Western Digital WD_BLACK SN8100 4TB PCIe 5.0 x4 NVMe M.2 2280

The WD_BLACK SN8100 is the fastest Gen5 SSD we've tested, with 14,900 MB/s reads and top-tier random performance. It runs hot and costs a lot, but the 4TB capacity and 2,400 TBW endurance make it a serious workstation tool. Worth it if you need the absolute best, overkill for casual gaming.

This thing is a monster. Sequential reads hit 14,900 MB/s and writes aren't far behind at 14,000 MB/s. Random IOPS land at 2,300K read and 2,400K write, which is top of the charts in our database. The TLC NAND and DRAM cache keep things snappy under load, and the 2,400 TBW endurance rating means you can hammer this drive daily without worrying about wearing it out. The one thing to watch is heat. Several owners mention it runs hot, so use the included heatsink or your motherboard's spreader. Don't skip that step.

Against the Samsung 9100 PRO, the SN8100 trades blows on raw speed but WD's endurance rating gives it an edge for heavy writers. The Kingston FURY Renegade G5 is a solid alternative if you want similar Gen5 performance with a different thermal solution. The Micron T710 and Crucial T500 are both excellent drives, but they sit a tier below on peak sequential throughput. The Seagate FireCuda 530R is a Gen4 drive, so it's not really in the same race, though it's often cheaper and still plenty fast for most people.

Pricing is all over the place. In the US, we're seeing USD 790 to USD 1,006 across six listings, and in Canada it swings from CAD 1,080 to CAD 1,800. That's a huge spread, so shop around. Memory Express has the best CAD deal we've seen. Even at the low end, this is a premium drive. You're paying for the fastest Gen5 storage you can buy right now, but if you're just gaming, a good Gen4 drive will save you a pile of cash and still feel quick.

The WD_BLACK SN8100 is a 4TB PCIe 5.0 drive that sits at the absolute top of our speed charts. We're talking 14,900 MB/s sequential reads and 14,000 MB/s writes. That's the kind of number that makes your old Gen4 drive look like it's running on dial-up.

It's not just fast in a straight line either. Random performance hits 2,300K read IOPS and 2,400K write IOPS, which puts it in the best-in-class bracket for pretty much everything we measure. The catch? You'll pay for it, and you'll need a motherboard that can actually handle Gen5 without melting.

Skip this if you're on a Gen4 motherboard or just gaming casually. A good Gen4 drive like the Crucial T500 will cost way less and still load games in a blink. Also skip it if you're sensitive to noise or heat, since this drive needs active cooling and can get toasty. If you're building a quiet, low-power system, look elsewhere.

If you're building a high-end workstation, doing serious content creation, or just want the fastest storage money can buy, the SN8100 is a no-brainer. It's the drive we'd pick for 4K video editing, large dataset work, or anyone who moves massive files all day. Gamers will love it too, but you don't need this much speed to load games. Buy it if you want the best and have the budget.