Best 500GB Mushkin TLC SSDs
There are 10 500GB Mushkin TLC SSDs compared here. The fastest is the Mushkin PILOT-E at 3500 MB/s read at 500GB. Sequential reads across the group span 500–3500 MB/s at 500GB.
Why this configuration
A 500GB Mushkin TLC SSD is a mainstream all-rounder. TLC balances speed, endurance and price for general use. Mushkin specifically tends to be chosen here for its firmware track record and warranty support.
500GB is a sensible OS-plus-a-few-games size.
Usually chosen for: everyday desktop and laptop storage.
Good fit: everyday all-rounder use, from OS drive to game library.
Ranked list
Speeds on this page are the manufacturer's 500GB ratings where published (9 of 10 drives), not the family headline figure. 3 of the 10 are rated slower at 500GB than at their fastest capacity. Rated writes at 500GB run 400–2300 MB/s.
| # | Model | Tier | Controller | Read MB/s (at 500GB) | TBW | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Mushkin PILOT-E 500GB, 1TB, 2TB | High-end | Silicon Motion SM2262EN (2-Core 62 | 3500 | 1300 | Find on Amazon |
| 2 |  Mushkin PILOT 128GB, 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB | Mid-range | Silicon Motion SM2262 | 2680 | — | Find on Amazon |
| 3 |  Mushkin HELIX-L 250GB, 500GB, 1TB | Mid-range | Silicon Motion SM2263XT | 2105 | 600 | Find on Amazon |
| 4 |  Mushkin TRIACTOR 3DX 128GB, 250GB, 500GB, 1TB | Mid-range | Silicon Motion SM2258XT (1-Core, 4 | 565 | — | Find on Amazon |
| 5 |  Mushkin SOURCE 128GB, 250GB, 500GB, 1TB | Value | Silicon Motion SM2258XT (1-Core, 4 | 560 | 400 | Find on Amazon |
| 6 |  Mushkin SOURCE II 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 960GB | Value | SILICON MOTION SM2259XT (1-Core, 4 | 560 | 400 | Find on Amazon |
| 7 |  Mushkin TRIACTOR 128GB, 250GB, 500GB | Value | Silicon Motion SM2256 | 560 | 230 | Find on Amazon |
| 8 |  Mushkin SOURCE M.2 128GB, 250GB, 500GB, 1TB | Value | Silicon Motion SM2258XT (1-Core, 4 | 560 | 400 | Find on Amazon |
| 9 |  Mushkin TRIACTOR 3DL 128GB, 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 80GB | Value | Silicon Motion SM2258XT (1-Core, 4 | 500 | — | Find on Amazon |
| 10 |  Mushkin TRIACTOR 3D M.2 128GB, 250GB, 500GB, 80GB | Value | Silicon Motion SM2258XT (1-Core, 4 | 500* | — | Find on Amazon |
* family rating — the manufacturer does not publish a 500GB figure for this drive.
The parts, explained
500GB is a comfortable OS-and-games starting point.
TLC NAND is the mainstream choice — a solid balance of endurance, speed and cost.
Staying with Mushkin means consistent firmware, tooling and warranty handling across the range.