Side-by-side: WD_BLACK SN850X 2TB ($199) vs Crucial P310 4TB ($299). $/TB winner, specs, real-world picks for May 2026.
Both run on Gen 4 hardware but at different capacities: 2 TB for the WD_BLACK SN850X 2TB versus 4 TB for the Crucial P310 4TB. 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 2TB runs on the proprietary WD G2 silicon, optimized for the WD_BLACK line. The Crucial P310 4TB pairs an E27T controller built specifically for DRAM-less Gen 4 SSDs.
Prices favor the Crucial P310 4TB by $24.75/TB ($74.75/TB versus $99.50/TB). Not a huge gap, but enough to be the tiebreaker if performance is similar.
The DRAM-vs-HMB question divides opinion: WD_BLACK SN850X 2TB's on-board DRAM theoretically helps under sustained workloads, while Crucial P310 4TB's HMB approach has matured enough that most users won't see the difference. Pick on price if everything else is similar.
Crucial P310 4TB earns higher TBW ratings (1,760 vs 1,200 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. For content creators routinely rendering 4K or 8K video, the WD_BLACK SN850X 2TB's 6,600 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 WD_BLACK SN850X 2TB nor Crucial P310 4TB fits without modification.
Go with the WD_BLACK SN850X 2TB for the lower retail price ($199 vs $299), and a dedicated DRAM cache chip. WD_BLACK's SN850X earned its reputation through consistent sustained performance under gaming workloads — fewer micro-stutters during open-world streaming than budget alternatives.
Go with the Crucial P310 4TB for better $/TB economics ($74.75/TB), and a higher TBW endurance rating (1,760 TBW).