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Acer FA100 vs Samsung 860 PRO: Comparison
What is the difference between Acer FA100 and Samsung 860 PRO?
Start with sequential read, because it is the widest measured gap between them: Acer FA100 3300 MB/s against Samsung 860 PRO 560 MB/s, 83% in favour of Acer FA100. Measured rather than claimed: in Speed Score the Acer FA100 returns 6.4 against 5.1, a 20% lead. There is a split on form factor as well, M.2 2280 on the Acer FA100 versus 2.5-inch on the Samsung 860 PRO. They differ on controller too, IG5216 on the Acer FA100 versus Samsung MJX on the Samsung 860 PRO. Controller vendor is not the same on both, InnoGrit on the Acer FA100 versus Samsung on the Samsung 860 PRO. There is a split on nand vendor as well, Micron on the Acer FA100 versus Samsung on the Samsung 860 PRO.
Which should you buy, Acer FA100 or Samsung 860 PRO?
The Acer FA100 suits 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 Samsung 860 PRO is the one to take for high-endurance SATA workloads and NAS or server caching on SATA-only hardware, though it is not the pick for casual everyday users (overkill) and NVMe-capable builds. Our rating of the Samsung 860 PRO (7.7/10): A high-endurance MLC SATA drive that remains relevant for heavy write workloads on SATA-only systems.
Frequently asked questions
Do the Acer FA100 and Samsung 860 PRO differ on bus interface?
Yes. Bus Interface reads PCIe 3.0 x4 on the Acer FA100 versus SATA III on the Samsung 860 PRO.
Is the Drive Type the same on the Acer FA100 and Samsung 860 PRO?
It is. Both are listed at Internal, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Speed Score
- Acer FA100
- 6.4/10Best
- Samsung 860 PRO
- 5.1/10-20%
How fast this drive is, rated from its read and write speeds, cache and NAND type. 10 is the fastest.
Brand
- Acer FA100
- Acer
- Samsung 860 PRO
- Samsung
Model Number
- Acer FA100
- Acer FA100 (Micron B27B)
- Samsung 860 PRO
- 860 PRO
Series
- Acer FA100
- FA100
- Samsung 860 PRO
- 860 PRO
Drive Type
- Acer FA100
- Internal
- Samsung 860 PRO
- Internal
Bus Interface
- Acer FA100
- PCIe 3.0 x4
- Samsung 860 PRO
- SATA III
Form Factor
- Acer FA100
- M.2 2280
- Samsung 860 PRO
- 2.5-inch
Sequential Read
- Acer FA100
- 3300 MB/s
- Samsung 860 PRO
- 560 MB/s-83%
Controller
- Acer FA100
- IG5216
- Samsung 860 PRO
- Samsung MJX
Controller Vendor
- Acer FA100
- InnoGrit
- Samsung 860 PRO
- Samsung
DRAM Cache
- Acer FA100
- DRAM-less (HMB)
- Samsung 860 PRO
- DRAM
NAND Type
- Acer FA100
- TLC
- Samsung 860 PRO
- MLC
NAND Vendor
- Acer FA100
- Micron
- Samsung 860 PRO
- Samsung
Which one should you pick?
Choose Acer FA100 if you want the higher speed score (6.4 vs 5.1) and the higher sequential read (3300 MB/s vs 560 MB/s).
Choose Samsung 860 PRO if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Price comparison
| Retailer | Acer FA100 | Samsung 860 PRO |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | View on Amazon | |
| Newegg | View 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
Samsung 860 PRO
7.7 / 10 Expert Rating
A high-endurance MLC SATA drive that remains relevant for heavy write workloads on SATA-only systems.