Released in 2023, the SanDisk Extreme M.2 NVMe SSD is a PCIe Gen 4.0 solid-state drive manufactured by Western Digital under the SanDisk brand. Based on its specifications, it is likely a SanDisk-branded variant of the WD Black SN770 from 2022.
Note that the SanDisk Extreme M.2 NVMe from 2023 is distinct from the earlier SanDisk Extreme Pro M.2 NVMe 3D SSD (released in 2018), which was a PCIe Gen 3.0 drive. The newer Extreme model leverages the PCIe Gen 4.0 interface and offers identical performance to the SN770, with sequential read speeds up to 5,150 MB/s on the 1TB and 2TB models.
The SanDisk Extreme occupies the mid-tier performance segment of the PCIe Gen 4.0 SSD market. It competes directly with drives such as the manufacturer’s own WD Black SN770, Samsung 990 EVO (non-Plus), and SK Hynix Platinum P41. It is positioned below flagship models like the Samsung 990 PRO and WD Black SN850X, but offers competitive performance in its segment.
Specifications
| Specification | 500GB | 1TB | 2TB |
|---|---|---|---|
| Model Number | SDSSDX3N-500G-G26 | SDSSDX3N-1T00-G26 | SDSSDX3N-2T00-G26 |
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 x4 , NVMe 1.4 | PCIe 4.0 x4 , NVMe 1.4 | PCIe 4.0 x4 , NVMe 1.4 |
| Sequential Read | 5,000 MB/s | 5,150 MB/s | 5,150 MB/s |
| Sequential Write | 4,000 MB/s | 4,900 MB/s | 4,850 MB/s |
| Random Read (4K QD32) | 460K IOPS | 740K IOPS | 650K IOPS |
| Random Write (4K QD32) | 800K IOPS | 800K IOPS | 800K IOPS |
| NAND Type | BiCS5 112-Layer TLC 1,200 MT/s | BiCS5 112-Layer TLC 1,200 MT/s | BiCS5 112-Layer TLC 1,200 MT/s |
| DRAM Cache | DRAM-less (64 MB HMB) | DRAM-less (64 MB HMB) | DRAM-less (64 MB HMB) |
| Endurance (TBW) | 300 TBW | 600 TBW | 1200 TBW |
| Warranty | 5 years | 5 years | 5 years |
These specifications are identical to the WD Black SN770, but there is no 250GB variant of the SanDisk Extreme M.2 NVMe.
Controller
While Western Digital has not publicly disclosed the specific controller model used in the SanDisk Extreme M.2 NVMe, it can be assumed to be the in-house developed Polaris MP16 – a DRAM-less design that uses Host Memory Buffer (HMB) technology to leverage system RAM for mapping table storage, which helps reduce costs while maintaining competitive performance.
Cache Architecture
The drive features SanDisk’s nCache 4.0 technology, an evolution from the nCache 3.0 system used in previous generations. This technology employs a dynamic SLC (Single-Level Cell) cache that treats a portion of the TLC NAND as faster SLC memory for improved write performance during burst workloads. Unlike earlier implementations, the SLC cache is substantial, potentially utilizing up to 50% or more of the drive’s total capacity.
NAND Type
SanDisk does not officially disclose the exact type of NAND memory chips used for the Extreme NVMe SSD, but the most probable candidate is BiCS5 112-layer 3D TLC (the same type used in the WD Black SN770 and many other WD/SanDisk SSDs). This fifth-generation BiCS flash allegedly offers twice the write performance of its 96-layer BiCS4 predecessor.
Power Consumption
Specific power consumption figures have not been officially published but are likely to be in line with the SN770, meaning that the SanDisk Extreme M.2 NVMe SSD is highly efficient, and therefore suitable for laptops and other battery-powered devices.
Professional Reviews
N/A (reviews of the SN770 should be indicative)
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