Home / Tech · Product overviews / Computers & Accessories / Internal Solid State Drives · More from Western Digital
WD Blue SA510 500GB SATA SSD (WDS500G3B0A): features, specs and who it suits
A 500GB 2.5-inch SATA III solid state drive from Western Digital with speeds up to 560 MB/s. What the specs mean and what to check before upgrading.
This page contains an affiliate link, marked as such. If you buy through it, Bloiq may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
The WD Blue SA510 is a 500GB internal solid state drive (model WDS500G3B0A) that connects over SATA. Western Digital designs it as an upgrade for PCs that still use a hard drive or an older, slower SSD, and says it helps boost performance for everyday work and content creation.
What SATA III means
The drive uses SATA III, an interface with a theoretical limit of 6 Gb/s, in practice about 550 to 600 MB/s. Western Digital rates this drive at up to 560 MB/s, so it is close to that limit. Newer NVMe SSDs are typically several times faster, but SATA drives suit many laptops and older desktops that can't use NVMe.
What the speed means in use
Western Digital says the drive helps you boot up faster, cut lag times and speed up edits and file transfers. In general, an SSD has no moving parts, so it opens programs and files much more quickly than a mechanical hard drive. The "up to" figure is a best-case number; real transfer speeds depend on the file types and the rest of the system.
Form factor and size
This model is a 2.5-inch drive that is 7mm thick, the common size for laptops and many desktops. The listing gives dimensions of 3.9 x 2.8 x 0.3 inches and a weight of about 0.1 lb (about 70 g). Western Digital says the SA510 range comes in 2.5-inch or M.2 versions; this listing describes the 2.5-inch model.
Capacity
500GB is typically enough for the operating system, programs and a modest library of files, but large game libraries and video projects fill it quickly. Formatted capacity shows as slightly less than the rated amount.
Software extras
Western Digital says the drive includes Acronis True Image for Western Digital backup and cyber protection software. The listing also mentions a trial offer with a redemption deadline in 2023, so don't count on it.
Who it suits
It suits anyone replacing a hard drive in a laptop or desktop, or adding fast storage to a system with a spare SATA connection and drive bay. It is a poor match for machines that only have M.2 NVMe slots.
What to check before you buy
- Connector: confirm that your PC has a SATA data port and a power connector, or a laptop bay for a 2.5-inch drive.
- Thickness: 7mm fits most slim laptops, but some older bays need a spacer or bracket.
- Capacity: decide whether 500GB covers your files, or whether you will clone an existing larger drive.
- Migration: back up your data before moving or cloning it.
- Software: the backup tool may require a download and registration.
The short version
- A 500GB SATA III internal SSD in the 2.5-inch, 7mm format.
- Rated by Western Digital at up to 560 MB/s.
- Aimed at upgrading older PCs from hard drives or slower SSDs.
- Includes Acronis True Image for Western Digital backup software, per the brand.
Bloiq is reader-supported. Some links may earn us a commission; it never affects what we write. How we make money.
