Portable ssd hard drive: recommended models and our favorites
Table of contents:
- Why an SSD?
- The different models and compatibility with portable ssd hard drives
- Recommended SATA III SSD Models
- Corsair LE200
- Samsung 860 PRO
- Crucial MX500
- ADATA SU800
- Crucial BX500
- Recommended M.2 SSD Models
- Samsung 970 PRO
- WD Black SN750
- Kingston A2000
- Crucial MX500 (M.2)
- What about mSATA drives?
What portable ssd hard drive to buy? It is one of the issues to consider when a computer begins to perform below our needs, it is very common to replace some internal component to keep it up to date. There are more accessible formats than others when making such changes, the laptop being one of the most restrictive.
Some time ago we saw how an SSD can be one of the best changes you can make to an older laptop. Today we want to dig a little deeper into the topic, naming our favorite SSDs to update your laptop.
Index of contents
Why an SSD?
Solid state drives (SSDs) serve the same function as a traditional hard drive, but stand out for their devilish speed compared to their mechanical siblings and for lack of moving parts. Both peculiarities make them especially attractive for use on laptops.
These teams tend to move regularly from our desks and the movement is not a great friend of moving parts; In addition, they usually have sub-par hardware that is difficult to modify compared to a desktop computer, so the high read and write speeds help them stay relevant longer.
Knowing this, and that SSD drives have been with us for many years, it might be normal to wonder why manufacturers have not started using them on their computers before.
The answer to this question is simple: because of its intrinsic value. Until recently, purchasing an SSD involved sacrificing space, or increasing your investment for perfect storage. Today this map has changed, and we can get hold of one of these units at a good price and with considerable space. Therefore, there is no better time to make this modification to an old laptop.
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The different models and compatibility with portable ssd hard drives
It is important to know that not all SSD drives are equal to each other. There are different formats with different peculiarities and characteristics that may or may not be compatible with your laptop.
The most common and, possibly, the one with greater compatibility, are 2.5 '' SSDs with SATA III connection. SATA is a connection interface that has been an industry standard for many years. If your equipment is not compatible, possibly it is an ultrabook (which will make use of other SSD formats, for example soldered on board or with 1.8-inch format), or it is so old that it is not worth updating.
SATA III 2.5 ”SSDs are one of the most widespread formats.
The rest of the formats are closely related to the bandwidth limitations of the SATA III interface. The two most widespread variations are mSATA SSDs and M.2 SSDs, the latter being the most leading and currently extended among notebooks. MSATA drives have faltered in favor of M.2s due to their higher read and write speeds, but it is quite common to find notebook compatibility from 2010 to 2016.
In any case, we recommend you check the online manual for your laptop to find out what formats your specific laptop is compatible with.
Recommended SATA III SSD Models
As we have already advanced, it is the most widespread format currently, both in compatibility and in use. For that same reason, it is also the one with the most extensive offer and the one that varies the most in prices. Our favorite models are the following:
Corsair LE200
- Start up and shutdown your computer faster, Ready for your applications in no time, and find your documents and files instantly. Up to 95% less power consumption compared to standard HDDs, resulting in Better power efficiency and extend battery life with notebook computers. Various capacity options (120GB, 240GB, 480GB) Improved Error Correction Support for envelope dubbing, secure, disk cloning, FW upgrade and much more.
An SSD that fits all three B's: Good, nice and cheap. Thanks to its TLC memories and its great compatibility with PCs and computers it is a safe bet. It has sequential read and write speeds of 550 MB / s and 500 MB / s. It is available in capacities of 120, 240 and 480 GB.
Samsung 860 PRO
- SAT interface Sequential read 560MB / s Sequential write 530MB / s
Samsung is the world's largest memory maker alongside Micron, and they both have a large number of SSDs under their label. From the South Korean brand, its 860 PRO are the fastest and most reliable models in this format.
The memory modules are based on the brand's V-NAND technology, are MLC memories and have sequential read and write speeds of 560 MB / s and 530 MB / s (respectively). We have them in various sizes, which range from 256 GB to 2 TB.
Crucial MX500
- Sequential reads / writes up to 560/510 MB / s on all file types and random reads / writes up to 95 / 90k on all file types Accelerated by NAND Micron 3D technology The Integrated Energy Loss Immunity preserves everything if I work archived if the Power fails unexpectedly 256-bit AES hardware-based encryption keeps data secure out of the reach of hackers and hackers Product ships with Amazon Certified Frustration Free package (may vary from package represented in product attachment)
As it could not be otherwise, Micron had to appear on this list. The North American manufacturer offers a very interesting model with its MX500 series, for its performance and reliability, but, above all, for the price at which it does so.
MX500 units use TLC modules based on Micron 3D NAND technology, with read and write rates of 560 MB / s and 510 MB / s (respectively) and very good durability. In addition, they are available in various sizes, ranging from 250GB to 2TB. One of our favorite options for portable ssd hard drive.
