The Deal Verdict: Still Expensive, Now Fairly Priced for Its Class
PCIe Gen 5 SSD prices reflect a premium tier of NVMe storage pricing where flagship speeds and large capacities command much higher costs than mainstream Gen 4 drives, especially under today’s NAND shortage impact. In this context, the WD_BLACK SN8100 4TB Gen 5 SSD holding at USD 699.99 (approx. RM3,250) on Amazon is less a bargain and more a realistic ceiling for high-end consumer storage. It originally launched around USD 469 (approx. RM2,180), when 4TB plus Gen 5 performance was easy to recommend. Since then, the 4TB model has swung between USD 350 (approx. RM1,630) and almost USD 1,899.99 (approx. RM8,850), averaging about USD 804 (approx. RM3,740). At USD 699.99 (approx. RM3,250), you are paying a clear premium, but given market conditions it is a defensible price if you need both 4TB capacity and top-tier PCIe Gen 5 speeds right now.
| Price point | Amount (USD) | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Original street price | 469 (approx. RM2,180) | Early strong value before shortages |
| Historical low | 350 (approx. RM1,630) | Brief dip before supply tightened |
| Historical high | 1,899.99 (approx. RM8,850) | Peak during severe supply crunch |
| Current Amazon listing | 699.99 (approx. RM3,250) | Below average, still premium |
What You Get: Flagship Gen 5 Performance and 4TB of Fast Storage
The WD_BLACK SN8100 4TB is built as a no-compromise PCIe Gen 5 NVMe drive, pairing Silicon Motion’s SM2508 controller with 218-layer BiCS8 TLC NAND for extreme throughput. It sticks to the familiar M.2 2280 form factor, yet delivers up to 14,900MB/s sequential read and 14,000MB/s sequential write speeds, plus around 2.3 million IOPS on the 2TB–4TB tiers. “Independent lab testing from StorageReview places the drive at the top of its Gen 5 comparison charts,” with PCMark 10 scores that edge out rival Gen 5 SSDs in real-world workloads. Endurance on the 4TB model is rated at 2,400TBW, making it suitable for heavy editing, big game libraries, and machine learning datasets where frequent large transfers are the norm. WD also claims over 100% better power efficiency than its own Gen 4 drives, with operating power around 7.5W. You will still want a serious heatsink: Gen 5 controllers tend to run hot under sustained load.
| Spec | WD_BLACK SN8100 4TB | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe Gen 5 NVMe | Requires Gen 5-capable motherboard |
| Form factor | M.2 2280 | Standard slot compatibility |
| Sequential read | Up to 14,900MB/s | Flagship-level bandwidth |
| Sequential write | Up to 14,000MB/s | High sustained transfer speeds |
| Random performance | ≈2,300,000 IOPS | On 2TB–4TB capacities |
| Endurance | 2,400TBW | 4TB model rating |
| Operating power | ≈7.5W | More efficient than WD Gen 4 drives |
NAND Shortage Impact: Why High-Capacity Gen 5 Drives Cost So Much
The current price of the SN8100 is shaped far more by global NAND shortage impact than by retailer tactics. As manufacturers push NAND and DRAM output toward AI data centre components, a severe supply crunch has hit the consumer SSD market. According to TrendForce, conventional DRAM contract prices are set to rise 13%–18% quarter-over-quarter, while NAND flash prices climb 10%–15%, signalling continued pressure on storage costs even as earlier spikes cool down. Higher-capacity models feel this most: analysts note that the ongoing memory supply situation has pushed prices up across NVMe storage pricing, with 4TB and above carrying a notable premium. For the SN8100 specifically, that has meant a volatile range between roughly USD 699 (approx. RM3,250) and USD 1,000 (approx. RM4,650) at different retailers, with some listings reaching much higher earlier this year. In short, enthusiasts are paying for capacity in a market where flash is scarce and AI workloads get priority allocation.
Is Gen 5 Worth It Over Cheaper Gen 4 Options?
From a practical performance standpoint, the SN8100’s headline speeds matter most when your workloads saturate PCIe bandwidth. Large game installs, high-resolution video exports, and AI datasets can benefit from 14,900MB/s reads and 14,000MB/s writes, especially at 4TB where you can keep more of that data on a single ultra-fast drive. For everyday PC use, the story is different: reviews point out that booting an OS or launching common apps feels similar on a strong Gen 4 SSD because those tasks rarely max out Gen 4 speeds. That means many builders will find better value in established Gen 4 drives or more affordable Gen 5 capacities, especially as NAND-driven price increases ripple through the entire SSD stack. High-capacity Gen 5 remains a premium choice for enthusiasts who want both capacity and top-tier performance, not a necessity for typical desktop use.
Buy if / Skip if
- Buy the WD_BLACK SN8100 4TB if you have a Gen 5-capable motherboard and run large, bandwidth-heavy workloads like 4K/8K video or AI datasets that can exploit its 14,900MB/s read speeds.
- Skip the WD_BLACK SN8100 4TB if your primary tasks are gaming and general productivity, where a strong Gen 4 SSD will feel similar while costing far less under current NVMe storage pricing.
- Buy the WD_BLACK SN8100 4TB if you need both high endurance (2,400TBW) and 4TB capacity in one drive for heavy editing or long-term project storage, and you accept premium PCIe Gen 5 SSD prices.
- Skip the WD_BLACK SN8100 4TB if you are price-sensitive or can wait for NAND shortage impact to ease, as today’s USD 699.99 (approx. RM3,250) is still well above its original street price.
- Buy the WD_BLACK SN8100 4TB if you want one of the fastest consumer Gen 5 SSDs available, validated by independent testing that places it at the top of current comparison charts.
