SATA SSDs which operate in 512n Sector Size

andshrew

andshrew

andshrew

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I'm trying to track down a 1TB SATA SSD that operates in 512n sector size (ie. it presents to the computer and Operating System as 512 logical sectors and 512 physical sectors).

Apparently trying to find sector size information from the spec sheets of consumer grade drives is not very easy; so I was hoping if anyone has such a drive they could run the following command to share what sector sizes are being reported by your drive.

This has to be done with the drive directly connected to a SATA port (eg. on the motherboard, or eSATA). It cannot be read when connected to a USB to SATA adapter as the controller in the adapter masks the real size.

From the research I've done so far Samsung drives would seem to be the most likely candidates, so I am particularly interested in confirming if the 870 EVO or QVO 1TB are 512n given that is still a current model.

Using Windows you can get the information from PowerShell by running the following command:

Get-PhysicalDisk | Select FriendlyName, FirmwareVersion, MediaType, PhysicalSectorSize, LogicalSectorSize, Size | Format-Table

Which will give output like:

I1qoiiD.png


With Linux you can use fdisk -l to display the information.

It would be greatly appreciated if anyone can take the time to share this information. If you could also share the Firmware Version in addition to the drives name, as it seems from the initial responses that firmware version may has an influence on this too (especially with Crucial).

These are the drives confirmed to be 512n so far, from my testing and responses below:

DriveSizeFirmware VersionPhysical Sector SizeLogical Sector SizeTested By
Crucial BX100 256GB256 GBMU02
512​
512​
Link
Crucial M4 256GB256 GB070H
512​
512​
Link
CT1000BX500SSD11 TBM6CR056
512​
512​
Link
Samsung SSD 840 EVO 1TB1 TB
512​
512​
Link
Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250GB250 GBEMT02B6Q
512​
512​
Link
Link
Samsung SSD 850 EVO 500GB500 GB
512​
512​
Link
Samsung SSD 870 QVO 8TB8 TBSVQ02B6Q
512​
512​
Link
Link
SanDisk SDSSDH32000G2 TB
512​
512​
Link
WD Blue SA510 2.5 1000GB1 TB52048100
512​
512​
Link
WDC WDS100T2B0A-00SM501 TB415020WD
512​
512​
Link

It seems some drives may have variations of 512n and 512e across the same model (notably Crucial MX500s):

DriveFirmware VersionSerialSizePhysical Sector SizeLogical Sector Size
CT1000MX500SSD1M3CR0231826E145F98B1 TB
4096​
512​
CT1000MX500SSD11845E1D5EC2D1 TB
4096​
512​
CT1000MX500SSD11845E1D63FE11 TB
4096​
512​
CT1000MX500SSD11844E1D4FA791 TB
512​
512​
CT1000MX500SSD11845E1D610B11 TB
512​
512​
CT1000MX500SSD11920E203CC081 TB
4096​
512​
CT1000MX500SSD1M3CR0231 TB
512​
512​
CT1000MX500SSD1M3CR0461 TB
512​
512​
CT1000MX500SSD1M3CR0462336E...1 TB
4096​
512​
CT2000MX500SSD1M3CR0332 TB
512​
512​
CT2000MX500SSD1M3CR0462 TB
512​
512​
 
Last edited:
VaderDSL said:
Yeah direct to Sata, no idea as to the difference sorry.
Click to expand...
No problem, and thanks for sharing.

Perhaps you could run this command as it should list the firmware version:
Get-PhysicalDisk | where FriendlyName -eq "CT1000MX500SSD1" | select Model, FirmwareVersion

Mine is M3CR023.

Thanks
 
VaderDSL said:
I don't have the first clue about all this, but could it be using different flash chips or layout under the same model/firmware?
Click to expand...
It's possible, at least it sounds like something that could explain the difference. It just seems a bit odd that you would get these differences between two of the same model.

I've since come across a blog from several years ago talking about sector sizes, where one of the comments mentions they have five 1TB MX500s with a mixture of 512 and 4096 physical sector sizes between them.

Meddling-Monk said:
A linked side alternative to this possibly, different manufacturing periods/locations?
Click to expand...

Yes, I wondered about location too. Mine was assembled in Mexico.
 
Last edited:
@andshrew I thought I had a couple of QVOs, with one currently in a system, however it appears my memory is failing me and they're actually WD Blues :D - they're 512 either way so that gives you another option!

WDC WDS100T2B0A-00SM50 415020WD SSD 512 512 1000204886016

(obviously can't account for any variances in hardware revision etc, as you mentioned for the MX500 above!)

Also, just for my own curiosity, what's the reason you need one with these exact specs?
 
Last edited:
TrojanWhore said:
Also, just for my own curiosity, what's the reason you need one with these exact specs?
Click to expand...

Thanks for sharing. The reason is that I was using my MX500 in an older device which pre-dates Advanced Format drives, and I noticed it appears it may have a compatibility issue when it is used with this 512e drive (ie. a drive which presents as 512 logical sectors but 4096 physical sectors) in that it appears to be misinterpreting the 4096 physical sectors which results in it producing a bad file system (or specifically one which I think is likely to go bad over time as the drive fills up). So I was wanting to find a 512n drive, as I know these do not have the issue I'm seeing when used in the device.

I'm pleasantly surprised that it seems I do have quite a bit of choice, and I perhaps just got unlucky that my MX500 is one with 4096 physical sectors. So far the Crucial is the only brand I've come across with variance over the same model.

Thanks @VaderDSL @Meddling-Monk @TrojanWhore
 
Seeing as all my current sata ssd's in my main pc are crucial MX500's here you go :)

FriendlyName FirmwareVersion MediaType PhysicalSectorSize LogicalSectorSize Size
------------ --------------- --------- ------------------ ----------------- ----
CT1000MX500SSD1 M3CR046 SSD 512 512 1000204886016
Msft Virtual Disk 1.0 SSD 4096 512 8589934592 - this is actually 2 of the 1TB MX500's with M3CR046 firmware using MS Storage spaces to mirror them.
CT1000MX500SSD1 M3CR046 SSD 512 512 1000204886016
CT1000MX500SSD1 M3CR046 SSD 512 512 1000204886016
CT2000MX500SSD1 M3CR046 SSD 512 512 2000398934016
CT1000MX500SSD1 M3CR046 SSD 512 512 1000204886016
CT2000MX500SSD1 M3CR046 SSD 512 512 2000398934016

Forgot to say Windows 10, AMD b550 motherboard etc
 
Last edited:
So I took a chance on another 1TB MX500.... and it's physical sector size is 4096 bytes. :cry:

Name: CT1000MX500SSD1
Firmware: M3CR046
Serial: 2336E....
Assembled in Mexico

(I'm guessing opening of the serial is manufacturing date 2023 week 36).

What terrible luck.... do not buy an MX500 if you want a guaranteed 512n drive.

I should have waited for one of the other drives to come into stock at a reasonable price. :cry:
 
Snapshot said:
You might have waited for a long time. Reasonable prices seem to be disappearing as the prices of SSDs go upwards.
Click to expand...
Yes I think so, it's a shame I didn't need this during last years Black Friday sales.

I've found a WD Blue now for a not-extortionate amount, I'll have to see if I can return the MX500 or find another use for it.
 
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