Compare WD_BLACK SN8100 4TB and Samsung 990 EVO Plus 4TB: prices, speeds, $/TB. Which to buy in May 2026? Full spec breakdown.
Both the WD_BLACK SN8100 4TB and Samsung 990 EVO Plus 4TB sit in the Gen 5 category at 4 TB, so the matchup turns on controller efficiency, cache topology, and current pricing rather than raw class differences.
Hardware-wise, the WD_BLACK SN8100 4TB runs on an SMI SM2508 controller that drew industry attention in 2024 for finally taming Gen 5 thermals. The Samsung 990 EVO Plus 4TB pairs Samsung's Piccolo — a DRAM-less controller with flexible PCIe generation support.
Price separates these two meaningfully. The Samsung 990 EVO Plus 4TB costs $104.75/TB versus $207.25/TB for the WD_BLACK SN8100 4TB — a 49% premium that needs justification in real benchmarks, not just spec-sheet bragging.
In the read department, the WD_BLACK SN8100 4TB 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 4TB sustains 11,000 MB/s writes versus 6,300 MB/s for the Samsung 990 EVO Plus 4TB — a real advantage for video editors and anyone doing heavy file operations.
The WD_BLACK SN8100 4TB carries a dedicated DRAM chip for FTL (Flash Translation Layer) mapping; the Samsung 990 EVO Plus 4TB relies on HMB (Host Memory Buffer), borrowing 64 MB from system RAM. The practical gap shows up only under sustained random write loads.
For PS5 expansion, both are PCIe Gen 4 M.2 2280 drives that meet Sony's minimum spec (7,250 MB/s read). The console can't take advantage of speeds beyond that, so save money by choosing the Samsung 990 EVO Plus 4TB. For content creators routinely rendering 4K or 8K video, the WD_BLACK SN8100 4TB'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 4TB nor Samsung 990 EVO Plus 4TB fits without modification.
Pick the WD_BLACK SN8100 4TB if you value meaningfully faster reads (14,900 MB/s), higher sustained writes (11,000 MB/s), and a dedicated DRAM cache chip.
Pick the Samsung 990 EVO Plus 4TB if you value the lower retail price ($419 vs $829), and better $/TB economics ($104.75/TB). Samsung designed the 990 EVO Plus around the Piccolo controller's dual-PCIe support — a hedge against both Gen 4 holdouts and Gen 5 early adopters.