Western Digital launches WD_Black SN850P SSD For PlayStation 5
Western Digital announces the expansion of its WD_Black SSD series with a new product, the WD_Black SN850P NVMe SSD, a storage extension specifically targeted for the Sony PlayStation 5, having procured an official PlayStation authorization. Recently, Western Digital also introduced a dedicated storage expansion card, the “WD_BLACK C50,” for the Xbox Series X/S, hinting at a targeted push into the gaming console storage market.
Unlike the Microsoft Xbox Series X/S, which employs dedicated storage expansion cards slotted into external interfaces, the Sony PlayStation 5 uses specialized M.2 SSD expansion slots for storage extension. Accompanying SSDs are subjected to certain specifications: supporting PCIe 4.0 x4, capacity ranges between 250GB and 4TB, a minimum read speed of 5500 MB/s, a necessary installation of heat sinks, a maximum length of 110mm, a width not exceeding 25mm, and a maximum thickness of 11.25mm.
The WD_Black SN850P is furnished with a heat sink compatible with the PlayStation 5, showcasing a PlayStation logo and boasting an overall size of 80 x 24.4 x 9.9 mm, making it wider and taller compared to the WD_Black SN850X (80 x 23.4 x 8.9 mm). Essentially, it is an “optimized” version of the WD_Black SN850X for gaming consoles, maintaining equivalent performance characteristics.
Matching the WD_Black SN850X released in October last year, the WD_Black SN850P offers capacities of 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB, boasting a maximum sequential read speed of 7300 MB/s and a sequential write speed of 6600 MB/s. It is understood that the WD_Black SN850P utilizes a proprietary controller chip, and the NAND flash memory should be identical to that of the WD_Black SN850X.
The most substantial discrepancy between the WD_Black SN850P and WD_Black SN850X possibly lies in the pricing. The former’s prices for the 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB capacities are $149.99, $229.99, and $549.99 respectively, marking a price elevation of 88% ($79.99), 53% ($149.99), and 67% ($299.99) compared to the latter. It appears that the PlayStation logo indeed carries a premium value.
