Two SSDs continue to dominate the PCIe Gen 4 market in 2025: the Samsung 990 Pro and the WD Black SN850X. Whether you’re upgrading a creative workstation, building a high-end gaming PC, or equipping office systems, these drives stand out for their speed, reliability, and wide compatibility.
Performance
The Samsung 990 Pro reaches sequential read speeds up to approximately 7450 MB/s and write speeds near 6900 MB/s. It excels in random I/O, heavy multitasking, large file processing, and creative applications.
The WD Black SN850X is close behind, with read speeds around 7300 MB/s and write speeds up to 6600 MB/s. It delivers smooth performance across gaming, media editing, and everyday productivity tasks. Most users will not notice a difference in real-world speed between the two.
Capacity Options
| Capacity | Samsung 990 Pro | WD Black SN850X |
|---|---|---|
| 1TB | Yes | Yes |
| 2TB | Yes | Yes |
| 4TB | Yes | Yes |
| 500GB | No | Yes |
| 8TB | No | Yes (limited availability) |
The SN850X offers slightly more variety in capacities, including a high-capacity 8TB model for advanced users.
Thermal Design and Versions
Both models come in standard and heatsink versions:
- Samsung 990 Pro: Heatsink model recommended for compact builds or extended workloads like 3D rendering and video editing. Also includes RGB lighting in the heatsink variant.
- WD SN850X: Heatsink version is PS5-compatible and performs well in long gaming sessions or intensive workloads.
Without a heatsink, both drives still perform well, but can throttle slightly under continuous stress.
Compatibility
- Form factor: Both use the common M.2 2280 format and require a PCIe 4.0-capable M.2 slot.
- Motherboards: Fully compatible with most modern AMD and Intel boards.
- PlayStation 5:
- WD SN850X (heatsink version): Officially PS5 compatible.
- Samsung 990 Pro: Works with PS5 but heatsink required for optimal performance.
Software Tools
Both SSDs come with proprietary software for monitoring and optimization:
- Samsung Magician:
- Drive health status
- Firmware updates
- Performance benchmarks
- Secure erase and encryption tools
- WD Dashboard:
- Drive condition monitoring
- Temperature tracking
- Game Mode toggle for performance tuning
- Firmware updates
Both tools are user-friendly and helpful for managing SSDs in business or home environments.
Reliability, Encryption, and Warranty
| Feature | Samsung 990 Pro | WD Black SN850X |
|---|---|---|
| Warranty | 5 years | 5 years |
| Encryption | AES 256-bit, TCG Opal | AES 256-bit, TCG Opal |
| TBW (1TB version) | ~600 TBW | ~600 TBW |
| Controller Temps | May benefit from heatsink | Efficient with or without heatsink |
Both drives are built for durability and are suitable for consistent daily use, including in business-critical setups.
User and Expert Feedback
- The Samsung 990 Pro is widely appreciated for its ultra-responsive performance in creative software, engineering environments, and multitasking-heavy setups.
- The WD SN850X receives praise for thermal stability, consistent speed during long sessions, and strong performance in gaming and mixed-use scenarios.
Across reviews and forums, both drives have earned reputations for long-term reliability and compatibility with a wide range of systems.
Feature Comparison Table
| Feature | Samsung 990 Pro | WD Black SN850X |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 NVMe | PCIe 4.0 NVMe |
| Max Read Speed | ~7450 MB/s | ~7300 MB/s |
| Max Write Speed | ~6900 MB/s | ~6600 MB/s |
| Real-world Responsiveness | Excellent in creative apps | Excellent for gaming and multitasking |
| Thermal Management | May need heatsink in tight builds | Stays cool under load |
| Encryption | AES 256-bit, TCG Opal support | AES 256-bit, TCG Opal support |
| Software Tools | Samsung Magician | WD Dashboard |
| PS5 Compatibility | Yes (with heatsink) | Yes (heatsink version only) |
| Warranty | 5 years | 5 years |
| Best For | Creatives, multitasking, development | Gaming, general use, high capacity builds |
Conclusion
The Samsung 990 Pro is the top pick for users who need maximum IOPS, application speed, and fine-grained software controls. It’s ideal for content creators, developers, and professionals working with high-volume data.
The WD Black SN850X is equally capable in real use, with better thermals, wider capacity options, and seamless gaming integration. It is a smart choice for high-performance personal builds or business deployments where consistency and scale matter.
Businesses, organizations, and IT departments looking for bulk pricing or tailored consultation are welcome to reach out. Quantity discounts and product guidance are available based on your environment and requirements.