Which is better for gaming?

Both are Gen4 drives and load games quickly. The SN770's TLC NAND keeps write speeds steadier during big installs and updates, while the SN5000 4TB lets you keep many more games installed at once.

The SN5000 4TB is rated at 1,200 TBW against 600 TBW for the 1TB SN770, so it is rated for twice the total writes. Both carry a five-year limited warranty.

Is the SN5000 worth the extra money?

Only if you need 4TB in one drive. At $499.99 at Amazon as of November 6, 2026, you pay a large premium for capacity; a 1TB SN770 covers a boot drive and a few big games for far less.

Will either fit my laptop?

The SN5000 is M.2 2280 only. The SN770 comes in M.2 2280 and the shorter M.2 2230, which matters for handhelds and compact laptops. Check your slot length and keying first.

Does either support hardware encryption?

The SN5000 lists software encryption with TCG Pyrite 2.01 support. The SN770 lists no 256-bit AES hardware encryption. For BitLocker or similar, plan on software encryption either way.

Can I use them in a PCIe Gen3 slot?

Yes. Both are PCIe Gen4 drives that work in Gen3 slots but run at Gen3 speeds, roughly 3,500 MB/s, so you won't see the full rated numbers.

WD Blue SN5000 4TB NVMe SSD vs WD Black SN770 NVMe SSD

Buy the WD Black SN770 1TB if you want a fast, proven gaming boot drive and don't need much space. Buy the WD Blue SN5000 4TB if capacity is the priority: four times the storage and a higher endurance rating. The SN770 is the better value per gigabyte at current prices, but the SN5000 is the only one of the two that holds a large game library. Pricing as given: the SN5000 4TB is $499.99 at Amazon as of November 6, 2026; no current price was given for the SN770.

Ask our shopping agent

It checks today's price at every store, compares the alternatives and answers in about a minute.