SanDisk's Optimus gaming SSDs carry steep MSRPs despite Gen 4 specs

SanDisk's new Optimus gamer-focused SSDs arrive with notably high prices while offering PCIe Gen 4 performance. The Optimus GX 7100X is a PCIe Gen 4 M.2 drive rated up to 7,250 MB/s reads and 6,900 MB/s writes, with a list price of $800 for the 2 TB model and $1,580 for 4 TB.

It uses TLC NAND, comes with a five-year warranty, and is currently shown at a "discount" on SanDisk's website with the 2 TB unit listed at $630. Those prices look steep next to available Gen 5 options: a 2 TB WD Black SN8100 Gen 5 drive is listed at $386, highlighting the gap.

SanDisk calls the GX 7100X "officially licensed" for the Asus ROG Xbox Ally consoles, though a generic Gen 4 SSD should work fine in the Ally. The Optimus GX PRO 850P is another M2.2 Gen 4 drive, rated at 7,300 MB/s reads and 6,600 MB/s writes. Its list prices are $475 for 1 TB and $950 for 2 TB, with a current "sale" price of $380 for the 1 TB model; by contrast, the WD Black SN7100 1 TB is listed at $189.

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