Yesterday saw the arrival of the WD Black SN770 NVMe SSD. Armed with a PCIe 4.0 x4 interface and a new controller/NAND combination, WD improved upon predecessor SN750 SE’s performance credentials by over 50 per cent. Our benchmarks found WD Black SN770 to be a proficient SSD across varied workloads, and it makes a strong case for inclusion in a mainstream PC build.
Wanting to know more about WD’s thinking behind the drive, we posed a number of questions to company representatives, hoping answers provide further illumination on mainstream WD Black SSD strategy.
Club386: Who is your target audience for the WD Black SN770 NVMe SSD?
WD: The WD_BLACK SN770 NVMe SSD is intended to make PCIe Gen4 technology and speeds more accessible to enthusiast gamers who are passionate about gaming. The target consumer for this drive is looking to level up their existing desktop or laptop PC’s performance while adding more storage space for games.
Club386: Can you explain why WD chose to go with a DRAM-less design for this premium SSD?
WD: The WD_BLACK SN770 NVMe SSD is our 4th generation of DRAM-less NVMe products and with our multi-layer caching architecture and advanced HMB (host memory buffer) features, we are able to eliminate the need for DRAM while still providing optimum performance, alongside better thermal behaviour and lower power consumption.
Club386: Can you go into any further detail on the NAND and controller used?
WD: The WD_BLACK SN770 NVMe SSD uses a new in-house Western Digital controller designed to deliver great gaming performance. A new in-house controller was designed to optimize performance and the gamer’s experience in the WD_BLACK SN770 NVMe SSD and provide improved power efficiency and better thermal management than the previous generation SN750 SE product. The WD_BLACK SN770 NVMe SSD has 4 NAND Channels.
Club386: What is the reasoning behind not having a heatsink pre-applied, or least the option for a model with one?
WD: In addition to the lower power consumption and thermal behaviour of the DRAM-less drive, the WD_BLACK SN770 is equipped with advanced thermal management technology that helps maintain consistent performance, even in harsh environmental conditions.
Club386: Is it unfair to describe this drive as a WD Blue SN570 updated with a PCIe 4.0 x4 interface?
WD: Each of our drives is purpose-built for their specific use cases: the WD_BLACK portfolio offers high-performance solutions for gamers and WD Blue offers solutions to help creatives optimize their workflows. The WD_BLACK SN770 NVMe SSD offers gamers a significant performance bump as it was purpose-built to help gamers get into their game faster. Overall, the drive will perform much faster and will also be future-ready as the market moves towards PCIe Gen4.
Club386: Did you consider a 4TB option for this segment, as you had on the WD Black SN750?
WD: We don't comment on future roadmaps or offerings, however, we do closely monitor industry trends and consumer demands to help us determine the right time to release new solutions.
Club386: Do you plan to offer the drive as part of a gaming bundle, as you did with the WD Black SN750 Battlefield 2042?
WD: We don't comment on future roadmaps or offerings, however, we do closely monitor industry trends and consumer demands to help us determine the right time to release new solutions.
Club386: Given the significantly increased performance from the last generation, is there a danger that WD Black SN770 steps on the market currently plied by the WD Black SN850?
WD: The WD_BLACK SN770 is a great solution for enthusiast gamers and PC builders looking to level up their desktop or laptop PC with a powerful yet accessible PCIe Gen4 solution. The WD_BLACK SN850 provides the next level of performance for those that want the fastest speeds for their PC, or an SSD that is compatible with the PlayStation 5.
