Verdict
The WD Black SN770 M is a unique SSD , designed very specifically for enlarge the memory board in a full salmagundi of hand-held gambling PC , and given the circumscribed manakin factor it execute laudably . Although comparatively slow for a PCIe 4.0 campaign , it continues to impress in the areas that count and does n’t entirely break the bank as it does so .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
Western Digital ’s WD Black SN770 M PCIe 4.0 SSD is a effort designed with one very specific purpose in mind , and that ’s to upgrade yourSteam DeckorROG Ally’sexpandable storage .
With that caution comes some serious limitations when it fall to outer space . In fact , it ’s so tiny , this form broker was initially designed for use as WiFi tally - in cards , rather than something like anM.2 SSD .
Still , Western Digital has n’t let that control them back , and despite the lack of space , it managed to cram in enough hardware to get some earnestly squatty performance out of that tiny form agent . It ’s not without fault , and there are of course caution to build any SSD like this , but nonetheless , it represents a significantly telling engineering whole step .
Specs
The liberal talking point here is that form constituent . When it comes to M.2 ’s we set the size by the issue that come after the M.2-”XXXX ” bit , so typically , you ’ll have an M.2 - 2280 , the 22 denotes the width ( so in this case 22 mm ) and the 80 , would be the length ( again 80 mm ) . In the SN770 M ’s font , it ’s a 2230 , so yup , there ’s 30 mm of blank total to play with .
Western Digital ’s crammed that tiny footprint with two chipping total . A controller , Sandisk ’s 20 - 82 - 10081 - A1 . Sandisk is now a part of Western Digital so that ’s not altogether surprising as it does assist to keep overhead down . But sadly , it does intend we do n’t know a whole lot about it . It clearly supports TLC and the PCIe 4.0 variant factor , but WD ’s maintain its lips sealed otherwise .
away from that , the biggest omission by far ( again to make blank space for the controller and the singular NAND chip ) is the lack of any DRAM cache whatsoever . Yup , by default there ’s nothing to aid shimmy this drive along a cutaneous senses . in particular for modest file transfers .
Full Specs
That means pretty much all of the performance come up from the NAND itself . WD has partnered with a troupe call in Kioxia and is use its 112 - Layer TLC NAND as a effect . That ’s a fair bit less heavy than the 176 - layer and 232 - Layer TLC Micron currently has available , which , combined with the stash does seem to limit functioning pretty , but sacrifice the limitations at fun here , that ’s again reasonably to be bear regardless of what NAND is in utilisation .
Test Setup
Typically whenever I testSSDsthey all get put through the same ringer . Each and every one of them is site in my mental testing system , normally in the top - most PCIe 5.0 slot , in a top - level motherboard with a seriously quick CPU as well .
This helps wipe out any constriction , and give everyone an equal performing battleground , with most SSDs stripped of their respective heatsinks and placed directly under the fatheaded weighty Al block Asus include on the board I apply .
I ’m still following the same canonical principles with our petite WD Black SN770 M , but with one slight caution , I ’ll also be speaking very specifically about the temperature under load of some of these devices as well .
you may find the full psychometric test bed specs below :
For the exam themselves . We run a intermixture of both synthetical and real - world performance benchmarks across all the drive . For synthetic that preponderantly starts with Crystal Disk Mark 8 in its default contour , followed by PC Mark 10 ’s Quick System Drive and Data Drive benchmarks as well for some more generalised index results .
As for the real - world side of things , I ’m utilise two principal tests on this front . The first of those is Final Fantasy XIV ’s in - plot benchmark . you could actually place this directly onto the SSD in interrogation , and run it straight from the crusade , with the benchmark give you loading multiplication for each panorama , and an overall average . The 2nd real - humankind trial is a raw file copy test . Simply put , we grab a line transcript of Red Dead Redemption II , imitate it to the crusade in dubiousness , then make a second transcript of that written matter , onto the drive as well , timing how long it direct to make out .
Finally , we also calculate a numeral of indices based on the time value you ’re getting per $ spent across successive execution , random 4 K performance , and of course GiB per $ as well . Oftentimes you might see a ride perform poorly compare to a number of our competitor parkway , but if it ’s priced accordingly , that could very well make it a far more attractive offer if you ’re on a budget , and would rather expend your heavily - garner cash picking up abettor GPUinstead .
Performance
Western Digital ’s WD Black SN770 M is a peculiar little thing . One quick look at the benchmarks and you may see that it ’s not quite a top - tier PCIe 4.0 driving force – in fact , it struggles in both sequent and random 4 atomic number 19 quite substantially . Now you do have to bear in mind that it is limited by form agent , as well as temperature because of it , and thermic throttling .
Sequentials generally topped out at the 5.2 GB / sulphur target , well below some of our other PCIe 4.0 drives try , including Crucial ’s , now three - class - onetime , P5 Plus , which handle 6.5 gigabyte / s and 5.1 gigabyte / s respectively . Random 4 K operation , however , was better than the P5 with the SN770 M scoring 77 and 267 MB / s respectively there , versus 62 and 188 , although compare to something like Adata ’s Legend 960 Max , at 76 and 286 , it still did n’t quite keep up . Now to be fair , I ’m compare a full - sized campaign to a 2230 with the 960 Max , but the Legend time in at $ 85 RRP versus the SN770 M ’s $ 110 RRP .
Real public performance is where the driving clamber however , with Final Fantasy XIV ’s load time precipitate in at 9.01 seconds , versus the P5 Plus ’s 8.04 and the Legend ’s 8.72 . veridical world file transcript was a chip upright than the P5 Plus , hitting 57.69 seconds , but still was n’t skinny to something like the Legend ’s 45.58 seconds lamentably .
The big caution , however , is the temperature because oh son can this SSD get hot . Throughout my benchmarking runs , the max temp topped out at an telling 89 ° C , according to HWMontior . That is tremendously warm , in particular given that even the hottest of the red-hot PCIe 5.0 drives were only topping out at 72 ° coke – 78 ° blow across my examination , and most PCIe 4.0 drives sit well at the 60 ° C mark .
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Should you buy it?
The WD Black SN770 M is a fantastic alternative for those looking to upgrade theirSteam DeckorROG Ally’sinternal depot .
If you ’re not bound by the 2230 form factor , then there are a far good array of PCIe 4.0 driveway out there , for a lot less , that perform far well .
Final Thoughts
The WD Black SN770 M is an incredibly unique SSD . Without a doubtfulness , what WD has attain with the form factor is nothing short of telling . If you ’re after some substantial PCIe 4.0 performance , and excess capacity for your handheld PC then it ’s a perfect fit .
That said , it does come in at a high toll than some of its rival from Sabrent or Corsair , particularly the Rocket 4.0 and MP600 Mini severally . If you ’re search for some of thebest SSDsfor your microcomputer though , this is n’t it . TheCrucial T500will serve you far better , for double the electrical capacity , with superscript carrying into action , and without breaking the camber .
Trusted Score
How we test
Each SSD we test utilises a premix of both man-made and real - earth benchmark trial . On top of that , we also use a number of monetary value - to - performance metric unit , and supervise temperature and power - draw to specify the long - term constancy and cost - effectiveness of the drive .
FAQs
It ’s not the truehearted SSD on the market for gaming functioning , but due to its unequaled form factor , it ’s still a fantastic selection for Steam Deck or ROG Ally owners who want to expand the storage . It will offer far undecomposed performance than a MicroSD Card .
No , the WD Black SN770 does not come with a heatsink .
