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Posts Tagged ‘SSDs’

Plugable’s new 1TB, 2TB Thunderbolt 3 NVMe SSDs offer read speeds up to 2800MB/s

12 Nov

Computer accessory manufacturer Plugable has announced the release of its updated Thunderbolt 3 NVMe External SSDs, now with 1TB and 2TB capacities.

The compact drive is constructed of solid anodized aluminum, weighs 173g (6.1oz) and features an integrated 18cm (7in) 40Gbps Thunderbolt 3 cable (read: not removable). Plugable claims the drive offers read and write speeds of up to 2800MB per second and 1800 MB per second, respectively, thanks to its PCIe Gen3 x4 connection.

In our tests with a 1TB review unit Plugable sent our way to test out the claimed speeds, we were able to reach sustained write speeds of 1915MB per second and sustained read speeds of 2331MB per second using the Blackmagic Design Disk Speed test on macOS Catalina.

A screenshot of our test run on the latest beta of macOS Catalina using a 2016 15.6-inch MacBook Pro with Touchbar.

These drives are backwards compatible with USB-C connections, but to get the fastest speeds, you’ll want to make sure the computer you’re plugging it into features Thunderbolt 3 connectivity. The drives come pre-formatted with exFAT out of the box, but can be reformatted to work with any other macOS or Windows system.

The 1TB and 2TB Plugable Thunderbolt 3 NVMe External SSDs are currently available for $ 299 and $ 499, respectively. Plugable is offering a ‘launch discount’ of $ 50 on the 1TB drive and $ 100 on the 4TB drive for an unspecified amount of time. All units come with a 36-month warranty.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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CalDigit launches new, rugged 512GB ‘Tuff nano’ USB-C SSDs with 1055MB/s read speeds

23 Oct

Computer accessory manufacturer CalDigit has released its ‘Tuff nano’ series, a lineup of compact external USB-C SSDs.

As the name alludes to, the ‘Tuff nano’ SSDs feature a protective rubber housing around a metal frame, akin to Lacie’s rugged external drives. This design offers a certified IP67 rating with the ability to be submerged under one meter of water for 30 minus, as well as dust and shock resistance.

Inside, the bus-powered SSDs is a Toshiba M.2 NVMe SSD capable of read and write speeds up to 1055MB/s and 900MB/s, respectively. Data is transferred via USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 2) and although the drives come pre-formatted for macOS (HFS+), they will also work with ChromeOS, iPadOS, Linux and Windows devices.

The drives measure 7.59cm x 5.44cm x 1.45 cm (2.99in x 2.14in x 0.57in) and weigh just 74g (0.163lbs).

CalDigit’s ‘Tuff nano’ SSDs are currently available in 512GB capacity for $ 149.95 on CalDigit’s online store. Color options include ‘Charcoal Black,’ ‘Olive Green,’ ‘Royal Blue’ and ‘Tomato Red.’

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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LaCie’s announces new Rugged SSDs, including one with a built-in SD card reader

12 Sep

Storage company LaCie has introduced three new portable, rugged SSDs that it says are designed specifically for creative, media, and entertainment pros who need ample storage while working remotely. The company’s new lineup consists of the LaCie Rugged SSD, Pro, and BOSS SSD models, each offering high durability alongside features targeted at different user needs.

The most notable of the three new models is the LaCie Rugged SSD Pro, a device featuring Thunderbolt 3 and USB 3.1, a Seagate FireCuda NVMe SSD with speeds up to 2800MB/s, and an IP67 resistance rating against dust and water. This device is designed for digital imaging technicians and filmmakers dealing with up to 8K footage.

Joining the Pro model is LaCie’s new Rugged SSD, an alternative for media professionals who have less demanding needs. This model features USB 3.1 Gen2 and a Seagate FireCuda NVMe SSD with speeds up to 950MB/s. According to the company, that’s fast enough for handling up to 4K video. As with the Pro model, this drive is secured in a durable housing with an IP67 rating, plus crush resistance and drop tolerance.

Finally, LaCie’s new Rugged BOSS SSD is designed for photographers and filmmakers, offering a 1TB SSD with speeds up to 430MB/s. As well, this drive is unique due to the housing’s built-in SD card slot alongside the USB port, as well as its built-in display for seeing the real-time status on data transfers, battery life, and available capacity. The housing is dust, splash, and drop-resistant and the drive works with a companion mobile app for managing content.

The LaCie Rugged SSD lineup will be available at the following prices:

  • LaCie Rugged SSD: 500GB ($ 179.99), 1TB ($ 299.99), and 2TB ($ 499.99).
  • LaCie Rugged SSD Pro: 1TB ($ 399.99) and 2TB ($ 699.99)
  • LaCie Rugged BOSS SSD: 1TB ($ 449.99)

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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PNY unveils two ultra-compact portable SSDs and MOBEE mobile gimbal

07 Sep

Flash storage and accessories company PNY has introduced the MOBEE gimbal 3-axis stabilizer for smartphones, as well as its new Elite Portable SSD and PRO Elite SSD.

