SSD

Back in October, we told you about the MTE250S -- a PCIe 4.0 M.2 solid state drive from Transcend. While that SSD is fast, it is missing something that many computer users insist upon -- a heatsink. You see, heat can negatively impact both the performance and longevity of an M.2 SSD, and a heatsink can help cool it down. However, some laptops and desktops can't fit an M.2 SSD with a heatsink, so it makes sense not to include such a cooling accessory with every model.

With all of that said, Transcend has now unveiled the MTE250H, which is an all-new SSD. While it is technically a new product, the reality is, it is merely the previously announced MTE250S with a heatsink bolted on. Other than the heatsink, the MTE250S and MTE250H seem to be identical.

If you have a cutting-edge PC with PCIe 4.0, you will probably want to get a compatible solid state drive to maximize your performance. True, PCIe 4.0 SSDs are largely for bragging rights and benchmarks -- you probably won't notice a difference in actual use -- but still, you might as well go for the best if the difference in price isn't totally obscene.

Today, TEAMGROUP unveils a new M.2 2280 NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD. Called "T-CREATE CLASSIC," this speedy DL SSD comes with a graphene heatsink. In addition, the company is launching a new PCIe SSD USB-C enclosure called "EC01." The enclosure will convert an internal PCIe SSD into an external USB-C SSD.

Solid state drives are continually getting faster, with many computers now supporting the PCIe 4.0 standard. Heck, PCIe 5.0 computers are now available. If you have a PCIe 4.0-compatible PC, you will probably want to get such an SSD to maximize your performance. Is it largely for bragging rights and benchmarks? Arguably, yes, but if you can afford it, you might as well go for a PCIe 4.0 drive. After all, the price should not be much more than a PCIe 3.0 SSD.

Transcend has a new M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0 solid state drive that is designed for both gamers and enthusiasts. Called "MTE250S," this SSD is extremely fast and comes with a thin graphene heatsink to help with cooling.

Solid state drives make great internal boot drives for computers, but they are wonderful options for external storage too. Not only are they smaller than mechanical hard disk drives, but they use less power and are much quicker as well. Quite frankly, if you are someone that needs to transport data on a portable drive, you'd be crazy to still use a HDD with moving parts.

Today, CORSAIR launches its latest portable solid state drive. Called "EX100U," the tiny SSD offers very fast performance thanks to its USB 3.2 Gen2 x2 interface. It can achieve read speeds up to 1,600MB/s and write speeds up to 1,500MB/s. Corsair lists Windows and Mac compatibility, but it should work perfectly fine with Linux-based operating systems too, including Ubuntu, Chrome OS, and Android. Yes, it should be compatible with iPadOS as well.

Solid state drives continue to get faster, with many computers now supporting the PCIe 4.0 standard. Hell, PCIe 5.0 computers are now emerging. If you have a PCIe 4.0-compatible PC, you will probably want to get such an SSD to maximize your performance. Is it largely for bragging rights and benchmarks? Arguably, yes, but if you can afford it, you might as well go for a PCIe 4.0 drive. After all, the price should not be much more than a PCIe 3.0 SSD.

Transcend has a new M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD that is intended for industrial applications, but it can absolutely be used in any PC with a compatible M.2 slot. The drive is designed to be both durable and fast -- it can achieve read speeds up to 7,200 MB/s and write speeds up to 6,500 MB/s. Nice!

M.2 solid state drives are great options for both laptops and desktop PCS. Hell, if you add such a drive to a compatible enclosure (such as this one), you can transform it into a portable SSD too. But did you know you can upgrade the storage of your PlayStation 5 video game console by adding an M.2 drive?

And now, Lexar has a new M.2 SSD that is designed for both PC and Sony PlayStation 5. Called "Professional NM800 PRO," this PCIe Gen4x4 M.2 2280 SSD offers impressive speeds and is being offered either with or without a heatsink.

Are all NVMe M.2 solid state drives the same from a performance perspective? Technically, no, but nowadays, even the lower-speed offerings are still rather fast. In other words, no NVMe SSD is "slow" although I would still caution to stick with trusted brands if you value your data. After all, it doesn't matter how speedy your drive is if it dies and your files are lost.

Samsung is probably the most trusted name in solid state storage. Not only are its SSDs historically very dependable, but very fast too. While a Samsung SSD may cost a bit more than some other brands, it is absolutely worth the premium if you want the best.

M.2 solid state drives are great options for both laptops and desktop PCS. Hell, if you add such a drive to a compatible enclosure (such as this one), you can transform it into a portable SSD too. But did you know you can upgrade the storage of your PlayStation 5 video game console by adding an M.2 drive?

Today, ADATA launches a new M.2 SSD that is designed for both PCs and the PlayStation 5. Called "LEGEND 960," this PCIe Gen4 x4 M.2 2280 SSD offers impressive speeds and will be initially offered in your choice of two capacities -- 1TB and 2TB. ADATA promises a 4TB variant will be available at the end of August.

