usb-c enclosure or thumbdrive

[NMSS_2]

What would be your choice if you need it for ....

- backup of OS for new laptop and file transfer between PC to laptop and back.
- possible building new PC in future.


usb-c enclosure with NVME storage
Pros :
- fast. about 1 gb per second.
- support higher bitrate video playback direct from the enclosure.
- Might be able to reuse as OS drive for future PC.
- allows direct replacement to laptop nvme if it failed.
Cons :
- enclosure itself cost 50 USD + storage price.

thumbdrive
Pros :
- cheap. Save cost and buy cheaper NVME for future PC (assuming cost will come down with larger space).
Cons :
- slower transfer.

Choice:
1) usb-c enclosure with 1TB NVME
2) usb-c enclosure with 256 NVME
3) 128 thumbdrive

 

[86technie]

NVME SSD usually are much pricey than SATA.
In my opinion if you wish to have a external SSD than
normal SATA SSD will do.

NVME bridge adapter are hard to find, it doesn't guarantee high
throughput and your PC/laptop storage also play a part.
NVME SSD best performance is on PC/laptop since it runs
on PCI/E interface.

If you want fast external SSD than get Samsung T5 will do.
Thumbdrive is not very ideal as the read/write is not as
fast as SSD.

 

[Entry Level PC]

Just grab an external HDD?

 

[wwenze]

Or maybe you can choose a normal USB3.0 enclosure?

 

[havoc23]

NVME SSD usually are much pricey than SATA.
In my opinion if you wish to have a external SSD than
normal SATA SSD will do.

NVME bridge adapter are hard to find, it doesn't guarantee high
throughput and your PC/laptop storage also play a part.
NVME SSD best performance is on PC/laptop since it runs
on PCI/E interface.

If you want fast external SSD than get Samsung T5 will do.
Thumbdrive is not very ideal as the read/write is not as
fast as SSD.

Samsung T5 Small and light.

 

[xonix]

2.5 inch ssd with a proper usb c case
Best bang for your buck especially if you have older ones lying around.

 

[Entry Level PC]

I don't understand why ppl are dumping so much money into an NVMe SSD.


It's a waste of money if you are not doing I/O intense work - e.g. High volume DB processing hundreds of thousands of records and multi-user queries.


Otherwise, it's just a marketing gimmick....


A SATA SSD will do.


But if you already have the NVMe SSD, do note that putting in externally means you can NEVER max out the potential of the SSD, since the USB 3.1 port is rated for 10Gbps max. A PCI-e lane can go up to 32Gbps.

people got $$$ to burn and want to get the best.

 

[NMSS_2]

thanks for the advice guys.

I have checked the Samsung t5, it is msata. If i am going to use in pc in future, i would need a convertor($20++) for it.

thumbdrive is definitely out based on the recommendations.


(prices in USD)

Option A :
500gb sata hdd + USB-c sata enclosure (UASP) = $70 + $10.
- the sata hdd can be reused as scratch disk in future. The UASP transfer rate as external drive is about the same as T5.

Option B:
500gb nvme hdd( only adata XPG SX8200 Pro) $100 or (samsung 970 Pro / evo ) > $140 + USB-c nvme enclosure $50 = $150.
- the nvme hdd can be reused as main for future pc.


dilemma ......... let me buy a dice.....

I think i will go for the Option A as it is cheaper, the transfer rate is half of the Option B. I go for NVME hdd(hopefully cheaper) when the AMD releases the new chips.

Thanks for the help.

 

[NMSS_2]

I don't understand why ppl are dumping so much money into an NVMe SSD.


It's a waste of money if you are not doing I/O intense work - e.g. High volume DB processing hundreds of thousands of records and multi-user queries.


Otherwise, it's just a marketing gimmick....


A SATA SSD will do.


But if you already have the NVMe SSD, do note that putting in externally means you can NEVER max out the potential of the SSD, since the USB 3.1 port is rated for 10Gbps max. A PCI-e lane can go up to 32Gbps.

Where got marketing gimmick. The pure burst rate is weed-citing. I am hypothesizing that it could be used as page file for low ram devices like MS surface product.

To use the stated nvme speed externally, need thunderbolt. Given if the laptop can support thunderbolt, the enclosure price is $$$.

 

[Illusionist_85]

depends what u wan lo, if purely for storage just get thumbdrive

 

[86technie]

thanks for the advice guys.

I have checked the Samsung t5, it is msata. If i am going to use in pc in future, i would need a convertor($20++) for it.

thumbdrive is definitely out based on the recommendations.


(prices in USD)

Option A :
500gb sata hdd + USB-c sata enclosure (UASP) = $70 + $10.
- the sata hdd can be reused as scratch disk in future. The UASP transfer rate as external drive is about the same as T5.

Option B:
500gb nvme hdd( only adata XPG SX8200 Pro) $100 or (samsung 970 Pro / evo ) > $140 + USB-c nvme enclosure $50 = $150.
- the nvme hdd can be reused as main for future pc.


dilemma ......... let me buy a dice.....

