Name: SANDISK Optimus GX 7100
Brand: SANDISK

The most important comparison for the Optimus GX 7100 may be the drive already in your machine. SanDisk confirms that the WD_BLACK SN7100 became the standard Optimus GX 7100. ² Buying the new label at the same capacity offers little reason to expect an upgrade. Moving from a cramped smaller drive is a different proposition.

Capacity & Endurance

500 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB or 4 TB
300–2,400 TBW

The middle capacities share the highest sequential ceilings in the family. SANDISK rates both the 1 TB and 2 TB drives for up to 7,250 MB/s reading and 6,900 MB/s writing. The 500 GB model is rated for 6,800 and 5,800 MB/s respectively, and the 4 TB for 7,000 and 6,700 MB/s. ³ These figures describe a particular sequential workload. They do not predict how quickly every application opens.

Capacity also changes the endurance rating. It rises from 300 TB written on the 500 GB model through 600 and 1,200 TBW to 2,400 TBW for 4 TB. The limited warranty ends after five years or at the relevant write limit, whichever comes first. ³

Gaming & Everyday Use

TLC NAND
Host Memory Buffer
2 TB SN7100 tested

Tom’s Hardware tested the 2 TB WD_BLACK SN7100 before the branding changed. Its random reads and efficiency stood out, while the application and gaming results were less remarkable. That distinction matters for a laptop buyer who values battery use and extra room more than a small difference in a game-loading benchmark. ¹

The design uses TLC flash and borrows a little host memory in place of dedicated DRAM. A large copy also depends on the source drive and available cache, so plan around your actual workload if you regularly transfer hundreds of gigabytes at once. ¹

Sustained Writes

2 TB WD_BLACK SN7100 tested
About 700 GB of cached writes

In Tom’s Hardware’s extended sequential write, the earlier-label 2 TB SN7100 accepted about 700 GB at nearly 6.5 GB/s. Speed then fell to about 2.86 GB/s while writing directly to TLC flash. Later it averaged roughly 850 MB/s while clearing and reusing cache. A 100 GB project and a near-full-drive migration can therefore finish at quite different average rates. The test does not establish where those changes occur on the 500 GB or 4 TB GX 7100. ¹

Installation & Compatibility

M.2 2280
80 × 22 × 2.38 mm
No bundled heatsink

The standard GX 7100 is an 80 mm NVMe board. SANDISK lists the same 2.38 mm thickness across all four capacities, which makes a capacity change straightforward once the notebook’s service guide confirms support for this length and interface. A short handheld slot calls for a different board. If the laptop uses a factory thermal pad or cover, check how it contacts the replacement before closing the case. ³

Alternatives

An SN7100 of the same capacity is the most direct price comparison. Check the physical slot before looking at the smaller 7100M or a separately named 7100X. Similar lettering does not establish that those drives share the board, interface behavior or test results of this one.

Verdict

Choose the standard GX 7100 when the capacity, price and 2280 slot line up. The 2 TB version has the closest match to the independent evidence. Buy the 4 TB for space, with its own performance and endurance ratings in view.

SANDISK Optimus GX 7100 review

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