Relative Value66balanced preset
Western Digital Blue SN5100 4TB vs Lexar NQ780 4TB — value comparison
See current offers for Western Digital Blue SN5100 4TB
Relative Value69balanced preset
Western Digital Blue SN5100 4TB and Lexar NQ780 4TB are practically even under balanced weights at the current dataset offers: 66 vs 69. Change the preset or your priorities before deciding.
Price data · US · USD · New · A 2026-09-11 · B 2026-09-11Coverage · 3 tracked new-offer records across both modelsBenchmark confidence · no estimate flags on these two recordsAffiliate links · We may earn a commission from these links. Scores are calculated separately using our methodology.
02 · Decision matrix
One decision, three separate questions
Capability ignores price. Relative Value adds the current dataset offers and your priorities. Keeping them separate prevents a cheap product from being mistaken for the faster product.
The decision, split by questioncapability · value · price are separate answers
Capability by task
| Scenario | Western Digital Blue SN5100 4TB | Lexar NQ780 4TB |
|---|---|---|
| System Drive | S#133 | S#119 |
| Game & File Storage | S#55 | S#31 |
| Heavy Creative Work | S#78 | S#109 |
They grade identically in all 3 graded scenarios — the tier table won't decide this one, so compare price and Value below. These are the same S–F grades as the tier list — capability only, price excluded. The value rows below add prices from the 2026-09-11 offer frame. How tiers are assigned →
Relative Value by priority
Balancedpractically even (≤3 pts)
66
69
System Drivepractically even (≤3 pts)
25
27
Game & File Storagepractically even (≤3 pts)
88
89
Heavy Creative Workhigher relative value lit
21
28 ✓
Strict Budgetpractically even (≤3 pts)
47
47
Both products are normalized within the same in-stock market frame per preset. A check marks the higher Relative Value; a difference of 3 points or less is shown as practically even.
03 · Price crossover
The price changes the answer
Current offers, crossover points and Strong Value thresholds answer different questions. Thresholds are calculations, not price forecasts.
A · Western Digital Blue SN5100 4TB
- Current dataset offer · NewUS · USD · snapshot 2026-09-11
- $530
- Beats Lexar NQ780 4TB atbalanced weights; rival offer held fixed
- $490
- Strong Value at80+ Relative Value threshold
- $399
B · Lexar NQ780 4TB
- Current dataset offer · NewUS · USD · snapshot 2026-09-11
- $550
- Beats Western Digital Blue SN5100 4TB atbalanced weights; rival offer held fixed
- $595
- Strong Value at80+ Relative Value threshold
- $449
04 · Where to buy
Current offers for both products
Dated New-condition price snapshots for only the two products in this comparison. Confirm the final price and availability at the store.
A · Western Digital Blue SN5100 4TB
New · US · USDAmazon Affiliate
Check on AmazonB · Lexar NQ780 4TB
New · US · USDAmazon Affiliate
Check on Amazon05 · Capability
Capability indexes, side by side
Price is intentionally excluded here so the more capable product and the better-value product cannot be confused.
Drive capability
6900
7000
7000
Sequential read (MB/s)
6900
7000
7000
Sequential write (MB/s)
6700
6000
6000
A · Western Digital Blue SN5100 4TBB · Lexar NQ780 4TBEach row keeps the unit or category index named in its label; bar length compares A and B within that row.Lexar NQ780 4TB shows higher Value under every weighting we test — a stable result in the 2026-09-11 offer frame.
06 · Platform & ownership
Fit, compatibility and ownership context
Only verified structured compatibility and ownership fields are shown. Check the exact system, board manual and vendor QVL before purchase; missing fields are never guessed.
A · Western Digital Blue SN5100 4TB
- InterfaceM.2 PCIe 4.0 x4
- Form factorM.2-2280
- Capacity4,000 GB
- DRAM cacheDRAM-less
- Heatsink includedNo
- Write endurance1,200 TBW
- Warranty (typical new)60 mo
B · Lexar NQ780 4TB
- InterfaceM.2 PCIe 4.0 x4
- Form factorM.2-2280
- Capacity4,000 GB
- Heatsink includedNo
- Write endurance2,400 TBW
- Warranty (typical new)60 mo
07 · Specifications
Key specifications
Directional checkmarks appear only on numeric fields where more or less has a clear meaning. They are not an overall verdict.
| Specification | Western Digital Blue SN5100 4TB | Lexar NQ780 4TB |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | M.2 PCIe 4.0 x4 | M.2 PCIe 4.0 x4 |
| Form factor | M.2-2280 | M.2-2280 |
| Capacity | 4,000 GB | 4,000 GB |
| Sequential read | 6,900 MB/s | 7,000 MB/s✓ |
| Sequential write | 6,700 MB/s✓ | 6,000 MB/s |
| Random read | 900,000 IOPS | not tracked |
| Random write | 1,100,000 IOPS | not tracked |
| Write endurance | 1,200 TBW | 2,400 TBW✓ |
| DRAM cache | DRAM-less | not tracked |
| NAND type | QLC 3D CBA NAND | not tracked |
| Controller | SanDisk Custom | not tracked |
| Heatsink included | No | No |
Show additional verified specifications
“Not tracked” means the source data does not contain a verified value; no default or guessed specification is substituted.
08 · Customize
Try other models and your own priorities
Presets are starting points. Swap either side, then open Advanced weights only if you want to tune the formula directly.
09 · Alternative
A third option worth checking
The same scenario and market frame checks whether another currently priced model offers a cleaner trade-off.
Worth considering instead
Crucial T710 1TB — same S-tier capability for System Drive, about $320 cheaper · Value 100.
Neither of the two above is the only answer — this one clears the same bar for less. ⇄ Compare all three
10 · Decision guide
Choose based on the trade-off you actually want
These are evidence-linked conditions, not universal buying verdicts. Feature ecosystems, software support and platform preferences remain your call.
Choose A · Western Digital Blue SN5100 4TB if…
- You can find it at or below its Strong Value threshold of $399 under balanced weights.
Choose B · Lexar NQ780 4TB if…
- Your priorities resemble Heavy Creative Work — it has higher Relative Value under those presets at the snapshot offers.
- You can find it at or below its Strong Value threshold of $449 under balanced weights.
11 · Methodology & FAQ
Read the methodology →How to read this comparison
The formula is a linear weighted sum inside the current comparison frame. Capability, price and user priorities stay visible as separate inputs so the result can be challenged and changed.
- Which is better value right now: Western Digital Blue SN5100 4TB or Lexar NQ780 4TB?
- Under the balanced preset and the 2026-09-11 offer frame, they are practically even in Relative Value (66 vs 69). Change the preset or weights to reflect your own priorities; capability is a separate question, answered by the tier table.
- Which one is more capable, ignoring price?
- They grade identically in all 3 graded scenarios — the tier table won't decide this one, so compare price and Value below.
- Where can I compare current offers for both?
- Dated offer snapshots for both models are listed on their product pages (linked above); the interactive calculator recalculates both with your own weights and budget.
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Offer frame: 2026-09-11 · dataset generated 2026-09-11 · formula ssd-value-v1.5-benefit-cost-product · Value Score is an estimate based on our current dataset, selected weights, market prices and methodology — not an official product rating or a price forecast. Target prices are calculation thresholds, not predictions. Methodology · Report a data error