Western Digital is by adding an NVMe model to its WD Blue solid state drive (SSD) portfolio, the WD Blue SN500 NVMe SSD.

The new SSD delivers three-times the performance of its SATA counterpart. Leveraging the in-house SSD architecture of the WD Black SN750 NVMe SSD, the new WD Blue SN500 NVMe SSD is also built on Western Digital's own 3D NAND technology, firmware and controller, and delivers sequential read and write speeds up to 1,700MB/s and 1,450MB/s respectively (for 500GB model) with efficient power consumption as low as 2.7W.

Designed for slim form factor notebooks or desktop PCs, the WD Blue SN500 NVMe SSD will be available in 250GB and 500GB capacities in a single-sided M.2 2280 PCIe Gen3 x2 form factor. Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) in the U.S. is $54.99 USD for 250GB (model number: WDS250G1B0C) and $77.99 USD for 500GB (model number: WDS500G1B0C).

Specifications

• 250GB
• Sequential Read MB/s up to (Q=32, T=1): 1,700
• Sequential Write MB/s up to (Q=32, T=1) : 1,300
• Random Read IOPS up to (Q=32, T=8): 210K
• Random Write IOPS up to (Q=32, T=8): 170K

• Sequential Read MB/s up to (Q=32, T=1): 1,700
• Sequential Write MB/s up to (Q=32, T=1) : 1,450
• Random Read IOPS up to (Q=32, T=8): 275K
• Random Write IOPS up to (Q=32, T=8): 300K

• Average Active Power (mW): 75
• Low Power (PS3) (mW): 25
• Peak Power (10us): 1.8A
• Sleep (PS4) (low power): 2.5mW