Which is better for gaming?

The SN850X. Its PCIe Gen4 interface loads games far faster than the MX500's SATA link, and it fits the PS5's M.2 slot. The MX500 is fine for storing a game library, not for fast loading.

Is the SN850X worth the extra money?

Only if you need speed. At $783.50 versus $323.75 on November 3, 2026, you pay about $460 more for roughly 13x the rated read speed. For backups or media storage, the MX500 is the better value.

Will the MX500 fit my laptop?

If your laptop has a 2.5-inch SATA bay, yes. Many thin laptops only have an M.2 slot, in which case you need the SN850X or another M.2 drive.

Both carry a 5-year warranty. The MX500 adds power-loss immunity and hardware encryption. The SN850X is rated for heavier sustained write workloads, which matters for large game installs and video work.

Can I use either in a PS5?

The SN850X in M.2 2280 form meets the PS5's requirements. The MX500 is a 2.5-inch SATA drive and will not fit inside a PS5.

Which is cheaper per terabyte?

The MX500. At the November 3, 2026 prices, it costs about $81 per TB versus about $196 per TB for the SN850X.

Western Digital WD Black SN850X 4TB NVMe M.2 SSD vs Crucial MX500 4 TB Solid State Drive - 2.5" Internal - SATA (SATA/600)

Buy the WD Black SN850X 4TB if you want speed: it is a PCIe Gen4 NVMe drive rated up to 7,300 MB/s and is built for gaming PCs and consoles. Buy the Crucial MX500 4TB if you want cheap bulk storage or your machine only has a 2.5-inch SATA bay. As of November 3, 2026, the SN850X's best new price is $783.50 at Amazon, while the MX500's is $323.75 at Alo Tech Solutions.

Today the Crucial MX500 4 TB Solid State Drive - 2.5" Internal - SATA (SATA/600) costs $459.75 less at its best price.

Ask our shopping agent