Best 500GB PCIe 3.0 Western Digital TLC SSDs
There are 4 500GB PCIe 3.0 Western Digital TLC SSDs compared here. The fastest is the Western Digital BLACK SN750 at 3430 MB/s read at 500GB, and the highest-rated for endurance is the Western Digital BLUE SN550 (600 TBW). Sequential reads across the group span 1450–3430 MB/s at 500GB.
Why this configuration
A 500GB PCIe 3.0 Western Digital TLC SSD is an affordable NVMe step up from SATA. Gen3 is roughly six times SATA's throughput yet often costs little more, making it the easy default for a first NVMe drive or a laptop that only supports Gen3. Western Digital specifically tends to be chosen here for its firmware track record and warranty support.
500GB is a sensible OS-plus-a-few-games size.
Usually chosen for: budget builders, laptop upgraders and anyone leaving SATA behind.
Good fit: everyday all-rounder use, from OS drive to game library.
Ranked list
Speeds on this page are the manufacturer's 500GB ratings where published (3 of 4 drives), not the family headline figure. Rated writes at 500GB run 1700–2600 MB/s.
| # | Model | Tier | Controller | Read MB/s (at 500GB) | TBW | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Western Digital BLACK SN750 250GB, 500GB | High-end | SANDISK 20-82-0070 10 (3 Core ARM- | 3430 | 300 | Find on Amazon |
| 2 |  Western Digital SN530 250GB, 500GB, 1TB | Value | — | 2400* | 400 | Check price on Amazon |
| 3 |  Western Digital BLUE SN550 250GB, 500GB, 1TB | Value | SANDISK 20-82-0070 10 (3 Core ARM- | 2400 | 600 | Find on Amazon |
| 4 |  Western Digital BLUE SN500 250GB, 500GB | Value | SANDISK 20-82-0070 10 (4MB de DRAM | 1450 | 300 | Find on Amazon |
* family rating — the manufacturer does not publish a 500GB figure for this drive.
The parts, explained
500GB is a comfortable OS-and-games starting point.
PCIe 3.0 x4 reaches about 3,500 MB/s — plenty for everyday use and gaming, and cheaper than Gen4.
TLC NAND is the mainstream choice — a solid balance of endurance, speed and cost.
Staying with Western Digital means consistent firmware, tooling and warranty handling across the range.