SN850 vs SN850X: Which One is Better?

If you're running low on storage space or your computer is running slow, your best bet is to upgrade to a Solid State Drive (SSD). SSDs are faster than traditional Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) and ensure efficiency when it comes to high-end gaming, video editing, and 3D rendering tasks. But which is the better SSD upgrade option between the SN850 vs SN850X?

To aid in answering this question, this guide aims to provide an extensive comparison between two SSDs from Western Digital (WD). To give you a better understanding of these SSDs, we will be comparing them across various aspects such as storage capacity, speed, purchase price, specifications, gaming performance, and overall performance.

WD Black SN850 vs SN850X: A Comprehensive Comparison

The WD Black SN850 and the WD Black SN850X are both solid-state drives (SSDs) manufactured by Western Digital. The SN850 was released first, and the SN850X can be considered a follow-up model, potentially an upgraded replacement for the SN850.

Sometimes, when you want to buy a new NVMe SSD, you may hesitate between these two. In this part, we will briefly introduce these two drives and then compare them in detail from different aspects.

1️⃣ WD Black SN850 Solid State Drive

Officially released in February 2021, the SN850 is the first SSD to utilize PCIe Gen4 technology for high-end gaming. With storage capacity up to 2TB, it allows you to store larger game files.

It has a sequential read speed of 7,000MB/s and sequential write performance of 5,300MB/s. To meet your gaming needs, the SN850 comes with the downloadable WD_Black Dashboard software.

2️⃣ WD Black SN850X Solid State Drive

The SN850X officially launched in August 2022. This Western Digital SSD aims to surpass the SN850, offering storage capacities ranging from 1TB to 4TB. It comes equipped with the WD_Black Dashboard software, which allows you to control RGB styling and check the drive's health status.

It boasts impressive sequential read speeds of 7,300 MB/s and write speeds of 6,300 MB/s. The NVMe drive flaunts unique features such as load balancing, predictive loading, and adaptive thermal management.

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A Comprehensive Comparison of Two SSDs

After this brief introduction to both SSDs, it's time to compare them and delve deeper into their features. While both drives come from the same company, they each have their distinct characteristics. We'll be comparing them based on specifications, pricing, capacity, gaming performance, and overall performance.

Specification Sheet

When you're trying to choose between two SSDs, your first thought might be to compare their specifications. This could include factors like speed, storage capacity, warranty, interface, form factor, and more. Here's a table comparing the SN850 and SN850X based on their specifications. | Specification | WD Black SN850 | WD Black SN850X | | --- | --- | --- | | Interface | PCIe Gen4 x4 | PCIe Gen4 x4 | | Maximum Sequential Read Speed | Up to 7,000 MB/s | Up to 7,300 MB/s | | Maximum Sequential Write Speed | Up to 5,300 MB/s (w/ Heatsink) / 3,300 MB/s (no Heatsink) | Up to 6,900 MB/s (w/ Heatsink) / 4,300 MB/s (no Heatsink) | | Random 4K Read IOPS | Up to 1,000,000 IOPS | Up to 1,050,000 IOPS | | Random 4K Write IOPS | Up to 700,000 IOPS (w/ Heatsink) / 500,000 IOPS (no Heatsink) | Up to 900,000 IOPS (w/ Heatsink) / 650,000 IOPS (no Heatsink) | | Capacities Available | 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB | 1TB, 2TB | | Warranty | 5-year limited warranty | 5-year limited warranty | | Form Factor | M.2 2280 | M.2 2280 | | Thermal Solution | Optional Heatsink | Optional Heatsink | Please note that actual performance may vary depending on your system configuration and workload. The SN850X generally offers a slight performance boost over the SN850, especially in write speeds without a heatsink. However, both drives are designed for high-performance gaming and professional use.

The choice is yours, based on the above WD Black SN850 vs. WD Black SN850X SSD review.

＃️⃣2. Purchase Price

This section will give the prices for two SSDs listed on Amazon and one from the Western Digital (WD) website.

SN850 (Please provide more context for a more accurate translation)

• The 500GB version is priced at $84.50 on Amazon, but it's not available on the WD official website.
• The 1 TB model costs $85.00 on Amazon and $89.99 on the WD official website.
• The 2 TB variant is listed for $149.99 on the WD official website, but it's currently out of stock on Amazon.

The Chinese translation for "SN850X" is "SN850X". It appears to be a product model or name, so it should remain unchanged.

- The 1 TB variant is priced at $79.98, both on Amazon and the Western Digital website. - The 2 TB version is priced at $129.99, with the same price on Amazon and the Western Digital official site. - The 4 TB model is available for $289.99 on Amazon and $349.99 on the Western Digital website.

You can choose and purchase the storage capacity that's right for you at these prices.

③Storage capacity

The SN850X offers up to 4TB of storage capacity, available in 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB options. On the other hand, the SN850 has a maximum storage capacity of 2TB, with storage options of 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB. The difference lies in the SN850 not having a 4TB version, while the SN850X lacks a 500GB drive option.

Additionally, the SN850X's 1TB and 2TB versions offer an RGB cooling option, while all storage capacities of the SN850 use a non-RGB cooling option.

④ Gaming Performance

SN850 enhances responsiveness in Game Mode by suppressing low-power states. Its Game Mode 2.0 employs unique technologies like load balancing, predictive loading, and adaptive thermal management.

It also employs a speculative loading algorithm to get information about upcoming queue depths while handling most gaming workloads. The SN850X uses the WD_Black Dashboard software to optimize gaming activity on the drive, checking its health and providing tools and settings to enhance your gaming experience.

