XPG MARS 980 PRO
PCIe 4.0 NVMe · PassMark #12
WD BLACK SN8100 2TB
2TB · PCIe 5.0 NVMe · 14,900 MB/s read · PassMark #13
Dead heat — it comes down to priorities.
In our weighted Specdex score, XPG MARS 980 PRO lands at 84 and WD BLACK SN8100 2TB at 84. With scores tied, the decision hinges on which sub-scores matter most to you.
Pick XPG MARS 980 PRO if…
- ✓PassMark Disk Score top-20 (89,200) — sustained-write class-leading
- ✓Pro-tier controller and DRAM cache for sustained throughput
Pick WD BLACK SN8100 2TB if…
- ✓PassMark Disk Score top-20 (89,069) — sustained-write class-leading
- ✓PCIe 5.0 interface for next-gen platforms (AM5, LGA 1851)
Winner by scenario
Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate testValue for money
XPG MARS 980 PROSpecdex score per dollar at MSRP
XPG MARS 980 PRO more score per dollar ($200 vs $279).
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | XPG MARS 980 PRO | WD BLACK SN8100 2TB |
|---|---|---|
| PassMark Disk Score | 89,200 | 89,069 |
| PassMark rank | #12 of 100 consumer SSDs | #13 of 100 consumer SSDs |
| Form factor | — | M.2 2280 (single-sided) |
| Interface | — | PCIe 5.0 x4 NVMe 2.0 |
| Sequential read | — | 14,900 MB/s |
| Sequential write | — | 14,000 MB/s |
| Random read | — | 2,300,000 IOPS |
| Random write | — | 2,400,000 IOPS |
| Controller | — | SanDisk-tuned Silicon Motion SM2508 (6nm, quad Cortex-R8) |
| NAND | — | 218-layer BiCS8 CBA 3D TLC |
| DRAM | — | yes (onboard DRAM) |
| Endurance | — | 1,200 TBW |
| Warranty | — | 5 years |
XPG MARS 980 PRO
- +PassMark Disk Score top-20 (89,200) — sustained-write class-leading
- +Pro-tier controller and DRAM cache for sustained throughput
- −DRAM-less controllers on lower-tier variants may throttle under sustained writes
- −Pricing varies — confirm current retail before purchase
WD BLACK SN8100 2TB
- +PassMark Disk Score top-20 (89,069) — sustained-write class-leading
- +PCIe 5.0 interface for next-gen platforms (AM5, LGA 1851)
- −PCIe 5.0 drives run hot — heatsink or motherboard M.2 cooling recommended
- −Pricing varies — confirm current retail before purchase
FAQ: XPG MARS 980 PRO vs WD BLACK SN8100 2TB
Which is better, XPG MARS 980 PRO or WD BLACK SN8100 2TB? +
Both score 84 on our weighted rubric — tied. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is XPG MARS 980 PRO worth the price? +
At $200, XPG MARS 980 PRO delivers a Specdex score of 84 — strongest in passmark_disk.
Is WD BLACK SN8100 2TB worth the price? +
At $279, WD BLACK SN8100 2TB delivers a Specdex score of 84 — strongest in passmark_disk.
Does XPG MARS 980 PRO or WD BLACK SN8100 2TB 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, XPG MARS 980 PRO or WD BLACK SN8100 2TB? +
XPG MARS 980 PRO — more score per dollar ($200 vs $279). Specdex score per dollar at MSRP.