Western Digital SN740

The WD SN740 is a 1TB M.2 2230 PCIe 4.0 drive built for Steam Deck, Surface, and compact laptops. It hits 5150 MB/s reads and 4900 MB/s writes with a standout 1200 TBW endurance rating. At $174-189, you're paying a premium for the small form factor. If you need a 2230 drive, this is one of the best options out there.

The sequential numbers tell a good story. 5150 MB/s read and 4900 MB/s write put this drive in the 74th percentile for speed, which is solid but not earth-shattering. For context, the fastest PCIe 4.0 drives push past 7000 MB/s, but those are full-size 2280 sticks with more NAND packages to spread the load. For a 2230 drive, hitting 5 GB/s is a real achievement. You'll notice the difference when loading large games or moving big video files around.

The random performance is where this drive really shines. 500K random read IOPS and 400K random write IOPS land it in the 83rd percentile, which translates to snappy everyday use. Opening apps, booting Windows, loading game levels, all of that happens fast. The SLC NAND helps here, acting as a fast buffer for incoming writes. And with 1200 TBW endurance, you're looking at roughly 657 GB of writes per day for five years before hitting the warranty limit. That's more than enough for gaming, creative work, or even light workstation duty.

The SN740 sits in an interesting spot. Against full-size drives like the Samsung 9100 PRO or the Crucial T710, the SN740 gives up raw speed. Those drives push past 7000 MB/s sequential reads and offer higher capacities. But they're 2280 sticks, which means they simply won't fit in a Steam Deck or Surface without an adapter, and adapters add bulk and potential compatibility headaches.

Against other 2230 drives, the SN740 holds its own. The Micron T710 and Lexar NM1090 PRO are both strong competitors in this space, but the SN740's endurance rating is a differentiator. 1200 TBW is exceptional for a drive this size. The ADATA GAMMIX S70 Blade offers similar performance at a lower price in some markets, but availability of 2230 versions can be spotty. If you need a 2230 drive today and want something with proven endurance and a solid warranty, the SN740 is a safe bet.

At $174 to $189 for 1TB, this drive is not cheap. You're paying a premium for the 2230 form factor, and that's just the reality of the market. Full-size 2280 drives with similar or better specs routinely sell for less per gigabyte. But if you need a 2230, your options are limited, and the SN740 is one of the better ones available.

The value equation changes depending on what you're upgrading. For a Steam Deck, going from the stock 64GB or 256GB drive to 1TB is a massive quality-of-life improvement, and the SN740's speed means you won't feel like you compromised on performance. For a Surface device, the factory drives are often slower and smaller, so this is a meaningful upgrade. Just know that you're paying for the form factor, not raw performance per dollar.

The WD SN740 is one of those drives that flies under the radar until you realize it's exactly what you need. It's a 1TB M.2 2230 NVMe drive, which means it's the short little stick that fits in handhelds like the Steam Deck, Microsoft Surface devices, and a bunch of ultra-compact laptops. Most people don't think about drive form factors until they open up their device and realize the standard 2280 stick won't fit. That's where this thing earns its keep.

Western Digital built this around PCIe 4.0, and the numbers are solid. We're looking at 5150 MB/s sequential reads and 4900 MB/s writes, with 500K random read IOPS and 400K random write IOPS. For a drive this small, that's genuinely impressive. The endurance rating of 1200 TBW puts it in the 95th percentile for its class, which means you can hammer this thing with writes for years before it starts to sweat.

Who's this for? Steam Deck owners who want more space without a bulky adapter, Surface Pro and Surface Laptop users looking to upgrade from the tiny factory drive, and anyone building in a compact chassis where a 2230 is the only option. It's not the cheapest drive out there, but the combination of speed, endurance, and the right form factor makes it a compelling pick for the right person.

If you have a standard M.2 2280 slot, skip this drive. You can get faster drives with more capacity for less money. The Samsung 9100 PRO and Crucial T710 both offer significantly higher sequential speeds and larger capacities at competitive prices. Paying $174-189 for a 1TB drive when a 2TB 2280 drive costs about the same doesn't make sense unless the form factor is a hard requirement.

Also skip it if you're on a tight budget and just need more storage. The portable use case scores just 17.7 out of 100, which reflects the price and capacity trade-offs. A cheaper 2230 drive or a microSD card might serve you better if you're just looking to expand storage without breaking the bank.

For Steam Deck owners, this is an easy recommendation. The 2230 form factor is exactly what the Deck needs, the 1TB capacity is a sweet spot for a handheld library, and the speed means load times won't hold you back. The endurance rating means you can install and uninstall games without worrying about wearing out the drive.

For workstation users, the SN740 scores 77.8 out of 100 in our database, which is respectable. The random performance is strong enough for most productivity workloads, and the endurance is there if you're doing a lot of writes. But if you have room for a full-size 2280 drive, you can get more speed and capacity for less money. The SN740 is a specialist's drive, and it's best when the form factor is non-negotiable.