Cons and pros of Samsung 980 Pro vs Western Digital WD SN850 NVMe SSD

by Techfan | Posted on

Both the Samsung 980 Pro and the Western Digital WD Black SN850 are high-performance SSDs that feature the latest PCIe 4.0 interface. While they are similar in many ways, there are still some differences between the two. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of each.

Samsung 980 Pro:

Pros:

  1. High-Speed Performance: The Samsung 980 Pro boasts impressive read/write speeds of up to 7,000/5,000 MB/s.
  2. Reliability: Samsung has a strong reputation for making reliable SSDs.
  3. Samsung Magician Software: This proprietary software offers a wide range of tools for managing drive health and performance.
  4. Heat Control: The SSD controller is nickel-coated to help dissipate heat and ensure a high level of performance.
ssd hard drive and computer

Cons:

  1. Price: The 980 Pro tends to be quite expensive due to its high-end features.
  2. Endurance: Some users have reported that the drive’s TBW (Terabytes Written) rating is not as high as that of some competitors.
  3. Heat: Despite the thermal control solutions in place, under heavy loads, the drive can still run hot.
  4. Limited PCIe 4.0 Support: As of my last training data in 2021, not all systems fully support PCIe 4.0.

Western Digital WD Black SN850:

Pros:

  1. Performance: The WD Black SN850 also offers impressive speeds, with read/write speeds up to 7,000/5,300 MB/s.
  2. Variety: It’s available with or without a heatsink, providing more options depending on your system’s cooling capabilities.
  3. WD Dashboard: WD offers its software for managing the SSD and keeping its firmware up to date.

Cons:

  1. Price: Similar to the Samsung 980 Pro, the WD Black SN850 is priced as a high-end product, which may not suit all budgets.
  2. Heat: Some reviews note that it can run hot under load, particularly the version without a heatsink.
  3. Limited PCIe 4.0 Support: Like the Samsung 980 Pro, the full benefits of this SSD will only be realized if your system supports PCIe 4.0.

Overall, both are top-tier SSDs designed for high-performance computing and gaming. The choice between them might come down to brand preference, price, and whether your system can take full advantage of the PCIe 4.0 interface. Always consider your personal needs and system compatibility when choosing an SSD.