WD 1TB Black My Passport Portable External Hard Drive. WD 1TB Black My Passport Portable. The Seagate Backup Plus Slim 2TB is one of the more compact non-SSD drives, making it the best external hard drive for those who are looking to save some space. And at less than $60, it's also a. Best overall external drive: WD My Passport SSD (starting at $89.99, originally $119.99; amazon.com) Half the battle with getting in the habit of backing up your computer is plugging in the drive. The best budget Seagate external hard drive with a decent amount of storage. Comes with a storage range of 1 to 5 TB of data. Integrated backup software is easy to use and customize for the specific computer. PS4 compatible with the right update.
- Best Portable Ssd Drive
- Fastest External Hard Drive
- Best External Hard Drives For Pc
- Best External Ssd For Pc
- Best Solid State External Hard Drives 2019
Best 2TB External SSD:Samsung T5
Best 4TB External SSD:VectoTech Rapid 4TB External SSD
Have you ever wondered if there is any one component in the market that can do-it-all for your computer? Then it has become almost necessary for you to get your hands on the best SSD external hard drive.
The best external SSD can perform vital functions. All gamers, computer professionals, and people who have to deal with lots of data such as video editing and photography also require a smooth, fast running computer set up with enough space. For this reason, external SSD and hard drives have become so popular.
With increasing dependency on digital means of data storage, whether for entertainment or professional purposes, has led to the need for great PC and MAC storage capabilities. So, we will list down some incredible, best SSD external hard drives in the market today. Take a look to find 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB hard drives that you can make great use out of.
Quick Summary
In the following article, we have reviewed and thoroughly looked at the most important features of the best SSD in the market. All reviews are based on features such as memory capacity, built quality, durability, and also brand reliability. The winners of this article are 3 SSDs that each has a capacity of 1, 2, and 4 TB.
Moreover, the article also takes a look at occasions and reasons why one would need an SSD external hard drive, how they would make use of it, and what features make them the best in the market.
Who Needs an SSD External Hard Drive?
Many people still wonder and are not convinced as to why they should invest a sum of money into an SSD external hard drive. If you need one answer to it, then it's simple: greater speed. However, better, improved speedy performance of your computer is not the only reason why one might need an external SSD.
· Gaming purposes
As a gamer, your needs for your computer system will be a lot different than the needs of a non-gamer. Game responsiveness, video quality, and the overall experience with gaming are hugely different and highly impacted if you are using a slower hard drive. Therefore, to ensure a better gaming performance as well as a better experience, a fast, SSD external drive is needed.
· Efficient backup
We realize how sensitive, crucial, and critical data is stored digitally. The days for paper-back files and documents are almost over. Whether you have loads of pictures from a recent vacation or need to back up heavy databases for your company/business, external SSD drives are the solution. They are spacious enough and reliable enough to store such a valuable amount of data.
· Immediate access anywhere anytime
You do not need special hardware, cables, or anything unique to access your valuable data. At any given time, you can access the hard drive. They are portable and are sturdily built to meet the needs of frequent travelers, corporate workers, or IT professionals. So, it's a lot more convenient than carrying laptops or depending on e-mails and cloud storage for data access.
· Safer than depending solely on an internal drive
If you have a PC or a MAC, it is important to know that external hard drives are a lot safer. By this, we are referring to situations where the built-in hard drive might get corrupted or damaged and stops working, then you will have absolutely no access to your computer and won't be able to use it. However, if something like that ever happens to the external drive, you will always have your computer's access.
How We Tested and Picked the Best External SSD
While we have created a list of the best SSD external hard drives, it is also important to know what makes them so beneficial and unique and worthy of being on the list. We have considered a few important aspects of each product, which are listed below. Use these considerations to also make your own decision about the best SSD external drive.
· Customer feedback
The best way to assess any product's performance and reliability is to see what real users and customers have experienced. The feedback customers leave for a product is valuable. It draws a realistic image of how the hard drive is going to perform. From installation, usage to longevity, we find all these measures about the product through customer feedback.
· Brand reliability
When it comes to digital hardware such as SSD external drives, the brand is of key importance. If you buy from a less known, novice brand, you are more likely to face troubles with either the product or the customer support. Therefore, experienced brands that have a good name in the market, such as Samsung and SanDisk, make it to our list. They are experienced brands that have been operating in the market for a long time and have now gained their customers' trust and a strong position in the market.
