Relative Value75balanced preset
Western Digital Blue SN5000 4TB vs Lexar NQ780 4TB — value comparison
Relative Value79balanced preset
Lexar NQ780 4TB shows higher Relative Value under balanced weights at the current dataset offers: 79 vs 75. The result crosses over if Western Digital Blue SN5000 4TB reaches about $399 or below.
Price data · US · USD · New · A 2026-09-06 · B 2026-09-06Coverage · 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 | Western Digital Blue SN5000 4TB | Lexar NQ780 4TB |
|---|---|---|
| System Drive | A#108 | S#92✓ |
| Game & File Storage | S#47 | S#25 |
| Heavy Creative Work | A#96 | S#80✓ |
Lexar NQ780 4TB grades higher in 2 of 3 graded scenarios (1 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 2026-09-06 offer frame. How tiers are assigned →
Relative Value by priority
Balancedhigher relative value lit
75
79 ✓
System Drivehigher relative value lit
21
29 ✓
Game & File Storagepractically even (≤3 pts)
100
97
Heavy Creative Workhigher relative value lit
23
31 ✓
Strict Budgetpractically even (≤3 pts)
56
53
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 SN5000 4TB
- Current dataset offer · NewUS · USD · snapshot 2026-09-06
- $435
- Beats Lexar NQ780 4TB atbalanced weights; rival offer held fixed
- $399
- Strong Value at80+ Relative Value threshold
- $395
B · Lexar NQ780 4TB
- Current dataset offer · NewUS · USD · snapshot 2026-09-06
- $480
- Beats Western Digital Blue SN5000 4TB atbalanced weights; rival offer held fixed
- $523
- Strong Value at80+ Relative Value threshold
- $476
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 · Western Digital Blue SN5000 4TB
New · US · USDAmazon Affiliate
Check on Amazon
B · Lexar NQ780 4TB
New · US · USDAmazon Affiliate
Check on Amazon
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.
Drive capability
5500
7000
7000
Sequential read (MB/s)
5500
7000
7000
Sequential write (MB/s)
5000
6000
6000
A · Western Digital Blue SN5000 4TBB · Lexar NQ780 4TBEach row keeps the unit or category index named in its label; bar length compares A and B within that row.Lexar NQ780 4TB shows higher Value under every weighting we test — a stable result in the 2026-09-06 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 Blue SN5000 4TB
- InterfaceM.2 PCIe 4.0 x4
- Form factorM.2-2280
- Capacity4,000 GB
- DRAM cacheDRAM-less
- Heatsink includedNo
- Write endurance2,400 TBW
- Warranty (typical new)60 mo
B · Lexar NQ780 4TB
- InterfaceM.2 PCIe 4.0 x4
- Form factorM.2-2280
- Capacity4,000 GB
- Heatsink includedNo
- Write endurance2,400 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 | Western Digital Blue SN5000 4TB | Lexar NQ780 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 | 5,500 MB/s | 7,000 MB/s✓ |
| Sequential write | 5,000 MB/s | 6,000 MB/s✓ |
| Write endurance | 2,400 TBW | 2,400 TBW |
| DRAM cache | DRAM-less | not tracked |
| NAND type | SanDisk BiCS8 TLC | not tracked |
| Controller | SanDisk Custom | not tracked |
| Heatsink included | No | No |
| Current dataset offer · New | $435snapshot 2026-09-06✓ | $480snapshot 2026-09-06 |
| Warranty (typical new) | 60 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.
Worth considering instead
Crucial T710 1TB — same S-tier capability for System Drive, about $225 cheaper · Value 100.
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 Blue SN5000 4TB if…
- You can find it at or below its Strong Value threshold of $395 under balanced weights.
Choose B · Lexar NQ780 4TB if…
- You prioritize System Drive, 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 $476 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: Western Digital Blue SN5000 4TB or Lexar NQ780 4TB?
- Under the balanced preset and the 2026-09-06 offer frame, Lexar NQ780 4TB has higher Relative Value under this configuration (79 vs 75). 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?
- Lexar NQ780 4TB grades higher in 2 of 3 graded scenarios (1 tied) and is never graded lower.
- At what price does the Western Digital Blue SN5000 4TB become the better value?
- Holding the Lexar NQ780 4TB offer dated in the 2026-09-06 frame fixed, the calculation flips in favour of the Western Digital Blue SN5000 4TB at roughly $399 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: 2026-09-06 · dataset generated 2026-09-06 · 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