Kingston Q500 960 GB Solid State Drive – 2.5" Internal SATA (SATA/600)

Upgrade your system with the Kingston Q500 960 GB Solid State Drive and experience a dramatic leap in responsiveness, reliability, and overall performance. Designed as a high-value upgrade for desktops and laptops, this 2.5-inch internal SATA SSD delivers faster boot times, quicker application launches, and snappier file operations, so you can breeze through everyday computing, gaming, and creative workloads. Built for long-term reliability, the Q500 blends solid performance with energy efficiency, helping you maximize productivity while keeping heat and noise to a minimum.

• Ultrafast performance for seamlessly quick boot times and snappy app launches — with SATA III speeds that minimize waiting and maximize productivity. The Kingston Q500 960 GB SSD accelerates everyday tasks such as loading operating systems, launching programs, and opening large media files, so you spend less time waiting and more time doing. This makes it an ideal upgrade for older machines that struggle with modern software demands, as well as for new builds that demand a dependable, affordable boot drive.
• Reliable endurance engineered for daily computing — the Q500 series is built to withstand the rigors of everyday use, offering robust data integrity, steady performance over time, and consistent read/write behavior. With a focus on durability and stability, this drive helps protect your important files, documents, photos, and videos while maintaining predictable performance during long work sessions, large transfers, and multimedia editing tasks.
• Energy-efficient operation for longer laptop battery life and cooler system temperatures — SSDs inherently consume less power than traditional hard drives, reducing heat generation and improving thermal management in compact laptops and desktops alike. The Kingston Q500 960 GB SSD is designed to deliver efficient, low-power operation, contributing to quieter cooling and extended battery life for portable setups while preserving performance when plugged in.
• Quiet, reliable storage with near-silent operation — with no moving parts, the Q500 significantly reduces noise compared with traditional mechanical hard drives. This translates to a calmer, more comfortable computing environment during long gaming sessions, video editing, and productivity workflows. The solid-state architecture also improves shock resistance, making it a strong choice for laptops that move between locations or environments.
• Easy upgrade with broad compatibility and strong warranty support — a standard 2.5" form factor and SATA interface means effortless compatibility with most desktops and laptops that offer a 2.5" drive bay and SATA data/power connections. Cloning your existing OS and data is straightforward, and Kingston backs this drive with a reliable warranty and support to give you peace of mind as you upgrade your system’s storage capabilities.

Technical Details of Kingston Q500 960 GB Solid State Drive

• Capacity: 960 GB
• Form Factor: 2.5-inch internal SSD
• Interface: SATA III (SATA/600)
• Sequential Read Speed: up to approximately 520 MB/s
• Sequential Write Speed: up to approximately 450 MB/s
• Warranty: 3-year limited warranty

How to install Kingston Q500 960 GB Solid State Drive

• Power down your computer and unplug all cables. If you are installing in a laptop, remove the battery if possible and follow your device’s service manual for access to the drive bay.
• Open the case or access panel to locate an available 2.5" drive bay. If your system uses a different mounting standard, you may need a spacer or mounting bracket for a secure fit.
• Connect the Kingston Q500 to the motherboard using a SATA data cable and attach the SATA power connector from the power supply. Ensure the connections are firm but do not force them.
• Secure the SSD with screws in the drive bay or using a mounting bracket. Properly align the drive to avoid interference with other components and to ensure a clean airflow path inside the chassis.
• Power on the system and enter the BIOS/UEFI to confirm the drive is detected. If you are replacing an existing drive, you can choose to boot from the new SSD after cloning your old drive with your preferred cloning software. If you are performing a fresh install, create your bootable OS installer, then follow the on-screen prompts to install the operating system on the Kingston Q500.
• Once the OS is installed or the clone is complete, install any necessary drivers and perform a disk optimization as needed. You can format any new partitions from Disk Management (Windows) or Disk Utility (macOS) to ready the drive for use. Finally, reboot and verify that the system boots quickly and that files read and write as expected, with all programs launching smoothly.

Frequently asked questions

• Q: Is the Kingston Q500 960 GB SSD compatible with my computer?
  A: The Kingston Q500 960 GB is designed for broad compatibility with most desktops and laptops that include a 2.5-inch drive bay and a SATA interface. If your system supports SATA III, it will be compatible. In some cases, you may need a bracket or adapter to fit the drive in smaller form-factor cases.
• Q: Do I need to reinstall the operating system when upgrading to the Q500?
  A: Not necessarily. You can clone your existing drive to the Kingston Q500 to preserve your current OS, apps, and settings. Alternatively, you can perform a fresh OS installation and then move your data manually. Cloning is often the simplest path for a seamless transition with minimum downtime.
• Q: What is the warranty on the Kingston Q500 960 GB?
  A: Kingston provides a 3-year limited warranty on this SSD, reflecting its commitment to reliability and long-term performance. Warranty terms may vary by region, so check your local Kingston documentation for specifics.
• Q: How does a SATA SSD improve boot times and performance?
  A: A SATA-based solid-state drive like the Q500 replaces spinning disks with flash memory, dramatically reducing boot and load times, speeding up file operations, and offering more consistent performance under load. This leads to a more responsive system for everyday tasks, gaming, and content creation.
• Q: Can I use the Kingston Q500 in laptops and desktops?
  A: Yes. The 2.5" form factor makes it suitable for most laptops with a standard 2.5" drive bay and for desktops with a 2.5" to 3.5" adapter if needed. Ensure your system’s SATA controller is configured for optimal performance (AHCI mode is recommended).