Does the average home user need any form of cooling on their M.2 solid state drives? No, it is not necessary. With that said, active and passive cooling options can extend the life of your drive while possibly making it perform faster too. You see, when an M.2 SSD gets hot, its speeds can sometimes decrease. Whether or not the user will actually notice the speed reduction outside of benchmarks is debatable, however.

Of course, not all solid state drives are limited to homes and offices. Some computers are used for rough industrial applications, such as in a factory with high temperatures or some other location with harsh conditions. In these environments, cooling your storage drive can be even more important -- potentially necessary.

So, you need a PCIe M.2 solid state drive for your laptop or desktop and you aren't sure what type to buy, eh? Well, while your computer should support PCIe 5.0 SSDs and below, the performance will be determined by your machine's PCIe type. In other words, a PCIe 3.0 M.2 slot can only achieve PCIe 3.0 speeds at best -- even if you install a PCIe 4.0 or 5.0 SSD. And so, it usually doesn't make sense to spend a premium for a drive that is rated higher than your computer.

Today, Crucial (a subsidiary of Micron) officially launches its P3 and P3 Plus M.2 PCIe solid state drives. Both affordable SSDs come in capacities ranging from 500GB to 4TB and use Micron's 176L 3D NAND, but they have a big difference between them. You see, the "Plus" designation indicates that the drive uses PCIe 4.0 as opposed to the "regular" P3 that uses PCIe 3.0. As a result, the P3 drive achieves read/write speeds up to 3500MB/s, while the superior Plus variant gets read/write up to 5000MB/s.

Hey, storage fans! If you get excited by new external solid state drives like I do, then today, you are in for a real treat. Transcend has decided to launch a new USB-C SSD that offers a unique combination of good looks, durability, and speedy performance.

Called "ESD380C," the portable solid state drive features a USB-C port on its body, but it comes with both a USB-C to USB-C and USB-C to USB-A cable in the box for maximum compatibility. Thanks to its USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 interface, the SSD can achieve impressive read and write speeds of up to 2,000 MB/s. While the drive features an aluminum body, it is covered in rubber for enhanced durability.

M.2 PCIe Gen 4x4 solid state drives are nothing new -- there are plenty of them on the market. However, a Gen 4x4 SSD with RGB lighting is apparently non-existent -- until now, that is.

Today, Patriot launches the all-new VPR400 M.2 PCIe Gen 4x4 SSD under its popular VIPER sub-brand which is designed for gamers. The company claims it is the world's first M.2 PCIe Gen 4x4 SSD with RGB lighting. While there are a bunch of M.2 PCIe Gen 3x4 drives with RGB, as far as I can tell, this might really be the first 4x4 variant with that feature.

Apple's iMac is a wonderful all-in-one macOS desktop that offers a combination of power and elegance. The computer takes up very little real estate on a desk, making it a good choice for those living in a residence that doesn't offer a lot of space. It allows you to have a proper desktop computer with a large display without needing a giant tower.

Today, Satechi launches a new product that makes the 2021 24-inch iMac even better. Called "USB-C Slim Dock," it fits over the iMac's stand and provides USB-A ports, a USB-C port, and two memory card reader slots. While port expansion alone makes this a neat product, it also has an internal M.2 SSD slot that is compatible with both NVMe and SATA drives. To create more desk space when needed, Apple's wireless keyboard can be stored on top of the USB-C Slim Dock when not in use.

How do you make a portable SSD a "gaming" drive? Just add RGB lighting, of course! Today, Lexar launches a new solid state drive that it claims is designed for gaming. Is that just marketing? Yes and no. Called "SL660 BLAZE," the USB 3.2 Gen2x2 SSD features RGB lighting and comes with a really cool stand to prop it up. While the drive itself has a USB-C connector, it comes with both a USB-C to USB-C and USB-C to USB-A cable in the box.

Besides the RGB lighting gimmick (which is very cool), the SL660 BLAZE actually can benefit gamers that need to store games on both PC and console. The drive offers respectable read speeds of up to 2,000MB/s and write speeds of up to 1,900MB/s. Of course, the drive can be used by anyone that wants a fast and attractive SSD -- it isn't just limited to gaming.

Solid state drives don't just make wonderful internal boot drives for computers -- they're excellent for external storage too. Not only are they smaller than mechanical hard disk drives, but they use less power and are much faster as well. Quite frankly, if you are someone that needs to transport data on a portable drive, you'd be insane to still use a HDD with moving parts.

But what if you lose that external solid state drive? Well, if the content is unencrypted, your files could be exposed to the finder. This is particularly problematic for business users that are storing company secrets or private customer data. Thankfully, a new USB-C solid state drive from Kingston makes it super easy to encrypt and decrypt your data. You see, the VP80ES IronKey Vault Privacy 80 is a hardware-encrypted (FIPS 197 certified with XTS-AES 256-bit) SSD with a color touchscreen that allows you to enter a passcode, password, pin, or phrase.