With increasing game sizes, each gamer needs 1.3TB
WD Launches 3 'WD_BLACK' Gaming SSD Models
Increases game space and speed, and supports expanding the gaming experience


The gaming market continues to grow. The number of video gamers worldwide is projected to reach 2.7 billion in 2021. It has been found that 53% of gamers currently play games on two or more platforms (PC, Sony PlayStation, and Microsoft Xbox).

Their concern is the lack of storage space to save games, regardless of the platform. The average game size is 40 to 80 GB, and major (AAA) games exceed at least 100 GB. Gamers own an average of 20 games simultaneously, with an average capacity of 1.7 TB (terabytes).

Western Digital (WD) held an online press conference on the 18th and announced that it is launching three new SSD products under its gaming-focused brand 'WD_BLACK' in Korea.

The three new products are the WD_BLACK SN850 NVMe SSD, the WD_BLACK AN1500 NVMe SSD Add-in Card, and the WD_BLACK D50 Game Dock NVMe SSD, all of which feature RGB lighting options.


PCIe Gen 4-based SN850 NVMe SSD
The SN850 NVMe SSD using a PCIe Gen 4 interface provides sequential read speeds of up to 7,000MB/s and sequential write speeds of 5,300MB/s.

It is designed to withstand extreme gaming loads different from NAS (Network-Attached Storage) or server environments, based on the WD_BLACK G2 controller.

Incorporating new caching technology, it supports shorter game loading times and faster file transfers than its predecessor, the 'WD BLACK SN750 NVMe SSD,' and provides Low Queue-Depth performance, enabling smoother applications for both games and general tasks.Supports application loading.

An optional heatsink model with RGB lighting is available, which not only reduces thermal throttling but also allows for a flashy customization of the system's appearance.


Bootable AN1500 NVMe SSD Add-in Card
The AN1500 NVMe SSD add-in card is a bootable plug-and-play PCIe Gen 3×8 add-in card for gamers who want to achieve next-generation performance in their existing gaming systems.

Two built-in SSDs are connected in RAID 0, and PCIe Gen 3×8 technology is applied to achieve a maximum read speed of 6,500MB/s and a write speed of 4,100MB/s.

Gamers can reduce latency and dedicate more time to gameplay with this add-in card. Customizable RGB lighting adds a flashy touch to gaming gear, while the integrated heatsink reduces throttling to maintain peak performance.


Thunderbolt 3-based D50 Gaming Dock NVMe SSD
The D50 Game Dock NVMe SSD is a game dock product that combines high performance in a small size with a heatsink design, transforming laptops that support the ThunderBolt 3 interface into an integrated immersive gaming station.

Gamers can enjoy the benefits of fast NVMe-based data transfer speeds, more storage space for games, and additional ports for connecting other accessories with a single Thunderbolt 3 cable. In addition, RGB lighting (Windows only) can be controlled using the management software 'WD_BLACK Dashboard'.