NVMe WD BLACK SN8100 2TB
2TB · PCIe 5.0 NVMe · 14,900 MB/s read · PassMark #56
WD Black SN850X 2TB · bare
PCIe 4.0 · 7300/6600 MB/s · 2TB
WD Black SN850X 2TB · bare takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, NVMe WD BLACK SN8100 2TB lands at 72 and WD Black SN850X 2TB · bare at 86. That puts WD Black SN850X 2TB · bare ahead by 14 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick NVMe WD BLACK SN8100 2TB if…
- ✓Capable NVMe drive at PassMark rank #56
- ✓PCIe 5.0 interface for next-gen platforms (AM5, LGA 1851)
Pick WD Black SN850X 2TB · bare if…
- ✓M.2 NVMe
- ✓Competitive per-GB cost
- ✓TBW scales with capacity
Winner by scenario
Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate testValue for money
WD Black SN850X 2TB · bareSpecdex score per dollar at MSRP
WD Black SN850X 2TB · bare more score per dollar ($180 vs $279).
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | NVMe WD BLACK SN8100 2TB | WD Black SN850X 2TB · bare |
|---|---|---|
| Form factor | M.2 2280 (single-sided) | — |
| Interface | PCIe 5.0 x4 NVMe 2.0 | PCIe 4.0 |
| Sequential read | 14,900 MB/s | — |
| Sequential write | 14,000 MB/s | — |
| Random read | 2,300,000 IOPS | — |
| Random write | 2,400,000 IOPS | — |
| Controller | SanDisk-tuned Silicon Motion SM2508 (6nm, quad Cortex-R8) | — |
| NAND | 218-layer BiCS8 CBA 3D TLC | — |
| DRAM | yes (onboard DRAM) | — |
| Endurance | 1,200 TBW | — |
| Warranty | 5 years | — |
| PassMark Disk Score | 75,912 | — |
| PassMark rank | #56 of 100 consumer SSDs | — |
| Capacity | — | 2TB |
| Read/Write | — | 7300/6600 MB/s |
NVMe WD BLACK SN8100 2TB
- +Capable NVMe drive at PassMark rank #56
- +PCIe 5.0 interface for next-gen platforms (AM5, LGA 1851)
- −PCIe 5.0 drives run hot — heatsink or motherboard M.2 cooling recommended
- −Newer drives out-perform this generation on sequential + random 4K
WD Black SN850X 2TB · bare
- +M.2 NVMe
- +Competitive per-GB cost
- +TBW scales with capacity
- −Thermals on Gen 5 drives
- −DRAM-less models slower under sustained load
- −Require heatsinks in many systems
FAQ: NVMe WD BLACK SN8100 2TB vs WD Black SN850X 2TB · bare
Which is better, NVMe WD BLACK SN8100 2TB or WD Black SN850X 2TB · bare? +
WD Black SN850X 2TB · bare scores 86 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 14. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is NVMe WD BLACK SN8100 2TB worth the price? +
At $279, NVMe WD BLACK SN8100 2TB delivers a Specdex score of 72 — strongest in passmark_disk.
Is WD Black SN850X 2TB · bare worth the price? +
At $180, WD Black SN850X 2TB · bare delivers a Specdex score of 86 — strongest in read.
Does NVMe WD BLACK SN8100 2TB or WD Black SN850X 2TB · bare last longer? +
Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.
Which is the better value, NVMe WD BLACK SN8100 2TB or WD Black SN850X 2TB · bare? +
WD Black SN850X 2TB · bare — more score per dollar ($180 vs $279). Specdex score per dollar at MSRP.