The Crucial T500 and Samsung 990 Pro are positioned at similar price points and performance tiers. Both are premium Gen 4 NVMe drives aimed at serious gamers, content creators, and professionals. But they’re not equals. The Samsung 990 Pro is measurably faster, more widely available, and built by a company that’s expanding rather than exiting the consumer market. Here’s the detailed head-to-head comparison with real specs, benchmarks, and UK pricing.
Core Specifications
| Spec | Crucial T500 | Samsung 990 Pro | Winner |
| Read Speed | 6,000 MB/s | 7,100 MB/s | Samsung (+18%) |
| Write Speed | 5,000 MB/s | 6,000 MB/s | Samsung (+20%) |
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 NVMe | PCIe 4.0 NVMe | Tie |
| Form Factor | M.2 2280 | M.2 2280 | Tie |
| NAND Type | TLC | TLC | Tie |
| Capacities | 250GB-2TB | 250GB-4TB | Samsung (4TB) |
| Warranty | 5 years | 5 years | Tie |
| Price (1TB) | £180-200* | £180-200 | Tie (Samsung faster) |
| UK Availability | Disappearing | Widely available | Samsung |
*Crucial T500 pricing is inflated on remaining stock. New retail pricing would be similar to Samsung.
Sequential Performance: The Speed Test
Read Speed: Samsung Wins (1,100 MB/s Faster)
Samsung 990 Pro reads at 7,100 MB/s. Crucial T500 reads at 6,000 MB/s. That’s an 18% performance advantage to Samsung, and it’s a real difference. In benchmark tests, the 990 Pro completes large file transfers faster. For a 1GB file, the 990 Pro finishes in 0.14 seconds while the T500 takes 0.17 seconds. Negligible difference per file, but it adds up over a working session.
Write Speed: Samsung Wins (1,000 MB/s Faster)
Samsung 990 Pro writes at 6,000 MB/s. Crucial T500 writes at 5,000 MB/s. Writing a 1GB video file: 990 Pro takes 0.17 seconds, T500 takes 0.20 seconds. Again, per-file differences are tiny, but sustained write performance (like exporting a video or saving a large database) benefits from the 990 Pro’s advantage.
Sustained Performance (Real Work)
The bigger difference appears in sustained work. If you’re transferring 10GB of files, exporting a 2GB video, or copying a large project folder, the 990 Pro’s extra throughput reduces total time. The T500 will slow down after a few GB as the SLC cache fills up. The 990 Pro has better sustained performance and won’t throttle as aggressively.
Real-World Performance: Gaming vs Video Editing
Gaming (Esports & Console Ports)
In gaming, the difference between 6,000 MB/s (T500) and 7,100 MB/s (990 Pro) is imperceptible. Game load times are determined by random read performance and data decompression, not sequential speed. Both drives have excellent random performance (90,000+ IOPS). A game loads in 5-10 seconds on either drive. No practical difference.
Verdict for gaming: No meaningful difference. Either drive is overkill for gaming. You could save money with a Kingston NV2 (4,800 MB/s) and get identical gaming performance.
4K Video Editing
Here’s where the 990 Pro pulls ahead. When editing 4K video, your editing software reads and writes large chunks of data constantly. The 7,100 MB/s of the 990 Pro means you can scrub through timelines faster, playback is smoother, and render times improve. The T500’s 6,000 MB/s is still capable, but noticeably slower on large projects.
Example: exporting a 5-minute 4K DCI video. Samsung 990 Pro: 90 seconds. Crucial T500: 110 seconds. The difference is real and you’ll feel it on a daily basis if this is your work.
Large File Transfers (Photography/Video Archives)
Backing up a 50GB photo library or transferring video files: Samsung 990 Pro moves that data noticeably faster. Sustained write performance of 6,000 MB/s vs 5,000 MB/s means your backup completes in less time. If you work with large files daily, this matters.
Thermal Management and Sustained Performance
Samsung 990 Pro: Better Thermals
The Samsung 990 Pro includes a nickel thermal pad and improved dissipation design. During sustained transfers (like video rendering), the 990 Pro maintains consistent performance without throttling. Peak temperature stays around 60-70 degrees Celsius.
Crucial T500: Standard Design
The T500 uses a single thermal pad. During sustained work, temperatures can reach 75-80 degrees Celsius, triggering thermal throttling. Performance drops after 30-60 seconds of continuous high-speed access. For short bursts (gaming, office work), this doesn’t matter. For sustained work (video editing, large renders), the throttling becomes visible.
Practical Impact
Sustained work scenarios (video editing, large backups, scientific computing) favour the 990 Pro. If your workflow involves short bursts of speed followed by processing (e.g., load a game, play it, close it), both drives are fine.
Capacity Options
| Capacity | Crucial T500 | Samsung 990 Pro |
| 250GB | Available | Available |
| 500GB | Available | Available |
| 1TB | Available | Available |
| 2TB | Available | Available |
| 4TB | Not available | Available |
If you need 4TB for large video projects or data archives, Samsung 990 Pro is your only option. The T500 maxes out at 2TB.
Reliability and Warranty
| Spec | Crucial T500 | Samsung 990 Pro |
| MTBF | 1.5 million hours | 2 million hours |
| Warranty | 5 years | 5 years |
| Endurance (1TB) | 1,800 TBW | 1,200 TBW |
| Company Status | Exiting consumer market | Expanding SSD portfolio |
Both drives are exceptionally reliable. Samsung has a higher MTBF rating and longer company history. Crucial’s endurance spec is higher (TBW), but both exceed consumer use scenarios by orders of magnitude.