· Storage capacity
The hard drives on our list all vary between storage capacities. Some of them have one definite capacity of 2 TB, while others are available in a range of size options such as 1 and 2 TB both. We use storage capacity as an important key measure when judging an SSD drive. Without adequate space, SSD drives will lose their prime functionality and benefit.
· Transfer rate
While size is important, speed is also not to be overlooked. It is vital to see the data transfer rate of the drive. We use this measure to decide whether or not the drive is worth the money.
· Portability
While external drives are all portable and handy, some are more mobility-friendly than others. The portability depends hugely on built quality and size in terms of weight and dimensions. A heavy, hand-sized drive is not as portable as a lightweight, compact drive.
Portability is a personal preference. Some people do not want to or look forward to carrying the drive with them frequently. For these people, this might not be an important point to be considered.
· Add-ons
When you are paying such a sum of money for an SSD drive, it is vital to make sure that the product adds some additional value to your money. For this reason, we always look for extra add-ons and features. There could be a rubber casing, a carrying pouch/bag, extra cable, or even a generous warranty or money-back guarantee. Responsive and useful customer support are also important add-ons.
The Winners
Best 1TB External SSD: SanDisk Extreme Pro Portable SSD
Quick specs:
- Available in 500 GB, 1, 2 TB
- Data transfer rate of 1050mb/s
- IP55 rating ensuring water and dust resistance
- Aluminum body
- Has USB type-C and type-A connectivity
- Silicone rubber-coated for impact resistance
Operating since the late '80s, SanDisk today stands as one of the most reputable brands in the market for products like flash memory, memory cards, and hard drives. It is no surprise that this Extreme Pro Portable SSD by SanDisk is also one of their best-selling, best performing units in the market. The 1 TB SSD is the answer to all your storage issues.
The unit is constructed with a full aluminum body that makes it durable and resistant to rust/corrosion. This means that the durability is bound to add great value to your money. In addition to this, to further protect the disk from shocks and impacts, it also has rubberized ends to withstand falls. If this was not enough for adding durability and safety to the disk, the IP55 rating would surely seal the deal. The rating indicates that the disk is resistant to water as well as dust. So, it's a low maintenance yet high performing unit.
The maximum size available with this disk is 1 TB. However, the versatile SSD also comes in smaller sizes of 250 and 500 GB, so it caters to more customer needs. Another notable feature of this SSD is that it does not heat up too much as the maximum temperature it will ever reach is 45 degrees.
Also, it has a compact and lightweight design meant to fit in the palm of your hand or your pocket as well. So, maximize your portability and mobility of the data with this 1TB external SSD.
Best 2TB External SSD: Samsung T5
Quick specs:
- It is available in 4 colors
- Available in 1 and 2 TB capacity
- Fits in the palm of your hand
- Supports Windows 7 and macOS Maverick (or later)
- Comes with USB Type C to C and USB Type C to A cables
- Features optional password protection
Are you a picky buyer? Or are you a gamer with a whole PC set up and want everything to match?
Then the Samsung T5 2 TB external SSD is your pick!
The SSD is available in a range of 4 colors that include a black, red, blue, and gold colored device. You can select the color that best matches your gaming setup, so it blends in well. However, the appearance and variety of colors are not the only notable features of this unit.
This SSD can be bought in a range of 3 sizes, the largest size being 2 TB. So, if your memory needs are lesser, you can also opt for the 1 TB or 500 GB version. A remarkable feature of this device is its exceptionally compact design that easily fits within your hand's palm. It's also lightweight, weighing at almost 1.76 ounces, ensuring more portability and convenience too.
For further value addition, this unit comes with included Type C to C and Type C to A connectors, so you don't have to go through the troubles of buying the cables separately. All your data in this drive will be password protected by an optional feature with 256-bit AES hardware encryption. So, the versatility of colors and sizes, along with a metal body, lightweight, and compact, and full security all together, makes this an incredible pick!
This 2 TB SSD external is also supported by a 3-year warranty!
Best 4TB External SSD: VectoTech Rapid 4TB External SSD
Quick specs:
- Available in 5 sizes; 250, 500 GB, 1, 2 and 4 TB
- Backed by a manufacturer warranty of 3 years
- Has a shockproof construction
- Read/write speed is up to 540 MB/S
- USB 3.1 Gen 2 compatible
- Constructed with an aluminum case
- Works with both Mac and PC
Many people have never used an external hard drive before and are therefore reluctant because of so many questions and queries in their minds. However, with the right unit and the right technical support, you can make the most out of an external SSD.
