Our Take
The WD_BLACK SN850X is a PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD aimed at gamers and PC builders wanting fast load times without paying flagship prices. Sold as a bare M.2 drive or with an optional heatsink for PS5 use, it sits in the upper-mid tier of consumer SSDs, competing with drives like Samsung's 990 Pro rather than budget Gen4 options.
Key Features
M.2 2280 form factor, PCIe Gen4 x4 interface, NVMe protocol
Up to 7,300MB/s sequential read and 6,300MB/s sequential write (1TB model)
Available with or without a pre-fitted heatsink, the heatsinked version fits PS5 expansion slots
WD_BLACK Dashboard software for firmware updates, drive health monitoring and a "Game Mode" toggle
Backed by a 5-year limited warranty
Endurance rated at 600TBW for the 1TB capacity
Our Verdict
A strong choice for anyone building or upgrading a Gen4-capable PC or PS5 who wants dependable, fast storage without chasing the absolute top benchmark scores. Buy the heatsink version for console use. Those on a tighter budget, or without a PCIe Gen4 slot to exploit it, should look at cheaper Gen3 or entry-level Gen4 drives instead.