Western Digital’s SN740 brings enough to greatly increase the storage capacity of your Steam Deck.
With an internal SSD of up to 512 GB in Valve’s catalog, the Steam Deck can seem a little cramped. After the BG5 1 TB from Kioxia, we can however count on a 2 TB model developed by Western Digital.
2 TB on a 22 x 30 mm PCB
Perhaps aware of the potential of an SSD in M.2 2230 format, 22 mm wide and 30 mm long, the manufacturer Western Digital has actually just added a new product to its catalog.
The SN740 is an NVMe SSD in M.2 format that comes in four capacities ranging from 256 GB to 2 TB through the classic 512 GB and 1 TB. More importantly, each of these capacities is produced in two formats, the very common 2280 and this 2230.
On the interface side, we are talking about a PCI Express 4.0 x4 model whose speeds are more than correct at 5.15 GB/s in sequential reading and 4.85 GB/s in sequential writing. Western Digital also reports 650,000 random read IOPS and 800,000 random write IOPS for 500 TB endurance.
Until now reserved for professionals, the 2230 format has therefore gained popularity with the “general public” with the release of the Steam Deck. Valve has in fact not found a way (or seen fit) to offer a location of larger dimensions in its console.
The SN740 soon in stock
The Framework company sniffed the right shot. Known for its eponymous laptop, repairable and modular, the Framework Laptop, it has decided to add the already famous SN740 in 2230 2 TB to its catalog. Be careful, it will still cost 299 dollars.
For now, the product is not in stock, but Framework is committed to ordering large quantities to simplify their acquisition by ordinary mortals. On the other hand, the firm does not offer the assembly of the beast, and it will always be necessary to put (a little) the hands dirty to achieve its ends.
On this subject, we direct you to our test of the BG5 from Kioxia as well as to the guide posted online by iFixit, which has specialized in Steam Deck modifications and repairs for a while now.
Sources: framework, The Verge
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