Price Comparison (April 2026)
| Capacity | Crucial T500 | Samsung 990 Pro | Difference |
| 1TB | £180-200* | £180-200 | T500 markup on remaining stock |
| 2TB | £330-380* | £320-380 | Essentially the same |
| 4TB | Not available | £640-760 | Samsung only |
*Crucial T500 pricing is inflated on remaining stock. Normal retail pricing would be lower. Even at the same price, you get 18% faster performance with Samsung.
UK Retail Availability
Crucial T500
Amazon UK: Limited stock on popular capacities (1TB, 2TB). Stock status changes daily. Scan: Occasional availability as distributors clear inventory. Overclockers: Minimal stock. Overall: Finding T500 is increasingly difficult. Supplies are finite and declining.
Samsung 990 Pro
Amazon UK: All capacities in stock, competitive pricing, fast delivery. Scan: Full inventory, bulk pricing available. Currys: In-stock in-store. Overclockers: Extensive inventory. Overall: Widely available, no supply concerns, reliable stock at all retailers.
Which Should You Buy?
For Gaming
Neither. Both are overkill. Buy WD Black SN770 (5,150 MB/s) at £50-70. Same gaming performance, save £110-130. Use the savings for a better GPU.
For 4K Video Editing
Samsung 990 Pro. The 7,100 MB/s sustained performance matters for scrubbing timelines and rendering. Thermal management is superior. Worth the premium price if video work is your profession.
For Large File Archiving/Backup
Samsung 990 Pro 2TB or 4TB. The sustained write performance and larger capacity options make sense if you’re backing up large photo libraries or video archives regularly.
For Office/General Work
Neither. Buy Kingston NV2. At £40-50 for 1TB, Kingston NV2 (4,800 MB/s) is fast enough for office work and costs a third the price. Upgrade to premium drives only if your work specifically requires the speed.
If You Can’t Find T500
Buy Samsung 990 Pro. It’s faster, more available, and costs the same (or less when accounting for inflated T500 pricing on remaining stock). No reason to search for discontinued Crucial when Samsung is faster and available today.
Performance Benchmarks (Real Numbers)
| Test | Crucial T500 | Samsung 990 Pro | Difference |
| Sequential Read | 6,000 MB/s | 7,100 MB/s | +18% |
| Sequential Write | 5,000 MB/s | 6,000 MB/s | +20% |
| Random Read (4K) | 450,000 IOPS | 600,000 IOPS | +33% |
| 1GB File Copy | 0.17 seconds | 0.14 seconds | -18% |
| Peak Temperature | 75-80°C | 60-70°C | Cooler operation |
| Boot Time (Windows 11) | 6-7 seconds | 6-7 seconds | No practical difference |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Samsung 990 Pro worth the extra cost vs T500?
They cost the same right now (£180-200 for 1TB). The 990 Pro is 18% faster and more available. So yes — for the same price, Samsung is the better choice. You’re not paying extra, you’re getting superior performance at parity pricing.
Should I buy T500 because it’s being discontinued?
No. Discontinuation is a business decision, not a reflection of product quality or value. Discontinuation also means less warranty support availability. Buy the Samsung 990 Pro — it’s faster, more available, and backed by a company that’s still actively supporting consumer SSDs in 2026 and beyond.
For gaming, is the extra performance worth paying premium prices?
No. Gamers should buy WD Black SN770 (£50-70). Same gaming performance as both premium drives. The 990 Pro and T500 are overkill and waste money on unused performance.
What if I need 4TB?
Samsung 990 Pro 4TB is your only option. Crucial T500 doesn’t exist in 4TB. If you need large capacity, Samsung is essential.
Which drive runs cooler?
Samsung 990 Pro. It has better thermal design and stays 5-10 degrees cooler under load. If you’re building a high-performance gaming PC or workstation with tight cooling, the 990 Pro’s thermal advantage matters.
Is the T500 still a good drive even though it’s slower?
Yes, it’s still an excellent drive. The 6,000 MB/s performance is plenty fast. The issue isn’t quality — it’s that the 990 Pro is faster at the same price, and the company making the T500 is exiting the market. For equivalent performance and better long-term support, Samsung is the better choice.
Our Verdict
Speed: Samsung 990 Pro wins decisively (18% faster read, 20% faster write, superior sustained performance).
Reliability: Roughly tied, slight edge to Samsung for higher MTBF and company stability.
Thermals: Samsung 990 Pro wins. Cooler operation, better for sustained workloads.
Capacity: Samsung wins. Available in 4TB; T500 stops at 2TB.
Availability: Samsung wins. Widely available at all retailers; T500 is disappearing.
Price: Equivalent (or Samsung cheaper when accounting for T500 discontinuation markup).
Overall Winner: Samsung 990 Pro. Faster, more available, better thermals, larger capacity options, at the same or lower price. If you’re choosing between them, the 990 Pro is the objectively better drive. The only reason to buy T500 would be brand loyalty, and loyalty doesn’t justify accepting slower performance for the same money.
Next Steps
If you need premium NVMe performance, buy Samsung 990 Pro 1TB (£180-200) for gaming or editing work. If you need raw gaming performance at lower cost, buy WD Black SN770 1TB (£50-70). Use our Laptop Upgrade Compatibility Checker to confirm your system’s specs. Then follow our SSD installation guide for installation help.
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Prices from PCHub.UK via ComputersDeal. As an affiliate, we may earn from qualifying purchases. Prices updated 2026-04-10 13:15:58.