Despite PNY’s claimes, they’re not the fastest portable SSDs on the market, but the new PNY models make up for their slightly slower speeds by offering very compact sizes. The Elite Portable SSD model measures 6 x 3.6 x 0.9cm (2.3 x 1.4 x 0.3in) and the PRO Elite is slightly larger at 13.3 x 10.2 x 5.7cm (5.2 x 4 x 2.2in).

The PNY Elite model is offered in 240GB and 480GB capacities with up to 430MB/s read and 400MB/s write speeds. The PRO Elite model is offered in 250GB, 500GB, and 1TB capacities with up to 890MB/s write and 900MB/s read speeds. The Elite Portable SSD 450GB costs $ 125 USD; the PRO Elite model ranges from $ 70 USD to $ 162 USD.

The new PNY MOBEE gimbal, meanwhile, is compact at 10.8 x 28.9 x 7cm (4.2 x 11.3 x 2.7in) with a weight of 1.4kg (3lbs). The 3-axis stabilizer features a rechargeable Li-ion battery offering up to 12 hours of operation per charge, as well as a USB port for charging a smartphone while shooting.

A companion mobile app offers access to different shooting modes, including object and face tracking, slow motion and time-lapse. The gimbal is only listed on Amazon.uk at this time with a price of £87.13 ($ 107.14 USD).

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Samsung starts mass producing high-performance 4TB QLC SSDs for consumers

09 Aug

In 2016, Samsung launched a 4TB SSD with a prohibitively expensive $ 1499 price tag. In a statement this week, Samsung revealed that it has started mass producing a less expensive variant, ushering in the industry’s first 4-bit quad-level cell (QLC) 4TB SATA SSDs. The 4TB model will be part of a consumer QLC SSD lineup released later this year alongside 1TB and 2TB capacities.

…its new 1-terabit V-NAND chip enables it to efficiently produce 128GB cards for mobile devices

The three new consumer-tier QLC SSDs will utilize a 2.5″ form factor, making them compatible with a variety of PCs and external enclosures. According to Samsung, these SSDs have a sequential read speed of 540MB/s and write speed of 520MB/s, offering the same performance as 3-bit drives via the use of TurboWrite tech and a 3-bit SSD controller.

In a press release, Samsung executive VP of memory sales and marketing Jaesoo Han said, “Samsung’s new 4-bit SATA SSD will herald a massive move to terabyte-SSDs for consumers.” In addition, the company says its new 1-terabit V-NAND chip enables it to efficiently produce 128GB cards for mobile devices, paving the way for high-performance mobile storage.

Prices and release dates haven’t been revealed yet.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Samsung’s super fast 970 PRO and EVO NVMe SSDs offer ‘exceptional endurance’

25 Apr

Samsung Electronics has launched the 970 PRO and EVO solid state drives (SSD), aimed at tech enthusiasts and professionals. Thanks to very fast read/write speeds and large capacities they look like interesting options for anyone handling and editing large amounts of image or video data.

The new drives come in the M.2 form factor and with the latest PCIe Gen 3×4 lane interface, offering NVM Express (NVMe) bandwidth. The 970 PRO is capable of sequential read speed of up to 3,500 MB/s and sequential write speed of up to 2,700 MB/s. The EVO models offers the same read speed but a slightly slower write speed of up to 2,500 MB/s. In terms of write speed that equals a 30 percent improvement over the previous 960 generation.

Samsung has achieved this by implementing its latest V-NAND technology and an upgraded Phoenix controller. Additionally, the 970 EVO Samsung’s TurboWrite technology uses a buffer of up to 78GB to enable even faster write speeds.

That said, the new models aren’t only fast, Samsung also claims they are very reliable. Samsung’s Dynamic Thermal Guard technology protects the drives against overheating through temperature monitoring, and a heat spreader and new nickel-coating on the controller lower temperatures further. Samsung’s warranty covers a 5 year period or up to 1,200 terabytes written.

The 970 EVO will be available in 250GB, 500GB, 1TB and 2TB sizes, the 970 PRO with capacities of 512GB and 1TB. Both drives will be available worldwide starting May 7th, 2018. The Pro model starts at $ 330, while the smallest EVO drive will set you back $ 120.

More information, including full specs, is available on the Samsung Electronics website.

