SANDISK Optimus GX PRO 8100 review

Capacity & Memory

Start with the amount of storage you need. The 1TB model can suit a focused collection of applications and games; 2TB or 4TB leaves more room for projects you want to keep close at hand. The 8TB version is especially useful when spare M.2 slots are scarce, although there is little benefit in buying space you are unlikely to use.

Capacity also affects the performance ratings. The 2TB and 4TB versions have the highest advertised write speed, while the 8TB model trades a little of that peak speed for much more room. All four use TLC flash and have DRAM. That is separate from the fast write cache discussed below; it does not mean the whole drive writes at its headline speed indefinitely.

Transfer Performance

The benefit of this much bandwidth is clearest when you regularly move large files between equally capable drives. It is less persuasive as a reason to replace an SSD that already opens your applications quickly. The rest of the computer, and the drive at the other end of a transfer, still matter.

CHIP measured roughly 12,400 MB/s reads and 12,300 MB/s writes from the 2TB heatsink version in its test setup. Those are substantial transfer rates, though its long write test also showed the speed dropping after the initial burst.²

The 8TB model has plenty of burst headroom. In Tom’s Hardware’s sustained-write test, it wrote at about 13.1 GB/s for just over three minutes before slowing; later, with the cache exhausted and data being reorganized, steady-state writing was a little over 3.1 GB/s. That result belongs to its 8TB sample and test conditions, rather than every capacity or a nearly full drive.¹

Despite the new name, this is the continuation of the WD_BLACK SN8100, not a new performance generation. If you already own an SN8100 with enough space, the rebranding provides no reason to replace it.³

Cooling & Compatibility

Choose the standard version when you intend to use your motherboard’s own M.2 cooler. The heatsink version supplies an aluminum cooler with programmable RGB lighting, which is convenient if your system has no suitable cooler already. Check the clearance around the slot before ordering either one.

The 8TB drive needs particular attention in a laptop or compact PC. Its components occupy both sides of the board, and the standard drive is 3.88 mm thick rather than 2.38 mm at the smaller capacities. With the factory heatsink, height rises to 11.25 mm at 8TB and 9.76 mm at 1–4TB. A compatible connector alone does not guarantee that the assembly will fit.

You can use the drive in a compatible PCIe 4.0 slot, but that connection limits its available bandwidth. Check your computer’s slot specifications as well as its cooling provisions; buying a faster SSD cannot change the capabilities of the slot.

Endurance & Software

Endurance rises from 600 terabytes written at 1TB to 1,200 at 2TB, 2,400 at 4TB and 4,800 at 8TB. These are warranty-related write allowances, not predictions of the day a drive will fail. Coverage ends at five years or the relevant TBW limit, whichever comes first.

SANDISK Dashboard gives Windows users a place to monitor the drive and manage firmware updates. TCG Opal support is also available for systems configured to use drive-level encryption, but it needs compatible BIOS or third-party software to enable it. Neither feature replaces a separate backup of files you cannot afford to lose.

Alternatives

The Samsung 9100 PRO is the obvious comparison. It offers the same four capacities and standard or heatsink choices, so you can compare equivalent configurations rather than giving up storage to change brands. For very large transfers, Tom’s Hardware’s sustained-write test of the 8TB versions favored the SANDISK for speed, while the Samsung was slower but steadier. ¹ Its Magician software may also appeal if you already use Samsung drives.

Keeping a satisfactory PCIe 4.0 SSD is a sensible option too. If you are not running short of space or waiting on large transfers, there may be little practical reason to replace it. The Optimus is more compelling when it solves one of those problems.

Verdict

The Optimus GX PRO 8100 is a strong choice for a capable PC that needs a larger, faster working drive. I would choose capacity first, then match the cooling to the system: 2TB or 4TB for room to grow, or 8TB when keeping everything on one SSD is the priority. Its speed is useful, but available space and a proper fit will usually matter more than a small difference in peak transfer ratings.