WD_BLACK SN850X 1TB NVMe SSD, Without Heatsink (WDS100T2X0E)
The bare SN850X suits a compatible PC whose motherboard already provides M.2 cooling. Its tested burst performance is strong, but sustained transfers expose a much lower write rate. Choose this exact capacity for your storage needs, and check host clearance and cooling before treating it as a laptop or console upgrade.
Updated 2026-10-04
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Prices and sellers
No price information yet
Conditions and limitations
Peak throughput depends on the host and cache state
- Capability
- Up to 7300 MB/s reads and 6300 MB/s writes are rated burst figures for the 1TB drive.
- Limitations
- Historical 1TB tests fell to roughly 900-920 MB/s after cache exhaustion.
- No benchmark on a different capacity is substituted here.
- Requirements
- Use a compatible PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 slot for the full interface bandwidth.
- Allow for workload, free-space, cache and cooling differences.
Compatibility
Bare-drive installation needs a matching host
- Connection
- Internal M.2 2280 slot; bare drive has no factory heatsink.
- Functions
- Internal solid-state storage
- Notes
- Check host storage support and cooling clearance. The manufacturer's PS5 listing is expressly for the heatsink model, so do not assume this bare SKU is ready to install in a console.
- Protocol
- PCIe NVMe
- Result
- partial
- Source device
- WD BLACK SN850X WDS100T2X0E
- Target device
- Computer with M.2 M-key 2280 PCIe storage support
Where sources differ
Controller labels differ between the physical-review account and SSD-Tester's specification table. Exact controller revision is left as a conflicting gap.
Reported issues and fixes
Thermal and cache limitations are documented, but these tests do not establish a firmware defect, universal throttle threshold or absence of other issues.
Care and support
Warranty ends at the time or write limit
- Details
- The 1TB specification is 600 TBW with a five-year limited warranty, whichever limit is reached first. Regional terms apply; this is not a promise of a failure date or data retention.
Who it suits
Choose the bare version when cooling is already covered
- Check before buying
- Confirm the exact WDS100T2X0E SKU, host interface, clearance and cooling.
- Match the chosen capacity to the space required.
- Constraints
- Cooling must be supplied by the host or separately.
- Needs
- Fast internal PC storage with a compatible M.2 installation
- Reason
- The bare design fits a PC build with suitable cooling, but sustained workloads and console installation need additional checks.
- Tradeoffs
- Strong burst results coexist with lower post-cache writing.
- Assessment
- conditional
Areas not yet researched (1)
No conclusion is available for these areas. This does not mean the Product has no limitations or reported issues.
- Ownership costs
Measured performance
Post cache sequential write
920 MB/sSustained write fill to 85% with ten simultaneous threads; lowest steady point · n=1 · ServeTheHome's historical bare 1TB sample. This is a post-cache observation, not the manufacturer's peak write rating.
