WD BLACK SN8100 2TB
2TB · PCIe 5.0 NVMe · 14,900 MB/s read · PassMark #13
XPG MARS 980 PRO
PCIe 4.0 NVMe · PassMark #12
Dead heat — it comes down to priorities.
In our weighted Specdex score, WD BLACK SN8100 2TB lands at 84 and XPG MARS 980 PRO at 84. With scores tied, the decision hinges on which sub-scores matter most to you.
Pick WD BLACK SN8100 2TB if…
- ✓PassMark Disk Score top-20 (89,069) — sustained-write class-leading
- ✓PCIe 5.0 interface for next-gen platforms (AM5, LGA 1851)
Pick XPG MARS 980 PRO if…
- ✓PassMark Disk Score top-20 (89,200) — sustained-write class-leading
- ✓Pro-tier controller and DRAM cache for sustained throughput
Winner by scenario
Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate testValue for money
XPG MARS 980 PROSpecdex score per dollar at MSRP
XPG MARS 980 PRO more score per dollar ($200 vs $279).
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | WD BLACK SN8100 2TB | XPG MARS 980 PRO |
|---|---|---|
| Form factor | M.2 2280 (single-sided) | — |
| Interface | PCIe 5.0 x4 NVMe 2.0 | — |
| 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 | 89,069 | 89,200 |
| PassMark rank | #13 of 100 consumer SSDs | #12 of 100 consumer SSDs |
WD BLACK SN8100 2TB
- +PassMark Disk Score top-20 (89,069) — sustained-write class-leading
- +PCIe 5.0 interface for next-gen platforms (AM5, LGA 1851)
- −PCIe 5.0 drives run hot — heatsink or motherboard M.2 cooling recommended
- −Pricing varies — confirm current retail before purchase
XPG MARS 980 PRO
- +PassMark Disk Score top-20 (89,200) — sustained-write class-leading
- +Pro-tier controller and DRAM cache for sustained throughput
- −DRAM-less controllers on lower-tier variants may throttle under sustained writes
- −Pricing varies — confirm current retail before purchase
FAQ: WD BLACK SN8100 2TB vs XPG MARS 980 PRO
Which is better, WD BLACK SN8100 2TB or XPG MARS 980 PRO? +
Both score 84 on our weighted rubric — tied. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is WD BLACK SN8100 2TB worth the price? +
At $279, WD BLACK SN8100 2TB delivers a Specdex score of 84 — strongest in passmark_disk.
Is XPG MARS 980 PRO worth the price? +
At $200, XPG MARS 980 PRO delivers a Specdex score of 84 — strongest in passmark_disk.
Does WD BLACK SN8100 2TB or XPG MARS 980 PRO 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, WD BLACK SN8100 2TB or XPG MARS 980 PRO? +
XPG MARS 980 PRO — more score per dollar ($200 vs $279). Specdex score per dollar at MSRP.