Sandisk launches WD_BLACK SN8100 as ‘world’s fastest PCIe Gen 5.0 NVMe SSD’

SanDisk has launched WD_BLACK SN8100 NVMe SSD, an internal solid-state drive featuring PCIe Gen 5.0 technology. The company claims that this is the world's fastest NVMe SSD, and is designed for client PCs and offers high performance for demanding applications, including high-performance gaming, content creation as well as artificial intelligence (AI) workloads.The WD_BLACK SN8100 NVMe SSD is available for purchase starting on Wednesday (May 14) through IT reseller partners and e-commerce platforms in 1TB (Rs 17,499), 2TB, and 4TB capacities. The WD_BLACK SN8100 NVMe SSD with Heatsink will be available in the fall in 1TB (Rs 18,999), 2TB and 4TB capacities. An 8TB capacity option for both versions is expected to be available later this year.The WD_BLACK SN8100 NVMe SSD is claimed to have sequential read speeds up to 14,900 MBps and write speeds up to 14,000 MBps. It delivers random performance of over 2,300,000 IOPS on 2TB and 4TB models. This represents a reported two-fold improvement in read speeds compared to SanDisk’s previous generation PCIe Gen 4.0 SSDs, the company claimed.According to SanDisk, the new PCIe Gen 5.0 SSD is claimed to be 100% more power efficient than their high-performance PCIe Gen 4.0 offering, with an average operating power of 7W or less. The drive incorporates SanDisk’s BiCS8 TLC 3D CBA NAND technology, which the company states contributes to its performance, reliability, low-power profile, and optimised thermal management, potentially simplifying system cooling requirements.Endurance for the 4TB model is rated at up to 2,400TBW (Terabytes Written), supporting tasks such as video editing and AI processing. The drive will be available in capacities up to 8TB, providing space for large games, projects, and datasets.SanDisk is also offering an optional version of the WD_BLACK SN8100 NVMe SSD with an integrated, low-profile passive heatsink. This heatsink utilises anodised aluminium for cooling without requiring additional power or fans. This version also includes customisable RGB LED lighting.