Question Should I Purchase a Samsung 860 EVO 500GB SATA M.2 SSD Manufactured in January 2018?

[Ambadyvs]

Hi everyone,

I recently found a Samsung 860 EVO 500GB SATA M.2 SSD listed on Flipkart (e-commerce platform), and the product description indicates it was manufactured in January 2018. I’m considering buying it to upgrade my laptop for running Windows 10. My current setup includes:

Laptop Model: Acer Aspire A315-41-R45R with 1TB HDD
Processor Name: AMD Ryzen 5 2500U
Motherboard Model: RR Metapod_RR
Planned Setup: 500GB SSD for the OS and games, keeping a 1TB HDD for other files

Important Note: My laptop only supports the M.2 SATA interface for SSDs, so my options are limited to SATA-based drives.

The key highlights of this SSD include:

1. Endurance: 300TBW
2. Performance: Sequential read/write speeds of up to 550/520 MB/s.
3. Warranty: The original warranty was 5 years, but since the manufacturing date is from 2018, I suspect it may have expired.

My Concerns:
Storage Age: Most manufacturers stopped producing 2280 M.2 SATA SSDs years ago, meaning all such models available today are old stock. Could the age of this drive (nearly 6 years) affect its performance or longevity?

Alternatives:
I considered the WD Green SATA SSD M.2 2280 - 480GB, priced at ₹2,499 (USD 29.55). However, WD's official website doesn't mention its endurance or TBW, which makes it hard to compare.
Are there other models you would recommend that strike a good balance between price and performance?
Firmware: Would I need to update the firmware on the Samsung 860 EVO, and would this resolve any potential issues due to its age?
I like the 300TBW rating and have heard good things about the 860 EVO's reliability. However, the Flipkart price of ₹4,999 (USD 59.11) seems high for old stock.

What do you think? Should I go ahead with the 860 EVO, choose the WD Green, or look for another option? Any advice or insights would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[USAFRet]

Avoid the WD Green.
Among mainstream SATA SSDs, that is one of the worst performers.

Is this 860 EVO verified new?

Other option might be a Crucial MX500.

 

[Ambadyvs]

The Samsung 860 EVO is listed on Flipkart as not new, and the product description confirms it's unused, so I believe it's in brand-new condition. However, I believe this model has been available since 2018 , 2019 or 2020, so it still seems like an old piece, despite being advertised as new.

As for the Crucial MX500, I checked, and it has been out of stock for a long time

 

[USAFRet]

The Samsung 860 EVO is listed on Flipkart as not new, and the product description confirms it's unused, so I believe it's in brand-new condition. However, I believe this model has been available since 2018 , 2019 or 2020, so it still seems like an old piece, despite being advertised as new.

As for the Crucial MX500, I checked, and it has been out of stock for a long time

I have 2x 860 EVO and a MX500.

I'd have no issue buying them if actually new.
Mine are transferring into the new system I am currently assembling.

But a used drive? Only if it were $10 or less.

And you can't really know if used or new until you plug it in and check.

 

[Ambadyvs]

Do you know whether the age of this drive (nearly 6 years) affects its performance or longevity?

 

[USAFRet]

Do you know whether the age of this drive (nearly 6 years) affects its performance or longevity?

To my knowledge, it does not.

 

[Bob.B]

Hi everyone,

I recently found a Samsung 860 EVO 500GB SATA M.2 SSD listed on Flipkart (e-commerce platform), and the product description indicates it was manufactured in January 2018. I’m considering buying it to upgrade my laptop for running Windows 10. My current setup includes:

Laptop Model: Acer Aspire A315-41-R45R with 1TB HDD
Processor Name: AMD Ryzen 5 2500U
Motherboard Model: RR Metapod_RR
Planned Setup: 500GB SSD for the OS and games, keeping a 1TB HDD for other files

Important Note: My laptop only supports the M.2 SATA interface for SSDs, so my options are limited to SATA-based drives.

The key highlights of this SSD include:

1. Endurance: 300TBW
2. Performance: Sequential read/write speeds of up to 550/520 MB/s.
3. Warranty: The original warranty was 5 years, but since the manufacturing date is from 2018, I suspect it may have expired.

My Concerns:
Storage Age: Most manufacturers stopped producing 2280 M.2 SATA SSDs years ago, meaning all such models available today are old stock. Could the age of this drive (nearly 6 years) affect its performance or longevity?

Alternatives:
I considered the WD Green SATA SSD M.2 2280 - 480GB, priced at ₹2,499 (USD 29.55). However, WD's official website doesn't mention its endurance or TBW, which makes it hard to compare.
Are there other models you would recommend that strike a good balance between price and performance?
Firmware: Would I need to update the firmware on the Samsung 860 EVO, and would this resolve any potential issues due to its age?
I like the 300TBW rating and have heard good things about the 860 EVO's reliability. However, the Flipkart price of ₹4,999 (USD 59.11) seems high for old stock.

What do you think? Should I go ahead with the 860 EVO, choose the WD Green, or look for another option? Any advice or insights would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

Consider replacing the hdd with a ssd.......keep it simple.