In addition to being able to toggle Game Mode via dashboard software, the SN850X also features Game Mode 2.0, which automatically detects when a game is launched.

⑤Overall performance

Thanks to PCIe Gen4 technology, the SN850X achieves sequential read speeds of up to 7,300 MB/s and sequential write speeds of up to 6,300 MB/s. These high speeds ensure shorter load times for gaming and faster data transfers. This SSD is particularly important for applications that require quick access to large files.

This includes applications related to gaming, 3D rendering, and video editing. The SN850 also utilizes PCIe Gen4 technology for improved responsiveness and overall gaming experience, thanks to its sequential read speed of 7,000 MB/s and sequential write speed of 5,300 MB/s. The SN850 is swift, akin to the SN850X, albeit the latter is marginally faster.

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How to Choose Between the SN850 and SN850X

Given that they come from the same company, the SN850 and SN850X share many similarities. However, when choosing between the two, factors such as speed, storage capacity, and purchase price can come into play. The SN850X boasts sequential read and write speeds of 7,300MB/s and 6,300MB/s, respectively.

Both are faster than the SN850's 7,000MB/s and 5,300MB/s. So, if you plan on running applications that require high performance for efficiency, go for the SN850X. However, if you plan on running general applications that don't necessarily need high speeds, then the SN850 is sufficient.

In terms of storage capacity, the SN850X offers up to 4TB of storage, while the SN850 only provides 2TB. If you plan on running programs that require a substantial amount of storage space, the SB850X would be the better choice. However, if you can comfortably work with 2TB of storage without any hindrance, then the SN850 is also a viable option.

Finally, the SN850X seems to be priced lower than the SN850. For instance, the 1 TB and 2 TB versions of the SN850X retail for $79.98 and $129.99 on Amazon, respectively, while the 1 TB and 2 TB versions of the SN850 go for $85.00 and $149.99, respectively, on the same platform. This is where the SN850X stands out, as it offers better performance at a lower price point.

Since most people do consider price when buying a product, I believe the SN850X has the upper hand between these two SSDs.

Bonus tip: Upgrade to a new SSD easily, without losing your data

It's always a wise decision to upgrade your computer to an SSD, as it will boost the speed and performance of your system. However, upgrading to a new hard drive is not that simple, especially when you have a large amount of data to migrate. Sometimes, data might get corrupted during the transfer process.

A tool that can help you overcome this issue and upgrade to the new SSD seamlessly is the Hard Disk Cloning Software. This unique software allows you to move large files from one hard drive to another quickly and securely. It's particularly useful if your current HDD or SSD is running out of storage space, and you need to transfer data swiftly.

Having the right tools is also important, to replace failed drives and recover data.

Key Disk Copy features include:

• Upgrade the hard drive while keeping data secure.
• Clone old hard drive to new one.
• Create a WinPE bootable disk.
• Migrate Windows 10 from one PC to another without reinstalling.
• Recover data from a failed hard drive.

To start enjoying these features offered by the Disk Copy tool, make sure to download and install it on your computer today. The process of getting started with the software is straightforward.

Advance notice:

• Sector-by-sector clone requires the target disk to be the same size or larger than the source disk. Uncheck this option if you want to clone a larger hard drive to a smaller one. • All data on the target disk will be erased. Proceed with caution.

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

Step 2: Select another disk as the target disk.

Step 3. Check the layout of the two disks. You can choose to "Adjust disk size automatically," "Keep the same as source disk," or "Edit disk layout" to manage the layout of the target disk.

• "Automatically resize partitions" will modify the layout of the target disk by default, so that it runs optimally.
• "Copy source disk as is" will not change anything on the target disk, and its layout will be identical to the source disk.
• "Edit disk layout" allows you to manually adjust/move the partition layout of the target disk.

Check “Perform this check if the target is an SSD” to ensure best performance for an SSD.

A warning appears, 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.

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Finish up

In summary, both the SN850 and SN850X boast impressive speed performances. In this comprehensive SN850 vs SN850X guide, we've established that both drives utilize PCIe Gen4 technology. Overall, the WD Black SN850X outperforms the SN850 in terms of read and write speeds.

Furthermore, the SN850X offers up to 4TB of storage capacity, while the SN850's maximum capacity is 2TB. In terms of pricing, the SN850X provides a more cost-effective option compared to the SN850. When upgrading from an HDD to an SSD, the best tool for seamless data transfer is the Disk Copy utility.

This data transfer tool allows you to migrate all your files from your old hard drive to an SSD without any loss. The software is fast, flexible, and secure. Make sure to download the Disk Copy tool today to fulfill all your data migration needs.

Frequently Asked Questions about the WD Black SN850 and SN850X SSDs

Here are some frequently asked questions about the WD Black SN850 and SN850X:

1. Is the WD SN850X good for the PS5?

Yes, the SN850X is highly suitable for use in a PS5. Its fast read and write speeds can enhance your gaming experience. Specifically, it offers sequential read speeds of up to 7,300MB/s and write speeds of up to 6,300MB/s.

Is the WD Black SN850 faster than the Samsung 980 Pro?

With a write speed of 5,300 MB/s, the SN850 is faster than the Samsung 980 Pro (5,000 MB/s). While both have sequential read speeds of 7,000 MB/s, the SN850 is considered slightly quicker due to its 300 MB/s advantage in write speed.

What is the power consumption of the SN850X?

The SN850X has a 1.1W idle power draw, 4.1W average power draw under load, and a peak performance draw of 6.8W.