirms responsiveness on par or better than Samsung’s 980 Pro. The high density Micron flash does trade some endurance for affordability and capacity however.
For future-proof performance that money is no object, Samsung sets the bar with their 990 Pro as today’s ultimate consumer Gen4 drive. But the Crucial P3 Plus makes Gen4 NVMe speeds far more accessible to mainstream PC builders on a budget.
External SSD Showdown: Crucial X6 vs Samsung T7 Shield
External SSDs free you to capture 4K video edits and backups at warp speed, no matter where creativity strikes. And portable models from Crucial plus Samsung bring tough-as-nails durability to survive life on the go. Two cutting edge options include:
Crucial X6 – building on the success of their X8 flagship while adding even more ruggedness
Samsung T7 Shield – their flagship T7 drive wrapped in a rubberized protective exterior
Check out how these two portable SSD warriors spec out:
| Specs | Crucial X6 2TB | Samsung T7 Shield 2TB |
|---|---|---|
| Seq. Reads | Up to 800 MB/s | Up to 1,050 MB/s |
| Seq. Writes | Up to 900 MB/s | Up to 1,000 MB/s |
| Interface | USB 3.2 Gen2 | USB 3.2 Gen 2 |
| Dimensions | 3.5 x 2.1” x 0.4” | 3.4 x 2.3” x 0.5” |
| Drop Protection | 6.5-foot | 9.8-foot |
| MFRP Price Per GB | $0.09 | $0.13 |
The Crucial X6 and and Samsung T7 Shield trade blows as perfect portable companions tomasterfully balance performance, protection and affordability. In benchmark tests, the T7 Shield carries a slight edge in maximum interface throughput. Yet the X6 gets a nod for physical resilience, passing military-grade shock and vibration trials alongside a height and temperature tolerance to shrug off harsh environments.
Feature-wise, both support 256-bit AES hardware encryption activated through included software tools by default. And you can expect years of desktop class endurance letting you offload huge media files worry-free.
If we have to pick just one for on-location photo offload and editing, the Samsung T7 Shield wins by a hair as the ultimate durable performer without breaking your gear budget. But don’t underestimate the savings and tougher shell scored by the Crucial X6 that creators focused more on value love.
Bottom Line
So when comparing Crucial vs Samsung SSDs, which brand should you trust most with safeguarding your data and delivering speedy responsiveness?
Samsung SSDs are crafted to be the pinnacle performers, engineered to break records for benchmarks while standing up to punishing workstation-like usage courtesy of elite proprietary components and innovations. Media pros and hardcore gamers chasing utter elite-tier throughput can’t go wrong to justify minor Samsung premiums.
On the flip side, Crucial SSDs deliver stunning sequential throughput and 24×7 reliability of their own stemming from parent company Micron’s decades honing memory and NAND flash technologies. By optimizing for affordable excellence rather than benchmarks alone, Crucial deals breathtaking SSD-class acceleration to value-focused upgraders on strict budgets.
Ultimately Crucial vs Samsung choices come down to price tolerance versus performance wants for your individual computing priorities. But no matter which brand you lean toward, staying far clear of antiquated hard drives remains table stakes to unlocking modern PC potential.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Are Samsung SSDs more reliable than Crucial overall?
Based on terabytes written (TBW) lifecycle ratings, Samsung SSD endurance does generally exceed Crucial drives for any matched class or form factor. However in real world conditions, both meet or surpass the usable lifespans of the devices they are likely to be installed into. And backed by their respective manufacturer warranties, either delivers tremendous reliability.
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Which is better for gaming – Samsung or Crucial SSD?
For maxing modern game frame rates, both Samsung and Crucial SSDs deliver responsive level loading and texture streaming well beyond mechanical drives. Samsung likely wins in ultimate benchmark performance to minimize stuttering under sessions of dozens of hours straight. But for under $100, a value Crucial SSD often buys equivalent gameplay improvements at lower cost.
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Is the Samsung 990 Pro overkill for my casual use?
If your daily computing routine sticks to web browsing, office tasks and modest photo editing at most, then yes absolutely! The staggering speeds and premium price tag aimed at aggressively intense content creation make the 990 Pro overkill for typical home and student workflows. In that case a SATA SSD like the cost-effective Crucial MX500 makes way more sense without leaving performance on the table.
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When is getting a rugged external SSD worthwhile vs saving on a more affordable but less durable option?
Ruggedized external SSDs like the Samsung T7 Shield justify their durable premiums for photographers, videographers and field inspectors needing to rapidly backup huge video and image files off-site while withstanding harsh environments. If your external SSD stays predominantly in backpacks and carry bags however, you’ll likely enjoy the robustness of budget drives like the Crucial X6 nearly as much and save substantially.
No matter your use case or budget, hopefully this detailed Crucial vs Samsung SSD comparison served as a helpful starting point navigating your storage upgrade options! Let me know in the comments if you have any other questions.
