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WD Blue SN5000 500GB NVMe SSD (WDS500G4B0E): features, specs and who it suits
The Western Digital WD Blue SN5000 500GB is an M.2 2280 NVMe SSD on PCIe Gen 4, with nCache 4.0 and up to 5,000 MB/s. Here is what the specs mean.
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The WD Blue SN5000 500GB (model WDS500G4B0E) is an internal solid state drive that uses the NVMe protocol over a PCIe Gen 4 connection. It comes in the M.2 2280 format, a small stick that mounts directly on a motherboard or in a compatible laptop. Western Digital aims the range at creators and professionals.
What NVMe and PCIe Gen 4 mean
Older SSDs use the SATA interface, which caps speeds at around 550 MB/s. NVMe drives talk to the processor over PCIe lanes, which allows much higher throughput. PCIe Gen 4 doubles the per-lane bandwidth of Gen 3. Western Digital lists speeds of up to 5,000 MB/s for this 500GB model. Its listing quotes up to 5,500 MB/s reads for the 4TB version, so figures vary by capacity.
nCache 4.0
The listing credits Western Digital nCache 4.0 technology. In general, SSD caching uses a fast portion of the flash memory to absorb writes quickly before data is moved to its final storage. This typically helps when you copy large files or switch between demanding tasks.
Capacity range and endurance
The SN5000 line goes up to 4TB, and this model is the 500GB version. Western Digital lists endurance of up to 1,200 TBW for the 4TB model. TBW means terabytes written, the total amount of data the drive is rated to take over its life. Smaller capacities have lower endurance figures, so check the exact figure for 500GB on the maker's data sheet before you rely on it.
Included software
Western Digital says you can download Acronis True Image for Western Digital, a data migration tool for moving your files from an existing drive to the new one. This is useful when replacing the main drive in a computer rather than adding a second one.
Who it suits
It suits people upgrading a PC or laptop with a free M.2 slot, those who want a faster boot and application drive, and anyone building a system that needs a modest-capacity fast drive for the operating system and key programs.
Installing it
An M.2 drive is installed by seating it in the M.2 slot and securing it with a small screw. Many motherboards include a heatsink cover for the slot. Handle it by the edges, follow your motherboard manual and switch the computer off and unplug it first.
What to check before you buy
- That your device has an M.2 2280 slot that supports NVMe. Some M.2 slots are SATA-only.
- Whether the slot runs at PCIe Gen 4. A Gen 3 slot will work but is typically slower.
- Whether you need more than 500GB for games, video or large projects.
- Heat. Some laptops and small PCs have limited space, so check clearance.
- Whether your system supports booting from NVMe if this will be your main drive.
The short version
- 500GB internal NVMe SSD in the M.2 2280 format.
- PCIe Gen 4, with speeds up to 5,000 MB/s according to Western Digital.
- nCache 4.0 technology.
- Acronis True Image migration software for Western Digital is offered as a download.
- Confirm the slot type and speed on your device first.
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