Relative Value70balanced preset
Western Digital Blue SN5100 4TB vs Crucial P310 4TB — value comparison
Relative Value56balanced preset
Western Digital Blue SN5100 4TB shows higher Relative Value under balanced weights at the current dataset offers: 70 vs 56. The result crosses over if Crucial P310 4TB reaches about $470 or below.
Price data · US · USD · New · A 2026-09-02 · B 2026-09-02Coverage · 2 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 | Western Digital Blue SN5100 4TB | Crucial P310 4TB |
|---|---|---|
| System Drive | S#114 | S#96 |
| Game & File Storage | S#43 | S#17 |
| Heavy Creative Work | S#72 | S#98 |
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 2026-09-02 offer frame. How tiers are assigned →
Relative Value by priority
Balancedhigher relative value lit
70 ✓
56
System Drivehigher relative value lit
25 ✓
20
Game & File Storagehigher relative value lit
89 ✓
76
Heavy Creative Workhigher relative value lit
21 ✓
13
Strict Budgethigher relative value lit
47 ✓
37
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 · Western Digital Blue SN5100 4TB
- Current dataset offer · NewUS · USD · snapshot 2026-09-02
- $526
- Beats Crucial P310 4TB atbalanced weights; rival offer held fixed
- $725
- Strong Value at80+ Relative Value threshold
- $433
B · Crucial P310 4TB
- Current dataset offer · NewUS · USD · snapshot 2026-09-02
- $649
- Beats Western Digital Blue SN5100 4TB atbalanced weights; rival offer held fixed
- $470
- Strong Value at80+ Relative Value threshold
- $387
04 · 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
6900
7100
7100
Sequential read (MB/s)
6900
7100
7100
Sequential write (MB/s)
6700
6000
6000
A · Western Digital Blue SN5100 4TBB · Crucial P310 4TBEach row keeps the unit or category index named in its label; bar length compares A and B within that row.Western Digital Blue SN5100 4TB shows higher Value under every weighting we test — a stable result in the 2026-09-02 offer frame.
05 · 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 Blue SN5100 4TB
- InterfaceM.2 PCIe 4.0 x4
- Form factorM.2-2280
- Capacity4,000 GB
- DRAM cacheDRAM-less
- Heatsink includedNo
- Write endurance1,200 TBW
- Warranty (typical new)60 mo
B · Crucial P310 4TB
- InterfaceM.2 PCIe 4.0 x4
- Form factorM.2-2280
- Capacity4,000 GB
- DRAM cacheDRAM-less
- Heatsink includedNo
- Write endurance800 TBW
- Warranty (typical new)60 mo
06 · 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 | Western Digital Blue SN5100 4TB | Crucial P310 4TB |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | M.2 PCIe 4.0 x4 | M.2 PCIe 4.0 x4 |
| Form factor | M.2-2280 | M.2-2280 |
| Capacity | 4,000 GB | 4,000 GB |
| Sequential read | 6,900 MB/s | 7,100 MB/s✓ |
| Sequential write | 6,700 MB/s✓ | 6,000 MB/s |
| Random read | 900,000 IOPS | not tracked |
| Random write | 1,100,000 IOPS | not tracked |
| Write endurance | 1,200 TBW✓ | 800 TBW |
| DRAM cache | DRAM-less | DRAM-less |
| NAND type | QLC 3D CBA NAND | Micron 176-layer QLC |
| Controller | SanDisk Custom | Phison PS5021-E21T |
| Heatsink included | No | No |
Show additional verified specifications
“Not tracked” means the source data does not contain a verified value; no default or guessed specification is substituted.
07 · 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.
08 · 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
Crucial T710 1TB — same S-tier capability for System Drive, about $316 cheaper · Value 100.
Neither of the two above is the only answer — this one clears the same bar for less. ⇄ Compare all three
09 · 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 Blue SN5100 4TB if…
- Your priorities resemble Balanced, System Drive, Game & File Storage — it has higher Relative Value under those presets at the snapshot offers.
- You can find it at or below its Strong Value threshold of $433 under balanced weights.
Choose B · Crucial P310 4TB if…
- You can find it at or below its Strong Value threshold of $387 under balanced weights.
10 · 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: Western Digital Blue SN5100 4TB or Crucial P310 4TB?
- Under the balanced preset and the 2026-09-02 offer frame, Western Digital Blue SN5100 4TB has higher Relative Value under this configuration (70 vs 56). 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?
- They grade identically in all 3 graded scenarios — the tier table won't decide this one, so compare price and Value below.
- At what price does the Crucial P310 4TB become the better value?
- Holding the Western Digital Blue SN5100 4TB offer dated in the 2026-09-02 frame fixed, the calculation flips in favour of the Crucial P310 4TB at roughly $470 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.
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Offer frame: 2026-09-02 · dataset generated 2026-09-02 · 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