Which is better for gaming?

Both work well for games, since load times depend more on random reads than peak sequential speed. The SN770 gives you 2TB for $145.98, so you can hold more games for less money.

The Blue SN5100 is faster on paper: 7100 MB/s read and 6700 MB/s write versus 5150 MB/s and 4900 MB/s for the SN770. You will notice it most when copying very large files.

Is the SN5100 worth the extra money?

Only if you need top sequential speed and 1TB is enough. At $170.99 for 1TB versus $145.98 for 2TB, the SN770 is the better value for most shoppers.

The SN5100 carries a 600TB endurance rating. The SN770 listing gives no TBW figure, so the SN5100 is the safer pick on stated endurance.

Will the SN770 fit a laptop?

It comes in both M.2 2230 and 2280 sizes, so it fits more laptops than the SN5100, which is 2280 only. Check your slot length before buying.

Do either have hardware encryption?

The SN770 listing says no 256-bit AES hardware encryption. The SN5100 specs do not list encryption either, so plan on software encryption if you need it.

WD Blue SN5100 1TB SSD vs WD_BLACK SN770 2TB NVMe SSD

Buy the WD_BLACK SN770 2TB if you want the most storage per dollar and a well-known gaming drive. Buy the Blue SN5100 1TB if you need the fastest sequential speeds for large file transfers. The SN770 is $145.98 new, while the SN5100 1TB is $170.99 at AAAWave as of November 6, 2026, so the SN770 gives you twice the capacity for less money.

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