£649.99
(updated at 2025-01-17 22:04:00)
Score:
12.3
GB per £
Product features
- Gain the ultimate gaming edge. Insane speeds up to 7,300MB/s (1TB - 4TB models) deliver top-tier performance with ridiculously short load times — for the elite gaming experience you’ve been waiting for.
- All capacities have an optional heatsink version that's not only eye-catching, but also helps your rig maintain peak performance through your most intense gaming sessions.
- More room for more games. Capacities up to 8TB built with Western Digital TLC 3D NAND, means you get to keep more games at the ready — and get into the action even faster.
- Do more with WD_BLACK Dashboard. The downloadable WD_BLACK Dashboard (Windows only) monitors your drive’s health, lets you customize your RGB lighting, and, exclusively on the SN850X SSD, enables Game Mode 2.0 to transform your gaming experience.
- Future-forward features. The WD_BLACK SN850X SSD boasts a powerful suite of features, including Predictive Loading, Overhead Balancing, and Adaptive Thermal Management (ATM).
WD_BLACK SN850X 8TB SSD Review
Overview The WD_BLACK SN850X 8TB SSD is a high-performance M.2 NVMe SSD designed for gaming and productivity applications. It boasts impressive sequential read and write speeds of up to 7,200 MB/s and 6,600 MB/s respectively, making it one of the fastest and largest capacity PCIe Gen 4.0 M.2 SSDs available.
Pros
- Speed: The WD_BLACK SN850X 8TB SSD delivers exceptional performance with sequential read speeds of up to 7,200 MB/s and write speeds of up to 6,600 MB/s, making it ideal for demanding applications like gaming and video editing.
- Capacity: With an 8TB capacity, this SSD provides ample storage for large game libraries, video files, and other high-capacity data.
- Endurance: It has a TBW (Terabytes Written) endurance of 4,800TB, ensuring reliable performance over time.
- Controller and Memory: The SSD uses Kioxia 162-Layer TLC (BiCS6) flash memory and the proprietary Triton MP16+ B2 controller, which enhances its performance and reliability.
- Heatsink Option: The drive comes with an optional heatsink, which helps maintain peak performance during intense gaming sessions.
- Dashboard Features: The downloadable WD_BLACK Dashboard (Windows only) allows users to monitor the drive’s health, customize RGB lighting (for heatsink versions), and automatically detect games to turn on Game Mode 2.0.
Cons
- Price: The 8TB version is still relatively expensive, especially when compared to buying two 4TB SN850X SSDs, which would provide similar capacity at a lower cost.
- Limited M.2 Slots: The high capacity of this SSD means it is best suited for systems with limited M.2 slots, as it occupies a single slot.
- Overkill for Common Gaming Rigs: While it is excellent for gaming, the 8TB capacity might be overkill for most gaming rigs, making it more suitable for productivity applications like video editing.
Verdict The WD_BLACK SN850X 8TB SSD is an excellent choice for those who need high-capacity storage with exceptional performance. Its speed, capacity, and reliability make it ideal for gaming and productivity applications. However, its high price and limited M.2 slot usage are significant considerations. For those with the budget and the need for such a high-capacity drive, it is a solid investment.
Features Table
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 8TB |
| Read Speed | Up to 7,200 MB/s |
| Write Speed | Up to 6,600 MB/s |
| Controller | Triton MP16+ B2 |
| Memory | Kioxia 162-Layer TLC (BiCS6) |
| Endurance | 4,800TB |
| Interface | PCIe Gen 4.0 x4 NVMe |
| Form Factor | M.2 2280 |
| Heatsink Option | Yes |
| Dashboard Features | Health monitoring, RGB customization, Game Mode 2.0 |
| TBW Endurance | 4,800TB |
| Sequential Read/Write Speeds | Up to 7,200 MB/s / Up to 6,600 MB/s |