Source [4]Alternatives
| Alternative | Where this Product wins | Where it loses | Pick it if |
|---|---|---|---|
| WD Black SN850 1TB | In ServeTheHome's capacity-matched review, the older SN850 beat the SN850X in AS SSD read scores and post-cache writing. These are specific workload tradeoffs rather than proof that the predecessor is faster everywhere. [7], [4] | Consider the SN850X for its documented burst performance and the bare-drive fit, while weighing sustained-write work separately. |
The review
WD_BLACK SN850X 1TB without heatsink: speed, sustained writes and installation tradeoffs
Know which SN850X you are buying
WDS100T2X0E is the 1TB SN850X without a factory heatsink. The reviewed design is single-sided M.2 2280 with TLC NAND and DRAM. The manufacturer's bare-drive dimensions are 80 mm by 22 mm by 2.38 mm. That makes physical clearance worth checking separately from the M.2 connector: a matching shape alone does not establish host storage support or adequate cooling. [2], [3], [4]
The 1TB ratings are up to 7300 MB/s sequential reads and 6300 MB/s sequential writes. They describe peak manufacturer testing, rather than a constant rate across all transfers. The PCIe 4.0 x4 interface and a compatible host are part of that performance context; the larger-capacity model's specifications should not be substituted for this drive. [2]
What the independent tests actually tell you
ServeTheHome's bare-drive sample reached approximately its advertised sequential levels in CrystalDiskMark. SSD-Tester's separate exact-model tests also show why workload matters: sequential transfers and low-queue-depth random accesses produce very different results. A synthetic score confirms a particular test outcome; it does not establish game-loading seconds or prove that every everyday task will feel faster. [7], [3], [1]
Long writes are the more important caveat. ServeTheHome measured 920 MB/s after the cache was exhausted. Madam's clean-drive testing independently found a substantial cache followed by a pronounced speed drop. ServeTheHome considered the sustained rate adequate for most users, but frequent cloning or large data writes call for evaluating this phase rather than extrapolating the peak rating across the whole job. [4], [5]
Cooling and compatibility deserve their own checks
Bare-drive thermal testing supports fitting a suitable heatsink and arranging airflow for sustained work. The separate cooling experiment is also a useful warning against simplistic diagnosis: it did not establish a universal throttling threshold, and a write-rate step persisted after cooling was added. These historical samples do not predict every enclosure, laptop or firmware combination. [4], [6]
The manufacturer's computer requirement is an M.2 M-key port accepting the M.2 2280 form factor, with Windows 10+ listed. Its PlayStation 5 statement explicitly names the heatsink version. This bare SKU therefore needs further installation and cooling checks before a console purchase. Dashboard's Windows-only health monitoring and Game Mode 2.0 are useful management features, but this evidence does not quantify their game-loading benefit. [3], [2]
A practical buying decision
The 1TB endurance rating is 600 TBW, and the limited warranty ends after five years or the write limit, whichever comes first. Treat that as a warranty boundary, not a forecast of the day the drive fails. Regional terms still matter. Exact controller revision, current firmware equivalence, measured power efficiency and verified game-loading times remain gaps in this evidence set. [2]
The clearest fit is a compatible desktop with cooling already available and workloads that benefit from the drive's burst performance. Heavy sustained-write users should weigh its post-cache behavior more carefully; buyers seeking a ready-to-install console package should resolve the missing heatsink first. This assessment combines manufacturer documentation and three independent test reports, whose multiple pages are not separate independent opinions. [3], [2], [7], [4], [1], [5]
Buyer questions
Before you buy
Compatibility
Is the bare drive a complete PS5 upgrade?
The official compatibility statement is for the heatsink model. This SKU has no factory heatsink, so do not treat it as a complete console installation package without checking the required cooling and physical fit. [2]
Everyday use
Does Game Mode guarantee faster game loads?
The Windows-only Dashboard provides Game Mode 2.0 and automatic game detection. The retained evidence does not establish a measured game-loading improvement for this exact bare-drive configuration, so no time saving is promised. [2]
Limitations
Care and maintenance
How do the endurance and warranty limits work?
