SATA SSDs

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 125 S-ATA SSDs:

Product Image Capacity Read Write Score Price $/GB Test Shop
ADATA SU650 256GB ASU650SS-256GT-R 256 GB 528 MB/s 475 MB/s 616 24 $ 0,09 $ Performance Test
ADATA SU650 512GB ASU650SS-512GT-R 512 GB 540 MB/s 454 MB/s 586 44 $ 0,09 $ Performance Test
ADATA Ultimate SU630 480GB ASU630SS-480GQ-R 480 GB 550 MB/s 465 MB/s 605 33 $ 0,07 $ Performance Test
ADATA XPG SX900 512GB ASX900S3-512GM-C 512 GB 549 MB/s 268 MB/s 586 325 $ 0,63 $ Performance Test
Crucial BX500 240GB CT240BX500SSD1 240 GB 550 MB/s 466 MB/s 616 23 $ 0,10 $ Performance Test
Crucial BX500 480GB CT480BX500SSD1 480 GB 550 MB/s 476 MB/s 650 35 $ 0,07 $ Performance Test
Crucial BX500 1TB CT1000BX500SSD1 1024 GB 551 MB/s 476 MB/s 695 64 $ 0,06 $ Performance Test
Crucial BX500 2TB CT2000BX500SSD1 2048 GB 551 MB/s 474 MB/s 605 109 $ 0,05 $ Performance Test
Crucial MX500 250GB CT250MX500SSD1 250 GB 551 MB/s 464 MB/s 795 50 $ 0,20 $ Performance Test
Crucial MX500 500GB CT500MX500SSD1 500 GB 550 MB/s 473 MB/s 800 70 $ 0,14 $ Performance Test
Crucial MX500 1TB CT1000MX500SSD1 1024 GB 534 MB/s 469 MB/s 793 99 $ 0,10 $ Performance Test
Crucial MX500 2TB CT2000MX500SSD1 2048 GB 551 MB/s 481 MB/s 799 173 $ 0,08 $ Performance Test
Emtec X150 Power Plus 240GB ECSSD240GX150 240 GB 549 MB/s 468 MB/s 581 20 $ 0,08 $ Performance Test
Emtec X150 Power Plus 480GB ECSSD480GX150 480 GB 530 MB/s 440 MB/s 673 29 $ 0,06 $ Performance Test
Emtec X150 Power Plus 960GB ECSSD960GX150 960 GB 540 MB/s 460 MB/s 644 70 $ 0,07 $ Performance Test
fanxiang S101Q 512GB FX-S101Q-512GB 512 GB 524 MB/s 459 MB/s 699 33 $ 0,06 $ Performance Test
fanxiang S101Q 1TB FX-S101Q-1TB 1024 GB 529 MB/s 437 MB/s 721 56 $ 0,05 $ Performance Test
fanxiang S102 Pro 500GB S102Pro-500GB 500 GB 529 MB/s 441 MB/s 727 37 $ 0,07 $ Performance Test
fanxiang S102 Pro 1TB S102Pro-1TB 1024 GB 546 MB/s 467 MB/s 687 59 $ 0,06 $ Performance Test
fanxiang S102 Pro 2TB S102Pro-2TB 2048 GB 530 MB/s 437 MB/s 738 116 $ 0,06 $ Performance Test
Fikwot FS810 256GB FS810-256-EU 256 GB 550 MB/s 470 MB/s 686 23 $ 0,09 $ Performance Test
Fikwot FS810 512GB FS810-512-EU 512 GB 546 MB/s 471 MB/s 677 35 $ 0,07 $ Performance Test
Fikwot FS810 1TB FS810-1TB-EU 1024 GB 527 MB/s 396 MB/s 725 55 $ 0,05 $ Performance Test
Fikwot FS810 2TB FS810-2TB-EU 2048 GB 529 MB/s 449 MB/s 747 129 $ 0,06 $ Performance Test
GIGABYTE SSD 256GB GP-GSTFS31256GTND 256 GB 502 MB/s 449 MB/s 739 30 $ 0,12 $ Performance Test
GIGABYTE SSD 480GB GP-GSTFS31480GNTD 480 GB 475 MB/s 474 MB/s 775 47 $ 0,10 $ Performance Test
GIGABYTE SSD 1TB GP-GSTFS31100TNTD 1024 GB 490 MB/s 477 MB/s 752 84 $ 0,08 $ Performance Test
GiGimundo G500 2TB G500-2TB-GD-EP 2048 GB 534 MB/s 451 MB/s 414 115 $ 0,06 $ Performance Test
