Why this one: Top-tier PCIe 4.0 performance with consistent sustained writes at the 2TB sweet spot, regularly undercutting the Crucial T500 and Samsung 990 Pro.
What it beat: PCIe 5.0 drives ($250+) — double the sequential numbers you'll never feel, plus they run hot. Classic luxury tax.
Tighter budget? The 1TB SN850X (~$75) if your library is modest — but $/TB favors 2TB.
Reliability5/5
Proven WD in-house controller, 1,200 TBW endurance rating, 5-year warranty, and none of the DRAM-less corner-cutting or silent component swaps that plague budget drives. One of the safest storage buys, period.
Good time to buy — Near its historic low. NAND pricing is drifting up on the same AI demand hitting RAM — buying storage now is defensive.
Common concerns (2)
- Heatsink version needed? — No; the motherboard's included M.2 heatsink is fine.
- Beware marketplace scalpers — we've seen third-party listings at $322. Real price is ~$140.