This 1TB variant is rated for 600 TBW. Its five-year limited warranty ends sooner if the maximum write endurance is reached. Check the regional warranty terms; the rating is not a guarantee of data retention or a predicted failure point. [2]
Product images
Facts and specifications
Manufacturer datasheet
| Specification | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Compatibility | Computer with an M.2 M-key port accepting M.2 2280; Windows 10+. The datasheet lists PlayStation 5 only for the heatsink model, so this bare SKU is not a complete PS5 installation package. | [2] |
| Depth | 80 mm | [2] |
| Height | 2.38 mm | [2] |
| Width | 22 mm | [2] |
| Write Endurance | 600 TB | [2] |
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe; backward-compatible with the PCIe Gen3/Gen2 configurations listed in the datasheet | [2] |
| Model | SN850X WDS100T2X0E | [2] |
| Random Read IOPS | 800000 | [2] |
| Random Write IOPS | 1100000 | [2] |
| Sequential Read | 7300 MB/s | [2] |
| Sequential Write | 6300 MB/s | [2] |
| Software | Windows-only Dashboard provides drive health monitoring and Game Mode 2.0 automatic game detection; RGB customization applies to heatsink versions only | [2] |
| Storage Capacity | 1 TB | [2] |
| Warranty | 5-year limited warranty or maximum 600 TBW endurance limit, whichever occurs first; regional terms apply | [2] |
| Weight | 7.5 g | [2] |
Stated by reviewers
| Specification | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| DRAM Cache | Yes | [3] |
| Form Factor | M.2 2280, single-sided, without heatsink | [3] |
| NAND Type | TLC 3D NAND; the 2022 1TB review sample used 112-layer BiCS5 | [3] |
Measured by a lab
| Specification | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Sequential Write | 920 MB/s | [4] |
Other facts
| Specification | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Limitation | ServeTheHome found this 1TB drive slower than its predecessor after cache exhaustion and noted competing drives with higher sustained-write performance. | [4] |
| Setup Requirement | Plan a suitable M.2 heatsink and airflow for heavy sustained writes: ServeTheHome's bare 1TB sample reached 77 C in a 22 C open-frame room with no direct airflow. This result does not predict every laptop or enclosure. | [4] |
KnowSpec analysis
A strong desktop fit with a cooling plan
The bare SN850X suits a compatible PC whose motherboard already provides M.2 cooling. Its tested burst performance is strong, but sustained transfers expose a much lower write rate. Choose this exact capacity for your storage needs, and check host clearance and cooling before treating it as a laptop or console upgrade.
Method: Thermal-test context comparisonBurst speed is not the whole workload
A large SLC cache helps short transfers, while prolonged writes eventually reveal native flash behavior. The independent tests agree on a substantial post-cache drop. Random-access results also depend on the benchmark, so sequential ratings alone cannot predict every application.
Method: Manufacturer feature and warranty interpretationSeparate cache exhaustion from heat
The bare-drive review justifies planning a heatsink for sustained work. A separate cooling experiment did not establish a universal thermal-throttle threshold, and its write-rate step persisted with added cooling. Avoid diagnosing every slowdown as overheating.
Method: Synthesis of capacity-specific manufacturer documentation and independent testsSoftware and warranty have boundaries
Dashboard offers health monitoring and automatic Game Mode features on Windows. These features are not evidence of a guaranteed game-loading improvement. The warranty is limited by elapsed time or endurance, and the available evidence does not establish a support-end date.
Method: Comparison of distinct workloads on tested 1TB samplesVisible information gaps
Missing information is shown rather than guessed.
- Topic:Efficiencyrights restricted
- Topic:Real World Load Timesrights restricted
- Topic:Price Per Terabyterights restricted
- Powerrights restricted
- Controllerconflicting
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Sources and method
- Western Digital WD_BLACK SN850X 1TB WDS100T2X0E-00BCA0 benchmark testSSD-Tester · retrieved 2026-10-04Lab review
- WD_BLACK SN850X NVMe SSD data sheet, July 2025Sandisk · retrieved 2026-10-04DatasheetPDF
- WD Black SN850X 1TB review: bare-drive construction and test setupServeTheHome · retrieved 2026-10-04Lab review
- WD Black SN850X 1TB review: sustained writes and thermals, page 3ServeTheHome · retrieved 2026-10-04Lab review
- WD SN850X 1TB Review 1: clean-drive benchmarks and sustained write testMadam's Real IT Reviews · retrieved 2026-10-04Lab review
- WD SN850X 1TB Review 3: cooling and thermal-throttling experimentMadam's Real IT Reviews · retrieved 2026-10-04Lab review
- WD Black SN850X 1TB review: benchmark results, page 2ServeTheHome · retrieved 2026-10-04Lab review