Press Release

Samsung Electronics Sets New Performance Standards for NVMe SSDs with 970 PRO and EVO

New 970 series enables high-performance computing through enhanced speed, exceptional endurance and system design flexibility

Samsung Electronics, today introduced the Samsung 970 PRO and EVO, the third generation of its industry-leading consumer solid state drive (SSD) lineup. Having led the market with the first consumer-focused NVMe SSD in 2015, Samsung continues to push the performance barriers with this latest generation of SSDs that are built for tech enthusiasts and professionals so that they can enjoy higher bandwidth for intensive workloads on PCs and workstations.

“Samsung has led the NVMe SSD industry since its inception, and the company continues to define the latest standards of consumer storage with unprecedented performance of the 970 PRO and EVO SSDs,” said Un-Soo Kim, senior vice president of Brand Product Marketing, Memory Business at Samsung Electronics. “The 970 series sets a new bar in all aspects for the NVMe SSD market with groundbreaking performance, superior reliability and best-in-class capacity.”

The Samsung 970 PRO and EVO are designed based on the M.2 form factor standard and with the latest PCIe Gen 3×4 lane interface. The 970 series maximizes the potential of NVMe bandwidth, delivering unparalleled performance for processing large volumes of data, including 3D, 4K graphics work, high-end games and data analytics.

The 970 PRO enables sequential read speed of up to 3,500 MB/s and sequential write speed of up to 2,700 MB/s1, while the EVO features sequential read speed of up to 3,500 MB/s and sequential write speed of up to 2,500 MB/s2. The sequential write speeds represent an enhancement of up to 30 percent over the previous generation3, thanks to Samsung’s latest V-NAND technology and the newly designed Phoenix controller. The 970 EVO, in particular, utilizes the Intelligent TurboWrite technology, which uses a large buffer size of up to 78GB4 to enable faster write speeds.

In addition to the advancements in performance levels, the 970 PRO and EVO deliver exceptional endurance and reliability. Featuring a five-year warranty5, or up to 1,200 terabytes written6 – 50 percent higher than those provided for the previous generation7 – the 970 PRO and EVO are built to last. The Dynamic Thermal Guard technology safeguards against overheating by automatically monitoring and maintaining optimal operating temperatures, while a heat spreader and new nickel-coated controller further lower the SSD temperatures.

The 970 PRO and EVO also provide greater system design flexibility for the high-performance computing systems. Offering a variety of high capacity options in a compact M.2 form factor – including the single-sided 2TB EVO model – the 970 series enables convenient storage expansion across a wide range of computing devices.

The 970 EVO will be offered in 250GB, 500GB, 1TB and 2TB8 capacities, and the 970 PRO in 512GB and 1TB capacities. The 970 PRO and EVO will be available for purchase worldwide starting May 7, 2018, with manufacturer’s suggested retail prices starting at $ 329.99 and $ 119.99 USD, respectively. For more information, including warranty details, please visit www.samsung.com/SSD, www.samsungssd.com.

1 970 PRO and EVO performance may vary based on SSD’s firmware version, system hardware and configuration. Performance measurements based on IOmeter 1.1.0. *Test system configuration: Intel Core i7-7700K CPU @4.2GHz, DDR4 2400MHz 32GB, OS-Windows 10 Built 10240, Chipset–ASUS PRIME Z270-A.
2 Performance may vary based on SSD’s firmware version, system hardware and configuration. Performance measurements based on IOmeter 1.1.0.
Write performance measurements are based on Intelligent TurboWrite technology.
The sequential write performances after TurboWrite region are: 300 MB/s(250GB), 600 MB/s(500GB), 1,200 MB/s(1TB) and 1,250 MB/s(2TB).
The random write performances after TurboWrite region are: 80,000 IOPS(250GB), 160,000 IOPS(500GB) and 300,000 IOPS(1TB/2TB).
* Test system configuration: Intel Core i7-7700K CPU @4.2GHz, DDR4 2400MHz 32GB, OS-Windows 10 Built 10240, Chipset–ASUS PRIME Z270-A.
3 Up to 29% and 32% in sequential write speeds, respectively, have increased when compared to Samsung 960 PRO and EVO.
4 970 EVO Intelligent TurboWrite buffer size varies based on the capacity of the SSD: 13GB for 250GB model, 22GB for 500GB model, 42GB for 1TB model and 78GB for 2TB model. For more information on the TurboWrite, please visit www.samsungssd.com.
5 Five years or TBW, whichever comes first. For more information on the warranty, please find the enclosed warranty document in the package.
6 Warrantied TBW(Total byte written) for 970 PRO: 600TB for 512GB model, 1,200TB for 1TB model; Warrantied TBW(Total byte written) for 970 EVO: 150TB for 250GB model, 300TB for 500GB model, 600TB for 1TB model, 1,200TB for 2TB.
7 50% increase when compared to Samsung 960 PRO and EVO.
8 1GB=1,000,000,000 bytes by IDEMA. A certain portion of capacity may be used for system file and maintenance use, so the actual capacity may differ from what is indicated on the product label.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Western Digital debuts new G-Drive and G-Speed professional grade SSDs

09 Apr

Western Digital just revealed its new lineup of G-Technology G-DRIVE and G-SPEED external solid state drives at NAB 2018, and as you might expect, they’re built to handle ultra-high resolution video. In fact, WD claims these Thunderbolt 3 drives enable “real-time 4K and 8K workflows” for professionals who need serious speed, capacity, and reliability.

