WD Black SN8100 review – beats Samsung to become the fastest ever gaming SSD

The large weapons are lastly popping out to hitch the PCIe 5.0 SSD occasion, first with the Samsung 9100 Professional, and now with the brand new WD Black SN8100, and each drives are aiming their banks of high-speed flash reminiscence squarely on the ‘quickest ever gaming SSD’ title. Actually, in most of our checks, the WD Black SN8100 has the brand new Samsung drive squarely overwhelmed, which is not any imply feat.

It is not low cost, after all, however if you need the perfect SSD obtainable, the WD Black SN8100 has just about nailed the transient in the case of efficiency. Cunningly, WD has additionally undercut the value of the Samsung 9100 Professional throughout the board, by simply sufficient to make it seem like a no brainer. So what makes this new drive tick? Let’s have a look inside.

Specs

The brand new WD Black SN8100 is offered in a variety of capacities, beginning with 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB drives, with the promise that 8TB drives shall be arriving in Fall 2025. Sandisk (which owns the WD Black model for SSDs) can even be releasing heatsink-equipped variations of the drives later this 12 months, and whereas it hasn’t revealed a launch date for them but, the corporate did inform me to count on them to reach sooner somewhat than later this 12 months, so there hopefully will not be too lengthy to attend.

WD has proven us the brand new heatsink design, although, which, just like the Samsung 9100 Professional, is way shorter and sleeker than a few of the weird contraptions we have seen strapped to PCIe 5.0 SSDs recently. It has a single RGB LED on it, and is made with anodized aluminum with double thermal interface materials (TIM) pads.

The design has additionally been tweaked, so the airflow channels are lower horizontally, somewhat than vertically, into the heatsink, so it is higher optimized for the same old greatest PC case designs, which have front-to-back airflow configurations. Within the meantime, although, solely the usual heatsink-less variations can be found, and the drive will get scorching, so you are going to want to suit it to the chunkiest heatsink obtainable in your motherboard.

WD has additionally been curiously cagey about a few of the inner specs of the drive. Earlier WD Black SN8100 controller leaks had pointed to the drive having a brand new super-fast Silicon Movement SM2508 controller, however Sandisk is just formally saying that the drive has a customized 8-channel controller with proprietary Sandisk firmware. Speculatively, I might guess that it does certainly use a tweaked SM2508 controller with Sandisk firmware, however solely WD may assure that for positive.

The kind of cache used within the drive has additionally been saved underneath wraps, and we’ve got to hope that this secretive method to specs is not all the way down to Sandisk probably wanting the liberty to swap out a few of the elements for others at a later date, probably altering the efficiency of the drive whereas maintaining the identical model.

The place Sandisk has been extra forthcoming is with the kind of flash reminiscence used within the drive, with the drive making use of Kioxia BiCs8 TLC 3D CBA NAND. Sandisk is making some daring claims about this {hardware} combo too, saying its 2TB and 4TB SN8100 drives can learn at as much as 14,900MB/s and write at 14,000MB/s at peak sequential efficiency, beating the Samsung 9100 Professional (14,800MB/s and 13,400MB/s respectively) on each counts.

Lastly, as with most SSDs nowadays, the endurance score, measured in terabytes written (TBW), scales as you add extra capability to the drive. The WD Black SN8100 matches the Samsung 9100 Professional with its endurance figures of 600TBW for the 1TB drive, 1,200TBW for the 2TB mannequin, and a couple of,400TBW for the 4TB drive.

Software program

The WD software program bundle has had a little bit of an overhaul recently, with the WD Dashboard suite being deserted, and the WD Kitfox suite solely being for laborious drives. Nonetheless, the Sandisk Dashboard now covers all of the necessities, supplying you with a simple strategy to monitor your drive’s efficiency and temperature, and likewise to disable options corresponding to TRIM and the write cache if you need (although I do not suggest it).

In contrast to Samsung’s complete Magician software program bundle, there is no strategy to simply clone one drive to a different utilizing Sandisk Dashboard, however you’ll be able to obtain a free five-year license to a WD version of Acronis True Picture, which does the identical job and significantly extra apart from.

I attempted it out by cloning the Home windows set up from our WD Black SN850X to the brand new SN8100, and it labored high-quality, whereas additionally being straightforward to make use of. There is no signal of the Recreation mode that was once included with WD Dashboard, however all of the necessities are accessible with this SSD in a single type or one other.

How we check

To evaluate SSD efficiency, I run a mixture of artificial checks utilizing CrystalDiskMark and AS-SSD, to gauge peak sequential and random efficiency. I additionally run the PCMark 10 full system drive benchmark to get an thought of real-world efficiency as a system drive, and run the 3DMark storage benchmark to evaluate gaming efficiency, which is the precedence for our evaluations as a gaming web site.

