Samsung 990 Pro vs WD Black SN850X: Which One to Choose?

When it comes to upgrading or replacing a solid-state drive (SSD), the myriad options available in the market can be overwhelming. With industry leaders like Samsung continually pushing the boundaries of their capabilities and new companies offering cutting-edge technology, selecting the right SSD can be a daunting task. In this article, we will compare the latest SSD offerings from Samsung and Western Digital.

Let's dive straight into a comparative analysis of the Samsung 990 Pro vs WD Black SN850X in terms of speed, price, capacity, specifications, and more. By examining the pros and cons of both SSDs, we can determine which one suits your needs better.

Samsung 990 Pro vs. WD Black SN850X: The Ultimate Comparison

The Samsung 990 Pro is the successor to the 980 Pro and is believed to outperform it significantly. Despite a 50% improvement in efficiency, its 2TB model is priced higher than competitors. This SSD boasts top-tier performance and specifications, with read and write speeds of up to 7,450MB/s and 6,900MB/s, respectively.

On the other hand, we have the Western Digital WD Black SN850X NVMe, an upgrade to Western Digital's high-performance PCIe 4.0 gaming M.2 SSD, the SN850. The manufacturer has introduced a new 4TB version and upgraded the flash for improved read and write speeds. The 2TB WD SSD offers read and write speeds of 7,400 MB/s and 6,700 MB/s, respectively.

Refer to the table below for a comparison of the main specifications of various drives, and choose the one that's right for you.

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How to Choose Between Two SSDs

With most of the specs being similar, it's hard to choose one. Surprisingly, there are quite a few benchmarks that can make your SSD purchase confusing. Here's our suggestion on what SSD is best for what.

The Samsung 990 Pro is undoubtedly the fastest SSD out there. With its lightning-fast read and write speeds, it's perfect for users who demand consistent high performance. It excels for editors, graphic designers, and gamers alike, allowing you to render graphics, load games, and edit high-quality videos at unparalleled speed. If you want your computer to maintain peak performance, the 990 Pro is the way to go. Its hardware construction is impressive, considering its throughput. However, if you're planning to buy one, it's advisable to opt for the version with a heatsink to prevent thermal throttling under heavy workloads.

A consistency benchmark test. Image source: TechTesters

As for the WD Black SN850X, while it falls slightly behind in read and write speeds, surprisingly, it fares much better in PC Mark tests, showing faster load, processing, and rendering times for gaming. Equipped with a PCIe 4.0 interface, it's ideal for high-performance and low-latency workloads. If you're a gamer in need of an ultra-high-performance SSD, the SN850X is definitely the way to go. This SSD delivers more than enough power to smoothly run various applications, whether it's editing, gaming, or everyday use. If you have a budget in mind, the SN850X should be your top choice.

A game-benchmarking session. Source: TechTesters

All told, which is better depends on two factors. If you're an editor, designer, or someone who needs sustained performance, the Samsung 990 Pro has no rival. For gaming, the clear choice is the WD Black SN850X. But if you're on a budget, the SN850X will get the job done just fine – it's just a bit slower. And if money is no object, personally, I don't think you should look past the 990 Pro in any scenario. With such high sequential read and write speeds, even high-end gaming is a breeze for Samsung.

Expert Tip: Upgrade to a new SSD easily without losing data

Now that you have chosen one, you need to move your data from the old SSD to the new SSD. There are several ways to transfer data from one SSD to another, but the easiest might be cloning, as it eliminates the recovery process. Since cloning can be tricky, you need a reliable tool like Tool Disk Copy to clone the contents of the old SSD to the new SSD.

A disk cloning tool is one of the best SSD cloning software that helps you create a duplicate of your drive. With just three simple steps, you can get your new SSD ready to replace the old one without reinstallation. You can leverage efficient cloning options to upgrade or transfer data quickly. Download the tool now to clone your old SSD to a new SSD.

Main features of the hard drive duplicator:

• Clone HDDs/SSDs to another device in just three steps.
• Create a bootable media for backup and recovery.
• Migrate data from one disk to another with advanced cloning options.
• Boot your computer with an SSD without re-installing the operating system.

Upgrade to a new SSD without losing your data:

Advance notice:

• Sector-by-sector copy requires the target disk to be the same size or larger than the source. Uncheck this option if you do not want to clone a larger drive to a smaller one. • All data on the target disk will be completely erased. Please note.

Step 1: To start copying/ cloning an entire disk to another, select the disk in Disk Mode, then click Next.

Step 2: Select another disk as the target disk.

Step 3. Check the disk layout of both disks. You can manage the target disk's layout by choosing “Fit to disk,” “Same as source,” or “Edit disk layout.”

• "Automatically resize partitions" will modify the layout of the target disk to optimize it for best results.
• "Copy disk as is" will not change the target disk, its layout will be identical to the source disk.
• "Edit partition layout" lets you manually adjust/move the partition layout on the target disk.

Check the “Optimize for SSD” option to ensure best performance if your target drive is an SSD.

A warning message will appear, telling you that your data will be lost. Confirm this by clicking “OK,” and then click “Next.”

Step 4: Click “Proceed” to actually carry out the task.

wrap-up work

These days, Solid State Drives (SSDs) are everyone's go-to. They provide excellent performance, whether you're editing, gaming, or using them for regular tasks. If you're considering upgrading to a new SSD and are torn between the Samsung 990 Pro and the WD Black SN850X, check out this comparison article on the Samsung 990 Pro vs WD Black SN850X. When cloning your old SSD to the new one, a disk cloning tool is your best bet. Get it now and clone your drive hassle-free.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Samsung 990 Pro and WD Black SN850X

Here are some frequently asked questions about the Samsung 990 Pro and the WD Black SN850X. Hopefully, these will help address your concerns.

1. Should I get the SN850 or the SN850X?

The SN850X is the successor to the SN850, and it offers significantly faster read and write speeds. Specifically, the 850X boasts a 5% boost in read speeds and a 28% increase in write speeds over the SN850.

2. Will the SN850X get hot?

Yes, the SN850X does run at around 45 degrees Celsius under idle conditions, but it can reach up to 78 degrees Celsius under load. So, to ensure proper operation at higher loads, you would need to purchase an SSD with a heatsink.

3. Does the SN850X require a heatsink?

Yes, if you want to run it under high load, a heatsink would be necessary. But for casual use, it should be fine without one.