Western Digital WD_Black SN850X 2 TB M.2-2280
Western Digital
Storage

Western Digital WD_Black SN850X 2 TB M.2-2280

Key Features

3D NAND Heatsink Option Game Mode 2.0
MSRP: $159
Amazon

Technical Specifications

Manufacturer
Western Digital
MSRP
$159
Type
SSD
Form Factor
M.2 2280
Interface
PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe
Capacity
2 TB
Read Speed
7300 MB/s
Write Speed
6600 MB/s
Cache
2048 MB
Nvme
Yes

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • SSD technology delivers significant speed improvement over traditional HDDs
  • Cutting-edge PCIe 4.0 NVMe provides maximum performance (7K MB/s read)
  • Large 2 TB capacity stores 26 modern games with room for media
  • Excellent for users with extensive digital collections
  • Flagship performance with 7K+ MB/s speeds for professional workloads
  • M.2 form factor eliminates cables and saves space
  • Perfect for compact builds and laptop upgrades
  • WD established storage brand with comprehensive product range

Cons

  • Requires M.2-compatible motherboard or laptop
  • High-performance drive may require thermal management
  • PCIe 4.0 benefits limited on older systems

Community Insights

  • Users frequently praise the SN850X for its high sequential and random read/write speeds, which result in ultra-fast game load times and system responsiveness. Many gamers and content creators consider it one of the best choices for high-performance builds, especially when paired with PCIe Gen4 motherboards.
  • A common discussion point is the drive’s tendency to get hot under sustained heavy loads. Many users recommend opting for the version with a built-in heatsink (or using a motherboard heatsink) to prevent thermal throttling and maintain peak performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the WD_Black SN850X compatible with PlayStation 5?
Yes, the SN850X is compatible with the PS5 as long as it has a heatsink (either pre-installed or added separately), and it meets Sony’s speed and size requirements for PS5 SSD upgrades.
Does the WD_Black SN850X come with software for monitoring and firmware updates?
Yes, Western Digital provides the WD Dashboard software, which allows users to monitor drive health, update firmware, and manage performance settings.

Performance Guide & Use Cases

Best For
Large game libraries and media storage (2 TB)
Content creation workstations (2 TB)
Fast boot times and application loading (NVMe)
Professional workloads and content creation (7K MB/s)
Compact builds and laptop upgrades (M.2 form factor)
Clean cable management and space-efficient builds
Potential Bottlenecks
Requires M.2 slot support and may limit older system compatibility
High-performance drive may require heatsink for sustained workloads
Overkill Scenarios
Light gaming with minimal game library (2 TB)
Office productivity with basic file storage needs
Office systems with basic file access needs (PCIe 4.0)
Casual web browsing and document editing
Avoid For
Older systems without M.2 slot support (M.2 2280 form factor)
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