WD Blue SN500 M.2 NVMe SSD Review (500GB) – Saying Goodbye to SATA

REAL WORLD FILE TRANSFER

For our Real World File Transfer Comparison of the world’s top M.2 NVMe SSDs, we have included the Samsung 970 Pro, Kingston A1000, Samsung 860 EVO, HP EX900 and WD Black 7200 HDD in our testing of the WD Blue SN500 500GB M.2 NVMe SSD. This test is conducted through the transfer of data from one spot on the test drive to another to give us the truest of transfer speed results for that device.

Our Real World File Comparison is without a doubt the best depiction of performance with respect to the SN500.  Looking at the chart, the Samsung 970 Pro is the best we have tested to date, while the Kingston A1000 is our most recent PCIe x 2 (two lane)  and probably the most comparable drive to the SN500, although the prices don’t compare with the SN500 being much cheaper.  As well the HP EX900 is a PCIe 3.0 x4 SSD that falls well behind the SN500 and the WD Black hard drive… well that was back when we could get up and grab a coffee while doing data and media transfers.

REVIEW ANALYSIS AND FINAL THOUGHTS

Getting back to where we started, the three most important variables determining an SSDs success today are price, performance and warranty.  Warranty is the easiest as the SN500 comes with a 5-year limited warranty which is just about the best in the industry right now, while the average is still 3-years.  WD has a great name which is backed up with their SanDisk purchase and we don’t think there are any concerns whatsoever with product quality and customer support.  In fact, we think their availability of the free WD SSD Dashboard to maintain your SSD is terrific; this software being amongst the best in the industry.

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In fact, their Performance Menu which depicts Windows Performance Monitor is a bit addicting as one can leave it up and running, watching disk speeds, during their normal activities.  In this instance, we can tell that we ran ATTO prior to Crystal DiskMark.

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Performance.  1.7GB/s read, 1.4GB/s write and over 300K IOPS is the best we have ever seen from a two lane SSD and, in fact, you might find that one or two of our recent reviews of PCIe 3.0 X4 enthusiast SSDs are sitting in the 300K IOPS range.

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Now for price.  We are finding this SSD as a new release on Amazon dead on its MSRP.  Looking at those around it, we find the Kingston A1000 (its closest competitor) at just over $100 higher, and we are seeing SATA3 SSDs in the same range some higher and some lower.  There is a competitor, however in the newest PCIe 3.0 x4 Mushkin Pilot NVMe SSD which gets significantly higher performance while being a few bucks lower.  Still, the prices we are seeing for the WD Blue SN500 NVMe SSDs are right where they should be.

Check WD Blue SN500 M.2 NVMe SSD Pricing at Amazon today.

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WD Blue SN500 Ratings

Product Build
Performance
Price and Availability
5-Year Warranty

Great Price

The WD Blue SN500 NVMe SSD uses an inhouse controller and PCIe 3 two lane data travel to achieve decent performance, a great price and unbeatable warranty.

Check Amazon
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4 comments

  1. blank

    That’s great news.
    FYI, spell check is wonderful but it just can not beat a good read thru by your mom.

    “The difference between this and most M.2 SSDs today is that it is uses two PCIe lanes vice four.”
    *VERSUS – not vice

    ” This cuts performance just about in have from enthusiast SSDs but that applies just the same to the price point.”
    *HALF – not have

    – You’re grounded for a week!
    No allowance until you learn proper grammar!
    I think that X-Box you play with has rotted your brain and not to mention that other thing you keep playing with will make you go blind!

    -Your Dad
    P.S.
    Clean out the garage and wash my car!

    • blank

      Love guys like you…you reassure me that I still have someone reading my work.

      The definition of ‘vice’ in Merriam-Webster is “rather than…as in ‘two PCIe lanes vice four’ as I said. Although, ‘versus’ could be considered, I would term it an odd choice as most people define ‘versus’ as one thing against another, and not one thing rather than the other.

    • blank

      Funny to read this after finishing an otherwise technical (and in general well written) article. Made my day. 🙂

  2. blank

    Hi
    I seek a 256gb ssd to put in an enclosure with JMS583 controller. I seek the fastest ssd and the coolest. with a price around 50 euros top. It is for windows to go and booting on various ISOs which will be put on the SSD.

    I see that there is this new SN500 and the kingston-a1000. Are they the same in terms of speed, heat, and relevancy for my usage ?

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