Both Crucial T500 and WD Black SN850X are top players in the Gen 4.0 NVMe market. The benchmark scores are competitive along with similar specifications. No matter where you search for a good Gen 4.0 NVMe, you’ll surely see these two names. It is possible to be confused between the both and I believe you are here with the same confusion.
The theoretical performance is almost similar in both the TBW and Warranty period. Both have DRAM and good controllers. So, how do you decide which one to choose? Well, in this article, I am going to compare both in different areas to help you make a decision. Let’s get started.
Theoretical Specifications
| Specification | Crucial T500 | WD Black SN850X |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe Gen4 x4 | PCIe Gen4 x4 |
| Form Factor | M.2 2280 | M.2 2280 |
| Capacity Options | 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB | 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, 8TB |
| Sequential Read Speed | Up to 7,400 MB/s | Up to 7,300 MB/s |
| Sequential Write Speed | Up to 7,000 MB/s | Up to 6,600 MB/s |
| Random Read Speed | Up to 1,180,000 IOPS | Up to 1,200,000 IOPS |
| Random Write Speed | Up to 1,440,000 IOPS | Up to 1,100,000 IOPS |
| NAND Flash Type | 3D NAND TLC | BiCS5 112-layer TLC |
| Release Date | August 2024 | August 2022 |
| Price per GB | Approximately $0.07 | Approximately $0.07 |
The theoretical sequential read/write performance numbers are bigger in the Crucial T500. The random write speed is higher in the T500 again i.e. 1440K IOPS compared to the SN850X’s 1100K. T500 has the 500GB variant which makes it suitable for people with limited storage needs. However, the WD Black SN850X gives you an advantage of bulk storage with its 8TB variant.
Benchmark Scores
The benchmark scores are gathered from third-party websites like TomsHardware, PCMag, TechPowerUp, etc. However, I am responsible for the accuracy of the comparisons. The links to the pages are given at the end.
3DMark Storage Test for Gamers
The 3DMark Storage benchmark takes the SSDs through the simulation tests to check their gaming capabilities. These results are for the non-heatsink versions of both the drives with their game modes turned off. A higher 3DMark storage benchmark score generally means a better gaming performance in terms of game loading, saving, streaming, etc.
The Crucial T500 ranks higher in the 3DMark storage benchmark score by more than 1000 points. The bandwidth is also higher, however, the latency is a little lower than the SN850X. We can say, with these results, that the Crucial T500 is going to offer better gaming performance compared to the T500.
CrystalDiskMark Benchmark Scores
CrystalDiskMark is a very popular synthetic storage benchmarking software that gives us the exact read/write speed numbers based on different benchmark sets. We can change the test data size, queue depth, and threads. You also get preset profiles to test your drive under different circumstances. The results from the CDM can be divided into two main parts i.e. sequential and random read/write performance.
CDM Sequential Read/Write Performance
Maximum sequential read/write performance tells us how fast can an SSD read and write the sequential data. This data generally includes large files or files stored in contagious locations inside the memory. The sequential read/write performance generally has very less to do with a drive’s actual impact on the real-world tasks in our computers. However, it is a good way to know the highest limits and the total throughput if our work includes working with sequential data like video files or large data sets.
The Crucial T500 has a better sequential read/write performance compared to the WD Black SN850X. The difference isn’t very high but still, it has better sequential performance to offer.
CDM Random Read/Write Performance
The random read speed is better with the SN850X but the T500 has higher random write speed.
PCMark 10 Overall Storage Test
The Crucial T500 has a better PCMark 10 overall storage test score. This means you can expect better program loading, OS booting, and gaming performance. All in all, the PCMark 10 mimics the everyday tasks we do on our computers. So, you can expect good results with the T500 compared to the SN850X.
PCMark 10 Adobe Creative Program Launching
DiskBench Transfer Rate Comparison
The DiskBench Transfer Rate tests are mostly in favor of the Crucial T500 except for the 6.5GB Zip file read transfer rate. All in all, we can say the T500 is the winner here.
Power Comparison
Not only, in the file copy efficiency, the T500 beats the SN850X in terms of maximum power consumption. We can say the T500 is well-optimized to handle the heat and the power in order to deliver its performance.
TBW, Endurance, and Warranty
| Specification | Crucial T500 | WD Black SN850X |
|---|---|---|
| Warranty Period | 5 years | 5 years |
| TBW | 500GB: 300 TBW 1TB: 600 TBW 2TB: 1,200 TBW 4TB: 2,400 TBW | 1TB: 600 TBW 2TB: 1,200 TBW 4TB: 2,400 TBW 8TB: 4,800 TBW |
| MTBF | 2 million hours | 1.75 million hours |
| DWPD | 0.3 | 0.3 |
Although the TBW are same in both along with the warranty period, the MTBF is higher in the Crucial T500.
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Crucial T500 | WD Black SN850X |
|---|---|---|
| Controller | Phison PS5025-E25 | WD Proprietary (Black G2, 20-82-20035-B2) |
| Controller Configuration | 8 channels, DRAM-enabled, 12nm | Tri-core, 4 channels, 8 Chip Enables per channel, 16nm |
| DRAM Configuration | Micron LPDDR4-4266, 1GB per TB of NAND | DDR4-3200, 1GB per 2TB |
| NAND Specifications | Micron 232-layer 3D TLC NAND | Kioxia 112-layer BiCS5 3D TLC NAND |
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 x4, NVMe 2.0 | PCIe 4.0 x4 |
| Encryption | TCG Opal | TCG Opal |
| Available Capacities | 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB | 1TB, 2TB, 4TB |
Clearly, the Crucial T500 has better specs whether it is the controller, RAM configurations, NAND flash, or the NVMe version. All these things, when combined offer the performance the T500 is capable of delivering.
Talking about the controller in the T500, it isn’t the best in the business, but with its faster bus and DRAM support, it competes with the top players in its category. Being a budget contender, the T500 is equipped with impressive specs which results in great performance everywhere.
Price Difference
The original price of the Crucial T500 1TB w/o heatsink is around 90$ while the 1TB SN850X is priced at around 93$. The SN850X 1TB is generally under price drop and can be purchased for around 75$. The list price of the 2TB variant of both the drives is 189.99$. During the running offers, the T500 is found 10 to 20 bucks more expensive than the SN850X. This is the same for all other variants as well. All in all, I can say that if you go online to check the prices, the chances are, that the SN850X will be cheaper than the T500.
Which one should you choose: WD Black SN850X or Crucial T500
The T500 has an edge over the SN850X in terms of performance. It is better in gaming as well as in everyday performance. So, if you want better performance and are ready to pay a little more (10 to 20 bucks), you should definitely go with the Crucial T500. However, as we say in the benchmark scores, the scores are not completely on one side. The SN850X is known for its sustained performance and heat management. So, if you are saving some money on the SN850X, you should do it because the performance difference isn’t very significant.
So, at the end of the day, it all comes down to how much money you can save. The performance is surely better with the T500. So, if you have no worries about spending some more money, you should go for the T500. Otherwise, the SN850X can save you some money while giving you a competitive performance in the Gen 4.0 SSD category.
Other Gen 4.0 competitors to these drives are Samsung 990 Pro, 990 EVO, Corsair MP600, etc. You can have a look at these as well.
Resources
https://www.servethehome.com/crucial-t500-2tb-pcie-gen4-nvme-ssd-review/
https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/wd-black-sn850x-ssd-review-back-in-black/