Samsung
SAMSUNG 860 EVO SSD 250GB - M.2 SATA Internal Solid State Drive with V-NAND Technology (MZ-N6E250BW)
Bottom line: The SAMSUNG 860 EVO SSD 250GB ($149.00 on Amazon as of 2026-10-06): 560MB/s read and 530MB/s write saturates the SATA 3 interface; main trade-off: SATA interface caps speed far below NVMe M.2 drives in the same slot.
As an Amazon Associate, SpecPicks earns from qualifying purchases. Full disclosure →
*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated 2026-10-06. Price and availability subject to change.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓ 560MB/s read and 530MB/s write saturates the SATA 3 interface
- ✓ Samsung V-NAND keeps write speeds steady under heavy multi-tasking
- ✓ M.2 2280 form factor frees up 2.5-inch bays and cable runs
- ✓ Runs on Windows 7/8, Vista SP1+, XP SP2+, macOS and Linux
Cons
- ✗ SATA interface caps speed far below NVMe M.2 drives in the same slot
- ✗ 250GB fills fast with modern games; boot-drive duty only
- ✗ Needs a SATA-keyed M.2 slot, not an NVMe-only one
- ✗ No Windows 10 or 11 listed in the stated compatibility set
Manufacturer description
The SSD you trust: The newest edition to the world's best-selling SATA SSD series, the Samsung 860 EVO SSD is specially designed to enhance performance of mainstream PCs and laptops. With the latest V-NAND technology, this fast and reliable Solid State Drive comes in multiple form factors and capacities. Its enhanced performance delivers consistent speeds, even under heavy workloads and multi-tasking, allowing for faster file transfers. The 860 EVO performs at sequential read speeds of up to 550MB/s with Intelligent TurboWrite technology, and sequential write speeds of up to 520MB/s. The…
SpecPicks Verdict
SpecPicks scored SAMSUNG 860 EVO SSD 250GB using a rating × review-volume × price-fit model applied to published specs and reviews across the ssds & storage category. Samsung's ssds & storage lineup sits within the broader category mid-tier; price and specs are the deciding factors over brand loyalty here. Judge it on the specification table and the price rather than on sentiment: check the figures that decide your use case, then put it side-by-side with two or three close alternatives in the Compare tool before clicking through.
Common buyer scenarios for ssds & storage of this kind: matching it to an existing build, replacing a failing part, or upgrading from a previous-generation equivalent. Check the spec table below against your current setup — particularly socket / form-factor / power-rating fields — and confirm compatibility on the retailer's listing before purchase. Prices and stock are set by the retailer and may have moved since this page was last updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
How fast is the Samsung 860 EVO 250GB M.2?
Samsung rates it at up to 560MB/s sequential read and up to 530MB/s sequential write, with Intelligent TurboWrite holding write speeds steady during large transfers.
Will this M.2 drive work in any M.2 slot?
No. This is a SATA M.2 drive, so it needs an M.2 slot wired for SATA. Check your motherboard or laptop manual, because NVMe-only slots will not recognize it.
Is 250GB enough storage for a gaming PC?
It works well as a boot and application drive. Modern game installs often exceed 100GB each, so pair it with a larger secondary drive for your library.
What operating systems does it support?
Samsung lists Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Server 2003 (32-bit and 64-bit), Vista SP1 and above, XP SP2 and above, macOS, and Linux.
Key Features
- Powered by Samsung V-NAND Technology. Optimized Performance for Everyday Computing
- Enhanced Performance: Sequential Read/Write speeds up to 560MB/s and 530MB/s respectively
- Ideal for mainstream PCs and laptops for personal, gaming and business use and sequential write speed is up to 520 MB/s sequential write
- Hardware/Software Compatibility: Windows 8/Windows 7/Windows Server 2003 (32-bit and 64-bit), Vista (SP1 and above), XP (SP2 and above), MAC OSX, and Linux
Full Specifications
| Brand | Samsung |
|---|---|
| Color | Black |
| Model Name | 860 EVO |
| Read Speed | 550 megabytes_per_second |
| Unit Count | 1 Count |
| Form Factor | M.2 2280 |
| Media Speed | 520 megabits_per_second |
| Model Number | MZ-N6E250BW |
| Compatibility | Mac, Linux |
| Built-In Media | M.2 SATA (6Gb/s) SSD & User Manual (All Other Cables, Screws, Brackets Not Included). |
| Item Type Name | Samsung 860 EVO 250GB M.2 SATA Internal SSD (MZ-N6E250BW) |
| Hard-Drive Size | 250 GB |
| Mfr Part Number | MZ-N6E250BW |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Special Feature | Portable |
| Hardware Platform | PC, Mac |
| Installation Type | Internal Hard Drive |
| Compatible Devices | Laptop |
| Data Transfer Rate | 550 megabits_per_second |
| Enclosure Material | V-Nand |
Ready to buy?
