Consumercarts is reader-supported. Learn more
Acer FA100 vs Samsung 860 PRO: Comparison
What is the difference between Acer FA100 and Samsung 860 PRO?
Sequential read is where these two genuinely part company, Acer FA100 3300 MB/s against Samsung 860 PRO 560 MB/s, a 83% lead for Acer FA100. Measured rather than claimed: in Speed Score the Acer FA100 returns 6.4 against 5.1, a 20% lead. Form factor is not the same on both, M.2 2280 on the Acer FA100 versus 2.5-inch on the Samsung 860 PRO. There is a split on controller as well, IG5216 on the Acer FA100 versus Samsung MJX on the Samsung 860 PRO. There is a split on controller vendor as well, InnoGrit on the Acer FA100 versus Samsung on the Samsung 860 PRO. They differ on nand vendor too, 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 is the one to take for everyday storage use where 3300 MB/s reads are fast enough. It also earns its place with budget laptop or desktop upgrades wanting 2000 GB on a PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slot. It is the wrong buy for buyers wanting PCIe 4.0 performance, as this drive is limited to 3300 MB/s reads. Buy the Samsung 860 PRO for high-endurance SATA workloads and NAS or server caching on SATA-only hardware, though it is the wrong buy 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 B47R)
- 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.