Integral V Series 240GB INSSD240GS625V2P 240 GB 550 MB/s 470 MB/s 645 23 $ 0,10 $ Performance Test
Integral V Series 250GB INSSD250GS625V2 250 GB 529 MB/s 446 MB/s 665 27 $ 0,11 $ Performance Test
Integral V Series 500GB INSSD500GS625V2 500 GB 539 MB/s 461 MB/s 712 33 $ 0,07 $ Performance Test
Intenso High Performance 240GB 3813440 240 GB 552 MB/s 472 MB/s 646 14 $ 0,06 $ Performance Test
Intenso High Performance 480GB 3813450 480 GB 550 MB/s 472 MB/s 641 35 $ 0,07 $ Performance Test
Intenso High Performance 960GB 3813460 960 GB 550 MB/s 462 MB/s 647 86 $ 0,09 $ Performance Test
Intenso Top Performance 256GB 3812440 256 GB 531 MB/s 465 MB/s 656 26 $ 0,10 $ Performance Test
Intenso Top Performance 512GB 3812450 512 GB 546 MB/s 441 MB/s 620 37 $ 0,07 $ Performance Test
Intenso Top Performance 1TB 3812460 1024 GB 548 MB/s 462 MB/s 632 80 $ 0,08 $ Performance Test
KingSpec P3 256GB P3-256 256 GB 523 MB/s 476 MB/s 651 22 $ 0,09 $ Performance Test
KingSpec P3 512GB P3-512 512 GB 549 MB/s 470 MB/s 558 31 $ 0,06 $ Performance Test
KingSpec P3 1TB P3-1TB 1024 GB 548 MB/s 465 MB/s 671 57 $ 0,06 $ Performance Test
KingSpec P3 2TB P3-2TB 2048 GB 549 MB/s 464 MB/s 635 100 $ 0,05 $ Performance Test
Kingston A400 240GB SA400S37/240G 240 GB 550 MB/s 462 MB/s 688 25 $ 0,10 $ Performance Test
Kingston A400 480GB SA400S37/480G 480 GB 550 MB/s 473 MB/s 688 42 $ 0,09 $ Performance Test
Kingston A400 960GB SA400S37/960G 960 GB 468 MB/s 476 MB/s 715 70 $ 0,07 $ Performance Test
KIOXIA EXCERIA 480GB LTC10Z480GG8 480 GB 499 MB/s 469 MB/s 724 39 $ 0,08 $ Performance Test
KIOXIA EXCERIA 960GB LTC10Z960GG8 960 GB 470 MB/s 480 MB/s 735 63 $ 0,07 $ Performance Test
Lexar NQ100 240GB LNQ100X240G-RNNNG 240 GB 537 MB/s 462 MB/s 558 26 $ 0,11 $ Performance Test
Lexar NQ100 480GB LNQ100X480G 480 GB 536 MB/s 466 MB/s 636 46 $ 0,10 $ Performance Test
Lexar NQ100 960GB LNQ100X960G 960 GB 527 MB/s 424 MB/s 668 47 $ 0,05 $ Performance Test
Lexar NS100 256GB LNS100-256 256 GB 529 MB/s 456 MB/s 661 21 $ 0,08 $ Performance Test
Lexar NS100 512GB LNS100-512 512 GB 530 MB/s 443 MB/s 670 41 $ 0,08 $ Performance Test
Lexar NS100 1TB LNS100-1TRB 1024 GB 527 MB/s 395 MB/s 702 59 $ 0,06 $ Performance Test
Lexar NS100 2TB LNS100-2TRB 2048 GB 527 MB/s 444 MB/s 710 106 $ 0,05 $ Performance Test
Magix Alpha EVO 240GB ALPHAEVO240GB 240 GB 542 MB/s 441 MB/s 641 28 $ 0,12 $ Performance Test
Magix Alpha EVO 960GB ALPHAEVO960GB 960 GB 466 MB/s 477 MB/s 745 46 $ 0,05 $ Performance Test
Netac N530S 240GB N530S-240GB 240 GB 539 MB/s 445 MB/s 610 16 $ 0,07 $ Performance Test
Netac N530S 480GB N530S-480GB 480 GB 524 MB/s 455 MB/s 700 29 $ 0,06 $ Performance Test
Netac N530S 1TB N530S-1TB 1024 GB 527 MB/s 440 MB/s 723 50 $ 0,05 $ Performance Test
