The Western Digital WD Black SN8100 4TB is the objective winner of this comparison, securing victories in four out of six measured categories. Its most significant advantage is its sequential read speed, which outperforms the Samsung 870 EVO 500GB by 2561 percent. While the Samsung 870 EVO 500GB holds a 93 percent advantage in MSRP, the superior performance metrics of the Western Digital WD Black SN8100 4TB make it the more capable drive across the majority of technical specifications.

Users prioritizing raw speed and maximum storage capacity should select the Western Digital WD Black SN8100 4TB for their system. Conversely, the Samsung 870 EVO 500GB is the appropriate choice for budget-conscious buyers who are primarily focused on the MSRP advantage. By weighing the significant performance lead of the former against the cost efficiency of the latter, users can align their purchase with either high-end throughput requirements or strict financial constraints.