Kingston NV3 4TB vs Western Digital WD_BLACK SN7100 4TB
On the measures that settle this, Western Digital WD_BLACK SN7100 4TB never comes out behind, and on at least one it comes out ahead.
| Specification | KingstonNV3 4TB | Western DigitalWD_BLACK SN7100 4TB |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity (GB) | 4000 | 4000 |
| Sequential read (MB/s) | 6000 | 7000better |
| Sequential write (MB/s) | 5000 | 6700better |
| Current best price | $842.00at Amazon.ca · captured 2026-09-13 | $669.99betterat Newegg Canada · captured 2026-09-09 |
| Price per TB | $210.50 | $167.50better |
| Endurance (TBW) | 1280 | 2400better |
| Warranty (years) | 5 | 5 |
| DRAM cache | — | No |
| NAND type | — | tlc |
| Controller | — | WD/SanDisk in-house Polaris 3 (4-channel, DRAM-less) |
How these two compare
Sequential throughput
Kingston NV3 4TB is rated 6000 MB/s read and 5000 MB/s write; Western Digital WD_BLACK SN7100 4TB, 7000 MB/s read and 6700 MB/s write. These are peak sequential rates over PCIe — the speed you would see copying one large file. For boot, app launches and everyday feel, random access matters more than this headline figure.
Price
Kingston NV3 4TB lists at $842.00, or $210.50 per TB; Western Digital WD_BLACK SN7100 4TB at $669.99, or $167.50 per TB.
Endurance
The makers warrant 1280 TBW on Kingston NV3 4TB and 2400 TBW on Western Digital WD_BLACK SN7100 4TB — how much writing each is rated to take before the endurance clause lapses. Most desktop workloads never come close, so read the two against each other rather than as a limit you are likely to reach.
DRAM cache
the catalog does not state whether Kingston NV3 4TB carries a DRAM cache; Western Digital WD_BLACK SN7100 4TB is DRAM-less. A DRAM cache holds the drive's mapping table — the index of where each block physically sits — so the controller places and finds data without an extra flash lookup. A DRAM-less drive borrows a little system memory (HMB) or a slice of its own flash instead, and is likelier to slow once a long run of random writes outlasts its fast cache.
NAND, controller and warranty
NAND: Kingston NV3 4TB's NAND is not stated and Western Digital WD_BLACK SN7100 4TB uses TLC. The tier is bits per cell — SLC, MLC, TLC and QLC from one to four — trading density against endurance and sustained-write speed: QLC is cheapest per gigabyte, TLC the mainstream balance, and the denser the cell the sooner sustained writes taper. On the controller: Kingston NV3 4TB's controller is not stated, and Western Digital WD_BLACK SN7100 4TB uses the WD/SanDisk in-house Polaris 3 (4-channel, DRAM-less). It is the chip handling error correction, wear-levelling and where each write lands — much of how a drive holds up under load — even if the part number on its own tells you little. On the cover: Kingston NV3 4TB carries a 5-year warranty, Western Digital WD_BLACK SN7100 4TB carries a 5-year warranty. The length is the maker's own vote of confidence, and on an SSD it tends to track the endurance rating — a longer warranty usually meaning more rated writes.
Which to buy
Western Digital WD_BLACK SN7100 4TB. It gives up nothing to the other on the measures the site tracks and leads on at least one, so there is no trade to weigh — the sections above show where the margin is.
Common questions about this pair
- Which is faster, Kingston NV3 4TB or Western Digital WD_BLACK SN7100 4TB?
- Kingston NV3 4TB is rated 6000 MB/s read and 5000 MB/s write; Western Digital WD_BLACK SN7100 4TB, 7000 MB/s read and 6700 MB/s write. These are peak sequential rates over PCIe — the speed you would see copying one large file. For boot, app launches and everyday feel, random access matters more than this headline figure.
- Which costs less per terabyte, Kingston NV3 4TB or Western Digital WD_BLACK SN7100 4TB?
- Kingston NV3 4TB lists at $842.00, or $210.50 per TB; Western Digital WD_BLACK SN7100 4TB at $669.99, or $167.50 per TB.
- Should you buy Kingston NV3 4TB or Western Digital WD_BLACK SN7100 4TB?
- Western Digital WD_BLACK SN7100 4TB. It gives up nothing to the other on the measures the site tracks and leads on at least one, so there is no trade to weigh — the sections above show where the margin is.