8 TB M.2 NVMe Gen 4 SSDs

The 8 TB Gen 4 drives here are both the WD Black SN850X 8TB: the bare WDS800T2X0E-00CDD0 and the WDS800T2XHE-00CDD0 with a factory-fitted heatsink. Each is an M.2 NVMe PCIe Gen4 SSD rated for up to 7200 MB/s read and 6600 MB/s write. WD covers both with a 5 year warranty.

The choice comes down to cooling and fit. Take the bare drive if the motherboard already has its own M.2 heatsink or the slot sits in a tight space. Take the heatsink version for a board with an uncovered M.2 slot, or for the expansion slot of a PlayStation 5.

Frequently asked questions

Will a Gen 4 SSD work in a PCIe Gen 3 M.2 slot? Yes, it works but runs at Gen 3 speeds, so the 7200 MB/s rating applies only in a Gen 4 or newer slot.

Is there any speed difference between the two SN850X models? No, both carry the same rated speeds. The heatsink helps the drive hold those speeds during long transfers when the slot has no cooling of its own.