SATA SSD Performance & Benchmark Tests
Here are detailed speed performance tests of SATA 6 Gb/s SSDs. The maximum speed here, limited by the SATA III interface, is only 600 MB/s* (theoretical). In practice, a speed of up to approx. 550 MB/s is possible for reading and writing. SATA SSDs are slower compared to PCIe NVMe SSDs, which makes them cheaper. Therefore, they are usually used as a backup or data grave when the speed is not that important.
We have tested 106 S-ATA SSDs:
| Product | Image | Capacity | Read | Write | Score | Price | $/GB | Test | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADATA Ultimate SU630 480GB |  |
480 GB | 550 MB/s | 465 MB/s | 605 | 33 $ | 0,07 $ |  |
|
| ADATA XPG SX900 512GB |  |
512 GB | 549 MB/s | 268 MB/s | 586 | 273 $ | 0,53 $ | |
|
| Crucial BX500 240GB |  |
240 GB | 550 MB/s | 466 MB/s | 616 | 23 $ | 0,10 $ | |
|
| Crucial BX500 480GB | |
480 GB | 550 MB/s | 476 MB/s | 650 | 35 $ | 0,07 $ | |
|
| Crucial BX500 1TB | |
1024 GB | 551 MB/s | 476 MB/s | 695 | 62 $ | 0,06 $ | |
|
| Crucial BX500 2TB | |
2048 GB | 551 MB/s | 474 MB/s | 605 | 110 $ | 0,05 $ | |
|
| Crucial MX500 250GB |  |
250 GB | 551 MB/s | 464 MB/s | 795 | 88 $ | 0,35 $ | |
|
| Crucial MX500 500GB | |
500 GB | 550 MB/s | 473 MB/s | 800 | 51 $ | 0,10 $ | |
|
| Crucial MX500 1TB | |
1024 GB | 534 MB/s | 469 MB/s | 793 | 79 $ | 0,08 $ | |
|
| Crucial MX500 2TB | |
2048 GB | 551 MB/s | 481 MB/s | 799 | 146 $ | 0,07 $ | |
|
| Emtec X150 Power Plus 240GB |  |
240 GB | 549 MB/s | 468 MB/s | 581 | 19 $ | 0,08 $ | |
|
| Emtec X150 Power Plus 480GB |  |
480 GB | 530 MB/s | 440 MB/s | 673 | 30 $ | 0,06 $ | |
|
| Emtec X150 Power Plus 960GB |  |
960 GB | 540 MB/s | 460 MB/s | 644 | 56 $ | 0,06 $ | |
|
| fanxiang S101Q 512GB |  |
512 GB | 524 MB/s | 459 MB/s | 699 | 32 $ | 0,06 $ | |
|
| fanxiang S101Q 1TB | |
1024 GB | 529 MB/s | 437 MB/s | 721 | 56 $ | 0,05 $ | |
|
| fanxiang S102 Pro 500GB |  |
500 GB | 529 MB/s | 441 MB/s | 727 | 39 $ | 0,08 $ | |
|
| fanxiang S102 Pro 1TB | |
1024 GB | 546 MB/s | 467 MB/s | 687 | 68 $ | 0,07 $ | |
|
| fanxiang S102 Pro 2TB | |
2048 GB | 530 MB/s | 437 MB/s | 738 | 123 $ | 0,06 $ | |
|
| Fikwot FS810 256GB |  |
256 GB | 550 MB/s | 470 MB/s | 686 | 22 $ | 0,09 $ | |
|
| Fikwot FS810 512GB | |
512 GB | 546 MB/s | 471 MB/s | 677 | 30 $ | 0,06 $ | |
|
| Fikwot FS810 1TB | |
1024 GB | 527 MB/s | 396 MB/s | 725 | 55 $ | 0,05 $ | |
|
| Fikwot FS810 2TB | |
2048 GB | 529 MB/s | 449 MB/s | 747 | 129 $ | 0,06 $ | |
|
| GIGABYTE SSD 256GB |  |
256 GB | 502 MB/s | 449 MB/s | 739 | 27 $ | 0,11 $ | |
|
| GIGABYTE SSD 480GB | |
480 GB | 475 MB/s | 474 MB/s | 775 | 47 $ | 0,10 $ | |
|
| GIGABYTE SSD 1TB | |
1024 GB | 490 MB/s | 477 MB/s | 752 | 68 $ | 0,07 $ | |
|
| Intenso High Performance 240GB |  |
240 GB | 552 MB/s | 472 MB/s | 646 | 18 $ | 0,08 $ | |
