Comparison LaCie Rugged SSD Pro STHZ2000800 2 TB vs Gigabyte SSD GP-GSTFS31480GNTD 480 GB

— Internal. Drives designed to be installed in a computer case. Designed for continuous operation within the same system, do not require frequent connection / disconnection. One of the most popular ways to use such modules is to store system files to speed up the loading and operation of the OS; although, of course, the internal SSD can also be used as a general-purpose drive.

— External. Drives in the form of external devices designed for constant reconnection. Use USB or Thunderbolt connectors of one version or another (see "Connector"). They are convenient, in particular, for transporting large volumes of data between different computers, especially if this data often has to be overwritten — external SSDs are more expensive than external hard drives, but they also work much faster.

— External / internal. Models that allow for both of the above use cases. Usually they are internal drives, supplemented by an external pocket(see below). However, such versatility is rarely required — most often the drive is bought for one specific use. Therefore, this variant was not distributed.

Nominal drive capacity. This parameter directly determines not only the amount of data that can fit on the device, but also its cost; many SSD models even come in several versions that differ in capacity. Therefore, when choosing, it is worth considering the real needs and features of the application — otherwise you can overpay a significant amount for volumes that are not needed in fact.

In terms of actual values, a capacity of 120 GB or less is considered small these days. This can also be equated with a 240 GB SSD. Average values are already considered 500 GB, increased — 1 TB(in the range of which SSDs fall 400 and 800 GB). And the most capacious modern SSDs can accommodate 2 TB, 4 TB and even more.

The form factor in which the drive is made. This characteristic determines the size and shape of the module, and in many cases also the connection interface. At the same time, it should be noted that for external SSDs (see "Type") the form factor is a secondary parameter, only the overall dimensions of the case depend on it (and even then very approximately). Therefore, you should pay attention to this moment first of all when choosing an internal SSD — such a drive must correspond to the form factor of the seat for it, otherwise a normal installation will be impossible.

Here are some of the more popular options:

— 2.5 ". One of the most common form factors for internal SSDs. Initially, 2.5" drives were used in laptops, but nowadays the corresponding slots are also found in most desktop PCs. Anyway, modules of this form factor can be installed in different ways: some are mounted in separate slots similar to hard drives, others (under the U.2 interface, see "Connector") are inserted directly into motherboard connectors.

— M.2. A form factor used mainly in high-end internal drives that combine miniature size and significant volumes. It uses its own standard connection connector, so this connector is not separately indicated in the specifications. Note that the M.2 standard combines two data transfer formats at once — SATA and PCI-E, and the drive usually supports only one of the...m; see "M.2 interface" for details. Anyway, due to their small dimensions, such modules are suitable for both desktop PCs and laptops.

— mini-SATA (mSATA). Miniature form factor of internal drives, the ideological predecessor of M.2. It was originally developed for netbooks and ultra-compact laptops, but nowadays you can also find desktop PCs with mSATA connectors on motherboards. However, due to the emergence and development of more advanced options, this form factor is gradually falling into disuse.

— PCI-E card(HHHL). Drives made in the form of expansion cards and plugged into PCI-E slots (just like external video cards, sound cards, etc.). The HHHL marking means half length and half height, so these modules are suitable not only for full-sized PCs, but also for more compact systems, such as nettops and even some laptops. The PCI-E interface allows you to achieve good data transfer speeds, moreover, NVMe is implemented through it (see below). On the other hand, these features are also available in more advanced and compact form factors, in particular M.2. Therefore, there are few SSD modules in the PCI-E card format nowadays on the market.

— 1.8 ". The form factor of miniature drives, originally created for ultra-compact laptops. However, nowadays SSD modules of this format can be found extremely rarely, and these are mainly external models. This is due to the emergence of more convenient and advanced forms factors for internal use, such as M.2 described above.

— 3.5". The largest form factor of modern SSDs — the size of such a module is comparable to a traditional desktop PC hard drive. Nowadays, it has practically fallen into disuse due to bulkiness and the absence of any noticeable advantages over smaller solutions .

The connection connector(s) used in the drive. Note that for outdoor models (see "Type"), here, usually, the connector on the case of the drive itself is indicated; the ability to connect to a particular jack on a PC (or other device) depends mainly on the availability of appropriate cables. The exception is models with a non-removable wire — they are talking about a plug on such a wire.

Some form factors — for example, M.2 — use their own standard connector, so this parameter is not specified for such models. In other cases, the connectors can be conditionally divided into external and internal — depending on the type of drives (see above). In internal modules, in addition to the same M.2, you can find SATA 3, U.2 and SAS interfaces. External devices mainly use different types of USB — the classic USB connector (versions 3.2 gen1 or 3.2 gen2) or USB-C (versions 3.2 gen1, 3.2 gen2, 3.2 gen2x2 or USB4). In addition, there are solutions with the Thunderbolt interface (usually versions v2 or v3). Let's take a closer look at these options:

— SATA 3. The third version of the SATA interface, providing data transfer rates up to 5.9 Gbps...(about 600 MB / s). By SSD standards, this speed is low, since SATA was originally developed for hard drives and was not intended to be used with high-speed solid-state memory. Therefore, such a connection can be found mainly in low-cost and outdated internal drives.

— SAS. A standard designed as a high performance connection for server systems. Despite the emergence of more advanced interfaces, it is still found nowadays. Provides data transfer rates up to 22.5 Gbps (2.8 GB/s), depending on version.

— U.2. A connector specially designed for high-end internal drives in the 2.5 "form factor, mainly for server purposes. Actually, U.2 is the name of a specialized form factor (2.5", height 15 mm), and the connector is formally called SFF- 8639. Such modules are connected in the same way as PCI-E expansion cards (via the same bus), but they are smaller in size and can be hot-swapped.

