The WD_Black SN7100 1TB NVMe M.2 Solid State Drive is Western Digital’s gaming-focused internal SSD, built for desktops and laptops that need fast read and write speeds for game loading, video editing, and large file transfers.
The SN7100 reads at up to 7,250 MB per second, fast enough to load modern AAA games in seconds rather than minutes, and writes at up to 6,900 MB per second for users who record gameplay, edit 4K video, or move large project files between drives. The drive uses the M.2 2280 form factor with a PCIe Gen 4 x4 interface, making it compatible with virtually every desktop motherboard and gaming laptop released in the last several years, including the PS5’s internal M.2 slot.
A zippy gaming hard drive that gives you more space
The SN1700’s 7,250 MB/s read speed shows a considerable improvement over typical older NVME drives. In addition to better overall read/write performance, you can expect game load times to be reduced to less than half those of an older spinning hard drive.
Western Digital has designed its single-sided m.2 version of the SN7100 to fit the thinnest gaming laptops while avoiding overheating. This is also one of the few SSDs currently shipping that are compatible with PS5, thanks to its compliance with both read speed and m.2 form-factor specifications issued by Sony. You can install the SN7100 directly into the PS5’s expansion slot to add 1TB of direct-access game storage, but Sony recommends using a heatsink with expansion SSDs, which must be purchased separately.
Endurance is rated at 600 TBW (terabytes written) over the drive’s lifetime, more than the average gamer or content creator will use over the typical 5-to-7-year lifespan of an SSD. Western Digital backs the drive with a 5-year limited warranty.
The included WD Black Dashboard provides users with real-time monitoring of their drives’ health, temperature, total bytes written, and remaining life span. The Game Mode feature can be used to optimize the drive for lower latency during game loading. Additionally, the dashboard can also provide firmware updates without requiring users to manually download files from the internet.
With 1TB of storage, the WD Black SN7100 will let you store approximately 15-20 modern triple-A titles, leaving room for your OS, other applications, and downloaded content on a primary drive. It also remains relatively cool even under heavy loads, thanks to its nCache 4.0 technology, which regulates thermal output during extended write operations. The WD_Black SN7100 1TB normally retails for $375, but is currently down to $185 on Amazon.
The package covers the bare M.2 SSD, the WD_Black Dashboard software download, the 5-year warranty, and the documentation, the complete kit needed to install and start using the drive in a desktop, laptop, or PS5 expansion slot.