There are three new drives in all: the G-DRIVE Mobile Pro SSD, the G-DRIVE Pro SSD, and the G-SPEED Shuttle SSD.

G-DRIVE Mobile Pro SSD

The G-Drive Mobile Pro SSD aims to be one of the fastest mobile storage solutions you can bring with you in the field. Available in 500GB and 1TB configurations, this Thunderbolt 3 drive boasts read speeds up to 2800MB/s that should let you “edit multi-stream 8K footage at full frame rate, quickly render projects and experience them at full resolution, and transfer as much as a terabyte of media in seven minutes.”

The most portable of today’s announcements, the drive has also been built to be rugged. The derive uses “specially engineered components” for its shock-resistant design, and the aluminum core is meant to prevent overheating.

To learn more about the G-DRIVE Mobile Pro SSD, head over to the G-Technology website. Both 500GB and 1TB capacity drives will be available in the US starting this summer for $ 660 and $ 1,050, respectively.

G-DRIVE Pro SSD

The G-DRIVE Pro SSD, as the name suggests, is the Mobile Pro’s big brother. Like its younger sibling, it features a Thunderbolt 3 connection (actually two of them) and can transfer data at up to 2800MB/s. Thanks to the dual-connection, however, you can daisy chain up to 6 of these bad-boys together and stack them on your desk like Jenga pieces.

Since this is a desktop solution, it’s not built with the same shock-proof design as the Mobile Pro, but the G-DRIVE Pro SSDs do boast enterprise-class solid state drives with an endurance rating of one drive write per day.

These drives will be available to US consumers starting in May, and will come in capacities of 960GB, 1.92TB, 3.84TB, and 7.68TB for $ 1,400, $ 2,100, $ 4,100, and $ 7,600, respectively. Just for fun we did the math: if you daisy chain six of the 7.68TB drives together, you will have spent $ 45,600 for 46.08TB of solid state storage.

You can learn more about the G-DRIVE Pro SSD on the G-Technology website.

G-SPEED Shuttle SSD

Finally, the biggest and baddest of the drives released today (if you can call this a “drive”) is the G-SPEED Shuttle SSD: an enclosure that comes with eight removable SSDs pre-loaded and configured in RAID 5. This is meant for “ultra-demanding” workflows like multi-stream HD, 4K, 8K, VR and VFX backup and editing.

The G-SPEED Shuttle SSD comes with up to 16TB of storage (eight, 2TB drives pre-loaded) and can be configured to run hardware RAID 0, 1, 5, 10, and 50. And, like the G-DRIVE Pro SSD, the G-SPEED features two Thunderbolt 3 connection that max out at 2800MB/s and can be daisy chained with up to five additional devices.

The G-SPEED Shuttle SSD will arrive on store shelves in the US this month, and can be purchased in either 8TB or 16TB configurations for $ 5,100 and $ 7,600, respectively. That means the same $ 45,600 mentioned above will buy you 96TB of solid state storage if you go with the G-SPEED Shuttle.

To learn more or order yours, visit the G-Technology website.

Press Release

Access, Edit and Share Massive 4K and 8K RAW Video from Multi Camera Shoots in Real Time with the Fast and Reliable Western Digital Thunderbolt 3 SSD Solutions

Award-Winning G-Technology® G-DRIVE® and G-SPEED® Families Enable Creative Professionals to Access and Work With Data Quickly

Las Vegas, 2018 NAB SHOW, Apr. 9, 2018 – Western Digital Corporation (NASDAQ: WDC) is meeting the escalating fast-transfer and high-capacity demands of professional content creators by enabling real-time 4K and 8K workflows with three new professional-grade ultra-fast solutions in its powerful G-Technology® G-DRIVE® and G-SPEED® Shuttle product families.

Working with large 4K and 8K RAW video means massive file sizes and is undoubtedly one of the largest pain points for content editors. With new cameras capable of capturing over 400 MB/s of RAW data, there is an opportunity for content professionals to create incredibly high-resolution footage and ever-more immersive viewer experiences. It is not uncommon for a production crew to be on-location for two or three months recording three to four terabytes per day of footage from multiple cameras. With this expansion of data capture, comes a potential bottleneck in maintaining a real-time workflow on location – until now.