For this reason, we find the VectoTech Rapid 4TB External SSD drive truly impressive. The hard drive is supported by easy-to-reach technical support at a number given by the brand. This allows for beginners and even professionals to solve all their queries and problems with the device. In addition, you also get your hands on a 3-year warranty provided by the manufacturer. This guarantees that your money does not go to waste.
Furthermore, the device is available in a versatile range of sizes. You can get it in 1, 2, and 4TB, and also in 250 and 500 GB. The 4TB SSD External hard drive also has compatibility with 2 cables. These include a Type C to C and a Type C to A compatibility.
In addition to this, it also is an ideal pick for those looking for easy mobility. It is lightweight and compact. It has a sleek silver-colored finish and an aluminum body to further add durability and sturdiness. One very important feature of this unit is that it does not need anything additional for installation. It can easily operate on Windows and Mac both, so it's a great choice for those who are less tech-savvy and have limited time but need a spacious hard drive for their data.
The Competition
Samsung X5 Portable SSD 1TB
Quick specs:
- Available in a variety of 3 sizes, 500 GB, 1 and 2 TB
- Full metal body with a non-slip base
- Equipped with Samsung Thermal Guard technology for better heat dissipation
- AES 256-bit encryption for better safety
- 40 GB/S data transfer rate
Samsung has never failed to deliver the most reliable and high quality products in the market. They have a great reputation and years of experience. Similarly, their X5 portable SSD 1TB is also an incredible product in terms of its versatile range of features and an exceptionally well-built design.
Firstly, the SSD hard drive comes in a range of 3 sizes, which include 500 GB and 1 and 2 TB. It has a data transfer speed of 40 GB/S, along with a Thunderbolt 3 power. Moreover, the drive features a sturdy and stable design that can be used for gaming PCs as well.
Its most distinctive feature is the non-slip base that ensures it stays stable. Its appearance is unique and distinctive, too, with a black and a little touch of red-colored side panels that make it attractive. The hard drive is meant to ensure good performance with its reading and writing speed of 2800 and 2300 MB/s, respectively.
Furthermore, the device is also equipped with the distinctive Samsung Dynamic Thermal Guard protection, which will guarantee the longevity of the device. The glossy metal body, along with size options and a shock-resistant internal design is all supported by a 3-year warranty.
WD 4TB My Passport Ultra Silver Portable External Hard Drive
Quick specs:
- USB-C and USB 3.0 compatible
- Has a strong metal cover
- Compatible with Windows 10
- 256-bit AES standard security encrypted
- It weighs 231 grams
Have a Windows system and need additional space for data storage? This WD 4TB My Passport Ultra-portable hard drive is the answer. From compact size to a sleek appearance and a spacious memory capacity, this is one of the best SSD external hard drives in the market today.
It comes from a reliable brand, Western Digital, that excels in manufacturing computer hardware and memory components as well. There are a number of features that make this one of the best, with the 256-Bit AES standard security being the most important one. So, you can secure your valuable data in this device and not worry about safety.
Moreover, the device is made of metal. The strong metal not only ensures a durable build but also adds value to your money with its sturdiness. The rugged built is going to last a long time. In addition, the silver-colored, metallic look of the device further makes it impressive and a good addition to your PC setup. Also, you get to choose between a silver and a blue-colored finish!
It is fully compatible with Windows 10 and is specifically designed for that purpose. All these outstanding features will be supported by a warranty of 3 years offered by the brand itself.
Seagate Fast SSD 500GB External Solid State Drive Portable
Quick specs:
- Available in 500 GB, 1 and 2 TB size options
- Compatible with USB-C
- Backed by a 3-year warranty
- Data transfer rate of 540 MB/S
- Comes with an additional 2-month Adobe membership
- Equipped with a convenient folder syncing feature
- Metallic finish gives it a sleek look
- Has a shockproof built
The easiest way to describe this Seagate SSD hard drive is that it is portable, sleek, and super-fast. The device has a data transfer speed of 540 MB/s. Plus, it is available in 500 GB, 1, and 2 TB sizes. The fast SSD model has a sleek design, featuring an all-black matte exterior with a slim LED green light indicating whether or not the device is on. Its minimalistic design is its most impressive and distinctive feature.
