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Acer FA100 vs Crucial BX500: Comparison

Acer FA100 vs Crucial BX500 sequential read compared

Start with sequential read, because it is the widest measured gap between them: Acer FA100 3300 MB/s against Crucial BX500 540 MB/s, 84% in favour of Acer FA100. Add sequential write to that, 2700 MB/s on the Acer FA100 versus 500 MB/s on the Crucial BX500, and the pattern holds. They differ on bus interface too, PCIe 3.0 x4 on the Acer FA100 versus SATA III on the Crucial BX500. Nand type is not the same on both, TLC on the Acer FA100 versus TLC/QLC , DRAM-Less on the Crucial BX500. There is a split on form factor as well, M.2 2280 on the Acer FA100 versus 2.5-inch on the Crucial BX500.

Who each one is for

Buy the Acer FA100 for everyday laptops and desktops with a PCIe 3.0 M.2 slot. The same goes for budget upgrades needing 2000 GB of NVMe storage in a standard M.2 2280 slot. It is the wrong buy for anyone wanting PCIe 4.0 speeds, since this drive tops out at 3300 MB/s reads. The Crucial BX500 suits basic hard-drive-to-SSD upgrades and budget office PCs, though it is not the pick for heavy multitasking or gaming rigs and buyers wanting the MX500's DRAM cache. Our rating of the Crucial BX500 (6.8/10): A rock-bottom budget SATA drive; the DRAM-less design keeps costs low but limits sustained performance.

What Acer FA100 and Crucial BX500 have in common

The common ground is wider than the gap: drive type are identical here.

Read the full breakdown: Same Name, Different Drive: SSDs That Change Parts Quietly

Specs and benchmarks

  • Speed Score

    Acer FA100
    6.4/10
    Crucial BX500
    –

    Internal and portable SSDs are scored on separate scales, so these two scores can't be compared directly.

  • Brand

    Acer FA100
    Acer
    Crucial BX500
    Crucial (Micron)
  • Model Number

    Acer FA100
    Acer FA100 (Micron B27B)
    Crucial BX500
    BX500
  • Series

    Acer FA100
    FA100
    Crucial BX500
    BX500
  • Drive Type

    Acer FA100
    Internal
    Crucial BX500
    Internal
  • Bus Interface

    Acer FA100
    PCIe 3.0 x4
    Crucial BX500
    SATA III (6Gb/s)
  • Form Factor

    Acer FA100
    M.2 2280
    Crucial BX500
    2.5-inch
  • Sequential Read

    Acer FA100
    3300 MB/s
    Crucial BX500
    540 MB/s-84%
  • Sequential Write

    Acer FA100
    2700 MB/s
    Crucial BX500
    500 MB/s-81%
  • DRAM Cache

    Acer FA100
    DRAM-less (HMB)
    Crucial BX500
    DRAM-less
  • NAND Type

    Acer FA100
    TLC
    Crucial BX500
    TLC/QLC (Varies by Capacity), DRAM-Less

    Which one should you pick?

    Choose Acer FA100 if you want the higher sequential read (3300 MB/s vs 540 MB/s) and the higher sequential write (2700 MB/s vs 500 MB/s).

    Choose Crucial BX500 if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.

    Price comparison

    RetailerAcer FA100Crucial BX500
    AmazonView on Amazon
    NeweggView on Newegg

    Disclaimer: The price and specification of the given product may differ from the actual product. Please confirm on the retailer's website before buying.

    Verdict

    Crucial BX500

    6.8 / 10 Expert Rating

    A rock-bottom budget SATA drive; the DRAM-less design keeps costs low but limits sustained performance.

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