The latter runs traces from actual video games, together with Battlefield V, The Outer Worlds, and Overwatch, to measure efficiency for recreation installs, saves, and loading occasions. All of the SSDs within the graphs under have been examined on the identical check rig, which has the specs listed under. All checks are carried out in a full PC construct inside a Cooler Grasp MasterCase H500P case with two 200mm entrance consumption followers and one 140mm exhaust fan, with the glass aspect panel connected, to get a practical thought of thermal efficiency and throttling.

• CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
• CPU cooler: Corsair H100X Elite
• Motherboard: MSI X870E Carbon WiFi
• RAM: G.Talent TridentZ RGB 6,000MT/s, CL28
• GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080
• SSD (system drive): WD Black SN850X heatsink 2TB

Benchmarks

With its highly effective SSD {hardware}, the WD Black SN8100 is an absolute pace demon in our benchmarks, significantly in the case of peak sequential efficiency. The flagship determine is that 14,900MB/s learn declare, and amazingly, the WD Black SN8100 very practically hits it at 14,897MB/s – the distinction is negligible. Comparatively, the Samsung 9100 Professional 2TB is 252MB/s off the tempo, and even the 4TB 9100 Professional (the quickest mannequin) is 172MB/s behind.

That is a stable sufficient lead in itself, however the place the WD Black SN8100 actually makes an announcement right here is in the case of sequential write pace. Actually, in our checks the WD Black SN8100 even surpassed SanDisk’s 14,000 declare by 88MB/s within the CrystalDiskMark sequential write pace check, making it 638MB/s faster than the quickest end result from the Samsung 9100 Professional.

Keep in mind that, except you genuinely plan to run large-scale file transfers between quick drives regularly, these peak sequential outcomes are extra about bragging rights than real-world efficiency, the place variations between drives are usually a lot smaller. Nonetheless, the WD Black SN8100 has nonetheless made an announcement right here – there is no quicker desktop SSD in the case of peak learn and write speeds.

Fortunately, the WD Black SN8100 additionally beats the competitors in just about each different area too. One notable end result was within the CrystalDiskMark random 4K check, the place PCIe 4.0 drives are sometimes faster than their PCIe 5.0 counterparts, however the WD BLack SN8100 beats its predecessor, the SN850X, right here in the case of random reads, and its random write pace can also be effectively forward of different PCIe 5.0 drives we have examined.

Transferring to the AS-SSD random 4K check, measured in IOPS, once more noticed the WD Black SN8100 pummel the competitors. The random learn pace of 1,168,126 IOPS is massively in entrance of the 976,640 from the following quickest drive, the Samsung 9100 Professional, and the random write pace of 1,189,511 can also be quicker than each different drive we have examined.

Transferring to the real-world efficiency checks additionally confirmed the WD Black SN8100 being a formidable pressure. The PCMark 10 full system drive check, which measures how an SSD performs as your normal Home windows drive whereas performing a lot of storage-intensive duties, confirmed the WD Black SN8100 averaging 650MB/s. That is 13MB/s in entrance of the already-impressive Samsung 9100 Professional’s end result, and effectively in entrance of the opposite drives we have examined not too long ago.

Entry occasions are additionally sturdy on this check, with the WD Black SN8i100’s 38µs entry time being the quickest we have recorded – it solely simply beats the Samsung 9100 Professional right here, however it’s considerably faster than the 64µs from the WD Black SN850X, displaying a good thing about the quicker drive in Home windows.

In the meantime, the 3DMark storage benchmarks present extra of a combined image, however one the place the WD Black SN8100X is at all times sturdy. Its recreation load pace for Battlefield V, for instance, at 1,591MB/s is once more the quickest end result we have recorded, beating the Samsung 9100 Professional, and being a superb 620MB/s faster than the PCIe 4.0 WD Black SN850X.

Within the Overwatch recreation load time check, the Samsung 9100 Professional pulled forward by 10MB/s, however the WD Black SN8100 continues to be quicker than the opposite PCIe 5.0 drives we have not too long ago examined right here, and it is actually not far off the Samsung drive both.

Likewise, the sport set up time for The Outer Worlds noticed the WD Black SN8100 fall behind the highest end result (from the Essential T705), however solely by 3MB/s. Comparatively, the Samsung 9100 Professional is 54MB/s behind the WD Black SN8100 on this check.

Actually, the one check the place the WD Black SN8100 did not come both first or second in our checks was within the save recreation time for The Outer Worlds, the place each the Corsair MP700 and Essential T705 have the higher hand, displaying that peak sequential speeds do not at all times translate into quick speeds all over the place. Once more, although, the WD Black SN8100 is forward of the Samsung 9100 Professional right here.

Temperature

One space the place the WD Black SN8100 struggles in comparison with the competitors, nonetheless, is thermals. The Samsung 9100 Professional confirmed that you might construct a high-speed drive PCIe 5.0 drive that did not want an enormous heatsink to maintain it in test, and I hoped the WD Black SN8100 would obtain the identical feat.

