BEST SSDs! Samsung T7 vs SanDisk vs Crucial X8, X9 Pro, WD and Acasis 🔥

Summary

This video offers a comprehensive review of popular external SSDs, focusing on performance, convenience, and price. The host tests various SSDs across multiple devices and OS formats, emphasizing heat management and real-world usage with large file transfers. Brands like Sandisk and Western Digital face data loss issues, while Crucial Memory's X8, X9 PRO, and X10 PRO shine for balance and performance. Acasis enclosures with SABRENT drives deliver raw performance, ideal for high-intensity workloads. Samsung's T5 and T7 Shield provide budget-friendly, short-term solutions with durability but lack in sustained performance.

Takeaways

• 🚀 The video provides an updated comparison of popular external SSDs, emphasizing performance, convenience, and price.
• 🔍 The test includes various devices and OS formats to ensure a fair comparison across different platforms.
• 🌡️ Heat management is identified as crucial for SSD performance, with temperature monitoring conducted throughout the tests.
• 📈 The Blackmagic Design's Speed Test app and a 125GB folder transfer test were used to simulate real-world usage and sustained performance.
• ⚠️ A caution is given for iPhone users regarding slower drives that may struggle with ProRes recording.
• 💾 Recent reports of data loss issues with Sandisk Extreme and Extreme Portable models lead to a recommendation to avoid them until resolved.
• 🔄 Western Digital was contacted for comment on the data loss issues but did not respond, affecting the review's objectivity.
• 🔥 The WD BLACK SSD, while fast for READ speeds, throttles WRITE speeds when overheating, becoming slower than cheaper drives.
• 📊 Advertised speeds are often not achievable in real-world conditions, suggesting specialized machines are used for testing.
• 🌟 Crucial X8, X9 PRO, and X10 PRO are highlighted for their balance of performance, convenience, and value, with the X10 PRO being the reviewer's current production drive.
• 🔧 The Acasis enclosure with a built-in fan is praised for its reliability and performance under high-intensity workloads.
• 🛡️ Samsung T5 and T7 Shield are recommended for short-term solutions and basic needs but not for long-term reliability or high-performance demands.

Q & A

What was the purpose of the video?

The purpose of the video was to test and review various popular external SSDs in the market to help viewers choose the right one based on their needs and budget.

What has changed in the SSD market since the last video?

A lot has changed in the SSD market in a year, including new models and possibly changes in performance and reliability.

How did the author ensure a fair comparison of the SSDs?

The author tested the SSDs on various devices with different operating systems and formats, monitored temperatures for heat management, and used the Blackmagic Design's Speed Test app for performance testing.

Why is heat management important for SSD performance?

Heat management is crucial for performance because high temperatures can cause SSDs to throttle their speeds, leading to slower performance.

What issues were reported with the Sandisk Extreme and Extreme Portable models?

There were reports of serious data loss issues with the Sandisk Extreme and Extreme Portable models, which led the author to not recommend them until the issues are resolved.

What was the author's experience with the WD BLACK SSD?

The author found the WD BLACK SSD to be fast, especially for read speeds, but it slowed down significantly when it got hot, which could be problematic for sustained performance.

What are the advertised speeds of SSDs, and why might they differ from the author's test results?

Advertised speeds are the maximum theoretical speeds that manufacturers claim. The author's tests might not reach these speeds due to real-world conditions and the use of different testing equipment.

What is the Crucial X8's performance like, and how does it handle heat?

The Crucial X8 maintains good read speeds for large files but slows down with many small documents. It has excellent heat management, staying cool to the touch even during use.

Why did the author choose the Crucial X9 PRO as a balance between performance, convenience, and price?

The Crucial X9 PRO offers fast read and write speeds, is convenient to use, and has a reasonable price, making it a good choice for most users.

What makes the Crucial X10 PRO the author's production drive of choice?

The Crucial X10 PRO offers insane performance, fitting neatly in a pocket for convenience, and has proven reliable for the author's high-intensity workloads.

What are the NUCLEAR options mentioned in the video, and why are they recommended for high-intensity workloads?

The NUCLEAR options refer to high-performance SSDs like the Acasis enclosure with a built-in fan and SABRENT M.2 drives, which are reliable and can handle high-intensity workloads due to their speed and durability.

What are the Samsung T5 and T7 Shield's main limitations according to the author?

The Samsung T5 is slower in performance, while the T7 Shield, despite being faster and more durable, has longevity issues and is not recommended for large data transfers or iPhone ProRES recording.

What advice does the author give for choosing an external SSD based on the video?

The author suggests that Crucial offers the best balance for most users, Acasis for raw performance, and budget-friendly options like Samsung for basic needs, but advises caution with certain models for long-term use or high-intensity tasks.