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WD Black SN850X NVMe SSD vs Crucial T500 NVMe SSD

Both are PCIe 4.0 M.2 drives and both are fast enough that most shoppers will not feel a difference day to day. The WD Black SN850X is the safer pick for a PC or laptop: it has a long track record, a huge base of owner ratings, and a well-known companion dashboard for firmware and monitoring. The Crucial T500 is the better fit for a PS5 or a tight build because it ships with a heatsink and hardware AES-256 encryption, and its 232-layer TLC runs cooler under load. Buy the SN850X for proven reliability and the T500 for console use and thermal headroom.

  • Choose the WD Black SN850X if you want the drive with the longest track record, the most owner feedback, and capacities up to 4 TB for a desktop or laptop.
  • Choose the Crucial T500 if you are filling a PS5 or a small case and want a heatsink and hardware encryption out of the box.

Prices

  • WD Black SN850X NVMe SSD: $114.92 at BlueDogInk (checked today)
  • Crucial T500 NVMe SSD: $179.00 at DirectDial (last seen Nov 3)
  • Difference: the WD Black SN850X NVMe SSD is $64.08 cheaper than the Crucial T500 NVMe SSD at the latest prices (Nov 3 and Nov 15)
Western Digital
Western Digital Black SN850X NVMe SSD WD

WD Black SN850X NVMe SSD

Western Digital Black SN850X NVMe SSD WD

4.8(4,300 ratings)
$114.92at BlueDogInkChecked 1 h ago
See all prices and details
Visit BlueDogInk
Pros
  • Proven, widely reviewed drive with a large owner base
  • Fast writes and high random IOPS for gaming and large file work
  • Capacities up to 4 TB
  • Five-year warranty
  • Mature firmware and dashboard support
Cons
  • No heatsink on the standard version, which matters in a PS5
  • Runs warm under sustained writes
  • Costs more than budget Gen4 drives for similar real-world speed
Crucial
Crucial T500

Crucial T500 NVMe SSD

Crucial T500

4.7(42 ratings)
$179.00at DirectDialChecked Nov 3
See all prices and details
Visit DirectDial
Pros
  • Heatsink version is ready for a PS5 or a cramped case
  • Hardware AES-256 encryption
  • 232-layer TLC with DRAM cache
  • Good performance-per-watt, so it runs cooler
  • Five-year limited warranty
Cons
  • Lower peak write speed than the SN850X
  • Tops out at 2 TB
  • Far fewer owner ratings, so less real-world data

What separates them

WD Black SN850X NVMe SSDCrucial T500 NVMe SSD
Peak sequential readUp to 7,300 MB/sUp to 7,400 MB/s
Peak sequential writeUp to 6,300–6,600 MB/s depending on capacityUp to 5,700 MB/s, listed up to 6,800 MB/s on some listings
HeatsinkSold without one; some versions add a heatsinkHeatsink included on the heatsink version
Hardware encryptionNot a headline featureAES 256-bit hardware encryption
Top capacityUp to 4 TBUp to 2 TB
Endurance at 2 TBAbout 1,200 TBW1,200 TBW
Owner feedback4.8 from about 4,300 ratings4.7 from about 42 ratings
Software and monitoringWD Dashboard for firmware and healthCrucial Storage Executive for firmware and health

Price history

$749.99$114.92
Nov 2Nov 15
  • WD Black SN850X NVMe SSD: lowest $114.92 on Nov 15 at BlueDogInk.
  • Crucial T500 NVMe SSD: lowest $179.00 on Nov 3 at DirectDial; $299.00 on Nov 15.

Prices at every store

WD Black SN850X NVMe SSD

  • Newegg.comNew

    In stock

    $246.99Free shippingChecked 1 h ago
    Visit Newegg.com
  • BlueDogInkNew

    Availability unknown

    $114.92+ $6.99 shippingChecked 1 h ago
    Visit BlueDogInk
  • eBayNew

    Availability unknownSold by elatam111 (99.8% positive, 1,500 ratings)Returns: Set by the eBay seller; the eBay Money Back Guarantee covers an item that doesn't arrive or isn't as described.

    $189.99Free shippingChecked 1 h ago
    Visit eBay
  • BlueDogInkNew

    Availability unknown

    $189.57+ $6.99 shippingChecked 1 h ago
    Visit BlueDogInk

Also available at

  • WalmartCheck price at Walmart
  • eBayCheck price at eBay

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All 32 stores and price history →

