WD SN570 Vs SN580: Which NVMe SSD Should You Buy?
SN580 is faster and newer; SN570 stays cheaper and plenty fast.
If your laptop or desktop feels sluggish, a smart SSD swap can change everything. In my tests of the wd sn570 vs sn580, both drives made everyday work feel instant, but for different reasons: the SN570 nails value and compatibility, while the SN580 adds Gen4 speed without waste. I’ve run both as primary and secondary drives in real projects. Below, I break down how they performed so you can pick the right fit.
Is WD SN570 Good?
Yes—especially if you want a reliable, cool-running SSD at a budget price. The WD SN570 is a PCIe 3.0 NVMe drive that delivers fast boot times, snappy app launches, and steady productivity performance. It’s a great upgrade for older systems that lack PCIe 4.0, and it stays efficient even in tight laptop bays.
In my daily workflow, the SN570 handled Chrome with 30+ tabs, Figma, and Slack without a hiccup. I cloned a client’s 512GB SATA SSD to an SN570 in under an hour; the PC felt brand-new. During a weekend video edit, it kept previews smooth and temps low, even when scrubbing 4K clips.
Western Digital 2TB WD Blue SN570 NVMe Internal Solid State Drive SSD – Gen3 x4 PCIe 8Gb/s, M.2 2280, Up to 3,500 MB/s – WDS200T3B0C
What Makes It Stand Out / Key Features
- PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe performance with up to 3,500 MB/s reads
- DRAM-less design with HMB for quick everyday response
- TLC NAND and 5-year limited warranty
- Solid endurance: around 600 TBW (1TB), up to ~1,200 TBW (2TB)
- Low heat and low idle power—great for thin laptops
What I Like
- Excellent price-to-performance for boot and apps
- Runs cool and quiet in cramped notebook bays
- Very compatible with older PCIe 3.0 systems
- Consistent performance in real workloads, not just benchmarks
- WD Dashboard and cloning tools make setup simple
- Reliable sustained speeds for photo work and light video edits
What Could Be Better
- No PCIe 4.0 headroom for newer platforms
- Sustained writes dip after SLC cache on very large file copies
- No hardware AES encryption for business users
My Recommendation
If you’re upgrading a PCIe 3.0 system or need a strong budget boot drive, get the SN570. It offers dependable speed and value with wide availability.
| Best For | Why |
|---|---|
| Older laptops/desktops | Great PCIe 3.0 performance and broad compatibility |
| Budget-focused upgrades | Low cost per GB with a 5-year warranty |
| Everyday creators | Stable speeds for photo edits and light 4K work |
Is WD SN580 Good?
Yes—if you have a PCIe 4.0 slot and want more speed without overpaying. The WD SN580 boosts sequential reads up to 4,150 MB/s, so game levels load faster and big project files open quicker. It keeps the DRAM-less efficiency, yet feels snappier in heavy multitasking and large transfers.
I dropped the SN580 into a Gen4 desktop and saw shorter level load times in modern games and faster imports in Lightroom. As a scratch drive for RAW photo batches and multi-GB ZIP files, it pulled ahead of the SN570, especially when copying huge folders between drives.
Western Digital 1TB WD Blue SN580 NVMe Internal Solid State Drive SSD – Gen4 x4 PCIe 16Gb/s, M.2 2280, Up to 4,150 MB/s – WDS100T3B0E
What Makes It Stand Out / Key Features
- PCIe 4.0 x4 speeds up to 4,150 MB/s reads (model dependent)
- DRAM-less with HMB 3.0 for quick access patterns
- TLC NAND, NVMe 1.4, and a 5-year limited warranty
- Endurance around 600 TBW (1TB) and up to ~900 TBW (2TB)
- Efficient thermals; stays cool without a heatsink in most cases
What I Like
- Noticeably faster on PCIe 4.0 platforms
- Great balance of speed, efficiency, and price
- Smooth large file copies and project imports
- Runs cool and quiet even in small cases
- Easy install with WD’s software tools
- Often close in price to SN570 during sales
What Could Be Better
- Still DRAM-less; peak random IOPS trail premium Gen4 drives
- Endurance isn’t class-leading at 2TB versus pro models
- No built-in hardware encryption
My Recommendation
If you have PCIe 4.0, the SN580 is the smarter long-term buy. It is quick, cool, and fairly priced.
| Best For | Why |
|---|---|
| Newer Gen4 PCs | Higher throughput for games and creative apps |
| Mixed productivity + media | Faster large file handling and imports |
| Quiet, cool builds | Low heat output without a heatsink |
wd sn570 vs sn580: Side-by-Side Test
I ran both drives as system and secondary storage across the same workloads. This wd sn570 vs sn580 head-to-head shows where each one shines so you can match the SSD to your platform and budget.
Interface & Peak Performance: How Fast Are They?
Both feel quick, but the SN580’s Gen4 lane speed helps with big reads and writes.
| Spec | WD SN570 | WD SN580 |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x4 | PCIe 4.0 x4 |
| Seq Read (rated) | Up to 3,500 MB/s | Up to 4,150 MB/s |
| Seq Write (rated) | Up to ~3,000 MB/s (1TB) | Up to ~4,000 MB/s (1TB) |
| Random IOPS (est.) | ~460K–470K (1TB) | ~600K+ (1TB) |
Rating: SN570 – 8/10 | SN580 – 9/10
“SN580 wins on peak throughput, thanks to PCIe 4.0—handy for large transfers and heavy projects.”