ADATA SU800
- 2.5 "512GB solid state drive Includes smart SLC cache and a buffer with DRAM cache to further increase read and write performance Incorporates Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) technology to correct code errors Optimized for best low durability RAID configurations
The ADATA SU800s are in a very interesting position. These are SSD drives that use MLC-type NANDs, just like the model we have recommended from Samsung. This type of NAND is very fast and more durable than the standard TLC that we usually see in SATA drives and this model offers them at a very good price.
The read and write speeds are 560 MB / s and 530 MB / s (respectively) and we can find them in various sizes, ranging from 128 GB to 512 GB on Amazon. Unfortunately, they are somewhat more elusive than previous models and take time to replace them. Having MLC memory seems like a great longevity purchase as a portable ssd hard drive.
Crucial BX500
- Faster startup; load files faster; improve overall system responsiveness 300% times faster than a normal hard drive Improves battery life because it is 45 times more energy efficient than a conventional hard drive Micro 3D NAND - world innovator of memory and storage technology during 40 years The product is shipped with the Amazon Certified Frustration Free package (may vary from the package represented in the product attachment)
Among the economic options that we can find in the market, Crucial's proposal is one of the most interesting. The BX500s correspond to Micron's "input range" in this format, somewhat noticeable by the plastic finishes of the disc and the SMI controller they include, below the MX500.
However, the TLC modules used are also based on the brand's 3D NAND technology and offer a read and write speed of 500 MB / s and 530 MB / s (respectively) in addition to good durability, above what We can find in brands lower than this price.
Recommended M.2 SSD Models
M.2 format SSD models are very popular nowadays due to their small size and the high speeds that the highest performance models can achieve. These are those based on NVMe (PCIe), while the most similar to other formats in terms of performance and speed are the M.2 SATA.
Samsung 970 PRO
- Exceptional transfer speed and lots of capacity Smart turbowrite technology Exceptional reliability
Once again the South Korean brand appears in our list of recommended, this time with the 970 PRO, one of the best NVMe SSDs that are now on the market.
Like the 960 PRO, it uses MLC memory modules, this time based on the company's 3d-VNAND technology. It achieves read and write rates of 3, 500 MB / s and 2, 100 MB / s (respectively), much higher than any unit we have seen in the previous section. We can find them from 248 GB to 2 TB.
WD Black SN750
- Transfer speeds of up to 3470MB / s for better load times Available in capacities ranging from 250GB to 1TB Elegant design to customize your gaming network The exclusive control panel of the WD Black SSD improves gaming performance
Not long ago we began to see the products of the well-known North American brand make the leap into the SSD market, but its introduction has been very noticeable. Like their hard drives, the "Black" versions of WD refer to their fastest models.
This NVMe unit uses high speed TLC based SanDisk memories (Also 3D NAND). It achieves very respectable read and write rates of 3400 MB / s and 2800 MB / s (respectively). In addition, its price is measured in comparisons with other high-performance models. We can find them from 250 GB to 2 TB. There are always deals on this portable ssd hard drive
Kingston A2000
- PCIe NVMe performance at a fraction of the normal cost Compatible with a comprehensive security package (TCG Opal, 256-bit XTS-AES, eDrive) for Ultrabooks and Small Form Factor PCs (PC SFF) Upgrade your PC with capacities up to 1TB ** Ideal for Ultrabooks and Small Form Factor PCs (PC SFF)
Kingston is a reputable brand within the SSD market. On this occasion, we want to highlight its A2000 model for its affordable price and the benefits it brings, making it an excellent option to upgrade a compatible laptop.
Its TLC memories reach 2200 MB / s of reading and 2000 MB / s of writing, below other alternatives that we have seen, but their prices continue to make them attractive. We can find them in sizes from 250 GB to 1 TB of capacity.
Crucial MX500 (M.2)
- Sequential reads / writes up to 560/510 MB / s on all file types and random reads / writes up to 95 / 90k on all file types Accelerated by NAND Micron 3D technology The Integrated Energy Loss Immunity preserves everything if I work archived if the Power cuts unexpectedly 256-bit AES hardware-based encryption keeps data safe out of the reach of hackers and hackers
This crucial model is the M.2 format variant of the model that has already appeared in this list. It maintains the same prices and speeds as the other version, as well as the type of memories and sizes available, but its format can make it more convenient than its 2.5-inch alternative.
It should be noted that, despite its format, this disk continues to use SATA as the connection interface and not PCIe as the NVMe drives that we have listed so far do. That is the main reason for its huge price difference compared to the other models.
What about mSATA drives?
MSATA drives are deprecated for the convenience of the M.2 format. Currently it is relatively difficult to find any of these units from the main brands, so you will have to resort to somewhat more Chinese models or pull from Amazon or Ebay if you want to get one of them.
Transcend models are relatively affordable and offer good durability, so they may be your best option.
- MSATA form factor and 6 GB / s SATA III interface. Up to 550 MB / s read; 400 MB / s write 3D NAND Flash memory Designed with RAID engine, LDPC code to ensure data integrity and built-in SLC cache technology for exceptional transfer speeds Compatible with DevSleep ultra-low power mode, SMART, TRIM commands, and NCQ
To learn more about this topic, we recommend that you take a look at our special on the mSATA connection interface, which covers the topic in more depth. What portable ssd hard drive have you installed on your computer?
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