Tag: storage

SanDisk Desk Drive Review – High Capacity SSD

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.

Plugable USB-C NVME SSD Enclosure Review

Plugable sent over their USB 3.1 Gen 2 NVME SSD enclosure for me to review and I decided to put it to use after I upgraded my production system’s Samsung 970 EVO NVME to a new 4TB drive. You can check it out in the latest video on my Gadget Picks (formerly Extras) channel.

While you will likely experience a drop in performance due to the speed of NVME drives vs. the slower USB data rate, the convenience enclosures like this offer is the tradeoff. These enclosures are especially useful if you’re looking to migrate from a smaller NVME to a larger one.

The price point is quite reasonable, hovering around thirty dollars. The package includes the metal enclosure and two USB cables: one for USB-C equipped PCs and the other USB-A. The assembly process is straightforward and does not require any tools. Just pop the drive in using its rubber stopper to hold it in place, and slide the metal cover back over until it clicks.

I tested the enclosure on a Lenovo Yoga 9i’s Thunderbolt port. After connecting the drive, I was pleased to see all my old production drive popped right up just like any other external drive would.

Performance is decent too. The Blackmagic disk speed test revealed a consistent sequential read and write speed of over 900 megabytes per second – effectively maxing out the Gen 2 USB connection the drive supports. The CrystalDiskMark test further confirmed these results and also showcased some impressive random read and write capabilities.

In comparison to other USB-C drives I’ve tested, this DIY solution with Plugable’s enclosure and my Samsung NVME drive performed competitively, even outpacing some on random reads and writes.

If you have an NVME drive lying around after an upgrade, this enclosure from Plugable is a fantastic way to repurpose it. Just remember, it’s designed specifically for NVME drives, so M.2 SATA drives are not be compatible.

ioSafe 220+ Review

The last two weeks on the channel could best be described as the “not for everyone” series. The ioSafe 220+ is another product not for most people but those who need one will appreciate that it exists. You can see my review here.

The ioSafe 220+ has all the guts of an Intel powered Synology 220+ NAS device inside of a fireproof and waterproof casing. It’s designed to survive being in a 1550 degree fahrenheit fire for 30 minutes and the subsequent water dousing it’ll take to put the fire out. The electronics won’t survive but the drives inside of the fireproof enclosure should.

It works thanks to an endothermic material that is built into the casing. Water molecules are trapped inside of the material and will turn into steam when placed in a high temperature environment. That steam draws heat away from the center portion where the drives are stored. The drive enclosure is hermetically sealed to prevent water intrusion. You can hear more about how it works in this interview I did with the founder of the company back in 2015.

One of the improvements in this version is a much quieter fan. Previous versions had super loud fans that made it difficult to locate the device in an office environment. This one is about as a quiet as a regular Synology NAS.

Performance otherwise is on-part with a regular Synology NAS.

Why is this not for everyone? Price. A regular diskless Synology 220+ NAS sells for $300. This one starts at $940. But there are often corporate and government requirements for data storage that call for flood and fire protection for mission critical data.