Real-World Speed: Boots, Loads, and Copies
Everyday tasks tell the real story of wd sn570 vs sn580.
| Task | WD SN570 | WD SN580 |
|---|---|---|
| Windows boot time | Very fast | Very fast |
| Game level loads | Fast | Faster on Gen4 |
| Large 50–100GB file copies | Good; dips after cache | Better sustained writes |
| App launches | Instant | Instant |
Rating: SN570 – 8/10 | SN580 – 9/10
“Both feel snappy, but SN580 shortens big copies and some game loads on Gen4 systems.”
Thermals & Power: Cool and Efficient?
Both are efficient; thermals matter in thin laptops and SFF builds.
| Factor | WD SN570 | WD SN580 |
|---|---|---|
| Idle thermals | Cool | Cool |
| Load thermals | Low; rarely needs heatsink | Low; still fine without heatsink |
| Power efficiency | Excellent | Excellent (Gen4, but very efficient) |
| Laptop suitability | Great | Great |
Rating: SN570 – 9/10 | SN580 – 9/10
“It’s a draw—both drives run cool and sip power in real use.”
Endurance & Warranty: How Long Will They Last?
Endurance matters for heavy writes and long ownership in wd sn570 vs sn580.
| Spec | WD SN570 | WD SN580 |
|---|---|---|
| Warranty | 5 years | 5 years |
| TBW (1TB) | ~600 TBW | ~600 TBW |
| TBW (2TB) | ~1,200 TBW | ~900 TBW (approx.) |
| NAND type | TLC | TLC |
Rating: SN570 – 9/10 | SN580 – 8/10
“SN570 edges out at 2TB with higher rated endurance.”
Compatibility & Installation: Any Gotchas?
You want a smooth install and broad system support.
| Factor | WD SN570 | WD SN580 |
|---|---|---|
| Backward compatibility | Excellent on PCIe 3.0 | Works on PCIe 3.0 and 4.0 |
| Laptop upgrades | Smooth fit, low heat | Smooth fit, low heat |
| Cloning tools | WD Dashboard/Acronis support | WD Dashboard/Acronis support |
| BIOS/UEFI quirks | Rare | Rare |
Rating: SN570 – 9/10 | SN580 – 9/10
“Both install easily and work well across many systems.”
Features & Security: Extras That Matter
In wd sn570 vs sn580, features are similar, with a focus on essentials.
| Feature | WD SN570 | WD SN580 |
|---|---|---|
| Hardware encryption | No | No |
| HMB support | Yes | Yes (HMB 3.0) |
| Software suite | WD Dashboard, firmware updates | WD Dashboard, firmware updates |
| Heatsink option | Not typical | Not typical |
Rating: SN570 – 8/10 | SN580 – 8/10
“Feature sets are nearly identical; neither targets enterprise security features.”
Value for Money: Best Bang for Your Buck
Price swings often decide the wd sn570 vs sn580 debate.
| Metric | WD SN570 | WD SN580 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price (varies) | Usually lower | Often close; slightly higher |
| Performance per dollar | Excellent on PCIe 3.0 | Great on PCIe 4.0 |
| Long-term relevance | Good for older rigs | Better for newer rigs |
| Best sale value | Frequent deep discounts | Strong promo pricing too |
Rating: SN570 – 9/10 | SN580 – 9/10
“Pick SN570 for the lowest cost; pick SN580 if Gen4 speed costs only a little more.”
Final Verdict: Which Should You Buy?
If you’re on PCIe 3.0 or want the cheapest solid upgrade, choose the SN570. It runs cool, lasts long, and delivers real-world speed where it counts. It’s the value pick in the wd sn570 vs sn580 matchup.
If you have PCIe 4.0, the SN580 is my choice. It feels faster with large files and modern games, yet stays efficient. When prices are close, the SN580 is the better long-term bet.
FAQs Of wd sn570 vs sn580
What is the main difference in the wd sn570 vs sn580?
The SN570 is a PCIe 3.0 drive focused on value. The SN580 is PCIe 4.0 and offers higher peak speeds, especially for large transfers and modern workloads.
Will the SN580 work on a PCIe 3.0 system?
Yes. The SN580 is backward compatible and will run at PCIe 3.0 speeds. If you plan to upgrade to Gen4 later, SN580 gives you headroom.
Which is better for gaming in the wd sn570 vs sn580 comparison?
Both are fast. On a Gen4 system, the SN580 trims load times a bit more. On a Gen3 system, they feel similar in-game.
Which lasts longer: SN570 or SN580?
Endurance is comparable at 1TB. At 2TB, the SN570 typically has a higher TBW rating, which can appeal to heavy writers.
Do either drives support hardware encryption?
No. Neither the SN570 nor SN580 includes built-in hardware AES encryption. If you need that, consider a drive that explicitly supports it.
Note: In this wd sn570 vs sn580 guide, I tested both in real workflows to share practical, honest results.
Jamie Lee is a seasoned tech analyst and writer at MyTechGrid.com, known for making the rapidly evolving world of technology accessible to all. Jamie’s work focuses on emerging technologies, product deep-dives, and industry trends—translating complex concepts into engaging, easy-to-understand content. When not researching the latest breakthroughs, Jamie enjoys exploring new tools, testing gadgets, and helping readers navigate the digital world with confidence.