“Saving time means getting more done, which means booking more jobs over the course of a year,” said Scott Vouri, Vice President of Strategy and Business Development, Western Digital. “Creative professionals need to know that their drives will keep up with the growing demands of their workflows. To capitalize on these opportunities, the right tools are crucial. When working in the field, production teams need a fast solution that can handle demanding workflows of 4K and 8K content with the ability to quickly collect that valuable footage and be able to edit on the spot. With the power of Thunderbolt 3*, and transfer rates up to 2800MB/s**, the the new G-Technology Pro SSDs offer an ultra-fast, super-reliable solution for any creative project team.”

G-DRIVE Mobile Pro SSD

With storage running at 2800MB/s, the G-DRIVE mobile Pro SSD (Up to 1TB of capacity) lets you edit multi-stream 8K footage at full frame rate, quickly render projects and experience them at full resolution, and transfer as much as a terabyte of media in seven minutes or less (for capacities 1TB or larger) wherever you are. A durable, shock-resistant design uses specially engineered components to endure traveling, while a single Thunderbolt™ 3 port lets you instantly edit footage on the go with incredible speed without the need for wall power. An aluminum core prevents overheating and maintains a consistent high performance, and with a trusted 5-year limited warranty, you get durable, fast solutions. The G-DRIVE mobile Pro SSD solution with Thunderbolt 3 is available in the U.S. Summer of 2018 in capacities of 500GB ($ 659.95) and 1TB ($ 1,049.95) USD.

G-DRIVE Pro SSD

Equipped with scorching fast transfer rates of up to 2800MB/s, the G-DRIVE Pro SSD solution (up to 7.68TB of capacity) with Thunderbolt 3 technology enables a filmmaker to edit multi-stream 8K footage at full frame rate, quickly render projects and experience them at full resolution, and transfer as much as a terabyte of content in seven minutes or less (for capacities 1TB or larger). Dual Thunderbolt 3 ports are ready to daisy-chain up to five additional devices, while a stackable, rugged aluminum enclosure offers a durable way to help keep your workplace tidy. Combined with Enterprise-class solid state drives, an endurance rating of one drive write per day (DW/D) endurance rating, and a trusted 5-year limited warranty, the G-DRIVE Pro SSD delivers reliable, high-performance desktop storage you can rely on. The G-DRIVE Pro SSD solution with Thunderbolt 3 is available in the U.S. May of 2018 in capacities of 960GB1 ($ 1,399.95), 1.92TB ($ 2,099.95), 3.84TB ($ 4,099.95) and 7.68TB ($ 7,599.95) USD.

G-SPEED Shuttle SSD

With up to 16TB of SSD capacity, the G-SPEED Shuttle SSD with Thunderbolt 3 is optimized to support multi-stream HD, 4K, 8K, VR and VFX workflows. Equipped with transfer rates up to 2800MB/s, hardware RAID 0, 1, 5, 10, 50, and eight removable SSDs pre-loaded and configured in RAID 5, it is built for ultra-demanding production workflows. The G-SPEED Shuttle SSD is available in the U.S. this month in capacities of 8TB ($ 5,099.95) and 16TB ($ 7,599.95).

*Backward compatible with Thunderbolt 2 using Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter

**Based on read speed. As used for transfer rate, megabyte per second (MB/s) = one million bytes per second. Performance will vary depending on your hardware and software components and configurations.

1As used for storage capacity, one terabyte (TB) = one trillion bytes. Total accessible capacity varies depending on operating environment.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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WD launches two new portable SSDs designed for photographers and drone users

10 Jan

In addition to revealing the world’s smallest 1TB USB-C flash drive, Western Digital has launched two new portable SSDs specifically designed for “avid photographers and drone enthusiasts” at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

The SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD offers both high performance and durability in an extremely portable package, while the My Passport Wireless SSD gives photographers a solid state version of WD’s popular My Wireless Pro, which features built-in WiFi, an SD card slot, and other convenient features for photographers on-the-go.

SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD

The SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD is a lightweight (79g / .17lbs) pocket-sized USB-C drive encased in a durable housing with an IP55 dust- and water-resistant rating. Thanks to the housing, the drive can withstand operating temperatures ranging from 0°C to 45°C (32°F to 113°F), as well as storage temperatures ranging from -20°C to 70°C (-4°F to 158°F).

The Extreme Portable SSD drive has a USB 3.1 Gen 2 interface, read speeds up to 550MB/s, and out-of-the-box compatibility with Windows and macOS.

The drives are currently listed on SanDisk’s website as “not in stock” at the following capacities and price points: 250GB for $ 100, 500GB for $ 170, 1TB for $ 350, and 2TB for $ 700.

