The GE GFW450SSMWW is a 4.5 cu ft ENERGY STAR front-load washer with a steam option and a stainless steel drum, while the GFW510SCVWW is a slightly larger 4.6 cu ft smart front-load washer with WiFi, the UltraFresh Vent System with OdorBlock and a Sanitize with Oxi cycle. Choose the GFW450SSMWW if you want a front-loader with steam and no connected features, and the GFW510SCVWW if you want the app connection, the vent system and the sanitize cycle, noting that its page does not list steam.
What is the difference between the GFW450SSMWW and the GFW510SCVWW?
The features, much more than the size. According to our model pages, the GFW450SSMWW is a 4.5 cu ft ENERGY STAR front-load washer with a steam option, steam-enhanced cycles, a stainless steel drum and electronic controls. The GFW510SCVWW is a 4.6 cu ft smart front-load washer, which means it connects over WiFi, with the UltraFresh Vent System with OdorBlock, a Sanitize with Oxi cycle and ENERGY STAR qualification. Both are white and both are listed as current models. The 0.1 cu ft difference in capacity is small enough that you will not notice it in a normal load.
Which washer has steam, and does it matter?
The GFW450SSMWW lists steam. Its page names a steam option and steam-enhanced cycles. The GFW510SCVWW page does not list steam, so if steam cycles matter to you, check the exact features for your model before you buy. The step-up washer on our site, the GFW550SSNWW, lists both the UltraFresh vent system and steam-enhanced cycles, with 4.8 cu ft. We do not describe what steam does on a given cycle, because our pages only name the feature; the owner’s manual for your model explains the cycles.
What do UltraFresh and OdorBlock add?
They are the main reason to pay for the GFW510SCVWW. Our model page lists the UltraFresh Vent System with OdorBlock as a feature and describes the vent fan as an added part unique to the UltraFresh line. That matters for service: our pages say that on these washers, the vent fan and the boot seal are the first things to check on any odor or leak complaint. It also means one more part that can need attention over the life of the washer. For care that keeps any front-load washer fresh, read our GE washer maintenance guide.
Does WiFi make the GFW510SCVWW worth more?
Only if you will use it. The smart models connect over WiFi, and the GFW450SSMWW does not list a connection. Our model page lists WiFi connectivity as a feature and does not claim better washing from it, so treat the app as a convenience. If you do not want an app, the GFW450SSMWW gives up the connection and keeps the steam option. Think about whether you will really check cycle status from your phone before you pay for it.
Do the washers share the same codes and care?
Largely, but with a caveat. All three model pages carry the same list of codes for GE washers with electronic controls, although the pages label that list as belonging to the GE top-load family and give no separate list for front-loaders, so treat it as a pointer and check your owner’s manual for your model. The list reads: E22 for a slow fill, E23 for a slow drain, E30 for no signal from the drain pump, E42 for a motor or inverter problem, often from overloading, E45 for a door that the washer thinks is locked, and E58 for the main control. The GFW450SSMWW page adds that on a front-load washer an E45 door code is more often an unbalanced load than a hardware failure, so redistribute the load and try again before you call. If a washer is slow to empty, our guide to the GE washer drain pump filter explains the owner-level check, and the GE washer E45 code guide covers the door code.
What do both washers need on installation day?
The same things, because both are front-load machines. Our installation guide says that front-load GE washers ship with bolts or rods that lock the drum suspension in place during transport, that removing them is the most commonly missed step and that skipping it makes the washer vibrate violently on the first spin. It also says to use new supply hoses rather than reusing old ones, to level the washer front-to-back and side-to-side, and to confirm the drain standpipe height. Read the GE washer installation guide before delivery, and keep the bolts in case you ever move the washer again. A washer that is not level is more likely to trigger a door-lock or balance problem during spin.
Which one should you buy?
Buy the GFW450SSMWW if you want a straightforward front-loader with steam, a stainless steel drum and no connected features. Buy the GFW510SCVWW if you want WiFi, the UltraFresh Vent System with OdorBlock and the Sanitize with Oxi cycle, and you are happy to do without a listed steam option. Consider the GFW550SSNWW if you want the larger drum and both. If you are still deciding between a front-load and a top-load washer, our GE top load vs front load washer guide compares the two designs. We do not quote prices here because they change by retailer and region. Read GE washer repair if you already own one.
