What is a cheaper alternative to the WD BLACK SN8100 HS 2TB?

The PNY CS3250 2TB SSD costs about $180 versus $240 for the WD BLACK SN8100 HS 2TB, with a Specdex "Editor’s Pick" verdict.

What is a better ssds than the WD BLACK SN8100 HS 2TB?

The Samsung 870 EVO 500GB scores higher on Specdex, though it costs about $50.

Western Digital Last verified August 18, 2026

WD BLACK SN8100 HS 2TB Review

Name: WD BLACK SN8100 HS 2TB
Brand: Western Digital
SKU: wd-black-sn8100-hs-2tb

2TB · PCIe 5.0 NVMe · PassMark #14

Specdex verdict The WD BLACK SN8100 HS 2TB is a competent mid-range pick when the price is right — see our cheaper-and-better alternatives below for context.

The WD BLACK SN8100 HS 2TB scores 89,024 on PassMark Disk Score (rank #14 of ~100 consumer SSDs benchmarked). Score sourced from PassMark Disk Score (July 2026 snapshot).

All WD BLACK SN8100 HS 2TB matchups → From $240

Share: X / Twitter LinkedIn Reddit Email

WD BLACK SN8100 HS 2TB — 2TB · PCIe 5.0 NVMe · PassMark #14

Specdex verdict

Recommended

Specdex doesn't run benchmarks in-house. The verdict is an editorial assessment based on manufacturer specs and public reviewer consensus. See methodology.

Compare

WD BLACK SN8100 HS 2TB versus its closest rivals

All matchups →

Editorial · Specdex take

Pros

+PassMark Disk Score top-20 (89,024) — sustained-write class-leading
+PCIe 5.0 interface for next-gen platforms (AM5, LGA 1851)

Cons

−PCIe 5.0 drives run hot — heatsink or motherboard M.2 cooling recommended
−Pricing varies — confirm current retail before purchase

Who's the WD BLACK SN8100 HS 2TB for?

Quick verdicts for the most common buyer profiles, derived from the sub-scores above.

Power users and creators Skip

Compute scores trail current top-tier — look at our step-up alternatives below if performance is the priority.

Budget-conscious buyers Consider

Mid-tier pricing at $240 — review whether the score-per-dollar lines up against the cheaper alternatives we recommend.

In the box

What you get when you unbox the WD BLACK SN8100 HS 2TB.

SSD
M.2 mounting screw
Heatsink (where applicable)
Software activation key (Pro tier)

Standard contents — region/SKU may vary; confirm at retailer.

Sources & benchmarks

Cited, not generated

Specdex does not run benchmarks in-house. We're rolling out cited public benchmark data category by category — PassMark for CPUs and GPUs is wired today; DXOMark, RTINGS, Geekbench, and NotebookCheck will follow.

Sources we use when available: PassMark for CPU/GPU, Geekbench Browser for synthetic, DXOMark for camera scores, RTINGS for TVs, monitors, and headphones. See methodology.