WD Blue vs WD Black SSD – Simplified Buyers Guide 2023
If you’re in the market for a new SSD, you’ve probably come across WD’s Blue and Black drives. Both are great options, but it can be tough to decide which one is right for you. In this simplified buyers guide, we’ll compare and contrast the two drives so you can make an informed decision about which one is best for your needs
If you don’t want to read the rest of this article, here’s what I’d tell a friend. Always choose WD Black because it’s of performance and value for money. WD Black SSDs are best suited for gamers, video editors, and servers with bigger computing and storage demands. Go for WD BLACK SN850 with closing your eyes. (Link will take you to Amazon)
OK. WD Blue vs WD Black. Let’s be realistic. If you want accurate results, you need to be specific when searching for WD blue SSD vs black SSD. That’s because there are various types of SSDs: SATA 2.5, SATA M.2, NVME, etc.
When you compare Blue and Black you have to compare either SATA from each brand or NVME. So we have to compare apples to apples. If you don’t know about the different form factors refer to my article What Are the Different Types of SSDs?
But the thing is WD black doesn’t come with various form factors instead it is just available in one form factor which is M.2 and the protocol is NVME. So, we do not need not worry about that and we can directly compare these two SSDs.
WD Black vs Blue NVME SSD
Even though WD Blue SSD comes with various form factors since WD Black comes with NVME only, in this article, I am comparing NVME from both brands.
| Specification Compared | WD Black | WD Blue |
|---|---|---|
| Model | WD BLACK SN850 (Winner) Scroll above to see the image | SN570 NVMe Scroll above to see the image |
| Capacity Range | 500GB, 1TB, 2TB | 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB |
| Read/Write Speed (Differs according to capacity) | 500GB (7000/4100) 1TB (7000/5300) 2TB (7000/5100) | 250GB (3300/1200) 500GB (3500/2300) 1TB (3500/3000) 2TB (3500/3500) |
| Form Factor | M.2 | M.2 |
| Warranty Period | 5 years | 5 years |
| Operating Temp | 0 to 70 Celsius | 0 to 70 Celsius |
| TBW | 2TB – 1200TBW | 2TB – 900TBW |
So when you compare the above factors you can clearly see that WD Black is the winner.
- From Read/Write speed WD black has a massive speed which is 7000MB/s while WD Blue has 3300MB/s.
- Even from TBW measurement, WD Black has 1200TBW for the 2TB capacity. Note that TWB is differ according to the capacities. For your info WD Black’s 1TB comes with 600TBW and, 500GB comes with 300TBW.
To know more about TBW refer to my article Why Does TBW Matter in SSDs? If you want to know what is best between WD Blue and WD Green refer to WD Blue vs WD Green – Simplified Buyers Guide
Who Makes WD Blue and Black SSDs?
WD Blue and Black SSDs are manufactured by Western Digital, one of the largest computer storage companies in the world. WD has been in business for over 40 years and is headquartered in Irvine, California. The company designs develop and manufacture a wide range of products for both consumers and businesses, including hard drives, solid-state drives, external storage, and portable drives.
WD’s SSDs are available in a variety of sizes and speeds to meet the needs of different users. The WD Blue SSD is designed for general use, while the WD Black SSD is optimized for gaming and other demanding applications. Both models come with a 5-year warranty and are backed by Western Digital’s reputation for quality and reliability.
Are WD Blue SSD Drives Good?
WD Blue SSD drives are one of the most popular options on the market, and for good reason. They offer fast data transfer speeds, reliable performance, and a wide range of storage capacities. In addition, WD Blue SSDs come with a five-year warranty, making them an excellent choice for long-term use. And thanks to their low power consumption, WD Blue SSD drives can help to prolong battery life.
WD Blue is a type of hard drive that is suitable for gamers, video editors, and servers with heavier computing and storage requirements. In terms of storage space, WD Blue is available in 250 GB, 500 GB, and a massive one terabyte option.
While the WD Blue is a great all-around SSD, it’s not the best choice for everyone. If you’re looking for an SSD that offers the absolutely fastest data transfer speeds and top-of-the-line performance, you’ll want to choose the WD Black instead.
