Crucial T500 2TB ($369) vs Crucial P310 4TB ($519). $/TB analysis, performance, and use-case recommendations.
Both run on Gen 4 hardware but at different capacities: 2 TB for the Crucial T500 2TB versus 4 TB for the Crucial P310 4TB. Whether the larger drive's $/TB advantage justifies the higher upfront cost depends on how much you actually need.
Hardware-wise, the Crucial T500 2TB runs on an E25 controller that became the workhorse of late Gen 4 designs. The Crucial P310 4TB pairs the DRAM-less Phison E27T, common in value-tier 2TB and 4TB Gen 4 drives.
The cost difference is hard to ignore: 30% per TB (Crucial P310 4TB at $129.75/TB versus Crucial T500 2TB at $184.50/TB). Unless you specifically need the Crucial T500 2TB's peak performance, the Crucial P310 4TB delivers more storage for the money.
Cache architecture differs: Crucial T500 2TB has DRAM hardware, Crucial P310 4TB uses HMB. For OS, gaming, browsing — indistinguishable. For databases, large file ops, or 4K video editing — DRAM has a small but consistent edge.
Endurance leans toward the Crucial P310 4TB at 1,760 TBW (versus 1,200 TBW for the Crucial T500 2TB). For most consumers this never becomes a real concern — 600 TBW lasts a decade of normal writes — but heavy daily writers should weight it.
If this purchase is for a PS5 storage expansion, the comparison flattens — Sony's PCIe Gen 4 controller normalizes both Crucial T500 2TB and Crucial P310 4TB to roughly equal in-game load times. The cheaper drive is the smart pick. Video editors will gravitate toward the Crucial T500 2TB for its write headroom (7,000 MB/s sustained). Project saves and proxies move faster, which compounds across a workday. Heads-up — these are full-length 2280 drives. Steam Deck and most current handhelds require shorter 2230 modules, so check capacity-specific 2230 variants if that's your target platform.
Market context: the Crucial T500 2TB ranks #9 of 11 Gen 4 2 TB drives we track by $/TB, while the Crucial P310 4TB ranks #3 of 6 Gen 4 4 TB drives. Neither cracks the top of the value table, so it's worth glancing at the alternatives below before picking either.
The Crucial T500 2TB is the right call if the lower retail price ($369 vs $519), and a dedicated DRAM cache chip matter to you. Crucial's T-series tends to undercut Samsung and WD on price while using comparable Micron silicon — a value play hiding in a flagship form factor.
The Crucial P310 4TB is the right call if better $/TB economics ($129.75/TB), and a higher TBW endurance rating (1,760 TBW) matter to you.