Crucial T705 2TB ($406) vs TeamGroup Z540 2TB ($329). $/TB analysis, performance, and use-case recommendations.
Crucial T705 2TB and TeamGroup Z540 2TB are direct competitors — same generation, same capacity. Choose by controller behavior under sustained load, DRAM/HMB cache strategy, and $/TB economics.
The cheaper drive — TeamGroup Z540 2TB at $164.50/TB — saves you $38.50 per TB versus the Crucial T705 2TB. Worth it if you're capacity-constrained; either works if you just want one fast drive.
For PS5 expansion, both are PCIe Gen 4 M.2 2280 drives that meet Sony's minimum spec (12,400 MB/s read). The console can't take advantage of speeds beyond that, so save money by choosing the TeamGroup Z540 2TB. Heavy write workloads — video editing, RAW photo libraries, backup operations — favor the Crucial T705 2TB's 12,700 MB/s sustained write speed. Both drives use the 2280 form factor, which is too long for Steam Deck or ROG Ally — you'd need a 2230 variant if either manufacturer offers one, or a dedicated handheld-format drive instead.
How do these two fit the wider Gen 5 2 TB field? Out of 11 tracked drives, the Crucial T705 2TB is #8 on $/TB and the TeamGroup Z540 2TB is #2. One of them is genuinely among the cheapest options in its class, so this matchup includes a real value pick.
As of July 27, 2026, these tracked drives undercut both the Crucial T705 2TB and TeamGroup Z540 2TB on $/TB:
The Crucial T705 2TB is the right call if meaningfully faster reads (14,500 MB/s) matter to you. Crucial drives benefit from being a direct Micron product — the same NAND that powers competitors' drives, but at lower margins.
The TeamGroup Z540 2TB is the right call if the lower retail price ($329 vs $406), and better $/TB economics ($164.50/TB) matter to you. Budget-tier drives like the TeamGroup Z540 2TB have closed the gap with premium NVMes — the MAP1602 controller is genuinely competitive for everyday workloads at half the price.