We hugely recommend this SSD for gamers who need an additional, fast drive for systems like PlayStation and Xbox. An important feature of this device is that it is capable of backing up and syncing data automatically, ensuring that you never lose your valuable data. The hard drive also has USB-C reversible compatibility, so you get USB A connections too.
For heavy-duty gaming, streaming heavy data, and high-resolution games, this is the ideal pick.
HP P600 1 TB Portable USB 3.1 External SSD
Quick specs:
- 1 TB, 250 and 500 GB sizes available
- All-black exterior with a sleek finish
- Works with Mac, Windows, and other systems
- Is USB-C compatible
- Fully supported by a 3-year warranty
- Has a vibration and shock resistant built
- Weighs 108 grams
Everyone thinks about HP when it comes to finding computer hardware parts. HP has proven to be one of the market-leading brands in the world of computers. So, we have selected its P600 500GB External SSD as one of the best SSD drives in the market. This hard drive is best for home use, office use, and for storing extra data to keep your computer system clean. The drive is compact and lightweight as it weighs for only about 108 grams.
You can also avail this device in a 1 TB design. A remarkable thing about this unit is that it comes with a USB-C connector, Type C to Type A, and Type A to Type C adaptors too. So, this highly reliable HP drive saves you lots of time and energy in finding the right connectors and adaptors. With a sleek black body, metallic construction, and vibration and shock resistance, the unit is highly reliable and portable as well.
Conclusion
To sum up the article, we would suggest that the best SSD external hard drive that you want to buy should meet your expectations and usage requirements. Don't go for a hard drive that is only pricey, but look at some other features as well, such as its built quality. Always remember to pick the right size as you might not need a lot of space right now, but in the long term, a spacious drive will be hugely beneficial.
The market is teeming with storage choices, from relatively modest 500GB to 2TB models, to multi-terabyte models with capacities reaching into the double digits.
But finding the best hard drive for music production can come with its own challenges… Thunderbolt? USB type-C? Solid-state? Transfer speeds? etc. And with hard drive storage being cheaper and more accessible than in the past, there's no reason why you shouldn't invest in a couple of external drives to back up your valuable data, archive your projects, or free up space on your internal drive.
So in this post, we'll take a look at the top hard drives and solid state drives that you ought be using.
Top 5 External Storage Drives for Producers
Samsung Portable SSD T5
See Price @ AmazonThe Samsung T5 is one of the latest and most impressive SDDs, it's known for fast transfer speeds and the durability to hold up against the most demanding environments. It is available in several colors and fits neatly into your pocket or purse, giving you dependable storage wherever you go.
Specs and featuresThe T5 uses Samsung's V-NAND flash memory technology and has a USB 3.1 Gen 2 interface onboard. With transfer speeds of up to 540 MB/s, it is 4.9 times faster than comparable HDDs. Large project files, multi-gigabyte audio, high-resolution photos, and even 4K videos transfer within minutes, so you don't have to spend a lot of time backing up and archiving your precious data.
The fast transfer speed translates to smooth and effortless streaming as well. If you don't want to clog up your computer's internal drive with gigs and gigs of sample libraries, you can stream them from the T5 without so much as a hiccup. Of course, you do need to have a USB 3.1 Gen 2 port on your computer and enable UASP mode. But once you set everything up, you can pretty much rely on the T5 to stream your audio flawlessly.
Like all SDDs, the T5 does not have moving parts, which goes a long way in ensuring durability and reliability. Even so, the circuitry is protected by a sturdy metal casing that has been drop-tested from a height of two meters. Unless you are in the habit of drop-kicking your external drives, it's safe to say that the T5 will handle even the most rigorous studio use.
The T5 is compatible with Macs and PCs, and even smartphones and gaming consoles. It comes with USB Type-C to C and USB Type-C to A cables for maximum connectivity options.
User impressionsMusic producers find the T5 to be an excellent budget-friendly storage option. Some have purchased it thinking that they would get only a minimal speed boost but were surprised to see how much it shortened loading times. The performance boost was even more noticeable when loading up large project files from the drive.
Bottom-lineWith a maximum capacity of 2TB, the Samsung T5 isn't the largest drive around. Nevertheless, the speed and performance make up for the somewhat modest space, and it is inexpensive enough so that you could get a few for backup and archiving purposes.