— U.3. A three-interface connector based on the U.2 specification (see the relevant paragraph) and using the same SFF-8639 connector. The U.3 connector combines SAS, SATA and NVMe interfaces in one controller, allowing you to connect different types of drives through the same slot. U.3 provides separate pins for identifying a particular type of drive. The specification was created for internal 2.5" form factor drives. Such modules are miniature, hot-swappable, and support external control pulses.

— USB 3.2 gen1. Traditional full-size USB connector, compliant with version 3.2 gen1. This version (formerly known as 3.1 gen1 or 3.0) provides data rates up to 4.8 Gbps. It is compatible with other USB standards, except that the connection speed will be limited by the slowest version.

— USB 3.2 gen2. A traditional full size USB connector, corresponding to version 3.2 gen2 (previously known as 3.1 gen2 or simply 3.1). Operates at speeds up to 10 Gbps, otherwise the key features are similar to those described above USB 3.2 gen1

— USB-C 3.2 gen1. USB-C connector supporting 3.2 gen1. Recall that this version allows you to achieve speeds up to 4.8 Gbps. And USB-C is a relatively new type of USB connector, having a small size (slightly larger than microUSB), a symmetrical oval shape and a double-sided design. It is especially useful for external SSDs, given that such drives are getting smaller and smaller.

— USB-C 3.2 gen2. USB-C connector supporting version 3.2 gen2 connectivity — with data transfer rates up to 10 Gbps. However, such a drive will be able to work with slower USB ports — unless the speed will be limited by the capabilities of such a port. See above for details on the USB-C connector itself.

— USB-C 3.2 gen2x2. USB-C type connector supporting connection version 3.2 gen2x2. For more information about the connector itself, see above; and version 3.2 gen 2x2 (previously known as USB 3.2) allows to achieve speeds up to 20 Gbps — that is, twice as high as in the original 3.2 gen 2, hence the name. It is also worth noting that this version is implemented only through USB-C connectors and is not used in ports of earlier standards.

— USB4. A high-speed revision of the USB interface that uses only symmetrical USB type C connectors. Allows you to achieve data transfer rates of up to 40 Gbps (depending on the technologies and standards implemented in a particular port). The interface can support Thunderbolt v3 and v4, and is backward compatible with previous USB specifications, although devices with a full-size USB-A plug will require an adapter.

Thunderbolt v2. Initially, Thunderbolt is a universal connector that combines the capabilities of a port for external peripherals and a video output. It is used mainly in Apple computers and laptops, but third-party manufacturers also produce peripherals for it (including SSD drives). Specifically, the Thunderbolt v2 version provides data transfer rates up to 20 Gbps and uses a connector identical to miniDisplayPort; however, such a device cannot be connected to a regular miniDisplayPort, Thunderbolt is needed.

Thunderbolt v3. The third version of the Thunderbolt interface (see above). It differs from its predecessors not only in higher speed — up to 40 Gbps — but also in a plug: Thunderbolt v3 works through a USB-C hardware connector. And in many PCs and laptops, the USB-C connector can work in two modes — both as USB and as Thunderbolt v3, depending on the connected peripherals. However, these interfaces by themselves are not compatible: not every USB-C port is suitable for connecting an SSD module with Thunderbolt v3, but only the one where this format of operation is directly stated. But to connect such a drive to Thunderbolt of an earlier version, an appropriate cable or adapter is enough.

— Thunderbolt v4. The fourth edition of the Thunderbolt interface uses a USB type C hardware connector and provides a theoretical maximum data transfer speed of up to 40 Gbps. Thunderbolt v4 closely intersects with USB4 (see “Connector”). However, not every USB T...ype C port of a computer is suitable for connecting an SSD drive, but only one where the corresponding operating format is directly stated.

Model of the controller installed in the SSD.

The controller is a control circuit, which, in fact, ensures the exchange of information between the memory cells and the computer to which the drive is connected. The capabilities of a particular SSD module (in particular, read and write speed) largely depend on this particular scheme. Knowing the controller model, you can find detailed data on it and evaluate the capabilities of the drive. For simple everyday use, this information is usually not needed, but for professionals and enthusiasts (modders, overclockers) it can come in handy.

Nowadays, high-end controllers are produced mainly under such brands: InnoGrit, Maxio, Phison, Realtek, Silicon Motion, Samsung.

NVMe drive support.

NVMe is a communication protocol designed specifically for SSD modules and used when connected via the PCI-E bus. This protocol was developed to eliminate the shortcomings of earlier connection standards (like SCSI or SATA) — primarily low speed, which did not allow realizing the full capabilities of solid-state memory. NVMe takes into account the key advantages of SSD — independent access, multithreading and low latency. Support for this protocol is built into all major modern operating systems; it works not only through the original PCIe interface, but also through M.2 (see Form Factor). And the U.2 connector was generally created specifically for NVMe SSDs (although the presence of this connector in itself does not mean compatibility with this protocol).

The highest speed in write mode characterizes the speed with which the module can receive information from a connected computer (or other external device). This speed is limited both by the connection interface (see "Connector"), and by the characteristics of the device of the SSD itself.

The highest data exchange rate with a computer (or other external device) that the drive can provide in read mode; in other words — the highest speed of information output from the drive to an external device. This speed is limited both by the connection interface (see "Connector"), and by the characteristics of the device of the SSD itself. Its values can vary from 100 – 500 MB / s in the slowest models to 3 Gb / s and higher in the most advanced ones.