Crucial P2 500GB vs Seagate BarraCuda Q5 500GB
At least one of these has no price the site currently tracks, so what follows weighs specifications alone.
| Specification | CrucialP2 500GB | SeagateBarraCuda Q5 500GB |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity (GB) | 500 | 500 |
| Sequential read (MB/s) | 2300 | 2300 |
| Sequential write (MB/s) | 940better | 900 |
| Current best price | — | — |
| Price per TB | — | — |
| DRAM cache | No | — |
| NAND type | tlc | qlc |
How these two compare
Sequential throughput
Crucial P2 500GB states 2300 MB/s read and 940 MB/s write; Seagate BarraCuda Q5 500GB states 2300 MB/s read and 900 MB/s write, both over PCIe. Sequential numbers like these describe large sustained transfers; the responsiveness you notice day to day tracks random access more closely than the peak figures do.
DRAM cache
On the cache question: Crucial P2 500GB is DRAM-less, and the catalog does not state whether Seagate BarraCuda Q5 500GB carries a DRAM cache. The DRAM keeps the flash-translation table close, sparing a lookup on nearly every access; a drive without it leans on host memory or its own flash, which usually shows as slower sustained random writes rather than in the headline sequential numbers.
NAND and warranty
On the flash itself: Crucial P2 500GB uses TLC, and Seagate BarraCuda Q5 500GB uses QLC. NAND tiers count bits per cell — more bits pack more capacity into the same silicon but shorten write endurance and slow sustained writes, which is why QLC sits below TLC on lasting performance even when the sequential numbers match. Crucial P2 500GB does not state one and Seagate BarraCuda Q5 500GB carries a 3-year warranty — the length the maker will stand behind the drive, and usually a proxy for the endurance it is rated to.
Which to buy
The site holds no current price for at least one of these, so it cannot call the buy on cost. Judge them on the specifications above — at the same capacity and interface, two drives usually part on things like the DRAM cache, the NAND tier, endurance and warranty, so weigh whichever of those the sections above report.
Common questions about this pair
- Which is faster, Crucial P2 500GB or Seagate BarraCuda Q5 500GB?
- Crucial P2 500GB states 2300 MB/s read and 940 MB/s write; Seagate BarraCuda Q5 500GB states 2300 MB/s read and 900 MB/s write, both over PCIe. Sequential numbers like these describe large sustained transfers; the responsiveness you notice day to day tracks random access more closely than the peak figures do.
- Should you buy Crucial P2 500GB or Seagate BarraCuda Q5 500GB?
- The site holds no current price for at least one of these, so it cannot call the buy on cost. Judge them on the specifications above — at the same capacity and interface, two drives usually part on things like the DRAM cache, the NAND tier, endurance and warranty, so weigh whichever of those the sections above report.