Compare WD_BLACK SN850X 1TB and Crucial P310 2TB: prices, speeds, $/TB. Which to buy in May 2026? Full spec breakdown.
Both run on Gen 4 hardware but at different capacities: 1 TB for the WD_BLACK SN850X 1TB versus 2 TB for the Crucial P310 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 SN850X 1TB runs on WD's second-generation G2 in-house controller, tuned for sustained gaming I/O. The Crucial P310 2TB pairs Phison's E27T — a four-channel Gen 4 controller for HMB designs.
Price separates these two meaningfully. The Crucial P310 2TB costs $77.50/TB versus $119.00/TB for the WD_BLACK SN850X 1TB — a 35% premium that needs justification in real benchmarks, not just spec-sheet bragging.
The WD_BLACK SN850X 1TB carries a dedicated DRAM chip for FTL (Flash Translation Layer) mapping; the Crucial P310 2TB relies on HMB (Host Memory Buffer), borrowing 64 MB from system RAM. The practical gap shows up only under sustained random write loads.
On warranty endurance the Crucial P310 2TB carries 880 TBW against WD_BLACK SN850X 1TB's 600 TBW. Both will outlast typical use, but the gap matters if you're doing professional content work.
For PlayStation 5 builds, the console's internal M.2 slot tops out around 5,500 MB/s sustained, so both WD_BLACK SN850X 1TB and Crucial P310 2TB hit the same wall — pick whichever is cheaper at the moment you buy. 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.
Pick the WD_BLACK SN850X 1TB if you value the lower retail price ($119 vs $155), and a dedicated DRAM cache chip. The SN850X has been the best-selling Gen 4 NVMe in PCPartPicker builds for two consecutive years — Game Mode 2.0 prioritizes I/O when supported titles need it.
Pick the Crucial P310 2TB if you value better $/TB economics ($77.50/TB), and a higher TBW endurance rating (880 TBW).