Samsung 9100 PRO 4TB ($769) vs Crucial P310 4TB ($299). $/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 Samsung 9100 PRO 4TB runs on the proprietary Samsung Presto silicon found only in the 9100 PRO line. The Crucial P310 4TB pairs an E27T controller built specifically for DRAM-less Gen 4 SSDs.
The cost difference is hard to ignore: 61% per TB (Crucial P310 4TB at $74.75/TB versus Samsung 9100 PRO 4TB at $192.25/TB). Unless you specifically need the Samsung 9100 PRO 4TB's peak performance, the Crucial P310 4TB delivers more storage for the money.
In the read department, the Samsung 9100 PRO 4TB leads by roughly 7 GB/s. The difference is more academic than practical for typical use, but it does matter for video editors moving multi-GB project files.
Write performance separates them too. The Samsung 9100 PRO 4TB sustains 13,400 MB/s writes versus 6,000 MB/s for the Crucial P310 4TB — a real advantage for video editors and anyone doing heavy file operations.
Cache architecture differs: Samsung 9100 PRO 4TB 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.
Samsung 9100 PRO 4TB earns higher TBW ratings (2,400 vs 1,760 TBW) — relevant for sustained write workloads, irrelevant for everything else.
For PS5 expansion, both are PCIe Gen 4 M.2 2280 drives that meet Sony's minimum spec (7,100 MB/s read). The console can't take advantage of speeds beyond that, so save money by choosing the Crucial P310 4TB. The Gen 5 Samsung 9100 PRO 4TB 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 Samsung 9100 PRO 4TB's 13,400 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 Samsung 9100 PRO 4TB nor Crucial P310 4TB fits without modification.
The Samsung 9100 PRO 4TB is the right call if meaningfully faster reads (14,800 MB/s), higher sustained writes (13,400 MB/s), a higher TBW endurance rating (2,400 TBW), and a dedicated DRAM cache chip matter to you. Among consumer SSD makers, Samsung's PRO series consistently scores highest on long-term reliability surveys (Backblaze, Puget Systems Q1 2026 data).
The Crucial P310 4TB is the right call if the lower retail price ($299 vs $769), and better $/TB economics ($74.75/TB) matter to you.