I'm in the market for a 4TB NVMe SSD specifically for gaming and have narrowed it down to the WD SN5000, WD SN850X, and Samsung 990 Pro. I want to know which one would be best for my needs. The SN5000 is significantly cheaper than the other two, but I'm open to spending more if it means better performance. My main concerns are game download speeds and the potential for longer loading times if I choose the SN5000. Here are the specs for each drive:
- SN5000: Read/write speeds of 5500/5000, with a write endurance of 1200TBW.
- SN850X: Read/write speeds of 7300/6600, with a write endurance of 2400TBW.
- Samsung 990 Pro: Read/write speeds of 7450/6900, with a write endurance of 2400TBW.
Is the write endurance important for gaming? Also, I've heard that removing the heatsink on the 990 Pro voids its warranty. Is it worth it compared to the SN850X, or should I just go with the latter to avoid any complications? Thanks!
5 Answers
Honestly, the load time difference between these drives will be minimal. If you look up comparisons, you'll see that even SATA SSDs don't show significant differences in gaming performance. As for the TBW ratings, you won't need to worry about that for gaming purposes. I'd say go for the SN5000 since it's cheaper and should work just fine for your needs!
I have two WD Blue drives in my main rig and they perform excellently for gaming. I recently swapped the SSD in my handheld to a 1TB SN5000 and it’s doing well. Just remember, download speeds can also highly depend on your internet and CPU performance, not just the SSD itself.
I’m really a fan of the SN850X. They stay cool and having that DRAM cache is a big plus for me. I've had a couple of Samsung drives fail, but my experience with WD SSDs has always been great. Plus, you won’t be waiting long for game loads with any of these drives!
Definitely pick the WD Black SN850X. While load times will be pretty similar across the board, the SN850X has excellent thermal management. Plus, WD offers gaming-focused software that can be an extra benefit. It’s a solid choice for gaming!
If cost is a big factor for just gaming, I'd go with the cheaper option. The difference in performance won’t be noticeable in most gaming scenarios, and it's highly unlikely you'll ever hit the TBW limit on the SN5000.
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