WD My Passport Wireless SSD

The My Passport Wireless SSD, as the name suggests, is a solid state version/update to the original My Passport Wireless Pro that we reviewed and actually quite liked.

Housed in an enclosure with an integrated 802.11ac wireless connection, this drive allows users to access content on the drive over WiFi, including streaming 4K videos to a computer or mobile device. The wireless feature works with the My Cloud mobile app, as well as some third-party apps including LumaFusion and FiLMiC Pro.

In addition to wireless access, this My Passport product also has an integrated SD card reader so that photos and videos can be copied onto the SSD directly from the media card at speeds up to 65MB/s. For other types of media cards, the Wireless SSD supports direct transfers via a cable and connected media card adapter. Finally, the drive also features a USB port for transferring content to a computer via USB 3.0 at speeds up to 390MB/s.

Because this model has built-in wireless, Western Digital has packed a 6700mAh battery into the drive case, enabling the WiFi feature to be used for up to 10 hours before it needs to be recharged. And for convenience’ sake, the device’s built-in battery doubles as a power bank for charging other USB devices, such as a smartphone.

The My Passport Wireless SSD will be available in 250GB ($ 230), 500GB ($ 300), 1TB ($ 500), and 2TB ($ 800) capacities. Pre-orders are available now, with shipping estimated to start on February 15th.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Western Digital’s new SSDs offer faster speeds and higher capacities

02 Jun

Hard disk manufacturer Western Digital acquired SSD specialist SanDisk last year. Now we are seeing the first fruits of the new relationship in the shape of two new SSD lineups – one under each company’s brand name – that are the first to deploy SanDisk’s new 64-layer 3D NAND chips. According to Western Digital the new chips offer ‘lower power consumption and higher performance, endurance and capacities.’

The new Western Digital Blue and SanDisk Ultra 3D lines are identical in terms of capacity, controllers and performance specs but Western Digital’s lineup includes a device in M.2 2280 format factor, which SanDisk’s doesn’t.

According to the spec sheets performance should be very good. The 256GB versions read at 550 MB/s and write at 525 MB/s. The larger capacity SSDs are even a touch quicker at 550 MB/s and 560 MB/s respectively. And the new SSDs are not only fast but also reliable. Western Digital states the mean time to failure (MTTF) of all devices as 1.75 million hours. If you think the new drives could help fulfill your storage and archiving needs, you’ll be happy to hear they are quite affordable; 256GB drives start at $ 100. Pricing information for the larger 500GB, 1TB and 2TB models is not available yet.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Mobile Speed: Portable SSDs for photographers

02 Dec

Like many photographers, I spend a lot of time working in the field away from my office. By extension, that translates into a fair amount of time in front of my laptop computer backing up, organizing, and working with my images and videos before I get home.

For years my workflow depended on portable hard drives, but thanks to increased camera resolution and the need to shoot more video, particularly 4K video, I discovered that I was spending increasingly more time waiting around while bits moved across wires. And when I wanted to work with those files, the experience kept getting slower. I also worried a lot about spinning drives getting damaged in transit.

Mobile office? A perfect place for portable SSDs.

A couple years ago I switched to using external solid state drives, or SSDs, for all my mobile work. Back then there weren’t a lot of off-the-shelf products to solve my problem, so I took a DIY (do-it-yourself) approach and made my own. Times have changed, and there are now a proliferation of external SSDs to meet your needs.

Despite this, I still run into a lot of photographers who haven’t made the switch, and I’m continually surprised at how many of them have never even considered external portable SSDs, despite the fact that they often have one in their laptop.

Fortunately, we’ve reached a point where SSDs strike a reasonably good balance between price and performance. In this article I’ll take a look at some of my favorite portable SSDs that I’ve used over the past year, each of which appealed to me for a different reason, and let you know what I like about each one.

The portable SSD solutions featured in this article: (L to R) The do-it-yourself solution, Samsung T3, SanDisk Extreme 510, OWC Envoy Pro EX, Glyph Atom, Glyph Atom RAID

The DIY Solution

For those willing to get their hands dirty, the DIY (do-it-yourself) solution is a viable option. SSDs designed for laptops are plentiful online and there’s a huge selection of brands and sizes. At the time of publication, it’s possible to get a 1TB SSD for under $ 240, which is probably enough portable storage to meet the needs of most mobile photographers.

Turning a bare SSD into an external peripheral is surprisingly simple; all you need is an inexpensive hard drive case, like this one from Anker, and a USB cable. Snap the SSD inside, connect it to your computer, and format the drive.

The DIY (do-it-yourself) approach is the most economical method, and is also a great way to recycle an old SSD when you upgrade a laptop. Total assembly time: about 2 minutes.

