Crucial P510 1TB ($172) vs Samsung 990 PRO 1TB ($239). $/TB analysis, performance, and use-case recommendations.
When generations cross paths in a comparison like this one, the older-spec drive almost always wins on value while the newer one wins on benchmarks. Whether that benchmark advantage matters depends entirely on what you do with the drive.
Hardware-wise, the Crucial P510 1TB runs on Phison's E31T — a four-channel Gen 5 controller targeting the value tier. The Samsung 990 PRO 1TB pairs Samsung's Pascal controller, fabricated on the company's 8nm process.
The cost difference is hard to ignore: 28% per TB (Crucial P510 1TB at $172.00/TB versus Samsung 990 PRO 1TB at $239.00/TB). Unless you specifically need the Samsung 990 PRO 1TB's peak performance, the Crucial P510 1TB delivers more storage for the money.
In the read department, the Crucial P510 1TB leads by roughly 3 GB/s. The difference is more academic than practical for typical use, but it does matter for video editors moving multi-GB project files.
Cache architecture differs: Samsung 990 PRO 1TB has DRAM hardware, Crucial P510 1TB uses HMB. For OS, gaming, browsing — indistinguishable. For databases, large file ops, or 4K video editing — DRAM has a small but consistent edge.
For PS5 expansion, both are PCIe Gen 4 M.2 2280 drives that meet Sony's minimum spec (7,450 MB/s read). The console can't take advantage of speeds beyond that, so save money by choosing the Crucial P510 1TB. The Gen 5 Crucial P510 1TB pulls ahead on sequential bandwidth, but Gen 5 advantages rarely surface during everyday tasks — most software hasn't been rewritten to exploit 14,000+ MB/s pipelines. For content creators routinely rendering 4K or 8K video, the Crucial P510 1TB's 9,500 MB/s sustained write is the deciding factor — multi-GB project files land noticeably faster than on the alternative. Note for handheld gamers: M.2 2280 is the desktop/laptop standard. Steam Deck and the ROG Ally line need 2230 drives — neither Crucial P510 1TB nor Samsung 990 PRO 1TB fits without modification.
Market context: the Crucial P510 1TB ranks #1 of 6 Gen 5 1 TB drives we track by $/TB, while the Samsung 990 PRO 1TB ranks #3 of 4 Gen 4 1 TB drives. One of them is genuinely among the cheapest options in its class, so this matchup includes a real value pick.
At $172.00/TB, the Crucial P510 1TB is already among the cheapest 1 TB drives we track — nothing in this class undercuts it. See the full $/TB ranking.
The Crucial P510 1TB is the right call if the lower retail price ($172 vs $239), better $/TB economics ($172.00/TB), meaningfully faster reads (11,000 MB/s), and higher sustained writes (9,500 MB/s) matter to you.
The Samsung 990 PRO 1TB is the right call if a dedicated DRAM cache chip matter to you. Samsung backs the PRO series with one of the strongest warranty experiences in consumer storage — RMAs typically process within 5 business days globally.