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Silver 2.5 inch SATA laptop hard drive, bare drive

SAMSUNG

SAMSUNG ST500LM012 500GB 5400 RPM 8MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 2.5" laptop hard drive

SKU CH-1820-8AZJV MPN ST500LM012

A 500 GB 2.5-inch laptop hard drive spinning at 5400 RPM with 8 MB cache and SATA 6.0 Gb/s interface

  • Total capacity500 GB
  • Interface typeSATA 6.0Gb/s
  • Form factor2.5 in (6.35 cm)
  • Packaging typeBare Drive
  • Cache memory8 MB
  • Average seek time12 ms

Capacity 500GB

  • 500 GB capacity stores large media libraries and project files
  • 5400 RPM spindle with 8 MB cache delivers responsive everyday performance
  • SATA 6.0 Gb/s interface provides fast data transfer for notebooks
  • SilentSeek and NoiseGuard technologies keep acoustic output low in quiet environments
  • 5 mm height fits standard 2.5-inch laptop drive bays

Product identity

The Samsung Spinpoint M8 ST500LM012 is a 2.5-inch laptop internal hard drive with a 500GB capacity, 5400 RPM spindle speed and 8MB cache. It connects through a SATA 6.0Gb/s interface and fits the standard 9.5mm drive bay found in most notebooks. The bare-drive packaging makes it suitable for direct installation or as a replacement part in compatible systems.

Fit and alternatives

This drive suits users who need affordable bulk storage for documents, media libraries or backup archives in a laptop or external enclosure. It is not for builders who need faster boot and application load times, buyers who want more storage than 500GB provides, or systems that require a 7mm or thinner form factor. The mechanical design also makes it less suitable for environments with frequent vibration or shock.

Capacity and headroom

The 500GB capacity comfortably holds an operating system, productivity software and several hundred gigabytes of photos, videos or music files. Performance is adequate for sequential reads and writes such as media playback or file transfers, but the 5400 RPM speed and 12ms average seek time mean random access workloads like heavy multitasking or database operations will run into latency limits. The 8MB cache helps smooth burst traffic but cannot compensate for the rotational speed ceiling.

How it compares

Measured against everything we stock in 2.5-Inch Internal Laptop HDDs, at today’s prices. Recalculated every night.

Price $34.99
Cheaper than about 86% of the 645 comparable items (median $66.99).
Total capacity 500 GB
Higher than about 60% of the 419 comparable items (median 320 GB).
Price per TB $69.98 per TB
Cheaper than about 88% of the 416 comparable items (median $233.48 per TB).

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Specifications

Product
Brand nameSeagate Samsung
Product lineSpinpoint M8
Model nameST500LM012 (HN-M500MBB/EX2)
Total capacity500 GB
Performance
Average seek time12 ms
Mean latency5.6 ms
Rotational speed5,400 RPM
Storage
Cache memory8 MB
Ports & slots
Interface typeSATA 6.0Gb/s
Size & build
Form factor2.5 in (6.35 cm)
Max height9.5 mm
Maximum width69.75 mm
Maximum length100.3 mm
Shipping weight0.11 kg
Package size102 × 70 × 10 mm

Other versions of this model

2 more in the same range

Questions about this item

Does my laptop need a 2.5-inch 9.5mm drive bay and a SATA 6.0Gb/s connector for this ST500LM012?

Yes. The drive uses the 2.5-inch form factor with a 9.5mm height and connects through a SATA 6.0Gb/s interface, so the notebook must provide that bay and data connector.

Will this 5400 RPM Spinpoint M8 work reliably on a motherboard limited to SATA 3.0Gb/s?

It will operate at the lower 3.0Gb/s link speed. The SATA 6.0Gb/s interface is backward compatible, so the 500GB drive remains fully functional on older controllers.

How can I confirm the 500GB drive is healthy after installation?

Run a S.M.A.R.T. attribute check; the drive supports the ATA S.M.A.R.T. feature set, so tools can read health status, reallocated sectors and temperature to verify normal operation.

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