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WD_Black SN850p, a PS5-focused SSD that also works well in a PC

An NVMe SSD with an integrated heat sink

Vladimir Arteaga Figueroa
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The WD_Black SN850p is an NVMe SSD that precedes the SN850 and SN850X, this drive aims to focus on expanding the storage of the PlayStation 5, but can also be used in a PC. Here are our impressions after using it for a month.

Specifications

  • Form factor M.2 2280
  • Connector: M.2
  • Read performance: 7300MB/s
  • Write performance: 6300MB/s
  • Connector: PCIe Gen4 x4
  • Dimensions (length, width, height) 3.15″ x 0.96″ x 0.39″
  • Weight: 30.4g

How does WD_Black SN850p differ from other models in the same family?

The SN850 and SN850X are models that can also be adapted to a PS5 or PC, as they are available with or without heatsink. The SN850X, on the other hand, has an integrated heat sink that fits perfectly with the Sony console and can also be adapted to any motherboard that does not have an integrated heat sink.

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Tests

First, we tested it on the console, and then we used it on a computer with the following specifications

  • CPU: Intel Core i9 11900k
  • Motherboard: Asus ROG Maximus XIII Hero
  • Ram: 64 GB DDR4 HyperX RGB at 3200 Mhz
  • GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070

On the PS5 it gave us a read speed of 6,190 MB/s and on the PC it gave us a speed of 6,757 MB/s. The write speed was 5,910 MB/s, which is lower than what is stated in the spec sheet.

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Design

The heat sink of this NVMe SSD comes with the PlayStation logo, which is something that is appreciated but ultimately goes unnoticed when you install it on the Sony console, what we can assure is that the caliber certainly helps to maintain the temperature, although when manipulating it for switching between platforms we noticed that it heated up considerably.

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Conclusion

The WD_Black SN850p is an SSD designed for PS5 that can be used in a PC with PCIe Gen4 x4, it can be found with capacities of 1, 2 and 4 TB, but it is important to note, especially for those who want to use it with a computer, that it is only available with a heat sink, which can interfere with the design of some motherboards. It is also important to note that it does not reach the speeds indicated in the specification sheet.

Best

  • PS5 specific design
  • Integrated heat sink

Worst

  • Does not reach the specified speeds

Score: 8