I'm considering getting an SSD for a secondary operating system on my dual boot setup, which I don't use often—maybe just a few times a year to play certain games that don't run on Linux. I'm trying to decide between the WD Green SN3000 500GB or the WD Blue SN580 250GB. The Blue has a better TBW rating, but they're priced the same, and I don't need more than 250GB. Should I worry about the lifespan of these drives, or is one better than the other? By the way, these are the two cheapest PCIe Gen 4 drives available in the UK at the moment.
3 Answers
Honestly, you shouldn't stress too much about it. The TBW ratings are more of a guideline than a rule, and most drives rarely hit those limits unless they're constantly being used in demanding situations like in a NAS. For your infrequent use, either drive should last a decade or more, and you might even end up replacing the whole PC before the SSD wears out.
You shouldn't be worried about SSD longevity at all. I've had my Samsung 970 Pro in use since late 2018, and despite having had it powered off for months at a time, it still runs great. SSDs are generally way more reliable than HDDs, plus if they do fail, they often switch to a read-only mode, allowing you to retrieve your data. Just monitor the SMART data periodically, and keep that firmware updated!
As a secondary drive, it really doesn't matter much. Even if you have only 100 TBW on a 500GB drive, that amounts to formatting and filling it completely every month for over 16 years before you start seeing issues! If space isn't a concern, just go for the extra storage!
Exactly! The usage scenarios you mentioned mean that these drives are going to last you a long while. Just pick the one that fits your budget best!