Watch the DemoGlyph StudioRAID Thunderbolt 2
See Price @ Amazon or SweetwaterThe Glyph StudioRAID Thunderbolt 2 is billed as a 'production-grade' external raid hard drive, which is intended to speed up and enhance workflow. Quite an excellent choice for studio musicians, video editors, and anyone that needs rugged and reliable storage, the Glyph StudioRAID is especially suitable for backing up large DAW files, rendered audio, and humongous sample libraries.
Specs and featuresThe Glyph StudioRAID supports Thunderbolt 2, which gives you a comfortable level of future-proofing. It also has USB 3.0 connectivity, so it will work with a wide variety of devices and configurations. But what really speeds up its performance is the support for current hardware RAID modes, including 1, 0, JBOD, and SPAN. This versatility gives you quick and seamless access to your digital library.
Right out of the box, the Glyph StudioRAID is formatted for HFS+ with Journaling and Time Machine compatibility. If you are planning on using it on a Windows machine, you simply have to reformat the drive beforehand, which should take only a few minutes at most.
Like all respectable external hard drives, the Glyph StudioRAID comes in a robust metal enclosure, which protects it against the most determined bumps and jostles. It also has a built-in heavy-duty power supply and auto-sensing power feature, so you can pretty much just plug it in and get to work.
Other features include a soft-touch power switch and disk health monitoring. The Glyph StudioRAID supports drive capacities from 2TB to 28TB, so you can choose from cost-effective storage to near-limitless capacity.
User impressionsUsers of the StudioRAID have a great deal of confidence in Glyph, considering the company is one of the few that makes storage devices specifically for studio professionals. In most cases, the StudioRAID outperformed the closest competitor by a wide margin, streaming as much as 350MB per second. For handling multiple audio streams, the Glyph StudioRAID has proven to be unbeatable for many users.
Bottom-lineThe Glyph StudioRAID is admittedly a bit expensive, but you can't put a price on quality. Everything about the unit is noticeably high-quality, from the performance to the all-metal enclosure. If you want a dependable storage device that you can rely on for years, the StudioRAID is a great choice.
Watch the DemoGlyph Atom SSD 1TB USB-C
See Price @ Amazon or SweetwaterIf your needs are more modest, the Glyph Atom SSD is an excellent alternative to the monstrous multi-terabyte drives currently flooding the market. Offering up to 2TB of storage, it is better suited for transferring files and taking them on-the-go rather than archiving and sound library streaming. Even so, the Atom's features and trademark performance capabilities make it an essential studio tool that will find plenty of use in your rig.
Specs and featuresLike its bigger brother, the Glyph StudioRAID, the minuscule Atom boasts of Thunderbolt 3 capability and USB-C 3.1 Generation 2 compatibility. It is also HFS+ preformatted right out of the box, with Journaling and Time Machine support. Like the StudioRAID, a quick reformat is all it takes to get it communicating with your Windows machine.
Where the Atom differs is in its form factor. Amazingly compact and lightweight, this will hardly take up any space on your desktop, sitting unobtrusively next to your studio computer. But even with its minute dimensions, the Atom delivers impressive performance, streaming data at a blinding rate of 560MB per second. You could easily drag and drop gigabytes of audio files to it all day and not lose precious minutes in the studio.
The Atom comes in an all-aluminum enclosure, which provides sufficient protection under most conditions. It is bus-powered too so you won't have to wrestle with a bulky, space-eating power supply. And for maximum connectivity, the Atom comes with a USB-C to USB-C (3.1) and a USB-C to USB 3.0 cable.
The Atom is available in capacities from 250GB to 2TB.
User impressionsUnsurprisingly, most users of the Atom find it to be just as impressive as its bigger capacity brothers. Many are especially impressed at how much power and performance they can harness with a single USB cable, with no power supply in sight. As expected, the Atom is totally silent, and many users report being unaware that it is on if not for the bright LED light. Audio and video work is notoriously demanding on hard drives, but the Atom keeps up like a champ.
Bottom-lineThe Atom is a cost-effective solution for most storage and data transferring needs. It is inexpensive enough that you could simply purchase one for every major project you are working on. This is often preferable to relying on larger drives that could fail and take all your data with them.
LaCie Rugged Thunderbolt USB 3.0
See Price @ Amazon or SweetwaterLaCie has long been known for its reliability and performance, and the aptly-named Rugged is no different. Upholding the proud LaCie tradition admirably, the Rugged is the near-perfect solution for most every data storage need in the modern music production studio. With features such as USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt connectivity, the Rugged is well up the challenge of the most demanding music applications.