SAMSUNG 860 EVO SSD 250GB - M.2 SATA Internal Solid State Drive with V-NAND Technology (MZ-N6E250BW) is listed on Amazon. Price, availability, shipping and returns are set by Amazon and its sellers — check the listing for current terms. SpecPicks earns a small commission on qualifying purchases — thank you for supporting independent review work.
*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated 2026-10-06. Price and availability subject to change.
Related SSDs & Storage
More guides & deep dives from the SpecPicks archive
Browse all articles & guides →- How to Build a Windows 98 Retro PC in 2026
- Best Budget Gaming PC Build 2026 — ~$1,000 ($800 on Sale)
- RTX 4070 Super vs RX 7800 XT — Which to Buy in 2026
- Emulation Hardware in 2026: FPGA, Software, and Cart-Reader Ecosystems
- Best 1440p Gaming GPUs in 2026
- Best Retro Handhelds in 2026 — From $35 to $500
- The Complete Voodoo5 5500 AGP Driver Guide (2026 Edition)
More reviews from the SpecPicks archive
Browse all reviews →- Self-Hosting Foundry VTT: Raspberry Pi 4 vs an Old i7-9700K Box
- How to Run DeepSeek-R1 32B on Apple M4: Which Mac You Need + Real tok/s
- Grok 4.5, GPT-5.6, Kimi K3: four frontier models in eight days — what it means for local rigs
- Cut AI API Bills: Run Local LLMs on an RTX 3060 12GB (2026)
- OpenAI Codex Now Repeats a Task After Watching Once — Local Agentic Alternatives
- GPT-5.6 Sol Nearly Matches Fable 5 at a Third the Cost: The Local-Rig Angle
- Best PC Couch-Gaming Setup in 2026: Controllers, Display, and Audio
- Inside reusable-agents: A Self-Hostable LLM Agent Framework Driving Two Live Consumer Sites in 2026
- Claude Now Writes 65% of Anthropic's Code: The Local Coding-Rig Angle
- Open WebUI vs LM Studio: Best Local Chat Front-End for a 12GB GPU
- DIY Open-Source Photo Frame: Pi Zero 2 W + Immich
- SteamDSXL Yay or Nay? Dual-Screen Steam Deck Dock Review
- Self-Host Immich on a Budget Homelab Box: Storage Tiers That Make Sense
- Linux Driver Will Expose Voltage Inputs on Raspberry Pi SBCs
- Why Privacy-Preserving AI Demand Is Rising in the LLM Era
- How to run DeepSeek-R1 32B on Arc B580
- Ryzen 5 5600G vs Core i7-9700K for 1080p Gaming
- Hosting a Period-Correct LAN Party in 2026: Quake 3, UT99, and the Gear That Still Works
- Kimi K3 Lands #5 on Coding Agents: What You Can Actually Run Local
- Google's 'Frozen v2' Chip Bakes Gemini Into Silicon: What It Means for Local Rigs
- Best SATA SSD for a PS4 Slim and Emulation Box in 2026
- Running a 26B LLM Locally With No GPU: The CPU Setup Guide
- Best GPU for Training CNNs at Home in 2026: The RTX 3060 12GB Case
- MiMo-V2.5-Pro Local Hardware Requirements: VRAM, Tok/s, and Quantization on Consumer GPUs
Earliest SpecPicks reviews
Browse full archive →- Best GPU for Llama 3.1 8B (2026)
- Best GPU for Qwen 3 14B (2026)
- Best GPU for Qwen 3 32B (2026)
- Best GPU for Llama 3.1 70B (2026)
- Best GPU for DeepSeek-R1 32B (2026)
- Best GPU for Llama 3.1 405B (2026)
- How to run Llama 3.1 8B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run Qwen 3 14B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run Qwen 3 32B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run Llama 3.1 70B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run DeepSeek-R1 32B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run Llama 3.1 8B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090