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3 days ago | 
pcworld.com | Jon L. Jacobi
At a glanceVery fast over USB 3.2×2Tiny, light, and IP65-ratedGood lookingRelatively affordableOpts for 20Gbps USB 3.2×2 instead of USB4Slows dramatically off secondary cacheWe applaud the tiny form-factor, light weight, and performance of the Crucial X10, and we love that it offers up to 8TB of capacity. It’s also reasonably priced given the speed and capacity.
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5 days ago | 
pcworld.com | Jon L. Jacobi
At a glanceGood PCIe 5.0, host memory buffer performanceFastest native-writing QLC NAND we’ve seenAffordableStill slows to 450MBps writing nativelyUp against some stiff competition, the Lexar NQ780 proved itself with aplomb. Buy it at the right price.
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1 week ago | 
pcworld.com | Jon L. Jacobi
At a glanceVery fast disk, partition, and file/folder backupHighly reliable backupsSuper-versatile backup configurationMounts images as virtual machinesGuards backups from accidental or mischievous alterationSubscription-only makes it costly over timeNo online storage included or supportedWhile we love Reflect X’s speed, interface, options, and reliability, $50 a year for a pure backup program without support for online storage is a rather bold ask.
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2 weeks ago | 
pcworld.com | Jon L. Jacobi
At a glanceGood PCIe 4.0, host memory buffer performanceRelatively affordableBeefier heat spreader, screwdriver, and mounting screw includedSlower-than-average random operationsPricier than some of its ilkThough not a standout performer, the Orico IG740-Pro is fast enough, decently affordable, and ships with some nice-to-have extras.
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1 month ago | 
pcworld.com | Jon L. Jacobi
At a glanceLightning-fast with light loadsVery affordable2230 form-factor is suitable for smaller devices such as Steam DecksSlows to 750MBps during very long writesPNY doesn’t disclose the TBW ratingWith light-to-average workloads the CS2342 is an absolutely fantastic performer — the fastest I’ve seen in the 2230 form factor. But for very long writes, it falls well behind the competition.
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1 month ago | 
pcworld.com | Jon L. Jacobi
At a glanceExtremely fast synthetic benchmark results — at timesDRAM for excellent random performance5-year, 600TBW warrantyWrite speeds varied from 300MBps to 13GBps on our usual test bedPriceyThis fantastically speedy PCIe 5.0 SSD will deliver the 14GBps goods. But it had compatibility issues on our test bed with write speeds all over the place — as high as the advertised 13GBps, but as low as 300MBps.
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1 month ago | 
pcworld.com | Jon L. Jacobi
At a glanceOver 3GBps reading and 2.5GBps writingTiny, shirt-pocketable form factorMagnetic mounting ring includedAstoundingly affordable for USB4Slightly off the performance pace for USB4The uber-small form factor, good performance, and super-low price make the Addlink P30 one of my favorite USB4 SSDs. The magnetic mounting ring is a hoot as well, though pros might prefer faster real-world performance.
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1 month ago | 
pcworld.com | Jon L. Jacobi
At a glanceFile- and image-based backupPowerful online (web) management ConsoleLocal and online backupPro-level features aboundDoesn’t support Consumer-grade online storageCosts add upMSP360 Managed Backup and its fully featured online Console let you control all your computer backups for a decently low fee. Local and online, file-based and imaging, along with disaster recovery are all provided via manageable local clients.
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1 month ago | 
pcworld.com | Jon L. Jacobi
At a glanceAvailable in a fantastically capable free versionFile-level and imaging (Pro version) backupSupports prosumer/IT online storage servicesPro version with imaging is subscription onlyLacks support for Consumer-grade online storage servicesProprietary data containers and imagesIn its free incarnation, MSP360 Desktop Backup is a worthwhile upgrade to Windows File History. However, the Pro version is subscription-only which makes it very pricey over time.
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2 months ago | 
pcworld.com | Jon L. Jacobi
At a glance40Gbps USB4Decently pricedHandsome, rugged designSlowest USB4 SSD to dateSometimes connected at only 10Gbps or 5GbpsWe love the rugged, handsome design and relative affordability. But connection issues and comparably lackluster 40Gbps performance left us unamazed.
