Side-by-side: Samsung 990 PRO 2TB ($388) vs WD Blue SN5100 1TB ($182). $/TB winner, specs, real-world picks for July 2026.
Both run on Gen 4 hardware but at different capacities: 2 TB for the Samsung 990 PRO 2TB versus 1 TB for the WD Blue SN5100 1TB. Whether the larger drive's $/TB advantage justifies the higher upfront cost depends on how much you actually need.
Hardware-wise, the Samsung 990 PRO 2TB runs on Samsung's 8nm Pascal controller, the silicon powering the 990 PRO line. The WD Blue SN5100 1TB pairs the SanDisk controller.
The DRAM-vs-HMB question divides opinion: Samsung 990 PRO 2TB's on-board DRAM theoretically helps under sustained workloads, while WD Blue SN5100 1TB's HMB approach has matured enough that most users won't see the difference. Pick on price if everything else is similar.
On warranty endurance the Samsung 990 PRO 2TB carries 1,200 TBW against WD Blue SN5100 1TB's 600 TBW. Both will outlast typical use, but the gap matters if you're doing professional content work.
For PS5 expansion, both are PCIe Gen 4 M.2 2280 drives that meet Sony's minimum spec (6,600 MB/s read). The console can't take advantage of speeds beyond that, so save money by choosing the WD Blue SN5100 1TB. Heavy write workloads — video editing, RAW photo libraries, backup operations — favor the Samsung 990 PRO 2TB's 6,900 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.
Market context: the Samsung 990 PRO 2TB ranks #10 of 11 Gen 4 2 TB drives we track by $/TB, while the WD Blue SN5100 1TB ranks #1 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.
Go with the Samsung 990 PRO 2TB for higher sustained writes (6,900 MB/s), a higher TBW endurance rating (1,200 TBW), and a dedicated DRAM cache chip. Samsung's PRO line has the longest track record for firmware reliability — over a decade of consumer SSDs with global RMA support.
Go with the WD Blue SN5100 1TB for the lower retail price ($182 vs $388), and better $/TB economics ($182.00/TB).