|
| Intenso High Performance 480GB | |
480 GB | 550 MB/s | 472 MB/s | 641 | 33 $ | 0,07 $ | |
|
| Intenso High Performance 960GB | |
960 GB | 550 MB/s | 462 MB/s | 647 | 71 $ | 0,07 $ | |
|
| Intenso Top Performance 256GB |  |
256 GB | 531 MB/s | 465 MB/s | 656 | 22 $ | 0,09 $ | |
|
| Intenso Top Performance 512GB | |
512 GB | 546 MB/s | 441 MB/s | 620 | 36 $ | 0,07 $ | |
|
| Intenso Top Performance 1TB | |
1024 GB | 548 MB/s | 462 MB/s | 632 | 68 $ | 0,07 $ | |
|
| KingSpec P3 512GB |  |
512 GB | 549 MB/s | 470 MB/s | 558 | 30 $ | 0,06 $ | |
|
| KingSpec P3 1TB | |
1024 GB | 548 MB/s | 465 MB/s | 671 | 48 $ | 0,05 $ | |
|
| KingSpec P3 2TB | |
2048 GB | 549 MB/s | 464 MB/s | 635 | 100 $ | 0,05 $ | |
|
| Kingston A400 240GB |  |
240 GB | 550 MB/s | 462 MB/s | 688 | 25 $ | 0,10 $ | |
|
| Kingston A400 480GB | |
480 GB | 550 MB/s | 473 MB/s | 688 | 35 $ | 0,07 $ | |
|
| Kingston A400 960GB | |
960 GB | 468 MB/s | 476 MB/s | 715 | 54 $ | 0,06 $ | |
|
| KIOXIA EXCERIA 480GB |  |
480 GB | 499 MB/s | 469 MB/s | 724 | 39 $ | 0,08 $ | |
|
| KIOXIA EXCERIA 960GB | |
960 GB | 470 MB/s | 480 MB/s | 735 | 62 $ | 0,06 $ | |
|
| Lexar NQ100 240GB |  |
240 GB | 537 MB/s | 462 MB/s | 558 | 22 $ | 0,09 $ | |
|
| Lexar NQ100 480GB | |
480 GB | 536 MB/s | 466 MB/s | 636 | 53 $ | 0,11 $ | |
|
| Lexar NQ100 960GB | |
960 GB | 527 MB/s | 424 MB/s | 668 | 60 $ | 0,06 $ | |
|
| Lexar NS100 256GB |  |
256 GB | 529 MB/s | 456 MB/s | 661 | 24 $ | 0,09 $ | |
|
| Lexar NS100 512GB | |
512 GB | 530 MB/s | 443 MB/s | 670 | 37 $ | 0,07 $ | |
|
| Lexar NS100 1TB | |
1024 GB | 527 MB/s | 395 MB/s | 702 | 61 $ | 0,06 $ | |
|
| Lexar NS100 2TB | |
2048 GB | 527 MB/s | 444 MB/s | 710 | 125 $ | 0,06 $ | |
|
| Magix Alpha EVO 240GB |  |
240 GB | 542 MB/s | 441 MB/s | 641 | 28 $ | 0,12 $ | |
|
| Magix Alpha EVO 960GB | |
960 GB | 466 MB/s | 477 MB/s | 745 | 46 $ | 0,05 $ | |
|
| Netac N530S 240GB |  |
240 GB | 539 MB/s | 445 MB/s | 610 | 18 $ | 0,08 $ | |
|
| Netac N530S 480GB | |
480 GB | 524 MB/s | 455 MB/s | 700 | 33 $ | 0,07 $ | |
|
| Netac N530S 1TB | |
1024 GB | 527 MB/s | 440 MB/s | 723 | 56 $ | 0,05 $ | |
|
| Patriot Burst Elite 240GB |  |
240 GB | 543 MB/s | 454 MB/s | 640 | 15 $ | 0,06 $ | |
|
| Patriot Burst Elite 480GB | |
480 GB | 526 MB/s | 474 MB/s | 714 | 25 $ | 0,05 $ | |
|
| Patriot Burst Elite 960GB | |
960 GB | 518 MB/s | 422 MB/s | 643 | 45 $ | 0,05 $ | |
|
| Patriot Burst Elite 1.88TB | |
1920 GB | 513 MB/s | 385 MB/s | 679 | 83 $ | 0,04 $ | |
|
| Patriot P210 256GB |  |
256 GB | 538 MB/s | 420 MB/s | 607 | 15 $ | 0,06 $ | |
|
| Patriot P210 512GB | |
512 GB | 490 MB/s | 468 MB/s | 754 | 26 $ | 0,05 $ | |
|
| Patriot P210 1TB | |
1024 GB | 520 MB/s | 431 MB/s | 595 | 47 $ | 0,05 $ | |
|
| Patriot P210 2TB | |
2048 GB | 516 MB/s | 385 MB/s | 691 | 85 $ | 0,04 $ | |
