When you’re looking for an external hard drive, the typical choice often lies between opting for performance or capacity. In my latest video I took a look at a new product from SanDisk—the Desk Drive SSD—that delivers up to 8 terabytes of storage at SSD speeds. You can see my review here.
You can find one here (compensated affiliate link) This pricing is indeed higher than what you would expect from mechanical drives, but the SSD promises superior performance and completely silent operation, which might justify the cost for many.
The SSD comes preformatted with exFAT, ensuring compatibility across Windows, Mac, and many Linux systems right out of the box. It of course can easily be reformatted for other file systems. It also includes a single Gen 2 USB type-C port, supporting speeds up to 10 Gbps, though it does require external power to operate. Additionally, a Kensington lock slot adds a layer of security against theft.
When connected to a modestly equipped ThinkPad, the drive achieved around 850 megabytes per second in both read and write speeds during a Blackmagic disk speed test. These speeds were even higher when connected to a desktop equipped with a superior USB controller, just under a gigabyte per second. Its scores on the CrystalDiskMark test also showed decent random read and write performance making the drive suitable for more than just backups and long term data storage.
It also comes with a license for Acronis True Image on both Mac and Windows. True Image offers a number of useful functions like backing up the entire PC, individual folders, and even disk cloning. This software only works with SanDisk or Western Digital drives unless you pay for a separate license.
While there is a premium to pay for the silence and performance of the Desk Drive SSD, the benefits—especially in a professional setting where speed and reliability are paramount—could well be worth the investment.
Disclosure: Sandisk provided the drive to the channel free of charge for this review. However no other compensation was received and they did not review or approve my video or this post before it was uploaded. All opinions are my own.