I think i will go for the Option A as it is cheaper, the transfer rate is half of the Option B. I go for NVME hdd(hopefully cheaper) when the AMD releases the new chips.

Thanks for the help.

There are two external SDD with USB-C.
Sony SL-E/Sandisk Extreme Portable/Seagate Fast SSD

If you wish to go for enclosure just get SATA SSD will do.
Unless you are doing heavy IO task like video editing, computing and etc.
than NVME will shine.

Data transfer wise SATA will do fine not to mention USB will bottleneck NVME so the throughput will be based on USB not NVME.

 

[86technie]

I don't understand why ppl are dumping so much money into an NVMe SSD.


It's a waste of money if you are not doing I/O intense work - e.g. High volume DB processing hundreds of thousands of records and multi-user queries.


Otherwise, it's just a marketing gimmick....


A SATA SSD will do.


But if you already have the NVMe SSD, do note that putting in externally means you can NEVER max out the potential of the SSD, since the USB 3.1 port is rated for 10Gbps max. A PCI-e lane can go up to 32Gbps.

Exactly for TS usage which just data transfer than a SATA SSD will do.

 

[watzup_ken]

Where got marketing gimmick. The pure burst rate is weed-citing. I am hypothesizing that it could be used as page file for low ram devices like MS surface product.

To use the stated nvme speed externally, need thunderbolt. Given if the laptop can support thunderbolt, the enclosure price is $$$.

While NVME speed is fast, they don't always run at peak transfer rate, for example, (1) heat will cost it to throttle, and (2) If the SLC cache runs out. There are also factors such as it being bottleneck by USB 3.0/ 3.1 transfer rates, or bottleneck by the transfer rate of the SSD/ hard drive speed on the machine that you are trying to back up.

I won't go to the extreme to say back up with thumb drive, but getting a good old SATA3 SSD + enclosure is a more economic way with minimal compromise between both your proposed solution. While it is not that small, we don't really carry a back up drive around do we?

 

[NMSS_2]

While NVME speed is fast, they don't always run at peak transfer rate, for example, (1) heat will cost it to throttle, and (2) If the SLC cache runs out. There are also factors such as it being bottleneck by USB 3.0/ 3.1 transfer rates, or bottleneck by the transfer rate of the SSD/ hard drive speed on the machine that you are trying to back up.

I won't go to the extreme to say back up with thumb drive, but getting a good old SATA3 SSD + enclosure is a more economic way with minimal compromise between both your proposed solution. While it is not that small, we don't really carry a back up drive around do we?

any storage chip based technology would require cooling. I even had to slap a low profile cpu HSF on my SSD to keep it cool.

The standard of USB/current technology is pretty confusing especially for someone like me who didnt touch these things for at least a decade.

the problem with most of these things with regards to their transfer rate is the quality of the products and myriad of standards involved. It is not as straight forward.

Take for example the USB-c transfer could be at 1.25 GB/s peak theoretically. But using a cheapo USB-c cable could only get 480mb/s, even if NVME, casing and the laptop allows better transfer.

I will stick with the cheaper easier option since it is cheaper and new standards are coming. Hearsay USB3.2 and USB4.0 in these two years. No point in paying more for something now that is going to be "sub-standard" in near future.

 

[ragnarok95]

Get a USB-C enclosure and put in a M2 SSD. Done.

I’m using a USB 3 enclosure with a M2 SSD as backup.

 

[watzup_ken]

any storage chip based technology would require cooling. I even had to slap a low profile cpu HSF on my SSD to keep it cool.

Those SATA3 SSDs that are properly implemented gets cooled by the metal casing. SATA3 drives don't run that fast to heat up that much. Even with no additional cooling, I rarely see them breaching 50 degs (mostly 40+) even in a cram laptop. Slapping a CPU cooler on a SSD is really overkill unless you are running one of those top end server grade SSD and working it to the bone.

 

[NMSS_2]

Those SATA3 SSDs that are properly implemented gets cooled by the metal casing. SATA3 drives don't run that fast to heat up that much. Even with no additional cooling, I rarely see them breaching 50 degs (mostly 40+) even in a cram laptop. Slapping a CPU cooler on a SSD is really overkill unless you are running one of those top end server grade SSD and working it to the bone.

Anything that is hot to touch for ssd or hdd is a big nono for me. The ssd is hotter than most of my other mechanic drives and cooling is definitely needed. Mine is at 41 C which is still not within my comfort zone. If you can afford to change it or doesnt care for the data when it failed then go ahead with non-cooling.

https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/facebook-study-finds-no-correlation-between-ssd-reads-and-failure-rate/

 

[ragnarok95]

SSD at 41 is common.

 

[NMSS_2]

SSD at 41 is common.

that is with HSF.

 

[matrix05]

Get a USB-C enclosure and put in a M2 SSD. Done.

I’m using a USB 3 enclosure with a M2 SSD as backup.

Nice. Would like to check is your M2 Sata SSD (6Gbps) to USB3.1 Gen1 (5Gbps) fast enough to behave like a secondary mass storage? Good enough to load/play stream games?