Specs and featuresLaCie proudly proclaims the Rugged to be one of the fastest bus-powered storage devices currently available. This claim is no idle boast, as the USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt connectivity allows you to stream huge audio and video files without a hitch. In fact, the Rugged is designed to give you the perfect balance between speed, durability, and mobility.
The durability comes into play with the Rugged's ability to withstand drops from up to two meters, which should cover most typical studio situations. The drive also has IP 54-level protection against water and dust, so you can be sure that your data will remain intact even if you subject your equipment to rough and rugged road conditions.
The availability of USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt ports also ensures maximum compatibility with Macs and PCs. Whether you are looking for additional storage for your laptop or a quick and easy way to transfer files between remote computers, the Rugged is an ideal solution.
LaCie has seen fit to integrate the Thunderbolt cable into the drive's casing, so it is always there when you need it. A seemingly minor innovation to be sure, but it does help you avoid having to hunt for a Thunderbolt cable, which isn't currently ubiquitous in many studios yet.
User impressionsLaCie drives tend to attract serious studio professionals in the video and audio industries. The Rugged certainly doesn't disappoint, with its fast and reliable performance in a portable and convenient form factor. In numerous real-world test scenarios, the Rugged has consistently proven its ability to mount quickly and stream data without issues.
Bottom-lineThe LaCie Rugged ticks all the boxes when it comes to reliable and convenient storage. It also comes with an attractive price tag, making it worthy of serious consideration for anyone looking for an inexpensive but dependable external hard drive.
Best Portable Ssd Drive
Watch the DemoFastest External Hard Drive
G-Technology 1TB G-DRIVE
The durability comes into play with the Rugged's ability to withstand drops from up to two meters, which should cover most typical studio situations. The drive also has IP 54-level protection against water and dust, so you can be sure that your data will remain intact even if you subject your equipment to rough and rugged road conditions.
The availability of USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt ports also ensures maximum compatibility with Macs and PCs. Whether you are looking for additional storage for your laptop or a quick and easy way to transfer files between remote computers, the Rugged is an ideal solution.
LaCie has seen fit to integrate the Thunderbolt cable into the drive's casing, so it is always there when you need it. A seemingly minor innovation to be sure, but it does help you avoid having to hunt for a Thunderbolt cable, which isn't currently ubiquitous in many studios yet.
User impressionsLaCie drives tend to attract serious studio professionals in the video and audio industries. The Rugged certainly doesn't disappoint, with its fast and reliable performance in a portable and convenient form factor. In numerous real-world test scenarios, the Rugged has consistently proven its ability to mount quickly and stream data without issues.
Bottom-lineThe LaCie Rugged ticks all the boxes when it comes to reliable and convenient storage. It also comes with an attractive price tag, making it worthy of serious consideration for anyone looking for an inexpensive but dependable external hard drive.
Best Portable Ssd Drive
Watch the DemoFastest External Hard Drive
G-Technology 1TB G-DRIVE
See Price @ Amazon or SweetwaterG-Technology's G-DRIVE delivers all the reliability and performance you would expect from a state-of-the-art SSD drive at a price that won't break the bank. One of the most rugged external drives you will find at this price point, it even measures up against costlier models with its modern connectivity and data protection features.
Specs and featuresWith transfer speeds of up to 560MB per second, the G-DRIVE easily measures up to the demands of modern audio and video production environments. Even the largest data files zip back and forth within minutes, so you don't have to waste too much time on the necessary-but-tedious tasks of backing up and archiving.
Best External Hard Drives For Pc
The G-DRIVE has a USB-C port with support for USB 3.1 Gen 2 interfaces, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of desktop and laptop computers.
So far, so good. But where the G-DRIVE really leaves the competition behind is in its innovative data and mechanism protection features that ensure the utmost integrity of your file content. While most external drives are drop-tested to a height of two meters, the G-DRIVE is tested for three-meter drop protection. It also has a 1,000-pound crushproof rating and has IP67 protection against water and dust.
Enclosing the drive is an aluminum core casing that prevents overheating even at peak performance. This casing also serves to insulate the drive when it isn't being used.
The G-DRIVE is available in capacities ranging from 500GB to 2TB.
User impressionsMany users found the G-DRIVE to be even faster than other higher-spec'd drives with similar capacities. The difference isn't night and day, but it does give many users a sense of gratification knowing that superior performance is available at a slightly lower cost from a lesser-known brand.
