Samsung T5 EVO Portable SSD Review: Balancing Performance and Price
Samsung has introduced the T5 EVO Portable SSD, a high-capacity flash storage device designed for entry-level speeds. This series starts at a minimum of 2 TB and scales up to 8 TB, leveraging QLC flash for cost-effectiveness. This review evaluates the 8 TB variant, examining its performance and value proposition.
Market Dynamics and Samsung’s Strategy
The portable SSD market has seen a rapid expansion, with major flash vendors diversifying their product lines. Samsung's approach with the T5 EVO involves utilizing QLC flash, previously seen in their 860 QVO and 870 QVO SATA SSDs. Unlike those models, the T5 EVO is limited to USB 3.2 Gen 1 speeds, potentially offering a better user experience with QLC flash.
Design and Build
The T5 EVO's design is robust, with a solid metal casing and a rubber sleeve for extra durability. It weighs 102g and measures 95mm x 40mm x 17mm, resembling an oversized thumb drive. The unit includes a blue LED power indicator and a metal ring for a lanyard. It comes with a 46cm USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C to Type-C cable.
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Internal Components
Teardown reveals similarities with Samsung's 870 QVO, though with different flash part numbers indicating a newer generation of V-NAND in QLC mode. The SATA controller remains the same, but an additional ASMedia ASM235CM bridge chip is present for USB connectivity.
Performance Classifications
The portable SSD market is segmented based on performance, with categories ranging from sub-400Mbps to 3Gbps+ class. The T5 EVO falls into the 400Mbps+ class, offering speeds suitable for users seeking high capacity at reasonable performance levels.
Evaluation and Benchmarks
The T5 EVO was evaluated using a testbed that included the Quartz Canyon NUC and various synthetic workloads, real-world access traces, custom robocopy workloads, and a sequential write stress test. These benchmarks provided a comprehensive assessment of the SSD's performance.
Power Consumption and Thermal Solution
Observations on the drive's power consumption and thermal management were made, noting its effectiveness in maintaining performance under various conditions.
Conclusion: Weighing Performance Against Cost
The Samsung T5 EVO Portable SSD sets itself apart in the portable SSD market with its high capacity and reasonable performance. Its use of QLC flash and USB 3.2 Gen 1 interface positions it as a compelling option for users needing substantial storage without the need for top-tier speeds. The drive's robust build, combined with Samsung's efficient use of technology, makes it a noteworthy addition to their lineup, especially for those prioritizing capacity over cutting-edge performance.