There are plenty of cases available for around $ 10, and you can reuse them if you get a larger SSD later. I’ve been using the Anker case mentioned above for about two years and have upgraded the SSD inside three times. An external case is also a great option if you’ve upgraded the SSD in your laptop and want to recycle the old one as external storage.

Samsung T3

The Samsung T3 first caught my attention at CES in January, and I’ve been using one almost since then. The T3’s most compelling feature is that it’s small; a bit shorter than a credit card, and only 1cm thick. It also weighs close to nothing, making it great for travel. It uses a USB-C plug, but ships with a USB-C to USB-A cable so you can plug it into the existing ports on your computer right out of the box. 

The T3 has become one of my go-to SSDs when I’m traveling really light, as in 11-inch Macbook Air light. I barely notice it in my bag, and often carry it around in a shirt or pants pocket when I’m out working. In fact, this is the SSD that people ask me about most often when they see it, once they realize it’s not a card reader for my camera. This is the SSD to take with you if you want compact size, speedy performance, and a bit of style.

The Samsung T3 is a bit shorter than a credit card and 1cm thick. Put it in your pocket and you’ll barely know it’s there.

The T3 is also comes in a variety of capacities ranging all the way up to 2TB of storage, making it an incredibly compact way to store a lot of data. It’s available in several sizes including 250GB ($ 119), 500GB ($ 199), 1TB ($ 399), and 2TB ($ 799)

SanDisk Extreme 510

The SanDisk Extreme 510 gives the Samsung T3 a run for it’s money when it comes to portability, being just slightly larger due to it’s square shape. However, the difference in size is negligible when you consider how small they both are.

What sets the Extreme 510 apart from the T3 is that it’s designed for slightly more rugged use, with an IP55 rating for water and dust protection, including an integrated cap that fits over the USB port. It also has a rubber bumper around the edges to protect against drops, and it really works. Finally, there’s a small metal loop on one corner in case you want to attach a lanyard or clip the drive to your other gear.

This has turned into my favorite SSD when I need to travel light in potentially adverse conditions, such as during our Nikon D810 Field Test where dust seemed to get everywhere. I’ve even found myself using the metal loop to clip the drive to an attachment on the inside of my pack for security. My only complaints about the Extreme 510 are that the rubber cap over the USB port comes off a little too easily, and that it’s currently only available in one size (480GB).

The SanDisk Extreme 510 might look unconventional, but it’s a great choice for mobile use thanks to its water and dust resistance, and rubber bumper to protect against drops.

One interesting note about the Extreme 510 is that in my performance testing it had slightly slower than average write speeds, though I didn’t really notice this in practical use. The 480GB SanDisk Extreme 510 costs $ 249.

OWC Envoy Pro EX

Other World Computing (OWC) is known for high quality products with a focus on the Macintosh market, so it comes as no surprise that the OWC Envoy Pro EX’s case is a perfect match for a MacBook computer, right down to the anodized aluminum case. (Well, the silver variety at least.) That said, it should work with any computer as long as you format it correctly.

The Envoy Pro EX is in the middle of the pack when it comes to size, but leads the way when it comes to style, and its build quality is excellent, right down to the smallest details. I would almost call it Apple-esque, which I suppose is the point. I’ve received lots of comments about this drive, particularly from other Mac users.

The Envoy Pro EX is a great choice if presentation and appearance are of importance, particularly if you’re a Mac user. Whether you’re visiting clients or just trying to project a professional image, it does the job well. Or, if you just want a SSD that will match your MacBook’s style, and potentially outlast it as well, the Envoy Pro EX is a great choice. 

The OWC Envoy Pro EX is a well-built, stylish SSD that’s relatively compact. It’s also a perfect visual match for a silver MacBook or MacBook Pro. 

The Envoy Pro EX is available in a range of sizes including 240GB ($ 195), 480GB ($ 339), and 1TB ($ 559).

Glyph Atom and Atom RAID

The Atom and Atom RAID from Glyph Technologies are a bit heavier than the other SSDs in this article, but that simply reflects their build quality. These things are solid. Really solid. As in, I’m pretty sure I could run over them with my car and they would still work, solid. Both are enclosed in a very sturdy aluminum housing which is encased in a rubber sleeve to add some shock protection.

The Atoms are also the only SSDs in this article that feature support for USB 3.1, Gen 2. In a nutshell, this means they have twice the theoretical maximum data transfer rate of the other devices in this article (10 Gbps vs. 5 Gbps). The Atom comes in a candy bar shaped case similar in size to the OWC Envoy Pro EX.

The Glyph Atom is one of the most solid portable drives I’ve ever come across and is a great fit for serious production use where things get banged around a lot. 

