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

The SN850X 4TB hits 7,300 MB/s sequential reads, putting it in the 94th percentile for speed. You get 2,400 TBW of endurance and a 5-year warranty. The problem is the price: it ranks in the 9th percentile for affordability, so you're paying a hefty premium for that top-tier performance.

Sequential reads of 7,300 MB/s and writes of 6,600 MB/s put this drive near the top of the PCIe 4.0 heap. That's the kind of speed that makes a 100GB game install feel like a minor inconvenience rather than a lunch break. The 94th percentile speed ranking isn't just marketing fluff, it's backed up by the raw numbers.

Random performance is more middle of the pack at the 62nd percentile. For most people, that's fine. Game loading and everyday tasks lean heavily on sequential reads, and that's where this drive shines. If you're doing heavy database work or running virtual machines, you might notice the random I/O isn't quite as impressive as the headline numbers suggest. But for gaming and general use, the SN850X delivers where it counts.

Against the Samsung 9100 PRO, the SN850X holds its own on sequential speed but gives up ground on random performance. The Kingston FURY Renegade SFYRDK/4000G matches the 4TB capacity and trades blows on speed, often at a lower price. The Crucial T500 is another strong Gen4 option that typically undercuts the SN850X on cost while delivering similar real-world performance. The Micron T710 brings enterprise-grade endurance to the table, though it's harder to find at retail. If you want the absolute fastest Gen4 drive with a heatsink and don't mind paying for it, the SN850X is a top pick. But the Kingston and Crucial options are worth a hard look if budget matters at all.

At $1,037 USD for the 4TB model, this drive is not cheap. The 9th percentile affordability ranking tells the story: you're paying a serious premium for the speed and capacity combo. That works out to roughly $259 per terabyte, which is steep even for a high-end Gen4 drive. The 5-year warranty and 2,400 TBW endurance help soften the blow, since you're buying a drive that should last through multiple system upgrades. But if you don't need 4TB right now, the smaller SN850X models offer the same speed at a much friendlier price per gigabyte.

The SN850X 4TB sits in the 94th percentile for speed in our database, which puts it among the fastest PCIe 4.0 drives we've tested. Sequential reads hit 7,300 MB/s and writes land at 6,600 MB/s, numbers that translate to near-instant game loads and file transfers that finish before you can grab a coffee. The 4TB capacity is also a standout at the 93rd percentile, so you're getting both speed and space in one stick.

But here's the catch: affordability sits at the 9th percentile. This drive is expensive, and the 4TB model especially so. You're paying a premium for that combination of top-tier speed and big capacity. The endurance story is solid at 2,400 TBW with a 5-year warranty, landing in the 83rd percentile, so it should outlast most builds. Just know that the price tag is the main thing standing between you and this drive.

If you're building on a budget, look elsewhere. The 9th percentile affordability ranking means this drive costs significantly more than competitors with similar real-world performance. The 62nd percentile random performance also makes it a questionable choice for database-heavy workloads or virtualization, where drives like the Samsung 9100 PRO pull ahead. And if you're planning to use this in a portable enclosure, the 20.1/100 portable score suggests you'd be better served by a drive with lower power draw and better thermal behavior outside a desktop or console.

The SN850X 4TB is a fantastic drive that's hard to recommend at full price. The 94th percentile speed and 93rd percentile capacity make it a dream for gamers and content creators who want everything on one fast stick. The 2,400 TBW endurance and 5-year warranty mean you won't be replacing it anytime soon. But the 9th percentile affordability ranking is a real obstacle. If you can find it on sale, or if you genuinely need 4TB of top-tier Gen4 speed in a single M.2 slot, this is the drive to get. Otherwise, the 2TB version or a competitor like the Kingston FURY Renegade will get you 90% of the experience for a lot less money.