|
| PNY CS900 250GB |  |
250 GB | 550 MB/s | 467 MB/s | 716 | 22 $ | 0,09 $ | |
|
| PNY CS900 480GB | |
480 GB | 473 MB/s | 315 MB/s | 698 | 98 $ | 0,20 $ | |
|
| PNY CS900 960GB | |
960 GB | 481 MB/s | 466 MB/s | 718 | 83 $ | 0,09 $ | |
|
| PNY CS900 1TB | |
1024 GB | 477 MB/s | 480 MB/s | 736 | 50 $ | 0,05 $ | |
|
| Samsung 860 EVO 500GB |  |
500 GB | 550 MB/s | 486 MB/s | 805 | 189 $ | 0,38 $ | |
|
| Samsung 860 EVO 2TB |  |
2048 GB | 550 MB/s | 486 MB/s | 802 | 215 $ | 0,10 $ | |
|
| Samsung 870 EVO 250GB |  |
250 GB | 549 MB/s | 483 MB/s | 810 | 59 $ | 0,24 $ | |
|
| Samsung 870 EVO 1TB | |
1024 GB | 550 MB/s | 485 MB/s | 811 | 109 $ | 0,11 $ | |
|
| Samsung 870 EVO 2TB | |
2048 GB | 549 MB/s | 484 MB/s | 802 | 187 $ | 0,09 $ | |
|
| Samsung 870 QVO 1TB |  |
1024 GB | 549 MB/s | 486 MB/s | 808 | 110 $ | 0,11 $ | |
|
| Samsung 870 QVO 2TB |  |
2048 GB | 549 MB/s | 481 MB/s | 792 | 180 $ | 0,09 $ | |
|
| SanDisk SSD Plus 240GB |  |
240 GB | 530 MB/s | 421 MB/s | 397 | 27 $ | 0,11 $ | |
|
| SanDisk SSD Plus 480GB |  |
480 GB | 547 MB/s | 471 MB/s | 550 | 37 $ | 0,08 $ | |
|
| SanDisk SSD Plus 1TB | |
1024 GB | 531 MB/s | 316 MB/s | 266 | 95 $ | 0,09 $ | |
|
| SanDisk SSD Plus 2TB | |
2048 GB | 506 MB/s | 446 MB/s | 421 | 115 $ | 0,06 $ | |
|
| SanDisk Ultra 3D 500GB |  |
500 GB | 356 MB/s | 489 MB/s | 798 | 79 $ | 0,16 $ | |
|
| SanDisk Ultra 3D 1TB | |
1024 GB | 525 MB/s | 483 MB/s | 801 | 150 $ | 0,15 $ | |
|
| SanDisk Ultra 3D 2TB | |
2048 GB | 381 MB/s | 484 MB/s | 790 | 147 $ | 0,07 $ | |
|
| Silicon Power Ace A55 256GB |  |
256 GB | 551 MB/s | 407 MB/s | 525 | 28 $ | 0,11 $ | |
|
| Silicon Power Ace A55 512GB |  |
512 GB | 550 MB/s | 465 MB/s | 601 | 50 $ | 0,10 $ | |
|
| Silicon Power Ace A55 1TB |  |
1024 GB | 505 MB/s | 470 MB/s | 755 | 46 $ | 0,04 $ | |
|
| Silicon Power Ace A55 2TB |  |
2048 GB | 544 MB/s | 454 MB/s | 633 | 86 $ | 0,04 $ | |
|
| TeamGroup CX2 Classic 256GB |  |
256 GB | 540 MB/s | 467 MB/s | 626 | 21 $ | 0,08 $ | |
|
| TeamGroup CX2 Classic 512GB | |
512 GB | 546 MB/s | 473 MB/s | 673 | 30 $ | 0,06 $ | |
|
| TeamGroup CX2 Classic 1TB | |
1024 GB | 550 MB/s | 463 MB/s | 669 | 49 $ | 0,05 $ | |
|
| TeamGroup T-Force Vulcan Z 512GB |  |
512 GB | 548 MB/s | 463 MB/s | 666 | 28 $ | 0,05 $ | |
|
| TeamGroup T-Force Vulcan Z 1TB | |
1024 GB | 503 MB/s | 453 MB/s | 727 | 47 $ | 0,05 $ | |
|
| Transcend SSD220Q 500GB |  |
500 GB | 550 MB/s | 460 MB/s | 606 | 49 $ | 0,10 $ | |
|
| Transcend SSD220Q 1TB | |
1024 GB | 524 MB/s | 473 MB/s | 672 | 114 $ | 0,11 $ | |
|
| Verbatim Vi550 S3 256GB |  |
256 GB | 550 MB/s | 466 MB/s | 536 | 25 $ | 0,10 $ | |
|
| Verbatim Vi550 S3 512GB | |
512 GB | 535 MB/s | 466 MB/s | 636 | 40 $ | 0,08 $ | |
|
| Verbatim Vi550 S3 1TB | |
1024 GB | 522 MB/s | 421 MB/s | 654 | 95 $ | 0,09 $ | |
|
| Verbatim Vi550 S3 2TB | |
