Crucial P5 Plus vs WD Black SN850 NVMe SSD

As a result of the many similarities in terms of performance as well as technical features, the Crucial P5 Plus and the WD Black SN850 NVMe SSD are in direct competition with each other. But how do the two M.2 SSD drives with the PCIe 4.0 interface differ when we take a deeper look? How do Western Digital’s SN850 and Crucial’s P5 Plus fare in a comparison?

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Advantages of the Crucial P5 Plus compared to the WD Black SN850 NVMe SSD

As a rule, cheaper purchase
Lower costs per gigabyte

Advantages WD Black SN850 NVMe SSD compared to Crucial P5 Plus

Slightly higher performance read and write
Available with pre-installed heat sink

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Differences in performance and speed

In terms of performance, the differences between the Crucial P5 Plus and the WD Black SN850 NVMe SSD seem almost negligible. In sequential read, Crucial’s SSD is 6,600 MB/s versus Western Digital’s SSD’s 7,000 MB/s. In sequential write, the two NVMe drives perform between 4,000 MB/s and 5,000 MB/s and from 4,100 MB/s to 5,100 MB/s, respectively, depending on the storage capacity.

Crucial P5 Plus M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD — Crucial P5 Plus (Source: Crucial)

Similarities in interface and flash memory

Such high read and write speeds are of course only possible with the WD Black SN850 NVMe SSD and the Crucial P5 Plus thanks to the PCI Express interface used in the latest fourth expansion stage with four lanes when used on the corresponding platform. Both Crucial and Western Digital use the 3-bit TLC NAND as flash memory, which has proven itself with a decent price-performance ratio for a long time.

Comparison of equipment and warranty

Probably the biggest difference between the Crucial P5 Plus and the WD Black SN850 NVMe SSD is found in the equipment, because Western Digital’s drive is additionally available in a version with a pre-mounted heat sink. The height of the M.2 2280 SSD is then almost 9 millimeters, which should be considered before installation. The two NVMe storage solutions are similar in terms of the warranty period of 5 years and the available storage sizes of 500 GB to 2 TB.

WD Black SN850 NVMe SSD Series M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD — WD Black SN850 NVMe SSD Series (Source: Western Digital)

Conclusion SSD comparison – WD Black SN850 NVMe SSD and Crucial P5 Plus differences

The WD Black SN850 NVMe SSD and the Crucial P5 Plus are on par considering the very similar performance rates and the almost identical features. The purchase decision for one or the other drive based on the technical aspects alone could be quite difficult due to the many similarities. In case of doubt, you can simply orientate yourself by the currently called price for the P5 Plus or the SN850 if you are looking for a suitable M.2 SSD with PCIe Gen 4.0 without a manufacturer preference. However, if you absolutely want an SSD with a factory-installed heat sink, you’ll reach for Western Digital’s product.

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