- #BEST SSD EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE FOR PC FULL#
- #BEST SSD EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE FOR PC SOFTWARE#
- #BEST SSD EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE FOR PC SERIES#
We've included options that should suit every need, whether you're looking for the best value hard drive to the best specs. To make it easier to choose, we've put together an up-to-date list of the best external hard drives out here for both PCs and Macs. But you might also be looking for a drive that can serve more than one role.Choosing the best external hard drive might seem like a fairly simple task, but they come in many different sizes and with all kinds of different builds, connectivity options and other features. Some of those features fairly tangential to the basic remit of providing high-performance storage space for a games library. Some drives are built to be particularly robust others include extras like hardware encryption, status LEDs, or even fingerprint scanners for added security. For instance, drives with four-level QLC NAND memory will tend to have worse underlying performance than those with triple-layer TLC memory.įorm factor and other frills should also be part of your calculations.
#BEST SSD EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE FOR PC FULL#
Many manufacturers are reluctant to quote full specifications. Features like controller specification and the type and quality of NAND flash used are also important, though it’s not always easy to identify the finer details. Interface specification isn’t the only deciding factor when it comes to performance. So, it will be possible to extract maximum performance from a USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 20Gbps drives in the future using a USB 4 interface. But the good news is that USB 4 is backward compatible with USB 3.2 Gen 2x2. Instead, USB 4 will likely take over, increasing bandwidth to 40Gbps. Indeed, it’s unlikely that USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 will ever become widely used. Instead, you’ll find most high-speed USB ports top out at 10Gbps.
#BEST SSD EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE FOR PC SERIES#
That’s something that remains relatively rare on PCs and laptops and isn’t available on any console, including the new Sony PlayStation 5 and Microsoft Xbox Series X. To achieve those peak speeds, you’d need a USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 port with 20Gbps capability. SATA-based USB Type-C drives top out at around 540MB/s peak performance, while the NVMe options up the ante to a maximum of 2GB/s.Īt least they do, in theory. Performance-wise, your choice is between a drive based on the SATA interface with a bridge to USB, or an NVMe interface, again behind a USB bridge. The best external SSDs FAQ Should I buy an NMVe or SATA external SSD? But there’s better performance to be had elsewhere.
#BEST SSD EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE FOR PC SOFTWARE#
And Seagate’s file syncing and backup software is handy. It’s a pity because the Seagate Barracuda Fast SSD looks slick with its sleek enclosure and LED status light. The ADATA SE800 Ultra FAST 1TB, for instance, is around twice as quick for peak sequential performance. It also drops down to just 190MB/s with sustained multi-GB workloads.Īrguably even more problematic is the existence of NVMe-based drives for similar money.
What’s more, in our testing, the Seagate Barracuda Fast SSD 1TB couldn’t even deliver its modest claimed performance, clocking just 306MB/s for sequential write performance. The Seagate Barracuda Fast SSD 1TB is essentially a SATA SSD behind a USB bridge, which means performance is limited to 6Gbps despite the drive’s 10Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2 interface. Moreover, a great deal of that increased performance isn’t available on most PCs and all consoles due to limited interface support.Ī great deal that is.
Then again, that fancy WD Drive with its NVMe SSD and USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 20Gbps interface costs roughly 75 percent more for the same 1TB of capacity. However, while the Crucial X8 does drop down to 380MB/s with sustained traffic, in our testing, it maintained that level for many tens of GB, which puts it on a par with the more expensive WD drive.īest gaming laptops | Best gaming keyboards | Best gaming mouseīest gaming motherboards | Best graphics cards | Best gaming monitorsīest gaming motherboard: the best boards aroundīest AMD motherboard: your new Ryzen's new home
Given the use of QLC NAND, one big question mark is sustained performance. 4K random performance is decent, too, for this class of drive, with reads of 27MB/s and writes just over 40MB/s at QD1. That’s over $150 less than WD’s Black P50 Game Drive in 2TB trim.Īnd so it proves in our testing, with the Crucial X8 good for just under 1GB/s for sequential transfers in both directions. In fact, right now, it’s available at Best Buy for $239. It’s built into a really solid-feeling metal case. It’s not the absolute fastest external SSD on Earth. So, sometimes it makes sense to compromise. If you want it all, you’re going to have to pay for it.