Two years after launch, the WD Black SN850X and Crucial T500 are still the two PCIe 4.0 drives most builders cross-shop, and 2026’s NAND shortage has made that choice more consequential: the cheapest Gen4 SSDs are scarce, and Micron has begun winding down the Crucial consumer brand. The 2TB SN850X is currently out of stock on Amazon, so this comparison focuses on the 4TB versions of both drives, where both are available.
| Spec | WD Black SN850X 4TB NVMe SSD 9/10 | Crucial T500 4TB PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD 8.6/10 |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe | PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe |
| Capacity | 4TB | 4TB |
| Sequential Read | 7,300 MB/s | 7,000 MB/s |
| Controller | WD Black G2 | Phison E25 |
| NAND | BiCS5 112-layer TLC | Micron 232-layer TLC |
| Endurance | 2,400 TBW | 2,400 TBW |
| Rating | 9/10 | 8.6/10 |
Prices change daily — tap Check Price for the current Amazon price.
Prices change daily — tap Check Price for the current Amazon price.
Quick Picks
- Best all-rounder: The WD Black SN850X 4TB pairs a proprietary controller with strong random reads and a Dashboard utility, and it is also sold with a factory heatsink.
- Best for cool, low-power builds: The Crucial T500 4TB draws less power at peak and uses newer 232-layer NAND.
What Actually Differs
On paper the two drives are closer than the marketing suggests. At 4TB both carry a 2,400 TBW endurance rating and a 5-year warranty, and both use a PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe interface, which means a 7,300 MB/s ceiling is the same bottleneck on either board.
The differences sit underneath. The SN850X uses WD’s in-house Black controller with 112-layer BiCS5 TLC NAND and a DDR4 DRAM cache. The T500 uses a Phison PS5025-E25 controller, Micron 232-layer TLC, and 2GB of LPDDR4 cache. According to published spec comparisons, the T500 posts higher random write IOPS (1,440K vs 1,100K) and a better PCMark 10 storage score, while the SN850X holds the advantage in random reads and in headline sequential read speed.
In practice, those gaps are small for games. Loading times in current titles are dominated by CPU decompression rather than raw drive throughput, so the choice should lean on heat, power, and stock availability rather than a few hundred MB/s. If you are weighing Gen4 against newer drives, see our WD Black SN850X vs Samsung 9100 Pro comparison or the best NVMe SSDs of 2026.
Compatibility Notes
- Both drives are M.2 2280 and work in any PCIe 4.0 or 5.0 M.2 slot; they will run at Gen4 speeds in a Gen5 slot.
- A 4TB double-sided drive can run warm. Use the motherboard heatsink, or pick the SN850X heatsink edition if your board lacks one. Our NVMe heatsink guide covers the options.
- For PS5 use, a heatsink is required, so check the heatsink variant before buying either drive.
Detailed Reviews
WD Black SN850X 4TB
The WD Black SN850X 4TB is the safer long-term pick. It carries WD’s mature firmware, the Dashboard utility, and a well-documented track record since 2022. Its 7,300 MB/s read rating is the top of what a Gen4 drive can do, and the random read lead is the metric that most affects day-to-day responsiveness.
The cost is thermal: the bare 4TB model has chips on both sides of the PCB and needs airflow or a heatsink. If your board lacks one, the heatsink version is the better buy.
Crucial T500 4TB
The Crucial T500 4TB trades a little read speed for lower peak power and newer NAND. It suits laptops, handhelds that accept 2280 drives, and compact cases where every watt of heat matters. At 4TB it matches the SN850X on endurance and warranty.
The caveat is the brand. Micron exited the Crucial consumer line in February 2026, so remaining stock is what is left, and stock on Amazon is listed as limited. Warranty service should still be honored, but you should not expect new T500 variants.
FAQ
Is the SN850X faster than the Crucial T500? In sequential reads, the SN850X rates higher at 7,300 MB/s versus 7,000 MB/s at 4TB, and it leads in random reads. The T500 leads in random writes and PCMark 10 scores in published comparisons. In games the difference is negligible.
Which runs cooler? The T500 has a lower maximum power draw, which generally means less heat. Both 4TB drives still benefit from a heatsink.
Do both have the same endurance? Yes. At 4TB both are rated for 2,400 TBW with a 5-year warranty.
Will either work in a PS5? Yes, but only with a heatsink. Choose the heatsink editions rather than the bare drives.
Is the Crucial brand shutting down? Micron announced it was exiting Crucial’s consumer products in February 2026, so remaining retail inventory is what is sold. Existing warranties are still in place.
The Bottom Line
The WD Black SN850X 4TB is the better default thanks to stronger random reads, a mature software suite, and a heatsink version for tight cooling. The Crucial T500 4TB is the pick if lower power draw matters more, and if you can find it in stock while Crucial’s consumer inventory lasts.