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SetupGearGuide

WD_BLACK SN8100 (2 TB, Gen5)

Western Digitalno compromisePro Choicecritical fields covered· 3/3 detail specs sourced
WD_BLACK SN8100 (2 TB, Gen5)

A no-compromise-tier 2TB Gen5 NVMe, the SN8100 hits up to 14,900 MB/s reads and is cited by reviewers like StorageReview and SSD Review as the fastest Gen5 drive of 2025. It's for builders who genuinely want the top of the Gen5 performance ladder. The caveat is cost: amid the 2026 shortage it sits well above its launch MSRP, so budget builds are far better served by a fast Gen4 drive.

Scores

Breakdown
Overall78±6

Caliber-forward blend — tier caliber + within-tier price rank 30%, value 25%, confidence 20%, compatibility 15%, upgrade path 10% — renormalized over applicable dimensions; excluded here: value (volatile or unpriced).

Beginner Friendliness33
Compatibility60
Confidence69
Pro Readiness95
Upgrade Path84
Value50

The ± band on the overall score reflects sourcing confidence — wider when fewer specs are verified.

How each score is computed: our scoring methodology.

Specifications

SpecValueVerification
storage typeNVMe Gen5Sourced
capacity (GB)2000Sourced
read (MB/s)14900Sourced

3/3 detail specs sourced. Amber rows are flagged for verification — we show them as reported, not confirmed.

Verdict

Best for

  • Review-consensus fastest Gen5 drive of 2025 (StorageReview/SSD Review) — and cheaper than the 9100 PRO right now

Who should skip this

  • Budget builds (well above launch MSRP in the 2026 shortage)

Where to buy

List price $440

Prices are a guide and can change — confirm the current price on the retailer's site before buying.

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Also available at

Prices last checked Jun 14, 2026 — retailer prices change often, so click through for the current price.

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Standards

Form factors & standards — interchangeable across compatible builds, not a platform lock-in.

PCIe 5.0 (native)

Compatibility

Built around PCIe 5.0. Make sure the rest of your build uses the same platform before you buy — mismatched sockets, mounts or standards are the most common return reason. Check it in the builder →

Upgrade path

A top-tier storage — there's little to upgrade to within the category.