SATA SSD Performance & Benchmark Tests

Detailed performance tests for SATA 6 Gb/s SSDs. The maximum speed is limited by the SATA III interface to 600 MB/s* (theoretical). In practice, you can expect up to 550 MB/s read/write. Compared to PCIe NVMe SSDs, SATA SSDs are slower but more affordable. They are often used for backups or additional storage where speed is less critical.

Number of tested S-ATA SSDs: 140

Product name	Capacity	Read	Write	Score	Price	$/GB
Acer SA100 240GB	240 GB	535 MB/s	448 MB/s	648	n/a	n/a
Acer SA100 480GB	480 GB	550 MB/s	468 MB/s	712	n/a	n/a
Acer SA100 960GB	960 GB	541 MB/s	470 MB/s	675	n/a	n/a
Acer SA100 1.87TB	1920 GB	549 MB/s	475 MB/s	729	n/a	n/a
ADATA SU650 256GB	256 GB	528 MB/s	475 MB/s	616	66 $	0.26 $
ADATA SU650 512GB	512 GB	540 MB/s	454 MB/s	586	82 $	0.16 $
ADATA Ultimate SU630 480GB	480 GB	550 MB/s	465 MB/s	605	83 $	0.17 $
ADATA XPG SX900 512GB	512 GB	549 MB/s	268 MB/s	586	n/a	n/a
Crucial BX500 240GB	240 GB	550 MB/s	466 MB/s	616	137 $	0.57 $
Crucial BX500 480GB	480 GB	550 MB/s	476 MB/s	650	119 $	0.25 $
Crucial BX500 1TB	1024 GB	551 MB/s	476 MB/s	695	150 $	0.15 $
Crucial BX500 2TB	2048 GB	551 MB/s	474 MB/s	605	239 $	0.12 $
Crucial MX500 250GB	250 GB	551 MB/s	464 MB/s	795	n/a	n/a
Crucial MX500 500GB	500 GB	550 MB/s	473 MB/s	800	85 $	0.17 $
Crucial MX500 1TB	1024 GB	534 MB/s	469 MB/s	793	300 $	0.29 $
Crucial MX500 2TB	2048 GB	551 MB/s	481 MB/s	799	375 $	0.18 $
Emtec X150 Power Plus 240GB	240 GB	549 MB/s	468 MB/s	581	n/a	n/a
Emtec X150 Power Plus 480GB	480 GB	530 MB/s	440 MB/s	673	n/a	n/a
Emtec X150 Power Plus 960GB	960 GB	540 MB/s	460 MB/s	644	n/a	n/a
fanxiang S101Q 512GB	512 GB	524 MB/s	459 MB/s	699	90 $	0.18 $
fanxiang S101Q 1TB	1024 GB	529 MB/s	437 MB/s	721	140 $	0.14 $
fanxiang S102 Pro 500GB	500 GB	529 MB/s	441 MB/s	727	n/a	n/a
fanxiang S102 Pro 1TB	1024 GB	546 MB/s	467 MB/s	687	n/a	n/a
fanxiang S102 Pro 2TB	2048 GB	530 MB/s	437 MB/s	738	n/a	n/a
Fikwot FS810 256GB	256 GB	550 MB/s	470 MB/s	686	55 $	0.21 $
Fikwot FS810 512GB	512 GB	546 MB/s	471 MB/s	677	90 $	0.18 $
Fikwot FS810 2TB	2048 GB	529 MB/s	449 MB/s	747	n/a	n/a
Fikwot FX815 PLUTO 256GB	256 GB	517 MB/s	434 MB/s	532	50 $	0.20 $
Fikwot FX815 PLUTO 512GB	512 GB	543 MB/s	463 MB/s	605	82 $	0.16 $
Fikwot FX815 PLUTO 1TB	1024 GB	550 MB/s	460 MB/s	649	140 $	0.14 $
Fikwot FX815 PLUTO 2TB	2048 GB	543 MB/s	474 MB/s	678	225 $	0.11 $
Gigabyte SSD 480GB	480 GB	475 MB/s	474 MB/s	775	199 $	0.41 $
Gigabyte SSD 1TB	1024 GB	490 MB/s	477 MB/s	752	291 $	0.28 $
GiGimundo G500 2TB	2048 GB	534 MB/s	451 MB/s	414	n/a	n/a
Integral V Series 240GB	240 GB	550 MB/s	470 MB/s	645	n/a	n/a
Integral V Series 250GB	250 GB	529 MB/s	446 MB/s	665	n/a	n/a
