Western Digital PC SN740 2TB PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe M.2 2230
The 2TB M.2 2230 form factor with PCIe Gen4 x4 interface delivers 5150 MB/s reads and 4850 MB/s writes, making it a direct drop-in upgrade for Steam Deck, ROG Ally, and Surface Pro devices. Its 3D TLC NAND and 500 TBW endurance provide a solid balance of capacity and longevity for daily use. This drive suits handheld gaming enthusiasts and Surface Pro owners needing a fast, compact storage boost without adapter hassles.
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Overzicht
The 30-Second Version
The SN740 is the 2TB upgrade your Steam Deck has been begging for. It's not the fastest Gen4 drive on the market, but it's the fastest one that actually fits in your handheld.
Pros & Cons
Pluspunten
- 2TB in a 2230 form factor is a rare and glorious thing 90th
- Random performance is genuinely top-tier, 90th percentile 79th
- Plug and play upgrade for Steam Deck, ROG Ally, Surface, and more 76th
- TLC NAND with 500 TBW endurance, no QLC corner-cutting
Minpunten
- No adapter included, so 2280 slot owners need to buy extra parts
- Endurance is just average at 48th percentile
- OEM packaging means no screws, cables, or fancy box
- Price is on the higher side for a 2TB drive
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The Word on the Street
De feiten
Performance
The sequential numbers are solid, landing around the 75th percentile for speed in our database. But the real surprise is random performance. 650K random read IOPS and 800K random write IOPS put this drive at the 90th percentile for random access, which is what actually makes a handheld feel snappy when you're loading shaders or booting into a game. The in-house WD controller keeps things cool enough for tight 2230 slots, which matters more than peak speed in a Steam Deck.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Drive
| Capacity | 2000 |
| Form Factor | M.2 2230 |
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 x4 |
| Protocol | NVMe |
| PCIe Generation | 4 |
| External | No |
Performance
| Sequential Read (MB/s) | 5150 |
| Sequential Write (MB/s) | 4850 |
| Random Read (IOPS) | 650000 |
| Random Write (IOPS) | 800000 |
Hardware
| NAND | TLC |
| Controller | in-house controller |
Reliability
| Endurance (TBW) | 500 |
vs Competition
The SN740's real competition isn't the Samsung 9100 PRO or Kingston FURY Renegade G5, those are full-size 2280 drives that will smoke this thing on sequential speed and endurance. The SN740 wins by simply fitting where those drives can't. Against the Crucial T500 or Seagate FireCuda 530R, the story is the same: they're faster on paper, but they won't fit in your Steam Deck without a hacksaw and a prayer. For handheld and ultrabook owners, the SN740 is the practical choice.
| Spec | Western Digital PC SN740 | Samsung 9100 PRO | Kingston FURY Renegade G5 SFYR2S/4T0 | Micron T710 CT4000T710SSD5 | Crucial T500 | SanDisk WD_BLACK WDS800T2XHE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 2TB | 4TB | 4TB | 4TB | 2TB | 8TB |
| Form Factor | M.2 2230 | M.2 2280 | M.2 2280 | M.2 2280 | M.2 2280 | M.2 2280 |
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 x4 | PCIe 5.0 x4 | PCIe 5.0 | PCIe 5.0 | PCIe 4.0 x4 | PCIe 4.0 |
| Seq Read | 5,150 MB/s | 14,800 MB/s | 14,800 MB/s | 14,500 MB/s | 7,400 MB/s | 7,200 MB/s |
| Nand Type | TLC | TLC | TLC | TLC | TLC | TLC |
| Dram Cache | - | true | true | false | true | true |
| Endurance | 500 TBW | 2400 TBW | 4000 TBW | 2400 TBW | 1200 TBW | 4800 TBW |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | Speed | Random | Feature | Capacity | Endurance | Gebruikersoordeel | Affordability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Digital PC SN740 | 76 | 90 | 53.8 | 78.5 | 47.6 | 31.5 | 28.8 |
| Samsung 9100 PRO Compare | 99.3 | 99.8 | 99.7 | 92.6 | 86.1 | 99.6 | 5.1 |
| Kingston FURY Renegade G5 SFYR2S/4T0 Compare | 99.5 | 99 | 91 | 92.6 | 93.6 | 87.2 | 6.3 |
| Micron T710 CT4000T710SSD5 Compare | 99.1 | 99.2 | 89.5 | 92.6 | 86.1 | 77.5 | 11.7 |
| Crucial T500 Compare | 94 | 96.9 | 99 | 78.5 | 83.1 | 95.4 | 19.7 |
| SanDisk WD_BLACK WDS800T2XHE Compare | 87.7 | 96.4 | 94 | 98.1 | 88.3 | 95.4 | 3.8 |
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Value & Pricing
At around $320, this is not a budget drive. You're paying a premium for the 2230 form factor and the random performance, not raw capacity. If you have a standard 2280 slot, you can get more speed or more endurance for less money elsewhere. But if you need 2TB in a 2230 slot, this is one of the only games in town, and it's a good one.
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Overview
The WD PC SN740 is the drive you buy when your Steam Deck or Surface is screaming for more space and nothing else fits. It's a 2TB M.2 2230 stick that squeezes serious Gen4 speed into a package the size of a stick of gum. The headline here is simple: 5150 MB/s reads and 4850 MB/s writes in a form factor that most handhelds and ultrabooks actually accept. That's the whole pitch, and it's a good one.
Common Questions
Q: Will this fit in my Steam Deck without any modifications?
Yes. The SN740 is a native M.2 2230 drive, which is exactly what the Steam Deck uses. You'll need a screwdriver and about 10 minutes, but no adapters or case mods.
Q: Can I use this in a standard desktop M.2 2280 slot?
Technically yes, but you'll need a 2230 to 2280 adapter bracket, which is not included. If you have a desktop with a standard slot, buy a full-size 2280 drive instead and save yourself the hassle.
Q: Is this drive reliable for long-term use?
It's rated for 500 TBW, which is about average for a 2TB TLC drive. For gaming and everyday use, that's years of service. If you're writing hundreds of gigabytes daily, look for something with higher endurance.
Who Should Skip This
If you have a standard M.2 2280 slot in a desktop or full-size laptop, skip this. You're paying a premium for the compact form factor you don't need. Go grab a Samsung 9100 PRO or Crucial T500 instead, you'll get better sequential speed and endurance for similar or less money.
Verdict
If you own a Steam Deck, ROG Ally, Surface Pro, or any other device that demands a 2230 drive, the SN740 is the upgrade to get. It's fast where it counts, fits where others don't, and gives you 2TB of breathing room. The price stings a little, but the alternative is staying at 512GB or 1TB and constantly deleting games. That's a worse fate.
