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Western Digital Red SA500 2TB vs Samsung 870 Evo 2TB — value comparison

Western Digital Red SA500 2TB and Samsung 870 Evo 2TB are practically even under balanced weights at the current dataset offers: 10 vs 8. Change the preset or your priorities before deciding.
Price data · Canada · CAD · New · A 2026-09-13 · B 2026-09-13Coverage · 3 tracked new-offer records across both modelsBenchmark confidence · no estimate flags on these two recordsAffiliate links · We may earn a commission from these links. Scores are calculated separately using our methodology.
02 · Decision matrix

One decision, three separate questions

Capability ignores price. Relative Value adds the current dataset offers and your priorities. Keeping them separate prevents a cheap product from being mistaken for the faster product.

Same scenario engine as the tier lists · offer frame 2026-09-13
The decision, split by questioncapability · value · price are separate answers
CapabilityEven across scenarios
Better value todayWestern Digital Red SA500 2TB — 2 more Value points under this configuration
Cheaper right nowWestern Digital Red SA500 2TB (by CAD 327)

Capability by task

Capability by task: Western Digital Red SA500 2TB versus Samsung 870 Evo 2TB
ScenarioWestern Digital Red SA500 2TBSamsung 870 Evo 2TB
System DriveA#127A#130
Game & File StorageA#62A#86
Heavy Creative WorkB#139B#141

They grade identically in all 3 graded scenarios — the tier table won't decide this one, so compare price and Value below. These are the same S–F grades as the tier list — capability only, price excluded. The value rows below add prices from the 2026-09-13 offer frame. How tiers are assigned →

Relative Value by priority

Balancedpractically even (≤3 pts)
10
8
System Drivepractically even (≤3 pts)
0
0
Game & File Storagehigher relative value lit
33 ✓
27
Heavy Creative Workpractically even (≤3 pts)
0
0
Strict Budgethigher relative value lit
18 ✓
13

Both products are normalized within the same in-stock market frame per preset. A check marks the higher Relative Value; a difference of 3 points or less is shown as practically even.

03 · Price crossover

The price changes the answer

Current offers, crossover points and Strong Value thresholds answer different questions. Thresholds are calculations, not price forecasts.

Balanced preset · rival offer held fixed

A · Western Digital Red SA500 2TB

Current dataset offer · NewCanada · CAD · snapshot 2026-09-13
CAD 848
Beats Samsung 870 Evo 2TB atbalanced weights; rival offer held fixed
CAD 1175
Strong Value at80+ Relative Value threshold
CAD 44

B · Samsung 870 Evo 2TB

Current dataset offer · NewCanada · CAD · snapshot 2026-09-13
CAD 1175
Beats Western Digital Red SA500 2TB atbalanced weights; rival offer held fixed
CAD 848
Strong Value at80+ Relative Value threshold
CAD 44
04 · Where to buy

Current offers for both products

Dated New-condition price snapshots for only the two products in this comparison. Confirm the final price and availability at the store.

Canada · CAD · New · up to 4 per product
05 · Capability

Capability indexes, side by side

Price is intentionally excluded here so the more capable product and the better-value product cannot be confused.

A = violet · B = blue · labels and numbers preserve meaning without color
Drive capability 560
560
Sequential read (MB/s) 560
560
Sequential write (MB/s) 530
530
A · Western Digital Red SA500 2TBB · Samsung 870 Evo 2TBEach row keeps the unit or category index named in its label; bar length compares A and B within that row.Western Digital Red SA500 2TB shows higher Value under every weighting we test — a stable result in the 2026-09-13 offer frame.
06 · Platform & ownership

Fit, compatibility and ownership context

Only verified structured compatibility and ownership fields are shown. Check the exact system, board manual and vendor QVL before purchase; missing fields are never guessed.

A · Western Digital Red SA500 2TB

  • InterfaceSATA 6.0 Gb/s
  • Form factor2.5"
  • Capacity2,000 GB
  • Heatsink includedNo
  • Write endurance1,200 TBW
  • Warranty (typical new)60 mo

B · Samsung 870 Evo 2TB

  • InterfaceSATA 6.0 Gb/s
  • Form factor2.5"
  • Capacity2,000 GB
  • DRAM cache2GB LPDDR4
  • Heatsink includedNo
  • Write endurance1,200 TBW
  • Warranty (typical new)60 mo
07 · Specifications

Key specifications

Directional checkmarks appear only on numeric fields where more or less has a clear meaning. They are not an overall verdict.

Up to 12 key rows · additional verified fields below
Key specifications: Western Digital Red SA500 2TB versus Samsung 870 Evo 2TB
SpecificationWestern Digital Red SA500 2TBSamsung 870 Evo 2TB
InterfaceSATA 6.0 Gb/sSATA 6.0 Gb/s
Form factor2.5"2.5"
Capacity2,000 GB2,000 GB
Sequential read560 MB/s560 MB/s
Sequential write530 MB/s530 MB/s
Write endurance1,200 TBW1,200 TBW
DRAM cachenot tracked2GB LPDDR4
NAND typenot trackedSamsung TLC V-NAND
Controllernot trackedSamsung MKX
Heatsink includedNoNo
Current dataset offer · NewCAD 848snapshot 2026-09-13✓CAD 1175snapshot 2026-09-13
Warranty (typical new)60 mo60 mo

“Not tracked” means the source data does not contain a verified value; no default or guessed specification is substituted.

08 · Customize

Try other models and your own priorities

Presets are starting points. Swap either side, then open Advanced weights only if you want to tune the formula directly.

Runs locally in your browser · nothing is sent anywhere
09 · Alternative

A third option worth checking

The same scenario and market frame checks whether another currently priced model offers a cleaner trade-off.

Worth considering instead
Western Digital SN8100 1TB — same S-tier capability for System Drive, about CAD 462 cheaper · Value 83.
Neither of the two above is the only answer — this one clears the same bar for less. ⇄ Compare all three
10 · Decision guide

Choose based on the trade-off you actually want

These are evidence-linked conditions, not universal buying verdicts. Feature ecosystems, software support and platform preferences remain your call.

Choose A · Western Digital Red SA500 2TB if…

  • Your priorities resemble Game & File Storage, Strict Budget — it has higher Relative Value under those presets at the snapshot offers.
  • You can find it at or below its Strong Value threshold of CAD 44 under balanced weights.
Full Western Digital Red SA500 2TB analysis →
Compare — add more models →Open in the calculator →
11 · Methodology & FAQ

How to read this comparison

The formula is a linear weighted sum inside the current comparison frame. Capability, price and user priorities stay visible as separate inputs so the result can be challenged and changed.

Read the methodology →
Which is better value right now: Western Digital Red SA500 2TB or Samsung 870 Evo 2TB?
Under the balanced preset and the 2026-09-13 offer frame, they are practically even in Relative Value (10 vs 8). Change the preset or weights to reflect your own priorities; capability is a separate question, answered by the tier table.
Which one is more capable, ignoring price?
They grade identically in all 3 graded scenarios — the tier table won't decide this one, so compare price and Value below.
Where can I compare current offers for both?
Dated offer snapshots for both models are listed on their product pages (linked above); the interactive calculator recalculates both with your own weights and budget.
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Offer frame: 2026-09-13 · dataset generated 2026-09-14 · formula ssd-value-v1.5-benefit-cost-product · Value Score is an estimate based on our current dataset, selected weights, market prices and methodology — not an official product rating or a price forecast. Target prices are calculation thresholds, not predictions. Methodology · Report a data error