WD_BLACK SN8100 2TB ($459) vs Samsung 990 EVO Plus 4TB ($419). $/TB analysis, performance, and use-case recommendations.
Both run on Gen 5 hardware but at different capacities: 2 TB for the WD_BLACK SN8100 2TB versus 4 TB for the Samsung 990 EVO Plus 4TB. Whether the larger drive's $/TB advantage justifies the higher upfront cost depends on how much you actually need.
Hardware-wise, the WD_BLACK SN8100 2TB runs on the SMI SM2508 — a 6nm Gen 5 controller running notably cooler than first-gen Phison E26 designs. The Samsung 990 EVO Plus 4TB pairs the dual-mode Samsung Piccolo silicon that uniquely runs PCIe 5.0 x2 or PCIe 4.0 x4.
The cost difference is hard to ignore: 54% per TB (Samsung 990 EVO Plus 4TB at $104.75/TB versus WD_BLACK SN8100 2TB at $229.50/TB). Unless you specifically need the WD_BLACK SN8100 2TB's peak performance, the Samsung 990 EVO Plus 4TB delivers more storage for the money.
Read speeds favor the WD_BLACK SN8100 2TB: 14,900 MB/s versus 7,250 MB/s for the Samsung 990 EVO Plus 4TB, a 51% advantage. Sequential-heavy workloads notice; transactional workloads don't.
The WD_BLACK SN8100 2TB writes about 43% faster (11,000 MB/s vs 6,300 MB/s). Whether that matters depends entirely on what you write to the drive — gameplay capture and large project saves benefit, browsing and gaming do not.
Cache architecture differs: WD_BLACK SN8100 2TB has DRAM hardware, Samsung 990 EVO Plus 4TB uses HMB. For OS, gaming, browsing — indistinguishable. For databases, large file ops, or 4K video editing — DRAM has a small but consistent edge.
On warranty endurance the Samsung 990 EVO Plus 4TB carries 2,400 TBW against WD_BLACK SN8100 2TB's 1,200 TBW. Both will outlast typical use, but the gap matters if you're doing professional content work.
If this purchase is for a PS5 storage expansion, the comparison flattens — Sony's PCIe Gen 4 controller normalizes both WD_BLACK SN8100 2TB and Samsung 990 EVO Plus 4TB to roughly equal in-game load times. The cheaper drive is the smart pick. Heavy write workloads — video editing, RAW photo libraries, backup operations — favor the WD_BLACK SN8100 2TB's 11,000 MB/s sustained write speed. Both drives use the 2280 form factor, which is too long for Steam Deck or ROG Ally — you'd need a 2230 variant if either manufacturer offers one, or a dedicated handheld-format drive instead.
The WD_BLACK SN8100 2TB is the right call if meaningfully faster reads (14,900 MB/s), higher sustained writes (11,000 MB/s), and a dedicated DRAM cache chip matter to you.
The Samsung 990 EVO Plus 4TB is the right call if the lower retail price ($419 vs $459), better $/TB economics ($104.75/TB), and a higher TBW endurance rating (2,400 TBW) matter to you. Among Samsung's lineup, the 990 EVO Plus is the only consumer drive that physically supports dual-generation PCIe — same hardware, different bus speed depending on platform.