WD Black SSDs — SN8100, SN850X, SN770 Gaming & Performance NVMe Drives (2026)
Compare WD Black gaming SSD prices — PCIe 5.0 and Gen 4 NVMe drives sorted by $/TB with real-time Amazon pricing
WD Black SSDs represent Western Digital's performance-focused storage lineup, engineered specifically for gamers, content creators, and PC enthusiasts who demand maximum speed. The WD Black family spans from the budget-friendly NVMe options to the fastest consumer SSDs available, with the new SN8100 pushing PCIe 5.0 speeds up to 14,900 MB/s.
The current WD Black lineup includes: the flagship SN8100 with PCIe 5.0 delivering 2x the speed of Gen 4, the enthusiast-favorite SN850X with Game Mode 2.0 and optional RGB heatsink, and the value-oriented SN770 offering excellent performance without DRAM at lower prices. All models feature 5-year warranties and work with both PC and PS5 (SN850X with heatsink recommended for console use).
Below you'll find all WD Black SSDs currently available on Amazon, sorted by price per TB. Whether you're building a high-end gaming PC, upgrading your PS5, or need fast storage for video editing — compare prices and find the best WD Black deal here.
WD Black SSD Buying Guide: Which Model Is Right For You?
Choosing the right WD Black SSD depends on your system's capabilities, performance needs, and budget. Western Digital has carefully positioned each model to serve different market segments, and understanding these distinctions helps you maximize value without overspending on features your system can't utilize.
SN8100: The PCIe 5.0 Flagship (14,900 MB/s)
The WD Black SN8100 represents the pinnacle of consumer SSD technology in 2026. Launched in May 2025, it delivers sequential read speeds up to 14,900 MB/s and writes up to 14,000 MB/s — roughly double the performance of PCIe 4.0 drives. The SN8100 uses Silicon Motion's SM2508 controller paired with Kioxia's 218-layer BiCS8 TLC NAND, achieving over 2.3 million IOPS for random operations.
What makes the SN8100 particularly impressive is its power efficiency — it's over 100% more efficient than WD's Gen 4 drives while delivering twice the speed. Available in 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, and upcoming 8TB capacities, the SN8100 targets demanding workloads including AI applications, 8K video editing, and users who regularly transfer massive files. The optional RGB heatsink version adds silent cooling with customizable lighting.
Best for: Enthusiasts with PCIe 5.0 motherboards (AMD X870/B850, Intel 700-series), content creators working with large files, AI/ML developers, and users who want the absolute fastest storage available.
SN850X: The Sweet Spot for Gamers (7,300 MB/s)
The WD Black SN850X remains the most popular choice for gamers and enthusiasts in 2026. At 7,300/6,600 MB/s read/write speeds, it effectively maxes out the PCIe 4.0 interface while costing significantly less than PCIe 5.0 options. The SN850X includes DRAM cache for consistent performance under sustained loads, and the heatsink version is PS5-compatible with Sony's specifications.
Game Mode 2.0 optimizes the drive's firmware for gaming workloads with predictive loading and overhead balancing. While real-world gaming performance differences between high-end NVMe drives are minimal, the SN850X's combination of speed, reliability, and competitive pricing makes it a default recommendation. Available up to 8TB — one of few drives offering such massive capacity. Compare with the Samsung 990 PRO for alternatives at this tier.
Best for: Gaming PCs, PS5 expansion, content creation, users wanting top-tier Gen 4 performance without PCIe 5.0 premium pricing.
SN770: Excellent Value Without DRAM (5,150 MB/s)
The WD Black SN770 proves that DRAM-less SSDs can deliver impressive performance. Using Host Memory Buffer (HMB) technology to borrow system RAM, the SN770 achieves 5,150/4,900 MB/s speeds at significantly lower prices than DRAM-equipped competitors. In real-world testing, the performance gap versus the SN850X is smaller than specifications suggest — often within 10-20% in typical gaming and productivity workloads.
The SN770 is particularly compelling when budget matters. At current street prices, you can often get 2TB of SN770 storage for what 1TB of SN850X costs. For most users — including gamers who won't notice the difference in load times — the SN770 represents the smarter purchase. It works with PS5 but runs warmer than Sony's recommendations; consider adding a third-party heatsink.
Best for: Budget-conscious gamers, secondary game drives, laptop upgrades, users who prioritize value over maximum benchmark scores.
WD Black SSD Models
WD Black SN8100
PCIe 5.0 flagship with 14,900/14,000 MB/s speeds. Industry-leading power efficiency. Available up to 8TB with optional RGB heatsink.
Best for: PCIe 5.0 Systems, Content Creators, AI WorkloadsWD Black SN850X
Top-tier PCIe 4.0 performance at 7,300/6,600 MB/s. Game Mode 2.0, DRAM cache, PS5-compatible heatsink option. Up to 8TB.
Best for: Gaming PCs, PS5 Expansion, EnthusiastsWD Black SN770
Excellent value at 5,150/4,900 MB/s without DRAM. Uses HMB technology. Often half the price of flagship drives.
Best for: Budget Builds, Secondary Drives, LaptopsAlternative: Samsung 990 PRO
Samsung's flagship PCIe 4.0 competitor at 7,450/6,900 MB/s. Similar performance to SN850X with different feature set.
