Compare WD_BLACK SN8100 4TB and Samsung 990 PRO 4TB: prices, speeds, $/TB. Which to buy in May 2026? Full spec breakdown.
WD_BLACK SN8100 4TB vs Samsung 990 PRO 4TB pits two different generations against each other at 4 TB. The question isn't which is faster on paper — that's settled — it's whether the bandwidth gap shows up in your specific workload.
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 PRO 4TB pairs Samsung's Pascal controller, fabricated on the company's 8nm process.
Price separates these two meaningfully. The Samsung 990 PRO 4TB costs $97.25/TB versus $207.25/TB for the WD_BLACK SN8100 4TB — a 53% 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 6,900 MB/s for the Samsung 990 PRO 4TB — a real advantage for video editors and anyone doing heavy file operations.
For PS5 expansion, both are PCIe Gen 4 M.2 2280 drives that meet Sony's minimum spec (7,450 MB/s read). The console can't take advantage of speeds beyond that, so save money by choosing the Samsung 990 PRO 4TB. The leap from Gen 4 to Gen 5 doubles peak throughput on paper but produces single-digit-percent improvements in game load times, OS boot, and most productivity benchmarks. The Samsung 990 PRO 4TB is the better default unless you have a specific workload that needs the extra lanes. 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 PRO 4TB fits without modification.
Pick the WD_BLACK SN8100 4TB if you value meaningfully faster reads (14,900 MB/s), and higher sustained writes (11,000 MB/s).
Pick the Samsung 990 PRO 4TB if you value the lower retail price ($389 vs $829), and better $/TB economics ($97.25/TB). Samsung backs the PRO series with one of the strongest warranty experiences in consumer storage — RMAs typically process within 5 business days globally.