KingSpec 256GB SSD PCIe 3.0 x2 NVMe M.2 2242
Crucial T500 1TB PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe M.2 2280
What Buyers Say
KingSpec 256GB SSD PCIe 3.0 x2 NVMe M.2 2242
The drive is generally well-received, especially for use in WWAN slots of laptops like ThinkPads and Dells, and in Raspberry Pi setups. Users praise its compatibility, price, and adequate performance for everyday tasks. However, one verified review reported a drive failure after about two years, though the seller's responsive customer service mitigated the issue. Overall, sentiment is positive with a note on reliability concerns.
Pros
- Works in WWAN slots
- Good price
- Adequate speed for daily use
- Compatible with Raspberry Pi
- Easy installation
Cons
- Drive failure after 2 years
- Not the fastest
- DRAM-less design
- Limited to PCIe 2x
Crucial T500 1TB PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe M.2 2280
The Crucial T500 Gen4 NVMe SSD is overwhelmingly praised for its exceptional speed, easy installation, and reliable performance, making it a top choice for gaming PCs and PS5 upgrades. Users highlight significant improvements in boot times, game loading, and file transfers, with many noting it meets or exceeds advertised speeds. While a few mention minor issues like startup quirks or the need for BIOS updates, the overall sentiment is highly positive, with strong recommendations for its value and 5-year warranty.
Pros
- Blazing fast speeds
- Easy installation
- PS5 compatible
- Large storage capacity
- Runs cool
Cons
- Startup issues with fastboot
- Requires BIOS update on some systems
- No heatsink on some models
- Price can be high at launch
Scores
Specifications
| KingSpec 256GB SSD | Crucial T500 | |
|---|---|---|
| Drive | ||
| Capacity | ||
| Form Factor | M.2 2242 | M.2 2280 |
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x2 | PCIe 4.0 x4 |
| Protocol | NVMe | NVMe |
| PCIe Generation | 3 | 4★ |
| External | ✗ | ✗ |
| Performance | ||
| Sequential Read (MB/s) | ||
| Sequential Write (MB/s) | ||
| Random Read (IOPS) | ||
| Random Write (IOPS) | ||
| Hardware | ||
| NAND | TLC | TLC |
| DRAM Cache | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Controller | — | Phison E25 |
| Reliability | ||
| Endurance (TBW) | No data | |
| MTBF (hours) | No data | |
| Warranty (years) | 3 | 5★ |
| Features | ||
| Heatsink | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Hardware Encryption | — | ✓★ |
Pros & Cons
KingSpec 256GB SSD PCIe 3.0 x2 NVMe M.2 2242
- Strong affordability (89th percentile)89th %ile
- Strong social proof (77th percentile)
- Below average capacity (17th percentile)17th %ile
Crucial T500 1TB PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe M.2 2280
- Strong feature (99th percentile)99th %ile
- Strong random (96th percentile)96th %ile
- Strong social proof (95th percentile)95th %ile
- Strong user sentiment (95th percentile)95th %ile
Pricing
Crucial T500 1TB PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe M.2 2280 offers 1.2x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 93 overall, wins 6 of 6 usage categories and 11 of 18 specs.
