Solid state drives (SSDs) have become increasingly popular options for storage due to their fast speeds, durability, and energy efficiency compared to traditional hard disk drives (HDDs). As SSD technology has improved over the years, larger capacity drives have become more affordable. For many consumers and professionals, 5TB SSDs hit a sweet spot of substantial storage capacity at a reasonable price point.
What are the typical price ranges for 5TB SSDs?
Currently, 5TB SSDs from top brands typically range in price from $400 to $900. More budget-oriented models can be found for $250 to $400, while premium models aimed at high performance use cases can cost over $1000. Some key factors that affect 5TB SSD pricing are:
- Interface – SATA vs. NVMe: NVMe offers much faster speeds over PCIe but carries a price premium over the more common SATA interface. Most budget 5TB SSDs are SATA while higher-end models are NVMe.
- NAND type – QLC vs. TLC vs. MLC: QLC NAND is the most affordable but slowest option. TLC offers a good balance of cost and performance. MLC is fast and durable but much more expensive.
- DRAM cache: SSDs with a DRAM cache for the controller deliver faster speeds but cost more than DRAMless options.
- Brand reputation: Well-known brands like Samsung, Crucial and WD carry a price premium over lesser-known brands.
Typical price range summary:
- Budget SATA models – $250-$400
- Mainstream SATA models – $400-$700
- High-performance NVMe models – $700-$1000+
What are the best budget 5TB SSD options under $400?
Here are some of the top-rated budget 5TB SATA SSD options currently available for under $400:
| Model | Price | Interface | NAND Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crucial MX500 | $370 | SATA | TLC |
| Samsung 870 QVO | $350 | SATA | QLC |
| WD Blue 3D NAND | $380 | SATA | TLC |
The Crucial MX500 is a very popular choice thanks to its combination of Micron 3D TLC NAND, SATA connectivity, and robust performance for everyday use. The Samsung 870 QVO uses slower QLC NAND but offers excellent endurance and Samsung reliability at a low price point. The WD Blue 3D NAND is a reliable TLC-based model from Western Digital’s consumer SSD line.
Benefits of budget 5TB SATA SSDs:
- Deliver significantly faster speeds than hard drives
- Enough capacity for most gaming and workstation builds
- Very affordable price per GB compared to smaller SSDs
- Lower power consumption than equivalent HDD storage
Limitations of budget 5TB SATA SSDs:
- Slower speeds than high-end NVMe SSDs
- Often use slower QLC NAND compared to premium models
- Sequential write speeds can slow down as drive fills up
What are the best high-performance 5TB NVMe SSD options?
For those seeking ultimate SSD speeds and performance, these top-tier 5TB NVMe SSD options are worth considering:
| Model | Price | Interface | NAND Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung 980 Pro | $700 | NVMe PCIe 4.0 | MLC |
| WD Black SN850 | $750 | NVMe PCIe 4.0 | TLC |
| Seagate FireCuda 520 | $900 | NVMe PCIe 4.0 | TLC |
The Samsung 980 Pro is one of the fastest consumer NVMe drives thanks to its combination of PCIe 4.0, Samsung’s latest controller, and fast MLC NAND. The WD Black SN850 also hits high speeds with its optimized PCIe 4.0 controller and TLC NAND. And the Seagate FireCuda 520 competes well with premium performance and impressive endurance ratings.
Benefits of high-end 5TB NVMe SSDs:
- Blazing fast sequential and random read/write speeds
- Excellent performance for high-end gaming, intense workstation use, 4K+ video editing, etc.
- Top-tier components like MLC NAND, cutting-edge controllers, and PCIe 4.0 support
- Often come with 5-year or longer warranties
Downsides of premium 5TB NVMe SSDs:
- Very expensive – over $700 minimum
- Overkill for casual use
- Require compatible motherboard and PCIe 4.0 CPU/chipset
- Marginal real-world gains in many consumer use cases
How do 5TB SSD prices compare to smaller or larger capacities?
In general, SSD pricing tends to follow these trends as capacity increases:
- Smallest capacities like 128GB and 256GB have the highest cost per GB
- 500GB to 2TB models have the best blend of price and capacity for most consumers
- 4TB+ models start to become very affordable priced per GB but have higher upfront costs
- 8TB and higher capacities remain relatively expensive
For example, at MSRP a 1TB SSD may cost around $100 while a comparable 5TB model is around $500. The 1TB drive costs $0.10 per GB while the 5TB option is only $0.10 per GB. So the larger drive provides more GB per dollar spent. But its higher $500 starting price is over 5x the cost of a 1TB drive, making the 5TB model harder to budget for some buyers.
Cost per GB comparison for popular consumer SSD capacities:
| Capacity | Typical Price Range | Cost per GB |
|---|---|---|
| 128GB | $25-$50 | $0.20-$0.40 |
| 256GB | $40-$70 | $0.16-$0.28 |
| 500GB | $60-$100 | $0.12-$0.20 |
| 1TB | $80-$150 | $0.08-$0.15 |
| 2TB | $170-$300 | $0.09-$0.15 |
| 4TB | $300-$600 | $0.08-$0.15 |
| 5TB | $400-$900 | $0.08-$0.18 |
How have 5TB SSD prices changed over time?
As with most storage technology, 5TB SSD prices have declined steadily over the years while performance has increased. Some key pricing trends include:
- The first 5TB SSDs were released around 2018 with very high launch prices of $1200+.
- By 2019, mainstream 5TB SATA SSDs were available in the $600-$800 range.
- Top NVMe models reached 5TB in 2020, with prices around $1000.
- In 2021, budget QLC-based 5TB drives dropped to $400-$500.
- Currently in 2023, competitive pricing across brands has brought 5TB SSDs down to the $250 to $1000 range based on type and performance tier.
Overall, 5TB SSD prices have dropped by 50-75% from their starting points just a few years ago. And new advances like PCIe 4.0 and optimized controllers have also brought major speed boosts during this time. This combination of lower prices and faster performance has made 5TB SSDs accessible and affordable as high-capacity storage for mainstream PC builds.
Historical 5TB consumer SSD MSRP pricing:
| Year | Budget Models | Mainstream Models | High-End Models |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | N/A | $1200-$1500 | N/A |
| 2019 | N/A | $600-$800 | $1000+ |
| 2020 | N/A | $500-$700 | $900-$1200 |
| 2021 | $400-$500 | $400-$600 | $800-$1000 |
| 2022 | $300-$400 | $350-$550 | $700-$900 |
| 2023 | $250-$400 | $400-$700 | $700-$1000 |
Conclusion
In summary, 5TB SSDs now offer an appealing storage capacity for desktop builds at reasonable prices between $250 and $1000 based on performance needs. Budget SATA models can be found for as low as $0.08 per GB, while high-end NVMe drives push sequential speeds up to 7000 MB/s. Within the last five years, steady NAND flash improvements and economies of scale have brought 5TB SSD pricing down significantly. While still carrying a higher initial purchase cost than smaller SSDs or HDDs, 5TB SSDs currently hit a nice balance of affordability and capacity for many users.