Which is better, WD_BLACK SN7100 4TB or Crucial T500 1TB? July 2026 side-by-side with prices, specs, and verdict.
Both run on Gen 4 hardware but at different capacities: 4 TB for the WD_BLACK SN7100 4TB versus 1 TB for the Crucial T500 1TB. Whether the larger drive's $/TB advantage justifies the higher upfront cost depends on how much you actually need.
Hardware-wise, the WD_BLACK SN7100 4TB runs on an A101 controller that replaced the older WD designs in the SN7100 generation. The Crucial T500 1TB pairs the Phison E25 — a refined Gen 4 controller widely used in mid-range NVMe drives.
At a 48% price gap, the Crucial T500 1TB needs to be measurably better in your specific use case to justify the spend. For gaming and general PC use, the WD_BLACK SN7100 4TB's lower $/TB tilts the value equation decisively in its favor.
Crucial T500 1TB bundles a DRAM cache chip; WD_BLACK SN7100 4TB is DRAM-less. This sounds like a big deal but reviewers have been arguing for years about whether it actually matters in consumer use. For most workloads, no.
Endurance leans toward the WD_BLACK SN7100 4TB at 2,400 TBW (versus 600 TBW for the Crucial T500 1TB). For most consumers this never becomes a real concern — 600 TBW lasts a decade of normal writes — but heavy daily writers should weight it.
PS5 owners get no measurable benefit from either drive's peak speed because Sony's internal NVMe controller throttles to ~5,500 MB/s; treat WD_BLACK SN7100 4TB and Crucial T500 1TB as interchangeable here and let price decide. 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 WD_BLACK SN7100 4TB ranks #5 of 6 Gen 4 4 TB drives we track by $/TB, while the Crucial T500 1TB ranks #4 of 4 Gen 4 1 TB drives. Neither is a value leader right now — if $/TB is your priority, check the cheaper alternatives below before committing.
Lean toward the WD_BLACK SN7100 4TB when better $/TB economics ($142.50/TB), and a higher TBW endurance rating (2,400 TBW) top your priority list.
Lean toward the Crucial T500 1TB when the lower retail price ($275 vs $570), and a dedicated DRAM cache chip top your priority list. Crucial drives benefit from being a direct Micron product — the same NAND that powers competitors' drives, but at lower margins.