WD_BLACK SN8100 2TB ($380) vs Samsung 990 PRO 2TB ($388). $/TB analysis, performance, and use-case recommendations.
When generations cross paths in a comparison like this one, the older-spec drive almost always wins on value while the newer one wins on benchmarks. Whether that benchmark advantage matters depends entirely on what you do with the drive.
Hardware-wise, the WD_BLACK SN8100 2TB runs on an SMI SM2508 controller that drew industry attention in 2024 for finally taming Gen 5 thermals. The Samsung 990 PRO 2TB pairs Samsung's Pascal controller, fabricated on the company's 8nm process.
In the read department, the WD_BLACK SN8100 2TB leads by roughly 7 GB/s. The difference is more academic than practical for typical use, but it does matter for video editors moving multi-GB project files.
Write performance separates them too. The WD_BLACK SN8100 2TB sustains 11,000 MB/s writes versus 6,900 MB/s for the Samsung 990 PRO 2TB — a real advantage for video editors and anyone doing heavy file operations.
PS5 owners get no measurable benefit from either drive's peak speed because Sony's internal NVMe controller throttles to ~5,500 MB/s; treat WD_BLACK SN8100 2TB and Samsung 990 PRO 2TB as interchangeable here and let price decide. The Gen 5 WD_BLACK SN8100 2TB pulls ahead on sequential bandwidth, but Gen 5 advantages rarely surface during everyday tasks — most software hasn't been rewritten to exploit 14,000+ MB/s pipelines. For content creators routinely rendering 4K or 8K video, the WD_BLACK SN8100 2TB's 11,000 MB/s sustained write is the deciding factor — multi-GB project files land noticeably faster than on the alternative. Note for handheld gamers: M.2 2280 is the desktop/laptop standard. Steam Deck and the ROG Ally line need 2230 drives — neither WD_BLACK SN8100 2TB nor Samsung 990 PRO 2TB fits without modification.
Market context: the WD_BLACK SN8100 2TB ranks #5 of 11 Gen 5 2 TB drives we track by $/TB, while the Samsung 990 PRO 2TB ranks #10 of 11 Gen 4 2 TB drives. Neither cracks the top of the value table, so it's worth glancing at the alternatives below before picking either.
As of July 27, 2026, these tracked drives undercut both the WD_BLACK SN8100 2TB and Samsung 990 PRO 2TB on $/TB:
The WD_BLACK SN8100 2TB is the right call if the lower retail price ($380 vs $388), better $/TB economics ($190.00/TB), meaningfully faster reads (14,900 MB/s), and higher sustained writes (11,000 MB/s) matter to you.
Samsung backs the PRO series with one of the strongest warranty experiences in consumer storage — RMAs typically process within 5 business days globally.