Integral V Series 500GB	500 GB	539 MB/s	461 MB/s	712	244 $	0.49 $
Integral V Series 2TB	2048 GB	550 MB/s	476 MB/s	674	n/a	n/a
Intenso High Performance 480GB	480 GB	550 MB/s	472 MB/s	641	101 $	0.21 $
Intenso High Performance 960GB	960 GB	550 MB/s	462 MB/s	647	183 $	0.19 $
Intenso Top Performance 256GB	256 GB	531 MB/s	465 MB/s	656	67 $	0.26 $
Intenso Top Performance 512GB	512 GB	546 MB/s	441 MB/s	620	111 $	0.22 $
Intenso Top Performance 1TB	1024 GB	548 MB/s	462 MB/s	632	196 $	0.19 $
KingSpec P3 256GB	256 GB	523 MB/s	476 MB/s	651	53 $	0.21 $
KingSpec P3 512GB	512 GB	549 MB/s	470 MB/s	558	86 $	0.17 $
KingSpec P3 1TB	1024 GB	548 MB/s	465 MB/s	671	146 $	0.14 $
KingSpec P3 2TB	2048 GB	549 MB/s	464 MB/s	635	220 $	0.11 $
Kingston A400 240GB	240 GB	550 MB/s	462 MB/s	688	79 $	0.33 $
Kingston A400 480GB	480 GB	550 MB/s	473 MB/s	688	109 $	0.23 $
Kingston A400 960GB	960 GB	468 MB/s	476 MB/s	715	180 $	0.19 $
KIOXIA EXCERIA 480GB	480 GB	499 MB/s	469 MB/s	724	n/a	n/a
KIOXIA EXCERIA 960GB	960 GB	470 MB/s	480 MB/s	735	226 $	0.24 $
Lexar NQ100 240GB	240 GB	537 MB/s	462 MB/s	558	n/a	n/a
Lexar NQ100 480GB	480 GB	536 MB/s	466 MB/s	636	n/a	n/a
Lexar NQ100 960GB	960 GB	527 MB/s	424 MB/s	668	n/a	n/a
Lexar NS100 256GB	256 GB	529 MB/s	456 MB/s	661	75 $	0.29 $
Lexar NS100 512GB	512 GB	530 MB/s	443 MB/s	670	125 $	0.24 $
Lexar NS100 1TB	1024 GB	527 MB/s	395 MB/s	702	182 $	0.18 $
MSI SPATIUM S270 240GB	240 GB	478 MB/s	476 MB/s	779	79 $	0.33 $
ORICO i560 2TB	2048 GB	550 MB/s	472 MB/s	699	n/a	n/a
ORICO Y-20 256GB	256 GB	538 MB/s	467 MB/s	597	37 $	0.14 $
ORICO Y-20 512GB	512 GB	542 MB/s	460 MB/s	627	n/a	n/a
ORICO Y-20 1TB	1024 GB	547 MB/s	465 MB/s	662	140 $	0.14 $
ORICO Y-20 2TB	2048 GB	526 MB/s	436 MB/s	634	220 $	0.11 $
Patriot Burst Elite 240GB	240 GB	543 MB/s	454 MB/s	640	50 $	0.21 $
Patriot Burst Elite 480GB	480 GB	526 MB/s	474 MB/s	714	80 $	0.17 $
Patriot Burst Elite 960GB	960 GB	518 MB/s	422 MB/s	643	148 $	0.15 $
Patriot Burst Elite 1.87TB	1920 GB	513 MB/s	385 MB/s	679	265 $	0.14 $
Patriot P210 256GB	256 GB	538 MB/s	420 MB/s	607	50 $	0.20 $
Patriot P210 512GB	512 GB	490 MB/s	468 MB/s	754	83 $	0.16 $
Patriot P210 1TB	1024 GB	520 MB/s	431 MB/s	595	155 $	0.15 $
Patriot P210 2TB	2048 GB	516 MB/s	385 MB/s	691	210 $	0.10 $
Patriot P220 256GB	256 GB	545 MB/s	464 MB/s	611	53 $	0.21 $
Patriot P220 512GB	512 GB	539 MB/s	456 MB/s	708	85 $	0.17 $
Patriot P220 1TB	1024 GB	549 MB/s	460 MB/s	649	156 $	0.15 $
PHIXERO P500 2TB	2048 GB	521 MB/s	463 MB/s	582	n/a	n/a
PNY CS900 250GB	250 GB	550 MB/s	467 MB/s	716	60 $	0.24 $
PNY CS900 480GB	480 GB	473 MB/s	315 MB/s	698	n/a	n/a
PNY CS900 960GB	960 GB	481 MB/s	466 MB/s	718	130 $	0.14 $
PNY CS900 1TB	1024 GB	477 MB/s	480 MB/s	736	130 $	0.13 $
