As M.2 and NVMe SSDs are becoming mainstay pillars of PC builds, the affordability and availability of the smaller and faster storage drives is increasing. While the same can't be said for GPUs, M.2 SSDs are plentiful, varying in storage size and performance. Of course, the benefits of using SSDs for PC Gaming can't be overstated; even current-gen consoles now utilize high speed SSDs, making them basically necessary for future-proof gaming. Many PC gaming enthusiasts likely already have SSDs, but for players looking to upgrade, NVMe is the way to go. Options from the likes of Samsung, Crucial, and Sabrent are all solid, but so is Western Digital's SN750 SSD.
Part of Western Digital's WD_BLACK line of gaming storage hardware, the WD_BLACK SN750 SE NVMe is really an incredibly solid option for those looking to seriously upgrade PC storage and performance at a reasonable price. The SN750 still delivers next-gen storage performance in the M.2 form factor quite well. Easily averaging up to 3600 MB/s read and write speeds, one of Western Digital's best SSDs performed amicably on several games, from shooters, to RPGs, and everything in between. Plus, with Battlefield 2042 included, the SN750 is a hard deal to pass up for those looking to upgrade their rig's storage.
WD_Black SN750 SE NVMe SSD: Tech Specs, Pricing
Slightly beefed up from the previous generation PCIe interface, Western Digital's latest iteration of the SN750 does not disappoint on paper. The WD_BLACK SN750 Battlefield 2042 edition SSD is available in 500 GB and 1 TB storage capacities, currently priced at $99.99 and $159.99, respectively. Both capacities feature Gen4 PCIe storage speed capabilities (backwards compatible with Gen3 PCIe motherboards), averaging up to 3600 MB/s read and write speeds. Western Digital's also improved thermals and power draw this time around: Compared to the previous SN750 SSD, the Gen4 model draws 30% less power compared to the previous model.
Adaptability is what makes this SSD particularly useful for a variety of potential rigs; being backwards compatible with Gen3 PCIe motherboards opens up this drive's higher speeds to plenty slightly older rigs, as well as newer ones. While it doesn't have as many capacity choices next to comparable NVMe SSDs, it's hard to knock it for the affordable price. Plus the added benefit of Battlefield 2042 bundled with the drive should seal the deal for shooter fans excited to jump back into the series after its hiatus. Battlefield's design inherently involves loading in high density multiplayer maps for its large scale gameplay like Conquest mode, so the SN750 is perfect for that.
WD SN750 SE: A Capable And Affordable NVMe SSD
However, on its own, the Western Digital's SN750 performs amicably as dedicated gaming storage drive. Compared to drives with similar speeds (e.g. Samsung 970 Evo Plus), WD_BLACK's SN750 exhibited similarly brief loading speeds on several tested games: Deathloop's various portions of Blackreef took less than a few seconds to load in each area (offline mode, online load times vary depending on connection). Even loading times for the Battlefield 2042 beta were remarkably quick, getting players into the action as soon as possible. Load times in primarily singleplayer games like Life is Strange: True Colors and Nier: Replicant were near instant, less than a second.
Of course, that's all just from simple time tests, and aren't entirely representative of the drive's true capability. From a technical point of view, Western Digital's claims of up to 3600 MB/s read/write speeds are largely true. Multiple tests utilizing the CrystalDiskMark drive speed tests concluded that the SN750 NVMe SSD, on average, concluded with 3500 MB/s read speeds, as well as 3200 MB/s write speeds at 100% active time. Temperature readings on the drive rarely exceeded 55 degrees Celsius in the liquid cooled test rig, though the temperatures would likely be even lesser with a dedicated heat sink, among other factors like average overall case temperature.
Mileage may vary slightly between different players' rigs, but overall, the WD_BLACK SN750 Gen4 NVMe puts out highly respectable performance at an affordable price point for SSDs. Players looking to upgrade their PC's storage capacity/hardware in the mid-to-high range should definitely consider picking up the SN750 SSD. The drive's speeds aren't top caliber from what's available with the Gen4 PCIe architecture, but for the mid-range/average PC gamer, the SN750 SSD easily matches other SSDs in the same price point. Especially for those upgrading in anticipation of Battlefield 2042, among other titles, this SSD would not be a compromise by any stretch.
Western Digital's WD_BLACK SN750 SE NVMe SSD is available now. Game Rant was provided a 1 TB capacity drive by Western Digital for review.
Source: Western Digital