Western Digital Launches 8TB SSD SN850P for PlayStation 5: Is the Price Justified?

Western Digital has just upped the ante in the world of PlayStation 5 storage solutions by launching an 8TB version of its WD_Black SN850P NVMe SSD, officially licensed for the PS5. While the idea of having 8TB of storage space on your PS5 sounds like a dream come true, the price tag of $1,000 is raising eyebrows. Let’s dive into the details to see if this new release is really worth the hype—and the cash.

A Massive Leap in Storage—At a Steep Price

The 8TB SN850P SSD is more than just an upgrade; it’s the largest SSD you can get for your PlayStation 5. It doubles the capacity of the previous 4TB model, which is priced at $349.99. That makes the new 8TB version more than twice the cost of its smaller sibling—a staggering $650 more for just double the space.

To put this into perspective, Western Digital’s existing 8TB SN850X model, which is essentially the same SSD, is priced at $899. The SN850X is not PlayStation-branded, but it fits just fine in the PS5 and offers nearly identical performance. So, why the $100 premium on the SN850P? According to Western Digital, the SN850P is about 2 millimeters shorter, which could make it slightly easier to slot into your PS5. But let’s be honest—both models fit perfectly well in the console.

Performance: A Slight Downgrade That You Won’t Notice

In terms of performance, the new 8TB SN850P is just slightly slower than its 4TB counterpart, offering 7,200 MB/s in sequential reads compared to 7,300 MB/s. However, this 100 MB/s difference is unlikely to have any noticeable impact on your gaming experience. The sequential write speeds remain the same at 6,600 MB/s, and the random read and write IOPS are also consistent with the other models in the SN850P series.

The total bytes written (TBW) for the 8TB model is twice that of the 4TB version, standing at 4,800 TBW. This makes the 8TB model a robust choice for those who plan to store and frequently access large volumes of data, such as 4K games and high-resolution media.

What Else Do You Get? A Month of PlayStation Plus

One small perk that comes with the SN850P is a free month of PlayStation Plus. While it’s a nice addition, it’s hardly enough to justify the $100 premium over the SN850X or the massive leap in price compared to the 4TB model. For many gamers, the question remains: is the shorter size and PlayStation branding really worth the extra cost?

Who Needs 8TB?

If you’re someone who hoards AAA games and 4K media, the 8TB SN850P might be the perfect upgrade for your PS5. Games are getting larger every year, with titles like God of War: Ragnarok requiring upwards of 190GB and the highly anticipated GTA VI rumored to take up between 150GB and 300GB. Having 8TB of storage will allow you to keep a massive library of games and media right on your console without having to constantly delete and re-download.

However, if you’re not in desperate need of such a large capacity, it might be worth considering whether the additional cost is justified. For $100 less, the SN850X offers the same performance without the PlayStation branding and minor size adjustment.

Final Verdict: Is the 8TB SN850P Worth It?

The Western Digital WD_Black SN850P 8TB SSD is an impressive piece of hardware, but its hefty $1,000 price tag makes it a hard sell, especially when compared to other options on the market. The slight performance downgrade and minimal physical size difference don’t seem to justify the significant price jump.

For most users, the existing 4TB model or the 8TB SN850X without the PlayStation branding would likely be a more cost-effective choice. However, if you’re a die-hard PlayStation fan with a large library of games and the budget to match, the 8TB SN850P could be the ultimate upgrade for your console.

As always, the decision comes down to your specific needs and budget. Whatever you choose, make sure it aligns with how you plan to use your PS5 and how much you’re willing to invest in additional storage.

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