Western Digital is releasing a new version of its NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSDs called the WD_BLACK SN850X. The SN850X—the updated version of the SN850 solid-state drive originally released in 2020—includes a built-in heatsink and is designed specifically for those who want top-of-the-line performance.
The SN850X NVMe SSD utilizes a PCIe Gen4 interface to get ultra-fast performance out of storage and system components. The 2TB and 4TB versions feature Sequential Read speeds of 7,300 MB/s and Write speeds up to 6,600 MB/s. In random 4K performance, those models are expected to reach up to 1,200K IOPS read and 1,200K IOPS write. The 1TB is quoted slightly lower with 6,300 MB/s write speeds and 800K IOPS.
The SN850X features a new 4TB capacity for gamers who need even more storage. Also included is a Game Mode 2.0 software that serves up more PC performance-boosting features such as load prediction to prepare game assets for fast, in-game loading.
The drive is also configurable with an optional built-in heatsink that lets your rig maintain peak performance over sustained periods of time. The built-in heatsink helps the drive dissipate extra heat to avoid the thermal throttling found on the unshielded version.
For PS5 owners, the heatsink version of the SN850X meets Sony's specifications for SSDs. And given that this is your typical M.2-compliant SSD, the SN850X is of course compatible with most PC builds as well.
In addition to the 4TB version, the WD_BLACK SN850X also comes in 1TB and 2TB capacities that are configurable with or without a heatsink. It will be available worldwide starting this month. For more information, including warranty details, please look at the full product page, right here at B&H.
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