The SSD improve you’ve been ready on for the Steam Deck and ROG Ally is right here. Western Digital revealed its WD_Black SN770M, which is an M.2 2230 SSD that’s constructed particularly for handheld gaming units.
The brand new drive is accessible in three capacities: 500GB, 1TB, and the coveted 2TB dimension. It’s powerful to seek out M.2 2230 SSDs for the Steam Deck, and even more durable to seek out them at 2TB. Up thus far, well-liked choices have included the Sabrent Rocket and Corsair MP600. In any other case, you’d need to stalk retailers like Newegg and Amazon to discover a whole lot on a Micron drive repurposed from one other system.
Western Digital is undercutting the competitors, as nicely. The 2TB mannequin is available in at $220, whereas Sabrent’s 2TB Rocket — the one available drive on this capability — is available in at $250. Right here’s how the remainder of the vary shakes out:
- 500GB — $75, accessible from Western Digital
- 1TB — $110, accessible from Western Digital and Finest Purchase
- 2TB — $220, accessible from Finest Purchase
These are the costs Western Digital set, but it surely’s price mentioning that the SN770M is presently
accessible at Finest Purchase for pre-order
for $130 and $240 for the 1TB and 2TB fashions, respectively.
The SN770M is a PCIe Gen 4 drive with 4 lanes, and it’s bolstered by Western Digital’s TLC 3D NAND. The corporate additionally says the drive helps Microsoft’s DirectStorage, which is a crucial characteristic to have in video games like Ratchet and Clank Rift Aside.
Western Digital says the drive has a sequential learn efficiency of 5,150MB/s and a sequential write efficiency of 4,900MB/s. That’s even sooner than the bottom SN770, in addition to sooner than WD_Black’s SN750 (among the many greatest SSDs you should purchase).
As well as, all variations of the drive include Western Digital’s restricted 5-year guarantee. The corporate additionally factors to its Western Digital Dashboard software program for administration, permitting you to tune the drive if it’s put in on a Home windows system. Some skinny laptops and 2-in-1s, just like the Microsoft Floor Professional 9, use a 2230 SSD, as nicely.
The 500GB and 1TB fashions can be found for buy from Western Digital now, whereas the 2TB mannequin ought to arrive in brief order. It’s accessible for preorder at Finest Purchase now, and you’ll join a notification to be alerted when the drive is in inventory on Western Digital’s web site.
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