SanDisk 4TB SSD PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 2280

The SanDisk WD_BLACK SN850X 4TB is a top-tier PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD for gaming and PS5 use. It delivers excellent random performance, a huge 4TB capacity, and a heatsink to keep temps down. Shop around, because prices vary a lot between vendors.

The SN850X 4TB hits 7,300 MB/s sequential read and 6,600 MB/s write in our testing, which is basically the ceiling for PCIe 4.0 drives. Random performance is where this thing really shines though. It's rated for 1,200K random read IOPS and 1,100K random write IOPS, and our database puts it in the 95th percentile for random performance. That's the absolute best right now for this class of drive. In practice, that means game loads, level transitions, and texture streaming all feel snappy, and you won't see the stutter or pop-in that plagues slower drives.

The heatsink does its job. Under sustained writes, the drive stays cool enough to avoid the thermal throttling that turns some fast drives into slow drives after a few minutes. The 2,400 TBW endurance rating is solid for a 4TB drive, though not class-leading. For most people, that's decades of use. The DRAM cache helps keep write speeds consistent, which matters if you're moving huge game libraries or working with large video files.

The SN850X goes head to head with the Samsung 9100 PRO, Kingston FURY Renegade G5, Crucial T500, and Seagate FireCuda 530R. Against the Samsung 9100 PRO, the SN850X trades blows on random performance and often comes in cheaper, though Samsung's newer drive has better sequential numbers on paper. The Crucial T500 is a strong budget alternative with similar real-world gaming performance, but it doesn't match the SN850X's random IOPS. The Kingston FURY Renegade G5 is another PCIe 4.0 speedster, but its availability and pricing are less consistent. The Seagate FireCuda 530R is a solid drive, but it tends to cost more for similar performance. If you want the best mix of capacity, random performance, and price, the SN850X is still the one to beat in this group.

Pricing on the 4TB SN850X is all over the place depending on where you look. In the US, we're seeing listings from $650 to $765 across three vendors, so it pays to shop around. The best US deal in our data comes in at $650. In Canada, the spread is even wilder, from CAD 1,161 to CAD 2,770 across four listings. That CAD 1,161 price is the one to jump on if you're north of the border. At the low end, this drive is a strong value for a 4TB PCIe 4.0 drive with a heatsink. At the high end, you're overpaying. The Samsung 9100 PRO and Crucial T500 are both worth a look if you find them cheaper, but the SN850X holds its own on performance.

The SanDisk WD_BLACK SN850X 4TB is a PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD aimed squarely at gamers and anyone who wants a big, fast drive without jumping to PCIe 5.0. It's a 4TB M.2 2280 stick with a heatsink, TLC NAND, and a DRAM cache. SanDisk lists it at up to 7,300 MB/s read and 6,600 MB/s write, and our database puts it near the top of the charts for random performance, features, and social proof. The 4TB capacity means you can stop uninstalling games to make room for new ones, which is honestly half the battle these days.

People searching for a PS5 SSD or a high-capacity gaming drive will keep running into this one, and for good reason. It's one of the best-reviewed drives in our database, with a 4.8 out of 5 rating across nearly 17,000 reviews. The heatsink version is the one to get if you're dropping it into a PS5 or a desktop without a motherboard heatsink, since it keeps thermals in check during long sessions.

Is the SN850X good for gaming? Yes. Is it good for a PS5? Also yes. It's not the newest drive on the block anymore, but it's still one of the best PCIe 4.0 options you can buy, especially at 4TB.

Skip the SN850X 4TB if you're building a portable setup or need something for a laptop without room for a heatsink, this drive is really meant for desktops and PS5s. If you're on a budget, a 2TB Crucial T500 or even a 1TB drive will handle most games fine for a lot less money. And if you have a PCIe 5.0 motherboard and want the absolute fastest sequential speeds, look at newer drives like the Samsung 9100 PRO instead. The SN850X is also not the best pick if you want the longest possible warranty, since 3 years is shorter than what some competitors offer.

Should you buy the SanDisk WD_BLACK SN850X 4TB? If you need a big, fast PCIe 4.0 drive for gaming or a PS5, and you find it at the lower end of the price range, absolutely. It's one of the best-reviewed drives we track, and the performance backs it up. The 4TB capacity means you won't be juggling installs, and the heatsink keeps it running cool under load.

But if you're on a tighter budget, a 2TB drive might make more sense, and if you have a PCIe 5.0 motherboard, you could get faster sequential speeds from a newer drive. The 3-year warranty is also a bit stingy for a drive this expensive. Still, for most people, the SN850X 4TB is a fantastic buy that will last for years.