On August 20, Sandisk announced the SANDISK NAS 600 SATA SSD and SANDISK NAS 800 NVMe SSD, targeting individual users and small businesses. According to the announcement covered by TechPowerUp, both drives are scheduled to launch in September 2026 through Sandisk.com and select retailers and online stores worldwide. In the US, suggested retail pricing starts at $179.99 for the 500GB NAS 600 and $309.99 for the 960GB NAS 800.
The new lineup splits into two paths: an upgrade path for existing NAS units with 2.5-inch SATA bays, and a high-performance configuration using PCIe 5.0 x4 M.2 slots. NAS-oriented SSDs are typically expected to serve three roles: caching, storage tiering, and primary storage in all-flash NAS systems. The NAS 600, an extension of the SATA lineage, and the NAS 800, which significantly expands capacity and write endurance, are suited to different types of NAS systems.
Two SSD Lines, Two Different Roles
| Item | SANDISK NAS 600 SATA SSD | SANDISK NAS 800 NVMe SSD |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB | 960GB, 1.92TB, 3.84TB, 7.68TB |
| Form Factor / Interface | 2.5-inch, 7mm, SATA III 6Gbps | M.2 2280, PCIe 5.0 x4, NVMe 2.0 |
| Max Sequential Read | 560MB/s | 14,900MB/s |
| Max Sequential Write | 520MB/s (4TB) | 13,200MB/s (1.92TB) |
| Write Endurance | 350–2,500TBW | 1,750–14,000TBW |
| Cache / DRAM | SLC cache, no DRAM | SLC cache, with DRAM |
The NAS 600 is designed to convert existing 2.5-inch SATA bays to SSD storage. As long as the NAS supports 2.5-inch SATA drives, it will also fit in 3.5-inch bays. The maximum read speed of 560MB/s is consistent across all capacities, while write speeds range from 505MB/s at 500GB to 520MB/s at 4TB.
The NAS 800 uses the M.2 2280 form factor and is said to be backward compatible with PCIe 4.0 and 3.0 configurations. The 960GB through 3.84TB models are 2.38mm thick, while the 7.68TB model is 3.88mm—only the top capacity is physically thicker. Even if a NAS has an M.2 slot, users need to verify PCIe lane allocation, firmware compatibility, and clearance around cooling components on their actual hardware.
These specification differences determine which NAS systems each drive suits. For NAS units with only SATA support, the NAS 600 is a direct replacement candidate. For units equipped with M.2 2280 slots, the NAS 800 expands capacity options across caching to primary storage roles. The adoption decision hinges less on peak SSD specs and more on the NAS unit's bay and slot configuration.
Generational Leap Concentrated in NVMe
The NAS 800's predecessor, the WD Red SN700, used PCIe Gen3 x4, topped out at 4TB, and offered up to 3,400MB/s sequential read and 5,100TBW endurance on its 4TB model. The NAS 800 moves to PCIe 5.0 x4, extends the capacity ceiling to 7.68TB, raises endurance to 14,000TBW, and reaches a maximum read speed of 14,900MB/s. Note that the older figure represents the 4TB model specifically, while the new figure represents the maximum across all capacities—these aren't directly comparable at the same capacity point. Still, it's clear this generational leap is concentrated on the NVMe side.
Random 4KB performance on the NAS 800 also scales by capacity: read speeds of 1.6/2.3/2.3/2.2 million IOPS and write speeds of 0.8/1.5/2.0/2.1 million IOPS, measured at queue depth 32 with 16 threads. Since maximum values differ by capacity, the 7.68TB model doesn't necessarily lead in every performance metric.
By contrast, the NAS 600 inherits the same capacity points—500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB—and endurance ratings of 350, 600, 1,300, and 2,500TBW from the WD Red SA500. Its maximum read speed of 560MB/s also matches the SA500. The NAS 600's random read/write performance tops out at 87,000 IOPS and 77,000 IOPS respectively, which isn't a dramatic improvement over the SA500's maximum figures. It's reasonable to view this as an update focused on maintaining SATA bay compatibility rather than a major performance leap.
Starting prices also offer insight into how the SATA line's role has shifted. The 2.5-inch 500GB WD Red SA500, released by Western Digital in 2019, launched with a US suggested retail price of $75. The NAS 600 at the same capacity starts at $179.99. These are nominal launch prices from different points in time, not a direct comparison of current street prices.
Don't Mistake 14,900MB/s for Overall NAS Throughput
The theoretical raw transfer rates are 312.5MB/s for 2.5GbE, 1,250MB/s for 10GbE, and 12,500MB/s for 100GbE—all calculated using 8 bits per byte and excluding protocol overhead. The NAS 600's 560MB/s exceeds a single 2.5GbE connection but can't saturate a 10GbE link on its own. The NAS 800's 14,900MB/s exceeds the raw transfer rate of even a single 100GbE connection.
However, this comparison simply juxtaposes the drive's peak figures against network link ceilings. Reaching 14,900MB/s on the NAS 800 requires an appropriate PCIe 5.0 x4 host and matching workload. In actual NAS deployments, network throughput, CPU and storage controller capabilities, slot generation, RAID configuration, and real-world I/O patterns are more likely to become the limiting factors first.
Sandisk's performance figures come from internal drive testing and will vary depending on host system, capacity, and usage conditions. They are not measured results from NAS applications running multiple drives together. When estimating performance over a network, an SSD's spec sheet cannot guarantee the overall transfer speed of a complete NAS system.
Warranty Terms and Installation Requirements to Check Before the September Launch
Both series carry a limited warranty that ends after five years or upon reaching the maximum TBW rating, whichever comes first. The top-tier NAS 800 at 7.68TB is rated for 14,000TBW, while the top-tier NAS 600 at 4TB is rated for 2,500TBW. Dividing 14,000TBW by five years (1,825 days) works out to roughly 7.67TB per day. However, this is simply an averaged calculation of writable data volume, not a guarantee for any specific workload. Similarly, MTTF figures don't represent the expected lifespan or warranty period of any individual drive.
The NAS 800 supports TCG Opal 2.02, though enabling it requires either motherboard BIOS support or third-party software. Power consumption also varies by capacity: average read/write power draw on the NAS 800 ranges from 5.6W to 6.9W, while the NAS 600 averages 1.1W to 1.2W during operation. Drive-reported operating temperature ranges span 0–85°C for the NAS 800 and 0–70°C for the NAS 600. No data has been published regarding write speeds after cache exhaustion under sustained loads or thermal throttling behavior.
Sandisk states it tested the drives across numerous major systems, but a complete list of compatible NAS models isn't included in the datasheet. Before purchasing, it's worth confirming your target NAS unit's 2.5-inch bay or M.2 2280 slot specifications, PCIe generation and lane count, and clearance for the taller 7.68TB model. After the September launch, real-world performance measurements on specific NAS units—along with Japanese pricing and release dates—will provide more concrete guidance for purchasing decisions.