The G-DRIVE's small form factor also scored points among home studio owners who don't have a lot of desk space to spare. And with its proven protection features, the G-DRIVE is even well-suited for the demands of the road.
Bottom-lineRuggedness and reliability are what the G-DRIVE is all about, and it even delivers admirably in terms of speed. At this price point, the market is pretty much crowded with excellent external drive options. Even so, the G-DRIVE has what it takes to make it a serious contender.
How to Choose the Best External Storage Drive?
HDD vs. SDD
When choosing an external drive, the choice often comes down to hard disk drives (HDDs) or solid-state drives (SDDs). The traditional option is HDDs, which are cheaper and come with larger storage capacities. The downside is that HDDs are much more prone to damage when dropped or bumped, which could result in data loss. They are also heavier than SDDs, consume more energy, and have shorter lifespans. Even so, a good HDD from a reputable manufacturer should last for many years if you take good care of it.
SSDs are capable of faster performance, although this usually isn't a crucial factor for external drives. The best HDDs should be able to stream large audio files and sample libraries just fine for most purposes. In any case, SDDs generally have longer lifespans than HDDs. They are also lighter and run cooler. On the downside, they are more expensive than HDDs, especially when you go for multi-terabyte models.
Size and form factor
HDDs typically come in 3.5-inch and 2.5-inch sizes. Most external drives that come in dedicated enclosures contain 2.5' drives, such as the ones commonly used in laptops. You could, of course, purchase either a 3.5' or a 2.5' drive and place it in a suitable enclosure. This is usually a more cost-effective alternative to buying an external drive that comes in a dedicated enclosure, and you have a wider variety of disk capacities to choose from.
Traditionally, the main difference between the two form factors is that 3.5' HDDs can hold much more data. But this isn't necessarily the case anymore, as recent advances in technology have made it possible to store close to an equivalent amount of data in a 2.5' drive. One thing that hasn't changed though is that most 3.5' external drives still require a dedicated power supply, while most 2.5' drives can be powered off a USB port.
Connection type
All external drives connect to your computer via USB cables, whether they are HDDs or SSDs. But even USB connectors come in a few different types. Most older drives use Mini-B USB cables, which only works with USB 1.1 and USB 2.0 ports and devices.
Best External Ssd For Pc
The newer standard is Micro-B, which works with USB 3.0. Keep in mind that this cable isn't backward compatible with USB 1.1 or 2.0.
Best Solid State External Hard Drives 2019
There is also a Type-C USB cable, which supports USB 3.0, as well as all earlier USB versions. An added benefit is that you can insert this type of cable in any direction, so you won't have to keep flipping the connector over to plug your external hard drive in!
Newer Type-C USB connectors work with Thunderbolt technology, which was initially compatible only with Apple devices. Thunderbolt 3 is now compatible with PCs, but keep in mind that while Thunderbolt devices work with all Type-C USB connectors, not all Type-C connectors support Thunderbolt.
If you want to future-proof your storage capabilities, you should, at the very least, go for an external drive that has a Type-C connector. Better still, look into a hard drive that supports Thunderbolt technology.
Storage capacity
The largest capacity HDDs you could get go up to 12TB or more. There are even larger capacity drives that can go up to 15 or 16TB, but these are generally intended for enterprise applications.
SDD drives were initially limited to smaller capacities, but you can now find SSDs capable of multi-terabyte storage. There is even an SSD that stores as much as 16TB of data, but as with HDDs, these are better suited for enterprise applications.
In any case, it is generally a good idea to go for external drives in the 4TB to 8TB range and divide your data between a few of them. This will provide you with enough storage space for all your projects, sample libraries, and backups, without costing you too much money. And with relatively smaller drives, there is less risk of losing all your data to a damaged single drive.
Transfer speed
Transfer speed is an important concern if you plan on streaming audio files, samples, and sample libraries from your external hard drive. A 7200 RPM drive will allow you to stream data much faster and with fewer hiccups than a 5400 RPM drive.
Transfer speed is less of an issue if you are planning on using your external drive only for backing up project files. Even so, it is probably best to go with a 7200 RPM drive as the cost difference over a 5400 RPM drive is marginal.
Failure rate
One other aspect you should look into is failure rate. SDDs do not have any moving parts, so they would theoretically last longer than HDDs. But if you plan on using your external drive only for backups and archives and don't run it continuously, you should be able to get many years of use out of it before you have to think about looking for a replacement.
