Relative Value37balanced preset
PNY CS2241 500GB vs Western Digital Black SN770 500GB — value comparison
See current offers for PNY CS2241 500GB
Relative Value42balanced preset
Western Digital Black SN770 500GB shows higher Relative Value under balanced weights at the current dataset offers: 42 vs 37. The result crosses over if PNY CS2241 500GB reaches about $93 or below.
Price data · United States · USD · New · A 2026-09-16 · B 2026-09-16Coverage · 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.
The decision, split by questioncapability · value · price are separate answers
Capability by task
| Scenario | PNY CS2241 500GB | Western Digital Black SN770 500GB |
|---|---|---|
| System Drive | A#181 | A#174 |
| Game & File Storage | C#321 | C#334 |
| Heavy Creative Work | C#293 | B#163✓ |
Western Digital Black SN770 500GB grades higher in 1 of 3 graded scenarios (2 tied) and is never graded lower. These are the same S–F grades as the tier list — capability only, price excluded. The value rows below add prices from the 2026-09-16 offer frame. How tiers are assigned →
Relative Value by priority
Balancedhigher relative value lit
37
42 ✓
System Drivehigher relative value lit
10
17 ✓
Game & File Storagepractically even (≤3 pts)
40
38
Heavy Creative Workhigher relative value lit
4
8 ✓
Strict Budgethigher relative value lit
74 ✓
69
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.
A · PNY CS2241 500GB
- Current dataset offer · NewUnited States · USD · snapshot 2026-09-16
- $110
- Beats Western Digital Black SN770 500GB atbalanced weights; rival offer held fixed
- $93
- Strong Value at80+ Relative Value threshold
- $37
B · Western Digital Black SN770 500GB
- Current dataset offer · NewUnited States · USD · snapshot 2026-09-16
- $130
- Beats PNY CS2241 500GB atbalanced weights; rival offer held fixed
- $154
- Strong Value at80+ Relative Value threshold
- $52
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.
A · PNY CS2241 500GB
New · United States · USDAmazon Affiliate
Check on AmazonB · Western Digital Black SN770 500GB
New · United States · USDAmazon Affiliate
Check on Amazon05 · Capability
Capability indexes, side by side
Price is intentionally excluded here so the more capable product and the better-value product cannot be confused.
Drive capability
4700
5000
5000
Sequential read (MB/s)
4700
5000
5000
Sequential write (MB/s)
1700
4000
4000
A · PNY CS2241 500GBB · Western Digital Black SN770 500GBEach row keeps the unit or category index named in its label; bar length compares A and B within that row.The Value leader depends on how you weight things: PNY CS2241 500GB leads under 1 preset, Western Digital Black SN770 500GB under 3, 1 practically even.
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 · PNY CS2241 500GB
- InterfaceM.2 PCIe 4.0 x4
- Form factorM.2-2280
- Capacity500 GB
- Heatsink includedNo
- Write endurance300 TBW
- Warranty (typical new)36 mo
B · Western Digital Black SN770 500GB
- InterfaceM.2 PCIe 4.0 x4
- Form factorM.2-2280
- Capacity500 GB
- DRAM cacheDRAM-less
- Heatsink includedNo
- Write endurance300 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.
| Specification | PNY CS2241 500GB | Western Digital Black SN770 500GB |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | M.2 PCIe 4.0 x4 | M.2 PCIe 4.0 x4 |
| Form factor | M.2-2280 | M.2-2280 |
| Capacity | 500 GB | 500 GB |
| Sequential read | 4,700 MB/s | 5,000 MB/s✓ |
| Sequential write | 1,700 MB/s | 4,000 MB/s✓ |
| Write endurance | 300 TBW | 300 TBW |
| DRAM cache | not tracked | DRAM-less |
| NAND type | not tracked | SanDisk 112-layer TLC |
| Controller | not tracked | SanDisk Proprietary |
| Heatsink included | No | No |
| Current dataset offer · New | $110snapshot 2026-09-16✓ | $130snapshot 2026-09-16 |
| Warranty (typical new) | 36 mo | 60 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.
09 · Alternative
A third option worth checking
The same scenario and market frame checks whether another currently priced model offers a cleaner trade-off.
No cleaner third option in this dataset
The scenario-aware check did not find a currently priced alternative that improves this decision without changing the trade-off. This is a dataset result, not a claim that no other product exists.
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 · PNY CS2241 500GB if…
- Your priorities resemble 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 $37 under balanced weights.
Choose B · Western Digital Black SN770 500GB if…
- You prioritize Heavy Creative Work — it earns the higher capability tier in those tracked scenarios.
- Your priorities resemble Balanced, System Drive, Heavy Creative Work — it has higher Relative Value under those presets at the snapshot offers.
- You can find it at or below its Strong Value threshold of $52 under balanced weights.
11 · Methodology & FAQ
Read the methodology →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.
- Which is better value right now: PNY CS2241 500GB or Western Digital Black SN770 500GB?
- Under the balanced preset and the 2026-09-16 offer frame, Western Digital Black SN770 500GB has higher Relative Value under this configuration (42 vs 37). Value is price-dependent and moves with your weighting; capability is a separate question, answered by the tier table.
- Which one is more capable, ignoring price?
- Western Digital Black SN770 500GB grades higher in 1 of 3 graded scenarios (2 tied) and is never graded lower.
- At what price does the PNY CS2241 500GB become the better value?
- Holding the Western Digital Black SN770 500GB offer dated in the 2026-09-16 frame fixed, the calculation flips in favour of the PNY CS2241 500GB at roughly $93 or below (balanced preset). Not a price forecast.
- 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.
Get more from The Comparator
🧩 Embed this on your siteFree live value widgets — drop a deal monitor or comparison into your blog or article.
🔎 Price a used listingPaste any marketplace listing and score it against today's market in the calculator.
✏️ Found a data error?Tell us — we keep prices and specs honest, dated and corrected fast.
Offer frame: 2026-09-16 · dataset generated 2026-09-16 · 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