What Are the Benefits of a WD Black SSD?
The WD Black SSD is designed for demanding applications such as gaming, video editing, and graphic design. It offers a higher level of performance than the WD Blue SSD, thanks to its higher data transfer speeds and larger storage capacities.
A regular SSD might be a good choice if you need a computer that’s fast and can hold a lot of data, but what if you’re looking for something that’s even faster? If so, you may want to consider a WD Black SSD. Here’s a look at some of the benefits of this type of SSD.
- One benefit of a WD Black SSD is that it offers faster data transfer speeds than a regular SSD. If you see the above table you will see that 7000MB/s is a massive speed whereas a regular NVME SSD will have 3500MB/s. This means that you’ll be able to access and transfer your data more quickly, which can be helpful if you’re working with large files or need to access your data on a regular basis.
- Another benefit of a WD Black SSD is that it can offer more storage capacity than a regular SSD. This means that you’ll be able to store more data on your computer, which can be helpful if you have a lot of data or need to store large files.
- Finally, a WD Black SSD can offer better durability than a regular SSD. This means that your data will be better protected against damage, corruption, and other issues that can occur with storage devices.
If you’re looking for a fast and reliable storage option, a WD Black SSD might be the right choice for you. With faster data transfer speeds and more storage capacity, this type of SSD can offer a number of benefits for your computer.
To get in-depth knowledge about WD Black SSDs refer to this. WD Black SSD for Gaming: Is It the Right Choice?
WD Black SSD Products Comparison Table
| WD BLACK SN850 (Best Performance) | WD BLACK SN770 (2nd Runner up) | WD BLACK SN750 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 500GB, 1TB, 2TB | 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB | 250GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB |
| Form Factor | M.2 | M.2 2280 | M.2 |
| Read/Write ( MB/s ) | 500GB (7000/4100) 1TB (7000/5300) 2TB (7000/5100) | 250GB (4000/2000) 500GB (5000/4000) 1TB (5150/4900) 2TB (5150/4850) | 250GB (3100/1600) 1TB (3430/3000) 2TB (3400/2900) 4TB (3400/3100) |
Does WD Black SSD Work With PS5?
The PlayStation 5 console is one of the most talked-about gaming consoles on the market. One question that many gamers have is whether WD Black SSDs are compatible with the PS5. The answer is yes, WD Black SSDs are indeed compatible with the PlayStation 5 console.
This is good news for gamers who want to take advantage of the faster loading times and boosted performance that an SSD can provide. In addition, the WD Black SSDs are available in a variety of sizes, so gamers can choose the one that best suits their needs. So if you’re looking for a reliable and high-performance storage option for your PS5, be sure to check out WD Black SSDs.
How Do I Install WD Black on PS5?
The PS5 uses a special NVMe SSD for storage and installing process is pretty simple. Just follow these steps:
1. First, make sure that your PS5 is turned off.
2. Locate the NVMe SSD slot on the back of the console.
3. Insert the WD Black NVMe SSD into the slot.
4. Turn on your PS5 and open the Settings menu.
5. Go to ‘Storage’ and select ‘Format Storage Device.
6. Follow the prompts to format the drive.
And that’s it!. Actually, I found a good video on this that I’ll share below.
FAQ
1) Can I use WD Black for storage?
Yes, you can use the WD Black SSD for storage purposes. However, keep in mind that this SSD is designed for high-performance applications that require fast data transfer speeds (with a read write speed of 7000MB/s and 5000Mb/s).
If you don’t need the extra speed, you might be better off opting for a less expensive SSD model for storage. Conversely, if you do need extra speed, the WD Black SSD is an excellent choice that will deliver outstanding performance.
2) Does WD Black SN850 have a heat sink?
The WD_Black SN850 NVMe Internal SSD has been designed for gamers and creative professionals who require high-performance storage. The SN850 is available in two versions: with or without a heatsink. The version with the heatsink is intended for use in desktop PCs and PS5, while the version without the heatsink is intended for use in notebook computers and Ultrabooks.
References
- WD Black SSD Shop: https://www.westerndigital.com/c/internal-drives.000000