Nonetheless, be warned that the WD drive will get scorching. There have been no factors the place it entered warning standing and throttled throughout our checks, however it did hit a peak temperature of 73°C throughout our stress check, underneath back-to-back CrystalDiskMark sequential runs.

This was whereas the drive was sitting underneath the dual-pad PCIe 5.0 heatsink equipped with our MSI X870E Carbon WiFi motherboard, however it might effectively run cooler with the optimized WD heatsink on prime of it when these drives come out. In spite of everything, the Samsung 9100 Professional additionally runs cooler with its personal heatsink than with this MSI cooler. Nonetheless, the Samsung 9100 Professional additionally solely peaked at 70°C when utilizing the identical MSI cooler with our check motherboard, displaying that the WD Black SN8100 runs comparatively scorching.

It is also quicker, after all, particularly in the case of sequential write checks, and in contrast to many different PCIe 5.0 drives, it would not require an outsized heatsink or an energetic cooling fan that it is advisable to energy individually. Nonetheless, you will wish to be certain a good quantity of airflow is directed over this SSD out of your case followers, and use the chunkiest heatsink doable. In case your motherboard comes with a selected PCIe 5.0 SSD heatsink, that is the one you will want to make use of.

Worth

The WD Black SN8100 worth is $179.99 / £149.99 for the 1TB drive, which undercuts the equal Samsung 9100 Professional by $20 and presents higher worth for the efficiency on provide. Nonetheless, that is nonetheless costly for a 1TB drive, particularly while you get 1TB PCIe 4.0 drives that also do the job high-quality for lower than half that quantity.

This determine then goes as much as $279.99 / £226.99 for the 2TB WD Black SN8100, which is once more $20 cheaper than the equal mannequin of the Samsung 9100 Professional. In the meantime, the 4TB WD Black SN8100 worth is $549.99 / £415.99 at MSRP, which matches the value of the Samsung 9100 Professional. When the heatsink variations of the WD Black SN8100 arrive later in 2025 they are going to every add $20 to the MSRP of the equal naked drive.

Principally, the WD Black SN8100 is mostly a bit cheaper than the equal competitors from Samsung, however keep in mind you could nonetheless get very quick efficiency from different PCIe 5.0 drives which might be less expensive. A 1TB Corsair MP700 Elite, for instance, has a slower claimed peak pace of 10,000MB/s, however is significantly cheaper at $119.99, and also you virtually actually will not discover a lot of a distinction in real-world use.

Alternate options

Samsung 9100 Professional

I am anticipating the Samsung 9100 Professional to commonly commerce pricing blows with the WD Black SN8100, and you’ll already decide up this Samsung drive for a similar worth because the WD drive, because of some pre-emptive worth cuts.

The WD Black SN8100 continues to be the superior drive, significantly in the case of write efficiency, however the Samsung runs a bit cooler and is not far off the tempo. If the Samsung 9100 Professional is ever cheaper than the WD Black SN8100, then it is completely price contemplating.

Learn our full Samsung 9100 Professional evaluate.

WD Black SN850X

The brand new WD efficiency king may be twice as quick on paper, however in truth, the WD Black SN850X continues to be loads quick sufficient for most individuals’s wants, and the distinction between the 2 drives diminishes when you get away from peak sequential speeds. Presently going for simply $94.99 for the 1TB drive, or $149 for a 2TB drive, you’ll be able to principally get practically as a lot capability for twice the value in case you go for this cheaper drive as an alternative.

Learn our full WD Black SN850X evaluate.

Verdict

We now have a brand new king of the gaming SSD fortress, all hail King WD Black SN8100. With phenomenally quick efficiency claims, which in some circumstances are even exceeded by our personal benchmark outcomes, the WD Black SN8100 has already overwhelmed the Samsung 9100 Professional into submission lower than a month after it got here out.

Specifically, its sequential write efficiency is effectively forward of any of the competitors, however real-world efficiency checks additionally profit from this super-fast drive, from Home windows system drive duties to recreation load occasions. On the draw back, this high-speed drive does run scorching, so you will want to purchase both the heatsink-equipped model or the chunky PCIe 5.0 SSD heatsink that is equipped together with your motherboard, if it has one – the drive can even want a good quantity of airflow working over it.

Nonetheless, whereas the MSRP of the WD Black SN8100 is decrease than that of the Samsung 9100 Professional, the latter has already began to come back down in worth, and the brand new WD drive continues to be very costly for the capacities on provide. Sure, it is quick, however you will get different drives that are not far off the tempo for a lot much less cash elsewhere, and also you’re unlikely to note the distinction in efficiency usually.

If you would like the very best SSD that cash can purchase, although, and you’ll afford the outlay, then there is no doubt about it – you need the WD Black SN8100. Now let’s examine how the remainder of the SSD market responds – hopefully, some cheaper costs shall be on the way in which shortly.

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