Which is better for gaming?

The SN770. Its 5150 MB/s read speed is more than enough for game load times, and it costs $65.00 versus $170.99. The SN5100 is faster on paper but you will not notice it in games.

Is the SN5100 worth the extra $106?

Only if you regularly move very large files, such as video projects or big game installs, and want the fastest sequential speeds. For most shoppers the SN770 is the better buy at this price gap.

The SN5100 has a stated 600TB endurance rating. The SN770's endurance is not given in the listing, but WD Black drives in this class are rated lower. Both should last years in normal desktop use.

Will either fit my laptop?

The SN5100 is M.2 2280 only. The SN770 comes in M.2 2280 and the shorter M.2 2230, so check your slot length before buying. Both are single-sided, which helps in thin laptops.

Do both work with PCIe Gen 3?

The SN770 is explicitly backward compatible with PCIe Gen3. The SN5100 is a PCIe 4.0 drive and will run at Gen 3 speeds in an older slot. Either way you need an M.2 NVMe slot.

Neither listing gives power figures for the SN770, while the SN5100 lists 3.9W active. Buyers of the SN5100 report sane thermals under sustained load. In a desktop with airflow, heat is not a concern for either.

WD Blue SN5100 1TB SSD vs WD Black 1TB SN770 NVMe Internal Gaming SSD

Buy the WD Black SN770 if you want the best value: $65.00 at Walmart as of November 6, 2026, versus $170.99 at AAAWave for the Blue SN5100. The SN5100 is the faster drive on paper (7100/6700 MB/s vs 5150/4900 MB/s) and has a higher 600TB endurance rating, but it costs about $106 more. For gaming and everyday use, the SN770 is the smarter buy; pick the SN5100 only if you move huge files often and need the extra sequential speed.

Today the WD Black 1TB SN770 NVMe Internal Gaming SSD costs $105.99 less at its best price.

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