Samsung 870 EVO SSD Review | Popular for Good Reason

Samsung 870 EVO is the drive that continues Samsung’s legacy of crafting high-quality storage solutions with an optimal balance of speed, endurance, and price. It is a standout performer in the realm of SATA solid-state drives, aimed at a wide audience ranging from casual PC users to professionals requiring robust storage. The Samsung 870 EVO SSD is the successor to the highly successful 860 EVO.

This drive shines in real-world performance, thanks to Samsung’s in-house components, including its advanced V-NAND technology and MKX controller. While the storage industry steadily shifts toward NVMe drives, the 870 EVO holds its ground by offering excellent SATA performance, exceptional reliability, and easy compatibility with a wide variety of devices, including older laptops and desktops.

From faster boot times and snappy software loading to seamless file transfers and multimedia handling, the 870 EVO significantly boosts day-to-day computing efficiency. The combination ensures not just rapid speeds but also smooth multitasking and low latency across workloads.

With capacities ranging from 250GB to 4TB, it accommodates a wide variety of user needs, no matter what it's a budget-friendly upgrade or a massive storage extension for video editing or gaming.

·         Capacities: 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB – offering flexibility from casual use to professional-grade storage.

·         Interface: SATA 6Gb/s, backward compatible with SATA 3Gb/s and 1.5Gb/s.

·         Form Factor: Standard 2.5-inch, 7mm thickness.

·         Controller: Samsung MKX controller engineered for speed and efficiency.

·         NAND Flash Memory: Samsung V-NAND 3-bit MLC for increased density and reliability.

·         DRAM Cache Memory: 250GB: 512MB LPDDR4, 500GB & 1TB: 1GB LPDDR4, 2TB: 2GB LPDDR4 and 4TB: 4GB LPDDR4

·         Sequential Read/Write Speed: Up to 560 MB/s read and 530 MB/s write.

·         Random IOPS (4KB, QD32): Up to 98,000 read / 88,000 write.

·         Endurance (TBW): 250GB: 150 TBW, 500GB: 300 TBW, 1TB: 600 TBW, 2TB: 1,200 TBW, and 4TB: 2,400 TBW

·         MTBF: 1.5 million hours.

· Software: Samsung Magician software for firmware updates, health monitoring, secure erase, and performance optimization.

·         Warranty: 5-year limited warranty

The elegant, minimalistic matte black shell complements most system aesthetics while protecting the valuable tech inside. Samsung has kept things traditional and universal with the 870 EVO’s 2.5-inch SATA III design, making it a plug-and-play solution for nearly all laptops and desktop computers. The build is sturdy, and Samsung’s attention to durability and thermal management means the drive remains cool and stable even during extended data transfers. Its slim 7mm profile ensures it fits even in tight laptop bays.

The MKX controller, in particular, plays a vital role in achieving faster response times while ensuring lower power consumption, especially useful for laptop users looking to preserve battery life.

Samsung's internal quality assurance process and stringent testing standards also ensure each unit delivers the reliability expected of a premium SSD brand. The SSD integrates Samsung's V-NAND 3-bit MLC flash and the proprietary MKX controller. These components are engineered to provide superior read/write efficiency, endurance, and power management.

With sequential read speeds of up to 560 MB/s and write speeds up to 530 MB/s, it easily outpaces any traditional HDD and competes favorably with the best SATA SSDs on the market.

Random read and write speeds also show significant improvement compared to previous generations, delivering excellent performance in multitasking environments. The Samsung 870 EVO pushes the boundaries of what SATA III is capable of, hitting the theoretical speed limits of the interface.

The 870 EVO handles heavy workloads with ease, and its performance doesn’t degrade quickly thanks to Samsung’s Intelligent TurboWrite technology, which utilizes a variable SLC buffer to maintain high write speeds under stress. These speed boosts are particularly evident in scenarios like gaming, content creation, or simply running multiple applications simultaneously.

Booting Windows or macOS takes mere seconds, and loading large software packages like Adobe Photoshop or Premiere Pro feels almost instant.

Here are some pros and cons that you need to know before buying Samsung 870 EVO SSD:

Pros

·         Industry-leading read/write speeds for a SATA SSD.

·         High TBW ratings and excellent build quality ensure a long lifespan.

·         Fits easily in nearly all desktops and laptops with SATA ports.

·         Great for extending laptop battery life.

·         Samsung’s reputation in SSDs adds peace of mind.

·         Samsung Magician software offers everything from diagnostics to drive cloning.

Cons

·         It can’t match NVMe drive performance.

·         It offers premium quality at a modest premium.

·         Does not have advanced security options found in some competitors.

The Samsung 870 EVO SSD is arguably the best SATA SSD on the market, offering a balanced blend of speed, capacity, durability, and ease of use. With a robust 5-year warranty, high endurance ratings, and Samsung’s stellar customer support, the 870 EVO is a worry-free investment in better computing performance.

In a landscape filled with options, this SSD continues to serve both beginners and tech-savvy users alike. So, if you're planning to upgrade an older system, replacing a failing hard drive, or building a cost-effective workstation, the 870 EVO delivers where it counts.