Best 250GB Crucial MLC SSDs
There are 9 250GB Crucial MLC SSDs compared here. The fastest is the Crucial BX300 at 555 MB/s read, and the highest-rated for endurance is the Crucial MX200 (320 TBW). Sequential reads across the group span 500–555 MB/s at 250GB.
Why this configuration
A 250GB Crucial MLC SSD is a legacy endurance choice. MLC stores two bits per cell instead of three, so these older drives take far more rewriting than a modern budget drive, at a much higher cost per gigabyte. Crucial specifically tends to be chosen here for its firmware track record and warranty support.
250GB covers an OS and core apps with little room for a large game library.
Usually chosen for: write-heavy secondary roles and keeping older machines useful.
Good fit: mainstream desktop and laptop builds.
Ranked list
Speeds on this page are the manufacturer's 250GB ratings where published (3 of 9 drives), not the family headline figure. Rated writes at 250GB run 370–500 MB/s.
| # | Model | Tier | Controller | Read MB/s (at 250GB) | TBW | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Crucial MX100 128GB, 250GB, 500GB | High-end | Marvell 88SS9189 | 550* | 72 | Find on Amazon |
| 2 | Crucial MX200 250GB, 500GB, 1TB | High-end | Marvell 88SS9189 | 550 | 320 | Find on Amazon |
| 3 | Crucial MX200 M.2 250GB, 500GB | High-end | Marvell 88SS9189 | 550 | 160 | Find on Amazon |
| 4 | Crucial M500 128GB, 250GB, 500GB, 960GB | High-end | Marvell 88SS9187 | 500* | 72 | Find on Amazon |
| 5 | Crucial BX300 128GB, 250GB, 500GB | Mid-range | Silicon Motion SM2258 | 555* | 160 | Find on Amazon |
| 6 | Crucial M550 128GB, 250GB, 500GB, 1TB | Mid-range | Marvell 88SS9189 | 550* | 72 | Find on Amazon |
| 7 | Crucial M550 mSATA 128GB, 250GB, 500GB | Mid-range | Marvell 88SS9189 | 550* | 72 | Find on Amazon |
| 8 | Crucial BX100 128GB, 250GB, 500GB, 1TB | Mid-range | Silicon Motion SM2246EN | 535 | 72 | Find on Amazon |
| 9 | Crucial M4 128GB, 250GB, 500GB, 64GB | — | MARVELL 88SS9174-BLD2 | 500* | 72 | Find on Amazon |
* family rating — the manufacturer does not publish a 250GB figure for this drive.
The parts, explained
250GB fits an OS plus core apps.
MLC NAND is older and costs more per gigabyte, but is very durable.
Staying with Crucial means consistent firmware, tooling and warranty handling across the range.