WD 2TB NVMe Gen 4 SSDs

The WD 2TB PCIe Gen 4 drives here are all M.2 2280 NVMe SSDs: the WD Black SN850X (WDS200T2X0E), the WD Black SN850X with Heatsink (WDS200T2XHE), the WD Black SN7100 (WDS200T4X0E) and the WD Blue SN5100 (WDS200T5B0E). Rated sequential reads run from 7100 MB/s on the SN5100 to 7300 MB/s on the SN850X, with writes between 6600 and 6900 MB/s. WD covers each of them with a 5 year warranty.

On paper the four are close, so choose by the build. The SN850X carries its own DRAM cache and is aimed at low-latency gaming and heavy desktop work. The heatsink version is the same drive with a fitted cooler, listed as PS5 compatible, and it also suits motherboards that have no M.2 shield. The SN7100 is DRAM-less, runs cool and is a good fit for laptops and compact systems, where a bare drive is needed anyway. The WD Blue SN5100 is the everyday option for office, coding and general PCs. If the motherboard already has an M.2 heatsink, pick a bare drive.

Frequently asked questions

Will a Gen 4 SSD work in a Gen 3 or Gen 5 M.2 slot? Yes. PCIe is backward and forward compatible, so these drives run in a Gen 3 slot at Gen 3 speeds and in a Gen 5 slot at their full Gen 4 speeds.

Which WD 2TB SSD is right for a PS5? The WD Black SN850X with Heatsink, which is listed as PS5 compatible and already has the cooler that Sony asks for.

What is the difference between the SN850X and the SN7100? The SN850X has a DRAM cache and slightly higher rated reads, while the SN7100 is DRAM-less and has higher rated writes of 6900 MB/s.