WD_BLACK SN8100 2TB ($459) vs TeamGroup Z540 2TB ($329). $/TB analysis, performance, and use-case recommendations.
WD_BLACK SN8100 2TB and TeamGroup Z540 2TB are direct competitors — same generation, same capacity. Choose by controller behavior under sustained load, DRAM/HMB cache strategy, and $/TB economics.
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 TeamGroup Z540 2TB pairs an original Phison E26 chip that defined the Gen 5 reference design.
The cost difference is hard to ignore: 28% per TB (TeamGroup Z540 2TB at $164.50/TB versus WD_BLACK SN8100 2TB at $229.50/TB). Unless you specifically need the WD_BLACK SN8100 2TB's peak performance, the TeamGroup Z540 2TB delivers more storage for the money.
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 TeamGroup Z540 2TB 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 TeamGroup Z540 2TB's 11,800 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) matter to you.
The TeamGroup Z540 2TB is the right call if the lower retail price ($329 vs $459), and better $/TB economics ($164.50/TB) matter to you. Budget-tier drives like the TeamGroup Z540 2TB have closed the gap with premium NVMes — the MAP1602 controller is genuinely competitive for everyday workloads at half the price.