WD_BLACK SN850X: New NVMe SSD with PCIe 4.0 gets up to 7,300 MB/s

Storage specialist Western Digital is expanding its WD_BLACK series with a new model. The new WD_BLACK SN850X still relies on a PCI Express 4.0 connection, but with up to 7,300 M/s it is even faster than the previous top model SN850.

The WD_BLACK SN850X in detail

In the course of the “What’s Next Western Digital” event, the manufacturer unveiled the new top-of-the-line NVMe SSD model in the black range, namely the WD_BLACK SN850X. It follows on from the already fast-working SN850, but realizes even higher speeds.

A specially developed model with eight NAND memory channels is used for the controller, which is supposed to increase performance in addition to a DRAM cache. The NAND chip is also manufactured in-house. The BiCS5 TLC NAND is used here.

Added to this is an innovative technology called Predictive Loading, which “predicts” load times and thus places data into the cache independently. This provides an additional speed boost that should make the SN850X a full 18 percent faster compared to the SN850 in the 3DMark Storage Benchmark, according to the manufacturer.

Up to 4 TB of storage

Speeds of up to 7,300 MB/s in sequential reads are also promised, compared to the SN850’s peak of 7,000 MB/s.

The WD_BLACK SN850X once again comes in the M.2-2280 form factor and is also optionally offered with a heat sink including RGB lighting. Capacities of 1 TB, 2 TB and 4 TB are available.

WD Black P40 Game Drive

With the WD_BLACK P40 Game Drive, the manufacturer has also introduced an external SSD that connects via USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 and is said to achieve speeds of up to 2,000 MB/s when reading.

Of course, RGB LED lighting (on the bottom) is not to be missed here either. It can also be fully customized using the accompanying WD Black Dashboard software. Here, 2 TB of storage is available in the top model, joined by capacities of 1 TB, as well as 500 GB.

Prices and Availability

The NVMe SSD WD_BLACK SN850X, as well as the external SSD WD_BLACK P40 Game Drive should find their way into stores in the summer of 2022. However, the manufacturer has not yet named prices for all models and variants of the WD_Black series.