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Samsung 990 PRO vs Western Digital WD Black SN770: Comparison
Samsung 990 PRO vs Western Digital WD Black SN770: the sequential read difference
Sequential read is where these two genuinely part company, Samsung 990 PRO 7450 MB/s against Western Digital WD Black SN770 5150 MB/s, a 31% lead for Samsung 990 PRO. Speed Score backs the spec sheet up. Samsung 990 PRO scores 8.4 to 7, 17% clear. Sequential write runs the same way, 6900 MB/s on the Samsung 990 PRO versus 4900 MB/s on the Western Digital WD Black SN770, another win for Samsung 990 PRO.
Who each one is for
Take the Samsung 990 PRO for gen 4 systems that need strong random performance, not just headline sequential numbers. It also earns its place with PS5 expansion, where the single-sided 2280 layout and heatsink option fit Sony's rules exactly. Avoid it for sustained multi-hundred-gigabyte writes. The 226GB cache runs out and the SN850X holds nearly three times as much. Take the Western Digital WD Black SN770 for mainstream desktop and laptop upgrades wanting strong Gen 4 speed without flagship pricing. It is equally the pick for buyers who don't need a DRAM cache for their typical workload; HMB closes most of the practical gap. It is the wrong buy for handheld or Steam Deck upgrades needing the smaller 2230 form factor. WD's own SN770M, covered elsewhere on this site, is built for that specific use case. Our rating of the Samsung 990 PRO (8/10): still the best-engineered PCIe 4.0 drive. The 2026 price is the only reason to look elsewhere, and right now it is a good reason.
Read the full breakdown: SSD Specs Explained: What Actually Matters When You Buy
Frequently asked questions
Do the Samsung 990 PRO and Western Digital WD Black SN770 differ on bus interface?
Yes. Bus Interface reads PCIe 4.0 x4 on the Samsung 990 PRO versus PCIe 4.0 x4, NVMe on the Western Digital WD Black SN770.
Is the Warranty the same on the Samsung 990 PRO and Western Digital WD Black SN770?
It is. Both are listed at 5 Years, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Speed Score
- Samsung 990 PRO
- 8.4/10Best
- Western Digital WD Black SN770
- 7.0/10-17%
How fast this drive is, rated from its read and write speeds, cache and NAND type. 10 is the fastest.
Brand
- Samsung 990 PRO
- Samsung
- Western Digital WD Black SN770
- Western Digital
Model Number
- Samsung 990 PRO
- 990 PRO
- Western Digital WD Black SN770
- SN770
Series
- Samsung 990 PRO
- 990 PRO
- Western Digital WD Black SN770
- WD Black SN770
Bus Interface
- Samsung 990 PRO
- PCIe 4.0 x4
- Western Digital WD Black SN770
- PCIe 4.0 x4, NVMe
Form Factor
- Samsung 990 PRO
- M.2 2280
- Western Digital WD Black SN770
- M.2 2280
Sequential Read
- Samsung 990 PRO
- 7450 MB/s
- Western Digital WD Black SN770
- 5150 MB/s-31%
Sequential Write
- Samsung 990 PRO
- 6900 MB/s
- Western Digital WD Black SN770
- 4900 MB/s-29%
DRAM Cache
- Samsung 990 PRO
- LPDDR4
- Western Digital WD Black SN770
- DRAM-less with HMB
NAND Type
- Samsung 990 PRO
- Samsung V-NAND TLC
- Western Digital WD Black SN770
- TLC (DRAM-Less, HMB)
Heatsink
- Samsung 990 PRO
- Available
- Western Digital WD Black SN770
- Not Included
Warranty
- Samsung 990 PRO
- 5 Years
- Western Digital WD Black SN770
- 5 Years
Which one should you pick?
Choose Samsung 990 PRO if you want the higher speed score (8.4 vs 7.0), the higher sequential read (7450 MB/s vs 5150 MB/s) and the higher sequential write (6900 MB/s vs 4900 MB/s).
Choose WD Black SN770 if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Price comparison
| Retailer | Samsung 990 PRO | Western Digital WD Black SN770 |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | $385.27 View on Amazon | |
| B&H Photo | View on B&H Photo | |
| Best Buy | View on Best Buy | View on Best Buy |
| Newegg | View on Newegg | View on Newegg |
Disclaimer: The price and specification of the given product may differ from the actual product. Please confirm on the retailer's website before buying.
Verdict
Samsung 990 PRO
8 / 10 Expert Rating
Still the best-engineered PCIe 4.0 drive.
Western Digital WD Black SN770
8.4 / 10 Expert Rating
One of the strongest mainstream value picks in the entire PCIe 4.0 tier.
More comparisons in SSDs
Compare Samsung 990 PRO with
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- Samsung 990 PRO vs Acer Predator GM7000 (IG5236 + Micron B27B)
- Samsung 990 PRO vs Acer Predator GM7000 (IG5236 + Micron B47R)
- Samsung 990 PRO vs ADATA XPG Gammix S70 (PCIe 4.0 NVMe/7,400 MB/s Read/6,400 MB/s Write/Full-Size Gaming Flagship)