Samsung 860 EVO 500GB	500 GB	550 MB/s	486 MB/s	805	119 $	0.24 $
Samsung 860 EVO 2TB	2048 GB	550 MB/s	486 MB/s	802	439 $	0.21 $
Samsung 870 EVO 250GB	250 GB	549 MB/s	483 MB/s	810	185 $	0.74 $
Samsung 870 EVO 1TB	1024 GB	550 MB/s	485 MB/s	811	350 $	0.34 $
Samsung 870 EVO 2TB	2048 GB	549 MB/s	484 MB/s	802	642 $	0.31 $
Samsung 870 QVO 1TB	1024 GB	549 MB/s	486 MB/s	808	327 $	0.32 $
Samsung 870 QVO 2TB	2048 GB	549 MB/s	481 MB/s	792	247 $	0.12 $
SanDisk SSD Plus 240GB	240 GB	530 MB/s	421 MB/s	397	99 $	0.41 $
SanDisk SSD Plus 480GB	480 GB	547 MB/s	471 MB/s	550	120 $	0.25 $
SanDisk SSD Plus 1TB	1024 GB	531 MB/s	316 MB/s	266	211 $	0.21 $
SanDisk SSD Plus 2TB	2048 GB	506 MB/s	446 MB/s	421	419 $	0.20 $
SanDisk Ultra 3D 500GB	500 GB	356 MB/s	489 MB/s	798	105 $	0.21 $
SanDisk Ultra 3D 1TB	1024 GB	525 MB/s	483 MB/s	801	183 $	0.18 $
SanDisk Ultra 3D 2TB	2048 GB	381 MB/s	484 MB/s	790	781 $	0.38 $
Silicon Power Ace A55 256GB	256 GB	551 MB/s	407 MB/s	525	45 $	0.18 $
Silicon Power Ace A55 512GB	512 GB	550 MB/s	465 MB/s	601	90 $	0.18 $
Silicon Power Ace A55 1TB	1024 GB	505 MB/s	470 MB/s	755	175 $	0.17 $
Silicon Power Ace A55 2TB	2048 GB	544 MB/s	454 MB/s	633	250 $	0.12 $
TeamGroup CX2 Classic 256GB	256 GB	540 MB/s	467 MB/s	626	52 $	0.20 $
TeamGroup CX2 Classic 512GB	512 GB	546 MB/s	473 MB/s	673	93 $	0.18 $
TeamGroup CX2 Classic 1TB	1024 GB	550 MB/s	463 MB/s	669	131 $	0.13 $
TeamGroup T-Force Vulcan Z 512GB	512 GB	548 MB/s	463 MB/s	666	96 $	0.19 $
TeamGroup T-Force Vulcan Z 1TB	1024 GB	503 MB/s	453 MB/s	727	136 $	0.13 $
TeamGroup T-Force Vulcan Z 2TB	2048 GB	550 MB/s	463 MB/s	631	222 $	0.11 $
Transcend SSD220Q 500GB	500 GB	550 MB/s	460 MB/s	606	n/a	n/a
Transcend SSD220Q 1TB	1024 GB	524 MB/s	473 MB/s	672	289 $	0.28 $
Verbatim Vi550 S3 256GB	256 GB	550 MB/s	466 MB/s	536	73 $	0.29 $
Verbatim Vi550 S3 512GB	512 GB	535 MB/s	466 MB/s	636	n/a	n/a
Verbatim Vi550 S3 1TB	1024 GB	522 MB/s	421 MB/s	654	n/a	n/a
Verbatim Vi550 S3 2TB	2048 GB	550 MB/s	462 MB/s	658	n/a	n/a
Western Digital WD Blue 3D 1TB	1024 GB	474 MB/s	483 MB/s	805	249 $	0.24 $
Western Digital WD Blue SA510 500GB	500 GB	551 MB/s	478 MB/s	637	125 $	0.25 $
Western Digital WD Green 120GB	120 GB	532 MB/s	314 MB/s	198	35 $	0.29 $
Western Digital WD Green 240GB	240 GB	548 MB/s	443 MB/s	498	65 $	0.27 $
Western Digital WD Green 480GB	480 GB	547 MB/s	474 MB/s	549	84 $	0.18 $
Western Digital WD Green 1TB	1024 GB	436 MB/s	348 MB/s	281	220 $	0.21 $
Western Digital WD Green 2TB	2048 GB	542 MB/s	451 MB/s	422	220 $	0.11 $
Western Digital WD Red SA500 1TB	1024 GB	455 MB/s	484 MB/s	796	268 $	0.26 $
Western Digital WD Red SA500 2TB	2048 GB	547 MB/s	460 MB/s	737	450 $	0.22 $

