WD_BLACK SN8100 4TB ($849) vs Crucial T705 2TB ($398). $/TB analysis, performance, and use-case recommendations.
Both run on Gen 5 hardware but at different capacities: 4 TB for the WD_BLACK SN8100 4TB versus 2 TB for the Crucial T705 2TB. Whether the larger drive's $/TB advantage justifies the higher upfront cost depends on how much you actually need.
Hardware-wise, the WD_BLACK SN8100 4TB runs on SMI's SM2508 silicon, which became the default Gen 5 controller for power-conscious flagships. The Crucial T705 2TB pairs the Phison E26 — the first widely-deployed Gen 5 controller, capable but thermally demanding.
Endurance leans toward the WD_BLACK SN8100 4TB at 2,400 TBW (versus 1,200 TBW for the Crucial T705 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.
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 SN8100 4TB and Crucial T705 2TB as interchangeable here and let price decide. Video editors will gravitate toward the Crucial T705 2TB for its write headroom (12,700 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 WD_BLACK SN8100 4TB ranks #4 of 6 Gen 5 4 TB drives we track by $/TB, while the Crucial T705 2TB ranks #6 of 11 Gen 5 2 TB drives. Neither cracks the top of the value table, so it's worth glancing at the alternatives below before picking either.
The WD_BLACK SN8100 4TB is the right call if a higher TBW endurance rating (2,400 TBW) matter to you.
The Crucial T705 2TB is the right call if the lower retail price ($398 vs $849), better $/TB economics ($199.00/TB), and higher sustained writes (12,700 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.