Netac N530S 2TB N530S-2TB 2048 GB 544 MB/s 453 MB/s 643 99 $ 0,05 $ Performance Test
ORICO Y-20 256GB Y20-256GB-BK-BP 256 GB 538 MB/s 467 MB/s 597 17 $ 0,07 $ Performance Test
ORICO Y-20 512GB Y20-512GB-BK-BP 512 GB 542 MB/s 460 MB/s 627 30 $ 0,06 $ Performance Test
ORICO Y-20 1TB Y20-1TB-BK-BP 1024 GB 547 MB/s 465 MB/s 662 55 $ 0,05 $ Performance Test
ORICO Y-20 2TB Y20-2TB-BK-BP 2048 GB 526 MB/s 436 MB/s 634 110 $ 0,05 $ Performance Test
Patriot Burst Elite 240GB PBE240GS25SSDR 240 GB 543 MB/s 454 MB/s 640 18 $ 0,08 $ Performance Test
Patriot Burst Elite 480GB PBE480GS25SSDR 480 GB 526 MB/s 474 MB/s 714 28 $ 0,06 $ Performance Test
Patriot Burst Elite 960GB PBE960GS25SSDR 960 GB 518 MB/s 422 MB/s 643 53 $ 0,06 $ Performance Test
Patriot Burst Elite 1.88TB PBE192TS25SSDR 1920 GB 513 MB/s 385 MB/s 679 95 $ 0,05 $ Performance Test
Patriot P210 256GB P210S256G25 256 GB 538 MB/s 420 MB/s 607 18 $ 0,07 $ Performance Test
Patriot P210 512GB P210S512G25 512 GB 490 MB/s 468 MB/s 754 32 $ 0,06 $ Performance Test
Patriot P210 1TB P210S1TB25 1024 GB 520 MB/s 431 MB/s 595 56 $ 0,05 $ Performance Test
Patriot P210 2TB P210S2TB25 2048 GB 516 MB/s 385 MB/s 691 97 $ 0,05 $ Performance Test
Patriot P220 256GB P220S256G25 256 GB 545 MB/s 464 MB/s 611 19 $ 0,07 $ Performance Test
Patriot P220 512GB P220S512G25 512 GB 539 MB/s 456 MB/s 708 33 $ 0,06 $ Performance Test
Patriot P220 1TB P220S1TB25 1024 GB 549 MB/s 460 MB/s 649 57 $ 0,06 $ Performance Test
PHIXERO P500 2TB P500-2TB-BL-BP 2048 GB 521 MB/s 463 MB/s 582 105 $ 0,05 $ Performance Test
PNY CS900 250GB SSD7CS900-250-RB 250 GB 550 MB/s 467 MB/s 716 21 $ 0,08 $ Performance Test
PNY CS900 480GB SSD7CS900-480-PB 480 GB 473 MB/s 315 MB/s 698 49 $ 0,10 $ Performance Test
PNY CS900 960GB SSD7CS900-960-PB 960 GB 481 MB/s 466 MB/s 718 92 $ 0,10 $ Performance Test
PNY CS900 1TB SSD7CS900-1TB-RB 1024 GB 477 MB/s 480 MB/s 736 58 $ 0,06 $ Performance Test
Samsung 860 EVO 500GB MZ-76E500B 500 GB 550 MB/s 486 MB/s 805 189 $ 0,38 $ Performance Test
Samsung 860 EVO 2TB MZ-76E2T0B/EU 2048 GB 550 MB/s 486 MB/s 802 235 $ 0,11 $ Performance Test
Samsung 870 EVO 250GB MZ-77E250B/EU 250 GB 549 MB/s 483 MB/s 810 60 $ 0,24 $ Performance Test
Samsung 870 EVO 1TB MZ-77E1T0B 1024 GB 550 MB/s 485 MB/s 811 101 $ 0,10 $ Performance Test
Samsung 870 EVO 2TB MZ-77E2T0B 2048 GB 549 MB/s 484 MB/s 802 186 $ 0,09 $ Performance Test
Samsung 870 QVO 1TB MZ-77Q1T0BW 1024 GB 549 MB/s 486 MB/s 808 129 $ 0,13 $ Performance Test
Samsung 870 QVO 2TB MZ-77Q2T0BW 2048 GB 549 MB/s 481 MB/s 792 190 $ 0,09 $ Performance Test
SanDisk SSD Plus 240GB SDSSDA-240G-G26 240 GB 530 MB/s 421 MB/s 397 25 $ 0,10 $ Performance Test
SanDisk SSD Plus 480GB SDSSDA-480G-G26 480 GB 547 MB/s 471 MB/s 550 40 $ 0,08 $ Performance Test