2048 GB | 550 MB/s | 462 MB/s | 658 | 137 $ | 0,07 $ | |
|
| Western Digital WD Blue 3D 1TB |  |
1024 GB | 474 MB/s | 483 MB/s | 805 | 151 $ | 0,15 $ | |
|
| Western Digital WD Blue SA510 500GB |  |
500 GB | 551 MB/s | 478 MB/s | 637 | 43 $ | 0,09 $ | |
|
| Western Digital WD Green 120GB |  |
120 GB | 532 MB/s | 314 MB/s | 198 | 40 $ | 0,33 $ | |
|
| Western Digital WD Green 240GB | |
240 GB | 548 MB/s | 443 MB/s | 498 | 51 $ | 0,21 $ | |
|
| Western Digital WD Green 480GB | |
480 GB | 547 MB/s | 474 MB/s | 549 | 30 $ | 0,06 $ | |
|
| Western Digital WD Green 1TB | |
1024 GB | 436 MB/s | 348 MB/s | 281 | 63 $ | 0,06 $ | |
|
| Western Digital WD Green 2TB | |
2048 GB | 542 MB/s | 451 MB/s | 422 | 154 $ | 0,08 $ | |
*) The SATA Express (SATAe) successor with 8 and 16 Gbit/s has also been available since 2013, but it did not succeed because of the faster M.2 interface.
When to use a SATA SSD?
There are really only two applications where a SATA drive still makes sense: 1. in older laptops that do not have an M.2 slot and 2. as a fast storage expansion in a desktop PC.
Regarding 1): Older laptops often still have a mechanical 2.5" HDD installed, which is connected to the SATA port. You can achieve a significant and noticeable speed increase by removing the mechanical HDD and installing a SATA SSD instead.
Regarding 2): The use of an M.2 SSD is highly recommended for desktop PCs. If your motherboard does not have an M.2 slot, you can use a PCI Express adapter to use an M.2 SSD. The operating system and programs should be installed on the fast M.2 SSD. 256 or 512 GB is often enough. If you need more storage space (for MP3s, photos or videos), you can buy an inexpensive SATA SSD. SATA disks are a bit cheaper than M.2 disks at about 0.10 Euro per gigabyte.
SATA and X570 = Bad Performance
After testing several SATA hard drives, none of which achieved write rates above 460 MB/s (although the manufacturers claim 530 MB/s), I became suspicious that my test system might be to blame. I connected the drives to different SATA ports on my motherboard and ran several tests with different programs (AS SSD, ATTO, CDM). The resulting values were bad every time (especially in the 4K test).
I then did some research online and came across an article by a Reddit user that also showed this problem and was able to trace it back to the AMD X570 chipset. The same SATA drive performs much better on a B550 motherboard.
However, since my test system (see home page below) uses an X570 motherboard (only this currently supports Gen. 4 M.2 SSDs), it makes no sense to test more SATA SSDs here, since it is not the SSD that is the bottleneck, but the AMD chipset . I hope that a future BIOS firmware update will fix this problem. Until then, I will post the tests here (status: December 2020).