Western Digital WD_BLACK SN850 NVMe PCIe Gen4 SSD On the Way

We looked at Western Digital’s previous WD_BLACK SSD (the SN750) way back in January of 2019, and it was one of the fastest drives we’d ever tested. What’s next? PCI Express 4.0, naturally, and a new model that pushes things far beyond Gen3 limits with sequential transfer speeds.

I’m referring to the new WD_BLACK SN850 PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD, which arrives later this month. Built on the new WD_BLACK G2 controller, the SN850 offers speeds of up to 7000 MB/s reads and 5300MB/s writes with the 1TB model, according to WD.

WD_BLACK SN850 NVMe SSD – Designed to feature the unprecedented performance of PCIe Gen4 technology, this future-ready product will deliver fast read/write speeds up to 7000/5300MB/s (1TB model). Built with the WD_BLACK G2 controller and optimized for top-tier and high-intensive gaming (not intended for NAS or server environments), the WD_BLACK SN850 NVMe SSD will help gamers achieve supreme PC performance. It reduces game load times and transfers files faster than its predecessor while using brand new cache technology.

In addition to high performance, the WD_BLACK SN850 NVMe SSD also delivers improved low queue-depth performance over its predecessor, allowing both gaming and everyday users to experience smoother loading of applications. And, for the ultimate in aesthetics and customization, there will be an optional RGB-enabled heatsink model that cuts down on thermal throttling. The WD_BLACK SN850 NVMe SSD non-heatsink version will be available in 500GB, 1TB and 2TB capacities starting at $149.99 (MSRP USD).

But Western Digital had more to add to their storage offering. Info from their press release follows:

WD_BLACK AN1500 NVMe SSD Add-in-Card – For gamers looking to achieve next-gen performance in a current-gen setup, this fully bootable plug and play add-in card is one of the fastest PCIe Gen3 x8 solutions on the market. Powered by two internal SSDs in RAID 0 and PCIe Gen3 x8 technology, gamers can experience read speeds up to 6500 MB/s1 and write speeds up to 4100MB/s1 (2TB and 4TB models), giving them lightning fast gameplay so they can spend less time waiting and more time playing. Customizable RGB lighting (Windows® only) complements your current rig while an integrated heatsink combats thermal throttling to help maintain peak performance. The WD_BLACK AN1500 NVMe SSD Add-in-Card is available in 1TB, 2TB and 4TB capacities2 starting at $299.99 (MSRP USD).

WD_BLACK D50 Game Dock NVMe SSD – This compact, high-performance gaming dock SSD, with heatsink design, transforms a Thunderbolt 3-compatible laptop into an integrated and immersive gaming station. An optimal solution for gamers looking to streamline their setup, the dock offers superfast speeds with NVMe technology, more capacity for games, and multiple ports for accessories – all powered by a single Thunderbolt 3 cord. The WD_BLACK D50 Game Dock NVMe SSD is complete with customizable RGB lighting controlled through the WD_BLACK Dashboard (Windows only). The WD_BLACK D50 Game Dock NVMe SSD is available in a 1TB capacity starting at $499.99 (MSRP USD). A non-SSD option, the WD_BLACK D50 Game Dock, is also available for purchase for $319.99 (MSRP USD).

As to availability, the WD_BLACK SN850 NVMe SSD (non-heatsink model) is expected before the end of October 2020, with the heatsink-equipped model expected in Q1 2021. The announced WD_BLACK AN1500 NVMe SSD add-in-card, WD_BLACK D50 Game Dock, and WD_BLACK D50 Game Dock NVMe SSD are now available for purchase or pre-order, with more info available at the source link.