Sandisk unveils WD_BLACK SN8100 NVMe SSD for power users

Sandisk has introduced the WD_BLACK SN8100 NVMe SSD with PCIe Gen 5.0 technology, targeting PC gamers and professional users seeking high-speed storage for demanding applications.

The new SSD, positioned as Sandisk's flagship client product, offers sequential read speeds of up to 14,900MB/s and write speeds of up to 14,000MB/s. It is available in capacities reaching up to 8TB, designed to support intensive tasks such as gaming, content creation, and AI workloads.

The WD_BLACK SN8100 NVMe SSD is described as suitable for users building new computers or upgrading existing systems. The drive leverages PCIe Gen 5.0, which delivers a twofold increase in performance compared to the previous PCIe Gen 4.0 standard.

Eric Spanneut, Vice President of Devices for Sandisk, said, "Whether it's for high-level gaming, professional content creation or AI applications, high-performance users now have a PCIe Gen 5.0 storage solution that matches speed with power efficiency to help them build the ultimate gaming rig or best-in-class workstation, enabling them to play and create with next-level performance and reliability. The WD_BLACK SN8100 NVMeTM SSD with PCIe Gen 5.0 delivers peak storage performance for the most discerning users."

According to Sandisk, the SN8100 NVMe SSD not only increases data transfer rates but also improves power efficiency, with a reported average operating power of 7 watts or less. The drive is stated to be 100% more power efficient than Sandisk's previous PCIe Gen 4.0 SSD generation.

Joe Macri, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer for Compute and Graphics at AMD, said, "PCIe Gen 5.0 is the next evolution of the PCIe interface offering up to 2x performance capability over today's PCIe 4.0. The WD_BLACK SN8100 NVMe SSD with PCIe Gen 5.0 revolutionizes storage performance and power efficiency bringing the next level of flash storage to PCs for Gamers, Content Creators, or Professionals seeking only the highest storage performance possible."

The SSD uses Sandisk BiCS8 TLC 3D CBA NAND technology, which supports both performance and reliability metrics. It delivers over 2,300,000 IOPS of random performance on 2TB and 4TB models, with a maximum rated endurance of up to 2,400TBW (terabytes written) for the 4TB version. This endurance is intended to serve users engaging in tasks such as gaming, video editing, and AI workloads.

For those who require additional cooling, Sandisk will also offer a version of the WD_BLACK SN8100 NVMe SSD with an optional heatsink. This integrated, low-profile passive cooling solution is engineered with anodised aluminium and does not require extra power or fans. It features a customisable RGB LED for users who seek to match the device with their PC's lighting setup.

Todd Lewellen, Vice President of the Client Ecosystem Group at Intel, commented, "Technologies like the Intel Core Ultra processors combined with WD_BLACK SN8100 NVMe PCIe Gen 5.0 SSDs will fuel the innovation of PCs and workstations, vastly speeding up play, productions or projects for gamers, creators and professionals. With its great performance and power efficiency, the WD_BLACK SN8100 NVMe PCIe Gen 5.0 SSD is a great option for those looking to build their best gaming and high-performance PCs."

The WD_BLACK SN8100 NVMe SSD will be available in 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB options, with suggested retail prices of AUD $329.00, AUD $499.00, and AUD $899.00 respectively. The heatsink version is expected to be available from October 2025.

Sandisk's new SSD aims to provide users with capabilities for large-scale storage, supporting modern 4K and 8K media files, expanding game libraries, and datasets required for AI applications. Both the standard and heatsink versions are scheduled to be available through select retailers and Sandisk's online store in mid and late 2025.