Western Digital
WD_Black SN8100
$179.99Cheaper
Released 2025-05
Best Internal Ssds · head-to-head
WD_Black SN8100 vs SK Hynix Platinum P41
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. WD_Black SN8100 is cheaper at $179.99. Every spec and price links to its source.
SK Hynix
SK Hynix Platinum P41
$209.99
Released 2022
Which is better: the WD_Black SN8100 or SK Hynix Platinum P41?
The WD_Black SN8100 wins 2 of the 2 specs we compare head to head; the other wins 0. The WD_Black SN8100 is the cheaper at $179.99. The WD_Black SN8100 both leads on specs and costs less — the straightforward pick.
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Key specs, head to head
The numbers that decide it, drawn to scale — longer bar wins, the accent bar is the stronger figure.
Full spec sheet
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | WD_Black SN8100 | SK Hynix Platinum P41 |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $179.99 | $209.99 |
| Brand | Western Digital | SK Hynix |
| Released | 2025-05 | 2022 |
| Capacity options (TB) | 1, 2, 4, 8 | 0.5, 1, 2 |
| Form factor | M.2 2280 | M.2 2280 |
| Interface | PCIe 5.0 x4 NVMe | PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe |
| Seq read (Mbps) | 14900 | 7000 |
| Seq write (Mbps) | 14000 | 6500 |
| Random read kiops | 2300 | 1400 |
| Random write kiops | 2300 | 1300 |
| Nand type | TLC | 3D TLC |
| Has dram cache | Yes | Yes |
| Endurance tbw | — | 750 |
| Warranty years | 5 | 5 |
Sources — WD_Black SN8100: sandisk.com (verified 2026-07-11). SK Hynix Platinum P41: ssd.skhynix.com (verified 2026-07-11).
What's the difference between the WD_Black SN8100 and SK Hynix Platinum P41?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (7 of 11). Matching specs are omitted.
- Capacity options (TB): WD_Black SN8100 1, 2, 4, 8 vs SK Hynix Platinum P41 0.5, 1, 2
- Interface: WD_Black SN8100 PCIe 5.0 x4 NVMe vs SK Hynix Platinum P41 PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe
- Seq read (Mbps): WD_Black SN8100 14900 vs SK Hynix Platinum P41 7000
- Seq write (Mbps): WD_Black SN8100 14000 vs SK Hynix Platinum P41 6500
- Random read kiops: WD_Black SN8100 2300 vs SK Hynix Platinum P41 1400
- Random write kiops: WD_Black SN8100 2300 vs SK Hynix Platinum P41 1300
- Nand type: WD_Black SN8100 TLC vs SK Hynix Platinum P41 3D TLC
What reviewers say
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
WD_Black SN8100
Three whitelisted labs (Tom's Hardware, StorageReview, PCWorld) benchmarked the 2TB WD_Black SN8100 and rate it among the fastest consumer Gen5 SSDs tested, with class-leading synthetic throughput and top-tier random IOPS plus strong power efficiency. Tom's Hardware and PCWorld flag premium pricing; PCWorld also hit write-speed inconsistency on an older motherboard that vanished on a new test bed. (TechPowerUp's review was dropped because only its intro/spec page was retrievable, leaving no verifiable quotes or measurements.) (3 sourced reviews, 3 lab-tested.)
Praised: Fastest consumer Gen5 SSD tested; record-setting synthetic throughput and top-tier random-read IOPS; Power-efficient and runs cool (peak under 50 degrees C in PCWorld's testing); Excellent all-around real-world performance, including gaming, DirectStorage and AI-model loading.
Flagged: Premium pricing versus Gen4 and rival Gen5 drives; Real-world gains over the best drives are small; overkill for most users; Write-speed inconsistency / severe drops on an older motherboard slot.
SK Hynix Platinum P41
All three whitelisted testers - Tom's Hardware, StorageReview, and TechPowerUp - benchmarked the SK hynix Platinum P41 hands-on. Tom's Hardware and TechPowerUp rate it the fastest/best PCIe 4.0 SSD they had tested at launch, with class-leading power efficiency. StorageReview's results were more uneven but highlighted category-leading 4K random read (its first consumer SSD past 1M IOPS). All note that sequential/random write throughput trails the fastest rivals and that capacity tops out at 2TB. (3 sourced reviews, 3 lab-tested.)
Praised: Top-tier overall performance - rated the fastest/best PCIe 4.0 SSD tested at launch; Class-leading power efficiency; Category-leading 4K random read - first consumer SSD past 1M IOPS (StorageReview).
Flagged: Sequential/random write throughput trails the fastest rivals; Capacity tops out at 2TB - no 4TB option; Runs hot under sustained writes; ships without a heatsink (Tom's flags throttling onset ~80C).