 

[geofelt]

Do you know whether the age of this drive (nearly 6 years) affects its performance or longevity?

Age should not impact performance.
But, every ssd will have a limited number of writes before it is used up.
Do you have recourse if the unit turns out to have a problem?

 

[Ambadyvs]

Age should not impact performance.
But, every ssd will have a limited number of writes before it is used up.
Do you have recourse if the unit turns out to have a problem?

1)Regarding your question about recourse, the seller on Flipkart does not have a return policy
2)I value the Samsung 860 EVO’s 300TBW rating
3)I’m also planning to partition the 500GB SSD into 150GB for Windows 10 and the remaining for games. However, I’ve read that partitioning could potentially affect SSD performance or lifespan. Is this true, or would it be fine to partition the drive as per my plan?

 

[USAFRet]

1)Regarding your question about recourse, the seller on Flipkart does not have a return policy
2)I value the Samsung 860 EVO’s 300TBW rating
3)I’m also planning to partition the 500GB SSD into 150GB for Windows 10 and the remaining for games. However, I’ve read that partitioning could potentially affect SSD performance or lifespan. Is this true, or would it be fine to partition the drive as per my plan?

1. There is no need to split an SSD into different partitions.

2. It wouldn't affect the lifespan, but it is really really not needed.

3. No return policy? What if you get it, and it is NOT "new"?

 

[Ambadyvs]

Consider replacing the hdd with a ssd.......keep it simple.

Thank you for the suggestion! My primary concern is making efficient use of the hardware I already havea and Budget is also a factor in my decision.

 

[Ambadyvs]

1. There is no need to split an SSD into different partitions.

2. It wouldn't affect the lifespan, but it is really really not needed.

3. No return policy? What if you get it, and it is NOT "new"?

From a conventional perspective, having Windows 10 on a single drive like “C” and using the remaining space for personal files or games seems like a practical way to keep the OS and other data separate. This way, games or personal files won’t mix with the operating system files, which seems more organized to me. Could you clarify if there’s a technical reason partitioning should be avoided, or is it just a matter of convenience? Please correct me if my understanding is wrong.

 

[USAFRet]

From a conventional perspective, having Windows 10 on a single drive like “C” and using the remaining space for personal files or games seems like a practical way to keep the OS and other data separate. This way, games or personal files won’t mix with the operating system files, which seems more organized to me. Could you clarify if there’s a technical reason partitioning should be avoided, or is it just a matter of convenience? Please correct me if my understanding is wrong.

Partitions, especially on some as "small" as a 500GB...one or the other partitions will be 'too small'.

Lets say you split it 150/350.

But if your OS and application stuff is only taking up 70GB, that is 80GB wasted, that could be used for other things.
Or, if you want to install something large like the entirety of VisualStudio, you may find your 150GB partition is not enough.

I understand the appeal, but I've seen it end up non-optimal, far too many times.

 

[Ambadyvs]

Partitions, especially on some as "small" as a 500GB...one or the other partitions will be 'too small'.

Lets say you split it 150/350.

But if your OS and application stuff is only taking up 70GB, that is 80GB wasted, that could be used for other things.
Or, if you want to install something large like the entirety of VisualStudio, you may find your 150GB partition is not enough.

I understand the appeal, but I've seen it end up non-optimal, far too many times.

What if I use the 500GB SSD as a single drive without any partition, keeping both the windows 10 and games together in the same space? How does the system handle this setup in terms of performance and organization? Would having everything in one drive cause any practical issues, or does the system manage this efficiently?

 

[USAFRet]

What if I use the 500GB SSD as a single drive without any partition, keeping both the windows 10 and games together in the same space? How does the system handle this setup in terms of performance and organization? Would having everything in one drive cause any practical issues, or does the system manage this efficiently?

There is no performance difference either way.

With an SSD, partitions are merely logical. Not physical as would be on an HDD.
You splitting the partitions just causes Disk Management to show that to you.

The drive firmware shuffles data around as it see fit. With no regard to where or what chip it physically resides on.

 

[Ambadyvs]

There is no performance difference either way.

With an SSD, partitions are merely logical. Not physical as would be on an HDD.
You splitting the partitions just causes Disk Management to show that to you.

The drive firmware shuffles data around as it see fit. With no regard to where or what chip it physically resides on.

If I store both OS files and game files on the same SSD without any partitions, how does Windows 10 handle this setup? Would it be okay if I create a folder called "Games" and store all my games there for better organization.
I ask because I want to ensure my system remains organized and performs optimally.

 

[USAFRet]

If I store both OS files and game files on the same SSD without any partitions, how does Windows 10 handle this setup? Would it be okay if I create a folder called "Games" and store all my games there for better organization.
I ask because I want to ensure my system remains organized and performs optimally.

The folder concept IS the best way to do this.

Windows handles this just fine.
You can use that as the default install location for Steam games and the like.

I daresay that most of the Windows systems on the planet have but a single physical drive, with one large partition consuming the whole thing.