The WD_Black SN7100 is a PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD in the M.2 2280 format, released as the direct successor to the WD_Black SN770. Read speeds top out at 7,250 MB/s and write speeds at 6,900 MB/s, both about 35% faster than the previous generation. The single-sided design fits in gaming laptops, handheld gaming devices, and the PS5, as well as standard desktop M.2 slots. Storage options run 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB, all backed by a 5-year warranty.
A spacious hard drive that’s perfect for holding games, files, and more
Storage speed reduces game load times, boot times, and application launch times. The SN7100 hits 7,250 MB/s sequential reads through its PCIe Gen4 x4 interface, meaning games load in a fraction of the time you’d get on a SATA SSD or a spinning drive. Large open-world games with expansive maps see the biggest improvements. Video editing timelines in Premiere or DaVinci Resolve also load faster from the SN7100 than from most drives on the current market.
Compatibility for the SN7100 spans desktop PCs, laptops, gaming handhelds, and the PS5. The single-sided M.2 2280 board fits into the slim M.2 slots on gaming laptops and handhelds such as the Steam Deck and the ASUS ROG Ally. PS5 owners can add the SN7100 as expansion storage via the console’s internal M.2 slot on the side panel. The DRAM-less design also keeps power consumption low, which is important for your laptop or handheld’s battery life.
Power efficiency doubled compared to the previous WD_Black SN770 generation. Your laptop battery lasts longer with the SN7100 installed, especially during gaming sessions or heavy file transfers. The drive also runs cooler under sustained load, which is important for tight spaces such as laptops and handhelds where cooling is limited. Sequential write speeds of 6,900 MB/s handle large file transfers, game installations, and video capture without slowdown.
Endurance on the 1TB SN7100 is 600 terabytes written before Western Digital’s warranty coverage expires. The 5-year warranty applies to either the endurance limit or the calendar limit, whichever comes first. WD_BLACK Dashboard software also runs on Windows for firmware updates, drive health monitoring, and gaming mode toggles that optimize the drive for specific titles you play.
WD_Black is the gaming-focused SSD line under the Western Digital umbrella, with the SN850X positioned above the SN7100 as the flagship Gen4 option. The SN7100 slots into the mid-tier position with the same 7,250 MB/s read speeds and the newer 218-layer TLC NAND from Sandisk. At $190, down from $375, the discount brings a Gen4 SSD into the budget of a mid-range console upgrade. If your current PS5, laptop, or PC is running out of space, this is one of the easier storage upgrades to make.