The WD Blue SN570 NVMe SSD: A Solid Choice for Value-Conscious Users
Choosing the right storage for your PC has become increasingly complex. Gone are the days of solely relying on mechanical hard drives. Today, solid-state drives (SSDs) dominate, offering significantly faster performance and a more premium experience. However, the wide range of NVMe SSDs, each with differing speeds, capacities, and prices, can leave you wondering which one is truly the right fit. This is where the WD Blue SN570 steps in. It’s a mid-range SSD aiming to deliver a balance of speed, reliability, and affordability, perfect for those who don’t need the very top-end specs.
WD Blue SN570: A Balanced Approach to Storage
The WD Blue SN570 follows in the footsteps of the popular WD Blue SN550. It slots in below the performance-oriented WD Black SN750, catering to users seeking a good balance without breaking the bank. Importantly, it’s also not competing with bottom-of-the-barrel options. The Blue tier promises reliable, everyday performance at a competitive price, making it an appealing choice for both new PC builds and upgrades.
Price and Availability
The WD Blue SN570 is available solely in the M.2 form factor, with three capacity options: 250GB, 500GB, and 1TB. While the absence of a 2TB option is surprising, considering the older SN550 offered it, the current capacities cater to a wide range of user needs. In India, street prices start at Rs. 3,450 for the 250GB model and climb to Rs. 4,750 for the 500GB model. These prices are slightly higher than the older SN550, but remain quite competitive. The 1TB variant, the focus of this review, sits at approximately Rs. 8,350.
Features and Specifications
While the latest NVMe SSDs lean towards the faster PCIe 4.0 specification (and even PCIe 5.0 is emerging), WD has opted for PCIe 3.0 for the WD Blue SN570. This ensures broad compatibility with the majority of laptops and desktop PCs equipped with M.2 slots. The single-sided M.2 2280 module, lacking a heatsink, allows for easy installation in tight spaces, even thin-and-light laptops.
The SN570 employs Sandisk’s 112-layer TLC flash (a denser version compared to the 96-layer flash in the SN550), signifying a focus on newer, more efficient flash technology. The controller, bearing a SanDisk logo, employs SLC caching, utilizing a portion of the storage space for faster write speeds. This approach, common in many SSDs, aims to improve overall performance.
Key specifications for the 1TB WD Blue SN570 include:
- Interface: PCIe 3.0 x4
- Form Factor: M.2 2280
- Capacity: 1TB
- Sequential Read Speed: Up to 3500MBps
- Sequential Write Speed: Up to 3000MBps
- Endurance: 600TBW
The SN570 delivers impressive peak read and write speeds, exceeding the older SN550. It also boasts a considerable endurance rating, ensuring years of reliable use. This rating should be more than enough for everyday use.
Performance: A Solid Mid-Range Contender
The WD Blue SN570 (1TB) delivers on its promise of delivering solid, mid-range performance. Benchmarks show it achieving speeds close to the company’s advertised figures. In CrystalDiskMark 6, the SSD recorded sequential read and write speeds of 3495.3MBps and 2997.3MBps, respectively. Random reads and writes were also impressive, reaching 1691.2MBps and 1214.6MBps, respectively. The Anvil storage benchmark even further solidified its performance, showing read and write scores of 6228.61 and 7514.19, respectively.
These scores are among the best for PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSDs. They dramatically surpass the performance achievable with SATA SSDs and, naturally, leave mechanical hard drives in the dust. The WD Blue SN570 manages to undercut older premium PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSDs, like the Kingston KC2500 and Adata SX8200 Pro, in terms of pricing.
It’s important to note that these performance figures are specific to the 1TB model. The lower capacity options, while likely more popular, will have lower maximum speeds as indicated on WD’s website.
Software: WD Dashboard
The WD Dashboard app serves as a management tool for your SSD, providing detailed insights into its performance and health. The app displays free space, operating temperature over time, and "life remaining," providing a reassuring sense of its current health. It also offers:
- A real-time performance graph
- SMART diagnostics
- Windows write caching override
- Secure eraser and firmware updater
While the app offers valuable insights, it does include ads for other WD products, which can be slightly intrusive. Despite this minor caveat, the app remains a useful tool for managing your SSD.
Verdict: A Balanced Option for Everyday Users
The WD Blue SN570 NVMe SSD (1TB) stands out as a compelling choice for desktop or laptop users seeking ample storage without emptying their wallets. It presents a particularly strong case for older PCIe 3.0 platforms in need of an upgrade, as faster PCIe 4.0 drives would offer diminished returns. Its pricing also makes it highly competitive, undercutting even lower-tier options like the Kingston NV1, which falls short in performance.
While many users might gravitate towards a PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD, like WD’s own Black models, the SN570’s value proposition shines in the everyday realm. While you might not notice significant differences in load times for high-res games or large video file imports on a demanding system, the SN570 consistently delivers solid performance for a variety of tasks. As a secondary SSD, it presents an even more attractive option, providing ample space for storing files and applications without breaking the bank.
Pros:
- Good overall performance
- Useful bundled software (WD Dashboard)
- Five-year warranty
- Good value for money
Cons:
- Ads within the WD Dashboard
Ratings (Out of 5):
- Performance: 4
- Value for Money: 4.5
- Overall: 4.5
In the competitive world of NVMe SSDs, the WD Blue SN570 emerges as a clear winner for those prioritizing value and reliability. Its balanced approach ensures a smooth experience, making it a perfect choice for everyday use, both for new builds and upgrades.
