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Recommendation on a good, reasonably priced portable SSD for new MBP.
- Thread starter PVDHell
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SATA SSD's via USB are the cheapest. USB-C 10Gbps enclosures are the fastest and will offer the full bandwidth available, with speeds above 500MB/s for most SSDs.
NVMe is faster than SATA SSDs, but become more expensive for larger capacities. MAKE SURE they have a heatsink if you purchase. Many of the cheap enclosures are garbage.
NVMe is faster than SATA SSDs, but become more expensive for larger capacities. MAKE SURE they have a heatsink if you purchase. Many of the cheap enclosures are garbage.
For single blade via USB-C, look at Plugable and Sabrent. For single blade via TB3, look at TREBLEET.
If you don't need ultra portable, there are dual blade options like Netstor NA6111TB3 and PCIe expansion boxes that are even faster with PCIe cards loaded with 2-4 NVMe blades (like HighPoint and Sonnet).
If you can wait until CES, there's a few other models being announced.
Samsung T5.
It occasionally pops up on sale. It's dirt cheap when it does.
If you want to use TB3 based, you have to go either an expensive tb3 external SSD or TB3 enclosure with NVME SSD. If that's the case, I'd recommend going an enclosure with NVME as that option is vastly cheaper.
Theoretically, you can save more if you go USB-C enclosure with m.2 SATA SSD, but USB-C SSD is so cheap nowadays I'd recommend a finished product.
It occasionally pops up on sale. It's dirt cheap when it does.
If you want to use TB3 based, you have to go either an expensive tb3 external SSD or TB3 enclosure with NVME SSD. If that's the case, I'd recommend going an enclosure with NVME as that option is vastly cheaper.
Theoretically, you can save more if you go USB-C enclosure with m.2 SATA SSD, but USB-C SSD is so cheap nowadays I'd recommend a finished product.
I own both a T5 and and X5 (which I’d originally purchased intending to use as a boot drive).
I think for storage, the T5 would be great.
I hit some thermal throttling with the X5 as a boot disk, as documented in this review.
I think the Riptide mentioned in that review might be a better solution for heavier usage.
I think for storage, the T5 would be great.
I hit some thermal throttling with the X5 as a boot disk, as documented in this review.
I think the Riptide mentioned in that review might be a better solution for heavier usage.
If you are just using for storage, why do you want an SSD? A HD is much more cost effective. If you are doing a lot of image scans and processing that's another matter. Faster isn't better if you aren't using that speed.
Major T5 fan here! I have been using the Samsung series since the T1 and Samsung has really come up with an excellent, outstanding product. I also have a couple of X5s but they are much more expensive and not quite as small and portable as the T5s. A couple of T5s go with me when I travel. I wish that now Samsung would make a larger capacity -- I'd be thrilled with a 4 TB!
So much love for the Samsung T5, but yeah it's still the best value portable SSD. I got a 1TB Samsung T5 myself and I'm very happy with it; blazing read/write speed, very compact form factor, sturdy case, low power usage, and affordable. And no I'm not sponsored by Samsung for this post ...
Please keep us posted. I would be interested in hearing about it. Options are a good thing. 😄