SanDisk SSD Plus 1TB SDSSDA-1T00-G26 1024 GB 531 MB/s 316 MB/s 266 95 $ 0,09 $ Performance Test
SanDisk SSD Plus 2TB SDSSDA-2T00-G26 2048 GB 506 MB/s 446 MB/s 421 110 $ 0,05 $ Performance Test
SanDisk Ultra 3D 500GB SDSSDH3-500G-G25 500 GB 356 MB/s 489 MB/s 798 40 $ 0,08 $ Performance Test
SanDisk Ultra 3D 1TB SDSSDH3-1T00-G25 1024 GB 525 MB/s 483 MB/s 801 142 $ 0,14 $ Performance Test
SanDisk Ultra 3D 2TB SDSSDH3-2T00-G25 2048 GB 381 MB/s 484 MB/s 790 151 $ 0,07 $ Performance Test
Silicon Power Ace A55 256GB SP256GBSS3A55S25 256 GB 551 MB/s 407 MB/s 525 23 $ 0,09 $ Performance Test
Silicon Power Ace A55 512GB Ace A55 512 GB 550 MB/s 465 MB/s 601 47 $ 0,09 $ Performance Test
Silicon Power Ace A55 1TB SP001TBSS3A55S25 1024 GB 505 MB/s 470 MB/s 755 54 $ 0,05 $ Performance Test
Silicon Power Ace A55 2TB SP002TBSS3A55S25 2048 GB 544 MB/s 454 MB/s 633 96 $ 0,05 $ Performance Test
TeamGroup CX2 Classic 256GB T253X6256G0C101 256 GB 540 MB/s 467 MB/s 626 25 $ 0,10 $ Performance Test
TeamGroup CX2 Classic 512GB T253X6512G0C101 512 GB 546 MB/s 473 MB/s 673 36 $ 0,07 $ Performance Test
TeamGroup CX2 Classic 1TB T253X6001T0C101 1024 GB 550 MB/s 463 MB/s 669 55 $ 0,05 $ Performance Test
TeamGroup T-Force Vulcan Z 512GB T253TZ512G0C101 512 GB 548 MB/s 463 MB/s 666 34 $ 0,07 $ Performance Test
TeamGroup T-Force Vulcan Z 1TB T253TZ001T0C101 1024 GB 503 MB/s 453 MB/s 727 54 $ 0,05 $ Performance Test
Transcend SSD220Q 500GB TS500GSSD220Q 500 GB 550 MB/s 460 MB/s 606 43 $ 0,09 $ Performance Test
Transcend SSD220Q 1TB TS1TSSD220Q 1024 GB 524 MB/s 473 MB/s 672 112 $ 0,11 $ Performance Test
Verbatim Vi550 S3 256GB 49351 256 GB 550 MB/s 466 MB/s 536 21 $ 0,08 $ Performance Test
Verbatim Vi550 S3 512GB 49352 512 GB 535 MB/s 466 MB/s 636 33 $ 0,06 $ Performance Test
Verbatim Vi550 S3 1TB 49353 1024 GB 522 MB/s 421 MB/s 654 98 $ 0,10 $ Performance Test
Verbatim Vi550 S3 2TB 49354 2048 GB 550 MB/s 462 MB/s 658 120 $ 0,06 $ Performance Test
Western Digital WD Blue 3D 1TB WDS100T2B0A 1024 GB 474 MB/s 483 MB/s 805 141 $ 0,14 $ Performance Test
Western Digital WD Blue SA510 500GB WDS500G3B0A 500 GB 551 MB/s 478 MB/s 637 42 $ 0,08 $ Performance Test
Western Digital WD Green 120GB WDS120G2G0A 120 GB 532 MB/s 314 MB/s 198 19 $ 0,16 $ Performance Test
Western Digital WD Green 240GB WDS240G3G0A 240 GB 548 MB/s 443 MB/s 498 52 $ 0,22 $ Performance Test
Western Digital WD Green 480GB WDS480G3G0A 480 GB 547 MB/s 474 MB/s 549 34 $ 0,07 $ Performance Test
Western Digital WD Green 1TB WDS100T3G0A 1024 GB 436 MB/s 348 MB/s 281 62 $ 0,06 $ Performance Test
Western Digital WD Green 2TB WDS200T2G0A 2048 GB 542 MB/s 451 MB/s 422 109 $ 0,05 $ Performance Test

*) 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).