The Atom RAID includes two SSDs in a RAID 0 configuration to provide even greater speed when transferring data, and it can deliver. Physically, it’s about 50% wider than the standard Atom and a bit heavier, but otherwise similar in design.

The Glyph Atom RAID is every bit as solid as the Atom, but includes two SSDs in a RAID 0 configuration for even more speed.

Both Atom devices use a USB-C connection and ship with native USB-C to USB-C cables as well as USB-C to USB-A cables. It’s a nice touch that Glyph provides cables for both types of connections out of the box. My only complaint about the design is that the LED status light on these drives is bright enough to illuminate the corner of a room in the dark.

The Atom and Atom RAID are hands-down the most durable SSDs I’ve tried, and the ones I would choose for a production environment where they get used, abused, and banged around every day. I’ve been using them non-stop for several weeks, shoving them in and out of bags with other gear, and am consistently impressed with how rugged they are. Whether the additional speed of the RAID model is justified depends on your requirements, but it’s there if you need it.

The Atom is available in capacities of 275GB ($ 129), 525GB ($ 229), and 1TB ($ 399). The Atom RAID is available in capacities of 1TB ($ 419) and 2TB ($ 819). You pay a bit of a premium for the RAID version, but if you need the speed it will probably cost you one way or another.

Performance

DPReview doesn’t do in-depth performance testing of products like hard drives. There are other sites that do a great job of things like that. However, in addition to using all these drives over the past several months, I put them all through some real world use tests on a 5K iMac using a Lightroom library with about 10,000 photos, as well as a 250GB Final Cut Pro X project. I also ran some common benchmarking software for a baseline comparison.

In real world use there was very little noticeable performance difference between any of the drives, with the exception of the DIY solution, which seemed just a bit slower when importing large amounts of data. Of course, this will depend on what SSD you use for a DIY build, so results may vary.

For slightly more objective results I ran speed tests on all the SSDs using Blackmagic Disk Speed Test and AJA System Test, both of which provided almost identical results. I also included a popular portable spinning hard drive, the WD My Passport, in the test for comparison.

 

Capacity Tested

  Write Speed Read Speed
DIY solution*  250GB  253 MB/s  266 MB/s
Samsung T3  1TB  383 MB/s

 406 MB/s
Sandisk Extreme 510  480GB  285 MB/s  420 MB/s
OWC Envoy Pro  960GB  378 MB/s  409 MB/s
Glyph Atom**  1TB  472 MB/s  431 MB/s
Glyph Atom RAID**  2TB  804 MB/s  572 MB/s

WD My Passport 5400 rpm portable hard disk

 2TB  69 MB/s  104 MB/s

* Average results for two SSDs: a Samsung EVO 840 and SanDisk Extreme Pro. (Results for both drives were similar.) Actual performance for DIY solutions will depend on the SSD used.

** Tests for the Atom drives were performed using a new MacBook Pro with Touch Bar, which has Thunderbolt 3 ports capable of supporting the drives’ USB 3.1, Gen 2 interface.

When looking at these numbers, keep in mind that it’s possible to get slightly different results by adjusting the test parameters, though when I did so the overall trend stayed the same between drives. The take home message here is that all the drives are insanely fast compared to a portable spinning hard drive. That in itself shouldn’t be a surprise, but the table shows just how much faster the SSDs can be.

There are some interesting things to note from the data, however. I was surprised that my home-built DIY drive was consistently slower than the commercial offerings, especially since it’s basically just a bare SSD plugged directly into a USB 3.0 interface. It’s possible that different SSDs would have performed better in the same enclosure.

It’s also possible to see the advantages of the newer USB 3.1, Gen 2 transfer rates on the Atom drives, especially when you throw a RAID 0 configuration into the mix. Of course, to take advantage of these speeds you’ll need a computer that supports the new standard as well.

Conclusion

If you’re still using regular hard drives for your mobile photo work, there’s never been a better time to make the switch to portable SSDs. Of course, there are compelling reasons to stick with spinning hard drives; they deliver huge amounts of storage at low cost. Every photographer has their own price/performance threshold, but that ratio is getting better all the time.

From a performance perspective, almost any portable SSD will likely meet the needs of most photographers. The most economical solution is the DIY approach. It’s incredibly easy to assemble your own portable SSD, and prices for bare drives have come down a lot, especially if you’re willing to pick up a recently discontinued model.

When it comes to commercial SSD models, the best choice will likely come down to your specific needs. Do you need fast and light? Style? Rugged build? Each one has a sweet spot. Finally, don’t limit yourself to the SSDs included in this article. There are lots of options on the market today, and some may meet your needs better than these. If you haven’t made the switch, go online, see what’s available, and take the plunge!

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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