Western Digital
WD Black SN850X 2TB
PCIe 4.0 · 7,300 MB/s · Game Mode 2.0
90
/ 100
From $189
VS
Seagate FireCuda 540 1TB wins by 2
Seagate
Seagate FireCuda 540 1TB
PCIe 5.0 · 10000/10000 MB/s · 1TB
92
/ 100
From $180
Specdex verdict
Seagate FireCuda 540 1TB takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, WD Black SN850X 2TB lands at 90 and Seagate FireCuda 540 1TB at 92. That puts Seagate FireCuda 540 1TB ahead by 2 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick WD Black SN850X 2TB if…
- ✓Fastest PCIe 4.0 in real-world games
- ✓Excellent endurance
- ✓Optional heatsink for PS5
Pick Seagate FireCuda 540 1TB if…
- ✓M.2 NVMe
- ✓Competitive per-GB cost
- ✓TBW scales with capacity
WD Black SN850X 2TB 90
vs 92 Seagate FireCuda 540 1TB
Score breakdown
WD Black SN850X 2TB
90 read 94
write 92
endurance 90
value 88
Seagate FireCuda 540 1TB
92 read 98
write 96
endurance 88
value 84
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | WD Black SN850X 2TB | Seagate FireCuda 540 1TB |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe | PCIe 5.0 |
| Read speed | 7,300 MB/s | — |
| Write speed | 6,600 MB/s | — |
| TBW | 1200 | — |
| Form | M.2 2280 | — |
| Capacity | — | 1TB |
| Read/Write | — | 10000/10000 MB/s |
WD Black SN850X 2TB
Pros
- +Fastest PCIe 4.0 in real-world games
- +Excellent endurance
- +Optional heatsink for PS5
Cons
- −PCIe 4.0 only
- −Runs warm without heatsink
- −Software dated
Seagate FireCuda 540 1TB
Pros
- +M.2 NVMe
- +Competitive per-GB cost
- +TBW scales with capacity
Cons
- −Thermals on Gen 5 drives
- −DRAM-less models slower under sustained load
- −Require heatsinks in many systems
FAQ: WD Black SN850X 2TB vs Seagate FireCuda 540 1TB
Which is better, WD Black SN850X 2TB or Seagate FireCuda 540 1TB? +
Seagate FireCuda 540 1TB scores 92 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 2. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is WD Black SN850X 2TB worth the price? +
At $189, WD Black SN850X 2TB delivers a Specdex score of 90 — strongest in read.
Is Seagate FireCuda 540 1TB worth the price? +
At $180, Seagate FireCuda 540 1TB delivers a Specdex score of 92 — strongest in read.
Does WD Black SN850X 2TB or Seagate FireCuda 540 1TB 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.