*) SATA Express (SATAe) was introduced as a successor in 2013 with 8 and 16 Gbit/s but never became mainstream due to the superior M.2 interface.

When does a SATA SSD make sense?

There are basically only two use cases 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.
For 1) Older notebooks often still have a mechanical 2.5" HDD installed, connected via SATA. You get a clear and noticeable speed increase if you remove the mechanical drive and install a SATA SSD instead.
For 2) In a desktop PC, using an M.2 SSD is highly recommended. If your motherboard does not yet have an M.2 slot, you can also use a PCI Express adapter to use an M.2 SSD. The operating system and programs should definitely be installed on the fast M.2 SSD. Often 256 or 512 GB is sufficient. If you need more storage space (for MP3s, photos or videos), you can buy an inexpensive SATA SSD in addition. SATA drives are still a bit cheaper at around 0.10 euros per gigabyte than M.2 drives.

SATA and X570 = poorer performance

After I tested several SATA drives and none achieved write rates above 460 MB/s (even though the manufacturers had specified 530 MB/s), I began to wonder whether this was due to my test system. I then connected the drives to different SATA ports on my motherboard and ran multiple tests with different programs (AS SSD, ATTO, CDM). Always with the same result: I could not reach good values (especially in the 4K test).

I then researched on the internet and came across an article by a Reddit user who also highlighted this problem and was able to trace it back to the AMD X570 chipset. The same SATA drive delivers significantly better transfer rates on a B550 motherboard.

Since my test system (see homepage at the bottom) uses an X570 motherboard (only this currently supports Gen 4 M.2 SSDs), it no longer makes much sense to test more SATA SSDs here, because the bottleneck is not the SSD but the AMD chipset. I hope that a future BIOS firmware update will fix this problem. Until then, I will stop the tests here (as of: December 2020).