WD BLACK SN8100 NVMe SSD 2TB UNLEASHING NEXT-GEN SPEED

The introduction of PCIe Gen 5 NVMe SSDs brings a significant boost in storage performance, with read speeds surpassing 14,000 MB/s, doubling that of Gen 4 drives. This enhancement is crucial for gamers, content creators, and professionals managing demanding tasks like AI and 8K video editing.

- Words By: Shintu Dhang

We recently reviewed the Samsung 9100 Pro, which set a high-performance standard. Now, we have the Sandisk WD_BLACK SN8100 NVMe SSD, a 2TB Gen 5 drive claiming to be the fastest on the market, with read speeds up to 14,900 MB/s and write speeds reaching 14,000 MB/s. Does the SN8100 truly exceed expectations? Let's find out in our review.

DESIGN

The WD_BLACK SN8100 features a compact M.2 2280 form factor, which is the standard for modern NVMe SSDs. This ensures compatibility with a wide variety of desktops, laptops, and even the PlayStation 5 when paired with a suitable heatsink.

The unit we received is the non-heatsink variant, which comes bare and relies on the motherboard or system cooling solutions to manage temperatures. While this choice keeps costs down, SanDisk also offers a heatsink version at an additional cost, which is highly recommended for extended tasks such as large file transfers, 4K/8K video editing, or intensive gaming. The heatsink variant features a low-profile, anodized aluminium design with customizable RGB LED lighting, enhancing both thermal efficiency and aesthetic appeal for enthusiasts building high-performance rigs.