Lexar SSD ARES PRO 2TB
2TB · PCIe 5.0 NVMe · 14,000 MB/s read · PassMark #54
WD Black SN850X 1TB · bare
PCIe 4.0 · 7300/6600 MB/s · 1TB
WD Black SN850X 1TB · bare takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Lexar SSD ARES PRO 2TB lands at 73 and WD Black SN850X 1TB · bare at 86. That puts WD Black SN850X 1TB · bare ahead by 13 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Lexar SSD ARES PRO 2TB if…
- ✓Capable NVMe drive at PassMark rank #54
- ✓14 GB/s-class PCIe 5.0 reads in a slim single-sided M.2 layout
Pick WD Black SN850X 1TB · bare if…
- ✓M.2 NVMe
- ✓Competitive per-GB cost
- ✓TBW scales with capacity
Winner by scenario
Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate testValue for money
WD Black SN850X 1TB · bareSpecdex score per dollar at MSRP
WD Black SN850X 1TB · bare more score per dollar ($90 vs $200).
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Lexar SSD ARES PRO 2TB | WD Black SN850X 1TB · bare |
|---|---|---|
| Form factor | M.2 2280 (single-sided, 2.45mm) | — |
| Interface | PCIe 5.0 x4 NVMe | PCIe 4.0 |
| Sequential read | 14,000 MB/s | — |
| Sequential write | 10,000 MB/s | — |
| Random read | 2,000,000 IOPS | — |
| Random write | 1,500,000 IOPS | — |
| Controller | 8-channel, reported MaxioTek MAP1806 class | — |
| NAND | 3D TLC | — |
| DRAM | DRAM-less (HMB, per ComputerBase report) | — |
| Endurance | 1,500 TBW | — |
| Warranty | 5 years | — |
| PassMark Disk Score | 76,799 | — |
| PassMark rank | #54 of 100 consumer SSDs | — |
| Capacity | — | 1TB |
| Read/Write | — | 7300/6600 MB/s |
Lexar SSD ARES PRO 2TB
- +Capable NVMe drive at PassMark rank #54
- +14 GB/s-class PCIe 5.0 reads in a slim single-sided M.2 layout
- −DRAM-less controllers on lower-tier variants may throttle under sustained writes
- −Newer drives out-perform this generation on sequential + random 4K
WD Black SN850X 1TB · bare
- +M.2 NVMe
- +Competitive per-GB cost
- +TBW scales with capacity
- −Thermals on Gen 5 drives
- −DRAM-less models slower under sustained load
- −Require heatsinks in many systems
FAQ: Lexar SSD ARES PRO 2TB vs WD Black SN850X 1TB · bare
Which is better, Lexar SSD ARES PRO 2TB or WD Black SN850X 1TB · bare? +
WD Black SN850X 1TB · bare scores 86 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 13. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Lexar SSD ARES PRO 2TB worth the price? +
At $200, Lexar SSD ARES PRO 2TB delivers a Specdex score of 73 — strongest in passmark_disk.
Is WD Black SN850X 1TB · bare worth the price? +
At $90, WD Black SN850X 1TB · bare delivers a Specdex score of 86 — strongest in read.
Does Lexar SSD ARES PRO 2TB or WD Black SN850X 1TB · bare last longer? +
Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.
Which is the better value, Lexar SSD ARES PRO 2TB or WD Black SN850X 1TB · bare? +
WD Black SN850X 1TB · bare — more score per dollar ($90 vs $200). Specdex score per dollar at MSRP.