Crucial T500 NVMe SSD

  • DirectDialNew

    Availability unknown

    $179.00Checked Nov 3
    Visit DirectDial
  • Central ComputersNew

    Availability unknown

    $189.99Checked Nov 3
    Visit Central Computers
  • AAAwaveNew

    Availability unknown

    $249.99Checked Nov 3
    Visit AAAwave
  • Best BuyNew

    Availability unknown

    $259.99Checked Nov 3
    Visit Best Buy

Also available at

  • WalmartCheck price at Walmart
All 8 stores and price history →

Specs compared

SpecWD Black SN850X NVMe SSDCrucial T500 NVMe SSD
TypeInternalSSD
Form FactorM.2 2280M.2
ColorBlackBlack
M.2 Form Factor22802280
Wi-FiNoNo
TBW (terabytes written) (TB)6001200
Depth (")0.93.1
Width (")3.10.9
Weight (oz)0.30.4
PlacementInternalInternal
Size (GB)10002000
Height (")0.10.4
Show all 40 specsShow fewer specs
SpecWD Black SN850X NVMe SSDCrucial T500 NVMe SSD
Flash Memory3D TLC3D TLC
Random Write 4KB (max) (IOPS)1100000144000
Sequential Write (MB/s)63007000
Sequential Read (MB/s)73007400
InterfacePCIe Gen4 x4 NVMePCIe 4.0 NVMe
Random Read 4KB (max) (IOPS)800000144000
size11
Read speed7,300 MB/s7400 MB/s
Write speed63005700 MB/s
Weight

What reviewers say

WD Black SN850X NVMe SSD

  • 4.8 / 54,300 ratings

Rated 4.8 out of 5 from about 4,300 ratings, the SN850X is widely regarded as one of the fastest PCIe 4.0 drives for gaming. Owners praise load times and reliability; heat and price come up as the main gripes.

What people mention
  • SpeedPraisedOwners say games and large files load noticeably faster than on older SATA or PCIe 3.0 drives.
  • HeatMixedSustained writes warm the drive, and many recommend a heatsink or motherboard cover.
  • PS5 fitPraisedBuyers report it installs and works in the PlayStation 5 without issues.
  • PriceCriticisedSome say it costs more than rival PCIe 4.0 drives with similar real-world speed.

Crucial T500 NVMe SSD

  • 4.7 / 542 ratings

Owners rate the T500 highly for everyday speed and PS5 installs. Some note it runs warm without airflow and that Gen 5 drives now lead on peak speed.

What people mention
  • SpeedPraisedOwners report quick boots, fast game loads and snappy large file copies.
  • HeatMixedThe heatsink helps in desktops and PS5, but some laptop users say it runs warm.
  • PS5 fitPraisedThe heatsink version installs cleanly in the PS5 expansion slot.
  • ValueMixedSome buyers say it costs more than DRAM-less Gen 4 drives that feel similar day to day.
Reviews
  • The Best M.2 SSDs (Solid State Drives) for 2026
  • The Best PCI Express NVMe Solid State Drives (SSDs) for 2026
  • We've Tested 100+ Internal SSDs. These Two Speed Demons Stand Out - PCMag editors select and review products independently
  • The Best Internal SSDs for 2026
  • The Best M.2 SSDs (Solid State Drives) for 2026
  • The Best Internal SSDs for 2026

Questions and answers

Which is better for a PS5?
The Crucial T500 with the heatsink. Sony requires a heatsink in the PS5, and the T500 ships with one. The SN850X works too, but you need the heatsink version or a separate heatsink.
Which is faster in real use?
They are close. The SN850X has the higher write rating and more random IOPS on paper. In games and everyday apps you will not notice the gap.
Which lasts longer?
Endurance is the same at 2 TB, about 1,200 TBW, and both carry a five-year warranty. The SN850X comes in larger capacities, so its biggest drives have higher total endurance.
Is the T500 worth stepping up to over a cheaper Gen4 drive?
Yes if you want DRAM cache, hardware encryption and a heatsink in one package. For a basic office PC, a cheaper drive is fine.
Does the SN850X need a heatsink?
For a desktop with airflow, no. For a PS5 or a laptop with tight clearance, yes, so buy the heatsink version or add one.
Do both work in a laptop?
Both are M.2 2280, so check that your laptop takes a full-length drive and has a free PCIe 4.0 slot. The T500 heatsink version may be too thick for some laptops.

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More comparisons

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  • Crucial T500 vs Lexar NM790 M.2 2280 PCIe Gen 4x4 NVMe Internal Solid-State Drive, 1 TB

Buying guides that pick them

  • Best NVMe SSDs for desktop and laptop upgrades
0.15 lb
10g
ConnectionM.2—
NVMeYes—
Capacity1 TB, 2 TB, 4 TB—
Quantity1 drive—
Power Consumption (average) (W)6.8—
Power Consumption (Standby) (W)0.5—
hard_drive_capacity1 TB—
HD capacity1 TB—
BrandWD BLACK—
Internal/externalInternal—
Interface typePCI Express—
Hard drive form factor2—
Rec. useGaming, Desktop Replacement—
ManufacturerSanDisk—
Model nameBlack SN850X—
ModelWDS100T2X0E-00BCA0—
Compatible modelsPlayStation 5—
CompatibilitySony—