Compare: Samsung vs WD BlackAlternative: Crucial T500
Crucial's high-performance PCIe 4.0 option at 7,400/7,000 MB/s. Competitive pricing with excellent sustained performance.
Compare: Crucial T500 DrivesPS5 SSD Guide
Complete guide to PlayStation 5 storage expansion including compatible WD Black models with heatsinks.
Guide: PS5 Storage OptionsWD Black SSD Comparison
| Model | Interface | Read Speed | Write Speed | DRAM | Capacities | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SN8100 | PCIe 5.0 x4 | 14,900 MB/s | 14,000 MB/s | Yes | 1TB - 8TB | Maximum Performance |
| SN850X | PCIe 4.0 x4 | 7,300 MB/s | 6,600 MB/s | Yes | 1TB - 8TB | Gaming / PS5 |
| SN770 | PCIe 4.0 x4 | 5,150 MB/s | 4,900 MB/s | No (HMB) | 250GB - 2TB | Value / Budget |
All WD Black SSDs — Current Prices
Compare WD Black SSD prices from Amazon. Click any column to sort. Prices updated hourly.
Frequently Asked Questions — WD Black SSDs
WD Black SN850X vs SN770 — which should I buy?
For most users, the SN770 offers better value. While the SN850X is faster on paper (7,300 vs 5,150 MB/s), real-world gaming and productivity differences are often imperceptible — typically within seconds for game loading. The SN770's DRAM-less design keeps costs significantly lower. Choose the SN850X if: you want maximum performance, need PS5 compatibility with included heatsink, or regularly transfer massive files. Choose the SN770 if: budget matters, you prioritize capacity over peak speed, or it's a secondary drive.
Is the WD Black SN8100 worth it over the SN850X?
Only if you have PCIe 5.0 and specific workloads benefit from the speed. The SN8100 delivers 2x the read speed of SN850X (14,900 vs 7,300 MB/s), but requires a PCIe 5.0 motherboard (AMD X870/B850 or Intel 700-series) to utilize. For gaming, load time differences are negligible. For content creation (8K video editing, large file transfers), AI/ML workflows, or users who frequently move massive datasets, the SN8100's speed provides tangible benefits. The SN850X remains the smarter choice for gaming-focused builds and older systems.
Can I use WD Black SSDs in PS5?
Yes — the SN850X with heatsink is officially PS5-compatible. Sony requires drives with 5,500+ MB/s read speeds and a heatsink. The SN850X with heatsink meets all requirements and is a popular PS5 upgrade choice. The SN770 technically works but runs warmer than Sony recommends — add a third-party heatsink if using it. The SN8100 is overkill for PS5 since the console can't utilize PCIe 5.0 speeds. For best PS5 value, see our PS5 SSD guide.
WD Black vs Samsung 990 PRO — which is better?
Both are excellent — buy whichever is cheaper. The Samsung 990 PRO and WD Black SN850X trade blows in benchmarks, with neither consistently winning across all tests. Samsung offers slightly faster write speeds (6,900 vs 6,600 MB/s) and Samsung Magician software. WD offers Game Mode 2.0 and larger 8TB capacity option. Real-world performance is virtually identical. Check current prices — both frequently go on sale, and the better deal changes week to week.
Does the WD Black SN770 need DRAM?
The SN770 performs excellently without onboard DRAM. It uses Host Memory Buffer (HMB) technology, borrowing up to 64MB of your system's RAM for mapping tables. In practice, the performance difference versus DRAM-equipped drives is much smaller than specifications suggest — often within 10-20% in real-world tasks. For gaming, general productivity, and typical consumer workloads, the lack of DRAM is rarely noticeable. DRAM matters more for sustained heavy workloads like database servers or professional video editing.
Do WD Black SSDs need a heatsink?
It depends on the model and use case. The SN8100 runs warm under sustained loads; the optional heatsink version or motherboard heatsink is recommended for heavy workloads. The SN850X benefits from heatsinks during extended gaming sessions or PS5 use — the heatsink version is required for PS5 compliance. The SN770 runs cooler than higher-end models but a heatsink helps if using in PS5 or poorly-ventilated cases. Most modern motherboards include M.2 heatsinks that work well with all models.
What's the warranty on WD Black SSDs?
All WD Black SSDs include 5-year limited warranties. Endurance ratings vary by model and capacity: SN8100 offers up to 4,800 TBW (8TB), SN850X provides 600 TBW per terabyte, and SN770 offers 600 TBW (2TB). These ratings far exceed typical consumer usage — writing 100GB daily would take decades to reach the limit. WD's warranty support is generally responsive, though warranty claims require the original receipt.
Can I use WD Black SN8100 on PCIe 4.0?
Yes, but you won't get PCIe 5.0 speeds. The SN8100 is backward-compatible with PCIe 4.0 and 3.0 slots, but will be limited to the interface's maximum bandwidth — roughly 7,000 MB/s on PCIe 4.0. Since you're paying a premium for PCIe 5.0 capabilities, buying an SN8100 for a Gen 4 system doesn't make financial sense. Choose the SN850X instead and save money while getting nearly identical real-world performance on your current hardware.