A 2TB SSD with 14,900MB/s Read Speed is now 54% for a limited time

A hand holds a SanDisk SSD against a reddish-brown wooden background. The SSD features various certification logos, giving a tech-focused, modern feel. — The WD_Black SN8100 read and write speeds are out of this world. (Image credit: Windows Central (Ben Wilson) | Sandisk)

The WD_Black SN8100 read and write speeds are out of this world. (Image credit: Windows Central (Ben Wilson) | Sandisk)

I know we're all sick of hearing this, but it bears repeating – that RAM crisis sucks. Not only has AI gorged on our precious memory, but it's also caused prices on all our beloved gadgets and PCs to skyrocket, including SSDs that are vital for storing our precious documents, videos, and video games.

Fortunately, one of WB_Black's powerful PCIe 5.0 SSDs is currently circumventing these price hikes with a special bargain sale at Amazon, the most lucrative being this $480 discount for the 2TB model.

Why buy the WN_Black SN8100 SSD?

Close-up of a hand holding two NVMe SSD cards against a red brick background. The image highlights the labels and branding on the storage devices. — The WD_BLACK SN8100 2TB PCIe 5.0 SSD held next to a Samsung 990 PRO 1TB SSD. (Image credit: Windows Central (Ben Wilson) | Sandisk | Samsung)

SanDisk produces some of the best SSDs on the market for gaming, and the WD_Black SN8100 is one of its finest, premium-grade offerings yet.

On top of multiple storage sizes available (1TB, 2TB, 4TB, and 8TB), the WD_Black SN8100 SSD features astronomical Read Speeds up to 14,900MB/s and Write Speeds up to 11,000MB/s (both of which are double the speeds of PCle 4 SSDs like the Samsung 990 Pro).

With these specs, loading times for rendering assets in games and transferring large files will go by in the blink of an eye, while reducing lag while playing games or editing videos.

WD_BLACK SN8100 PCIe 5.0 SSD speed test in CrystalDiskMark compared to Samsung 990 PRO PCIe 4.0 SSD (Image credit: Windows Central (Ben Wilson))

However, as a result of these mighty specs, the WD_Black SN8100 can run really hot when put under heavy workloads, so make sure your computer's motherboard has a heatsink to keep the SSD from overheating.

If you can get past that hurdle, the WD_Black SN8100 is a phenomenal SSD for gamers, content creators, and office workers looking to future-proof their PCle 5.0 desktops for years to come.

And with this 54% discount, that's reduced the 2TB model's absurd $1000.99 MSRP down to $458 at Amazon, it's practically a steal as far as long-term storage investment for your PC goes.

Alternative discounted storage sizes

1TB - $267.99 at Amazon (was $494.99)
4TB - $872.00 at Amazon (was $1,989.99)
8TB - $1999.99 at Amazon (was $2,599.99)

Alternative discounts

$459.99 at Best Buy (was $1,057.99)
$459.99 at Newegg (Free NordVPN Basic Product Key with purchase at Newegg for a limited time)

FAQ

Will the WD_Black SN8100 work on PCIe Gen 4?

The WD_Black SN8100 SSD is backwards compatible with a computer's PCle Gen 4 slots. However, the SSD's performance will be held by Gen 4 limitations, so it will not be able to reach its top read speed of 14,900 MB/s when used in a PCle Gen 4 slot.

Is it compatible with DirectStorage?

Yes, WD_Black's SN8100 SSD is compatible and optimized for DirectStorage and AI workloads.

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Alexander Cope is a gaming veteran with over 35 years of experience who primarily covers Xbox and PC gaming news and spotlights discounts on the best laptops, peripherals, and other electronics. He's also a diehard fan of JRPGs, action games, beat em’ ups, and Capcom’s Monster Hunter series