Western Digital SN850X 4TB PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe M.2 2280

The SN850X 4TB hits 7,300 MB/s reads and 6,600 MB/s writes, putting it in the 89th percentile for speed. The 2,400 TBW endurance is also a standout at the 83rd percentile. But at $1,037 and a 9th percentile affordability score, you're paying a serious premium for that performance.

The headline numbers are 7,300 MB/s read and 6,600 MB/s write, which put this drive in the 89th percentile for speed. In plain English, that means it's one of the fastest Gen4 drives on the market. Game loads, large file transfers, video editing scratch disks, this thing chews through all of it. The 4TB capacity also lands in the 93rd percentile, so you're getting both speed and space in one stick.

The random performance is where things get a little more grounded. It sits at the 61st percentile, which is solid but not spectacular. For most real-world use, sequential speeds matter more, and that's where the SN850X shines. The PCIe Gen4 x4 interface is backwards compatible with Gen3 and Gen2, so even older systems will see a benefit, just not the full 7,300 MB/s. The heatsink version adds a bit of bulk, 8.8mm tall and 24 grams, but it keeps thermals in check during sustained writes.

Against the Samsung 9100 PRO, the SN850X holds its own on sequential reads but gives up ground on random performance and features. The Kingston FURY Renegade G5 and Crucial T500 are both strong Gen4 alternatives that often undercut the SN850X on price while offering similar sequential speeds. The SanDisk WD_BLACK SN8100 is essentially a sibling product, so expect similar performance with minor firmware differences. The Seagate FireCuda 530R is another solid Gen4 option with comparable endurance ratings. Where the SN850X really stands out is the combination of 4TB capacity and 2,400 TBW endurance, which few competitors match at this tier.

At $1,037 for the 4TB model, you're paying roughly $259 per terabyte. That's expensive for a Gen4 drive, and the 9th percentile affordability score confirms it. The 2,400 TBW endurance and 5-year warranty do soften the blow a bit, since you're buying longevity along with speed. But if you don't need 4TB right now, the 2TB model at 1,200 TBW or the 1TB at 600 TBW will cost significantly less per drive, even if the per-terabyte math isn't much better. This is a premium product with a premium price, and the value proposition only works if you actually need the capacity and the endurance.

The SN850X 4TB hits 7,300 MB/s sequential reads and 6,600 MB/s writes, which puts it in the 89th percentile for speed in our database. That's not just fast on paper, it's one of the best Gen4 drives you can buy right now. The 2,400 TBW endurance rating is also a standout, landing in the 83rd percentile and backed by a 5-year warranty. You're getting a drive that's built to be hammered for years, not just benchmarked once and forgotten.

But here's the catch. The affordability score is a brutal 9th percentile, and the only US listing we found is sitting at $1,037. That's a lot of cash for a Gen4 drive, especially when Gen5 options are starting to show up. The feature set is also thin at the 33rd percentile, though the included heatsink does make it PlayStation 5 ready out of the box. If you need 4TB of fast storage and you're willing to pay for it, this drive delivers. If you're just looking for a good deal, keep scrolling.

If you're on a budget, skip this drive. The 9th percentile affordability score and $1,037 price tag make it one of the most expensive Gen4 options in our database. The random performance is also only at the 61st percentile, so if your workload is heavy on small file operations rather than large sequential transfers, you won't see the full benefit. And if you don't need 4TB, the 1TB and 2TB models offer the same sequential read speed at a much lower entry price, though with proportionally lower endurance ratings.

The SN850X 4TB is a top-tier Gen4 drive with best-in-class sequential speeds and excellent endurance. The 7,300 MB/s read and 2,400 TBW rating put it in the upper echelon of our database, and the 5-year warranty adds peace of mind. But the $1,037 price tag and 9th percentile affordability score make it a tough sell unless you specifically need 4TB of fast, durable storage. If you're building a high-end workstation or maxing out a PS5, this drive is a strong choice. If you're just gaming on a budget, there are cheaper options that will feel nearly as fast.