Western Digital’s Black series, a gamer favorite for storage solutions, is back with teh SN850X, a versatile SSD geared towards both console and PC users. available in capacities ranging from 1TB to a hefty 8TB, we’re putting the 2TB model under the microscope today. priced around €120, it slots into the same price bracket as other well-known SSDs in the segment, like the Samsung 990 Pro.
The SN850X boasts performance figures that are typical for a PCIe Gen4 SSD of this caliber. WD Black claims sequential read speeds of 7.3GB/s and write speeds of 6.6GB/s – more than enough to keep up with the latest AAA games and banish those pesky loading screens.
The SN850X’s dynamic cache management, though, presented somewhat mixed results in our tests. While it maintained a respectable 5.3GB/s throughput for 30% of its capacity, a steep drop followed, gradually zig-zagging downwards, settling at a median speed of 3.4GB/s. Remember, this benchmark, while rigorous, doesn’t necessarily reflect typical usage scenarios.
Thermal management was another area of scrutiny. Under load, the SN850X reached a peak temperature of 72.4°C, but settled around 39°C during lighter tasks. For prolonged, intensive use, especially during extended gaming sessions, a heatsink is highly recommended, especially if your motherboard doesn’t come equipped with one.
The SN850X delivered on its promise of impressive performance. in CrystalDiskMark benchmark tests, we observed sequential read speeds of 7307 MB/s and write speeds of 6379 MB/s, slightly exceeding the manufacturer’s claimed figures.
Though, the SSD fell short of expectations in the IOPS test, measuring the number of input/output operations. While competitors like the samsung 990 Pro and Kingston Fury Renegade comfortably exceeded one million reads, the SN850X lagged behind, reaching around 800,000, considerably lower than advertised. On the flip side, it excelled in writes, surpassing one million and even outperforming the Samsung 990 Pro.
manual copy tests showcased the SN850X’s strengths. A 27GB file copied effortlessly with a steady speed of 3.4GB/s.
What are the differences between Western Digital’s SN850X SSD adn Samsung 990 Pro SSD in terms of performance?
Interview: An In-Depth Look at Western Digital’s SN850X SSD with Storage Expert Dr. Emily Carter
time.news Editor: Welcome,Dr. Carter! Today, we’re diving into Western Digital’s latest offering in the gaming storage space—the SN850X SSD. It seems to be a hit among gamers, but what are it’s standout features?
Dr. Emily Carter: Thank you for having me! The SN850X is indeed generating buzz in the gaming community. Its standout features include an impressive sequential read speed of 7.3GB/s and a write speed of 6.6GB/s. These figures suggest that it can handle the demands of the latest AAA games, substantially reducing loading times.
Time.news Editor: Those speeds are phenomenal! You also mentioned its availability in various capacities ranging from 1TB to an impressive 8TB—how does this versatility impact users?
Dr. Emily Carter: Versatility is one of the SN850X’s biggest assets. Gamers can select the storage capacity that best fits their library size and gaming habits. As a notable example, the 2TB model priced around €120 is competitive against offerings like the Samsung 990 Pro, making it a great choice for storage expansion without breaking the bank.
Time.news Editor: It sounds compelling, but there were mixed results regarding the dynamic cache management. Can you explain how this works and the implications it has for everyday usage?
Dr. Emily Carter: Sure! Dynamic cache management helps optimize performance by adjusting the cache size based on the workload.In tests, the SN850X maintained an impressive 5.3GB/s throughput for the first 30% of its capacity. However, performance began to decline after that, averaging around 3.4GB/s. this is crucial to note because typical gaming sessions might not always reflect those peak speeds—once you fill the drive, you’ll need to manage your expectations on performance.
Time.news Editor: That’s useful details. Another point of concern is thermal management. What did you observe during testing?
Dr. Emily Carter: The thermal management of the SN850X is noteworthy. We recorded a peak temperature of 72.4°C under load, which is quite high, but it settled to around 39°C during lighter tasks. For gamers planning extensive sessions,I recommend using a heatsink if their motherboard doesn’t already include one. This could help mitigate heat and maintain performance stability over time.
Time.news Editor: In terms of real-world usage, how did the SN850X perform in your manual copy tests?
Dr.Emily Carter: the SSD showed its strengths here quite effectively. During manual tests, a 27GB file was copied at a steady speed of 3.4GB/s, which indicates reliable performance for transferring large files. this makes the SN850X not only a solid choice for gamers but also for content creators and professionals who manage large data files regularly.
Time.news Editor: We’ve talked about the positives, but you pointed out that the SN850X lagged behind in some benchmarks, specifically in IOPS testing. What can you say about that?
Dr. Emily Carter: Absolutely. While the SN850X performed well in sequential writes, it did fall short in input/output operations per second (IOPS), reaching around 800,000 reads. For comparison, competitors like the Samsung 990 Pro comfortably exceeded one million reads. This IOPS metric is crucial for applications that require high-speed access to smaller data packets, like gaming environments loading textures or assets.
time.news Editor: With all of this in mind, what practical advice would you give to consumers considering the SN850X?
Dr. Emily Carter: I would advise potential buyers to weigh their specific needs. If you’re primarily focused on fast loading times for AAA gaming, the SN850X is a strong candidate. Though, if your work involves a lot of data-intensive applications or you may require superior read performance, it’s worth exploring alternatives that excel in IOPS. Also, consider investing in a heatsink for prolonged use to maintain optimal temperatures.
Time.news Editor: Thank you, Dr.Carter, for your insights on the Western Digital SN850X SSD.This has been incredibly informative for our readers.
Dr. Emily Carter: my pleasure! It’s essential for consumers to make informed decisions in today’s fast-paced tech landscape. Thank you for having me!
