Slow external SSD
Slow external SSD
You're experiencing slower-than-expected performance despite the drive's specifications. This could be due to several factors: the USB 3.1 port may not be delivering full potential, the drive might be under heavy load during benchmarking, or there could be internal issues with the SSD. Checking the port's speed in another device, ensuring the drive is properly seated, and monitoring system load during tests might help identify the cause.
Based on feedback from Amazon and SandDisk's website, users are experiencing speeds around 150MB/s initially but dropping to about 100MB/s over time—exceeding typical USB2 capabilities, indicating a quality control problem rather than a hardware port issue. A few reports confirm the advertised performance, suggesting the issue lies with the product itself. Your experience appears very poor. In any case, I’d consider returning it. It’s not an inexpensive option; a standard 1TB NVMe + USB3 external enclosure is readily available for around $83.
I thought about giving it back, but I’ve used it for a long time before starting to use it, so it’s not eligible anymore. I’m thinking about using a 10Gbps USB C to C cable just in case the cable is the issue.
USB has always struggled as a reliable way to move data. While ratings keep climbing, I haven’t encountered speeds close to those claims for any USB version. Keep in mind that the numbers given are for the device’s internal cache. The product description also mentions 800MB/s read speed but only says “Write speeds lower.” For gaming, I’d suggest using a solid C to C cable and assuming you’re getting the best performance possible. If you need faster transfers, consider an NVMe drive or an external enclosure with higher speeds. A 4TB Sabrent NVMe and an ASUS ROG NVMe enclosure have worked well for someone I know. You can go smaller than 4TB, but you’ll still get the speeds you want for games.
You're unsure about whether the SanDisk external drive has an NVMe SSD inside. If it does, it might make sense to remove it and install it in the second M.2 slot you have free.
The SanDisk model you're considering seems more like a premium flash storage device rather than an NVMe SSD. If you have another M.2 port available, opting for an NVMe would be a better choice.