Crucial
BX500 480 GB
Best budget friendly upgrade for revitalizing older computers.
Upgrade your computing experience with this high-performance solid-state drive. Designed for both desktops and laptops, it offers a significant boost in speed and responsiveness for everyday tasks, gaming, and demanding applications. Its compact 2.5-inch form factor ensures easy installation, while the SATA III interface provides reliable connectivity. Enjoy faster boot times, quicker application loading, and smoother multitasking, making your system feel brand new. This drive is an excellent choice for users seeking to enhance their computer's overall performance and efficiency.
$129.00
Owner Satisfaction
4.1
/ 5
Category Rank
3697
/ 4142
#3697 in Hard Drives
Price vs Category Average
-76%
Below average
Drive Type
SSD
/ SSD
Who it's for
- Everyday users seeking an inexpensive performance improvement
- Individuals upgrading from a slow mechanical hard drive
- DIY computer builders and those performing their first upgrade
Who should skip it
- Power users and professionals handling large, frequent data transfers
- Users with intensive write operations or long-term heavy usage needs
- Enthusiasts and professionals requiring consistent, top-tier performance
Performance breakdown
Boot Speed
Drastically reduces wait times compared to traditional mechanical hard drives.
Installation Simplicity
Standard 2.5-inch form factor makes upgrading laptops and desktops straightforward.
Multitasking Responsiveness
Handles multiple open applications with noticeable improvements in system fluidity.
Compatibility Range
Works seamlessly across Windows, macOS, and Linux environments without issue.
SATA III Throughput
Reliable interface speeds suitable for everyday computing and standard gaming loads.
Build Durability
Solid-state construction provides robust resistance against physical shocks and drops.
Key Specs
Drive Type
SSD
Form Factor
2.5 Inch
Interface Type
SATA III
Capacity
0.46 TB
Intended Use
Internal Desktop, Internal Laptop
Operating System Compatibility
Windows, macOS, Linux
Enclosure Type
Bare Drive
Know before you buy
The BX500 is a standard 2.5-inch SATA SSD, which is compatible with most laptops and desktops that support this form factor. Before purchasing, ensure your device has an available 2.5-inch drive bay and supports SATA interface connections.
Yes, the BX500 is an excellent choice for a primary boot drive. Replacing a traditional mechanical hard drive with this SSD will significantly improve your computer's startup times and overall system responsiveness.
The drive does not come with cables. If you are installing it in a desktop PC, you will need a SATA data cable and a SATA power connector from your power supply. Most desktop motherboards include a spare SATA cable, but you may need to buy one separately if you don't have an extra.
The BX500 is Crucial’s entry-level SSD, designed for basic storage and performance upgrades. The MX series is a higher-tier product that includes a dedicated DRAM cache, which provides better sustained performance and longevity for heavy workloads or frequent file transfers.
Yes, the drive is compatible with both operating systems. Note that you may need to format the drive using your computer's disk management utility to the appropriate file system—NTFS for Windows or APFS/Mac OS Extended for macOS—before it can be used for storage.
Still have a question?
Ask Hayley anything about this product before you decide.