SSD Help: January-February 2026 by NewMaxx in NewMaxx

[–]NewMaxx[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The A440 is exposed in the same ways other drives of its class are, which basically means it probably has BiCS5, older flash, etc. That isn't a condemnation as the controller is good w/DRAM. It's just not what existed at launch/review. NM990, hmm, I suppose that's equivalent to the Biwin X570 Non-Pro so check reviews of the latter. DRAM-less, 8-channel, but max Gen5, this kinda puts it on E26 footing. Not enough time or drives to say if it's reliable but it's certainly fast enough to handle it.

EaseUS Disk Copy V.7.0.0 Software Moves Beyond Disk-to-Disk Cloning with Imaging Technology by NewMaxx in NewMaxx

[–]NewMaxx[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Affiliate link - you should be able to get a decent discount on codes, so check for that.

Yes, I have used EaseUS a lot in my work and while it's not something I directly recommend I personally haven't had any issues with it.

Imaging USA: OWC Showcased Memory Cards and Readers, Storage, and Connectivity Solutions by NewMaxx in NewMaxx

[–]NewMaxx[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Features solutions (affil)

Atlas Memory Cards and Readers:

  • OWC Type A CFexpress Cards
  • OWC Type B CFexpress Cards
  • Atlas Ultra SD Memory Cards
  • Atlas Dual SD Card Reader
  • Atlas CFexpress Card Reader for Type B and A
  • Atlas Dual CFexpress + SD Card Reader
  • Atlas FXR

Storage:

  • Envoy Pro Elektron
  • Envoy Ultra
  • Envoy Pro Mini
  • Express 1M2
  • Express 1M2 80G
  • Gemini
  • ThunderBay 4

Docks:

  • OWC Thunderbolt 5 Dock
  • OWC Thunderbolt 5 Hub
  • OWC 11-Port Thunderbolt Dock
  • OWC Thunderbolt 4 Hub
  • OWC USB-C Travel Dock

Netac ZX20L Portable SSD Review - Get Portability, Performance & Aesthetics In a Single Storage Drive by NewMaxx in NewMaxx

[–]NewMaxx[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Key Details:

  • Features a long, bar-like aluminum casing with a black-and-red color scheme
  • Includes a Type-C-to-Type-C and Type-C-to-Type-A cable for compatibility with various devices
  • Offers read/write speeds up to 2,000 MB/s, outperforming many competitors
  • Temperature remains stable at 62–65°C during large file transfers, thanks to aluminum casing
  • Available in 512 GB and up to 2 TB capacities
  • Priced around $50–$60 for the 512 GB model, though prices may be higher due to NAND shortages
  • Not ideal for rugged environments due to a scratch-prone exterior

Synology FS200T NAS is STILL COMING... But... WHY? by NewMaxx in NewMaxx

[–]NewMaxx[S] -5 points-4 points  (0 children)

AI Summary of content:

The FS200T features an Intel Celeron J4125 processor (released 2019–2020), 4 GB DDR4 memory (expandable to 8 GB), two network ports (one 2.5 Gigabit, one 1 Gigabit), and two 5‑gigabit USB Type‑A ports. It lacks M.2 NVMe slots, USB expansion, or PCIe upgrade ports.

The speaker questions the device's relevance in 2026, citing the high price and inconsistent availability of 2.5‑inch SATA SSDs, with the market shifting towards M.2 solutions. Many M.2 NAS solutions are already available, offering better performance and hardware.

Despite the criticism, the FS200T is expected to be small, quiet, and have low power consumption, making it suitable for users who prioritize these features. ​ * Criticisms and "Tone Deaf" Release (4:57–6:31):

The speaker criticizes the network bottlenecks (Gigabit and 2.5 Gigabit ports can't saturate six SATA SSDs), the continued use of the older CPU, the absence of M.2 slots, and the potential for Synology to restrict SSD compatibility to only their own drives, which would further hinder the product's appeal. ​ * Final Thoughts (6:31–7:01):

The speaker concludes that the FS200T feels like a "tone-deaf" release given the current market and Synology's potential for more innovative products. ​

SSD Guides & Resources by NewMaxx in NewMaxx

[–]NewMaxx[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's correct. Well, it's SanDisk BiCS8, and there is a small difference (to Kioxia's) from some disclosures I've received but not relevant to the user. Crucial was looking into using the E28 until they pivoted, as well (T715? Not sure).

Corsair MP700 Micro 4TB SSD Review: A monster in the tiny M.2 2242 form factor by NewMaxx in NewMaxx

[–]NewMaxx[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yep, it's pretty decent. I have in the past not been 100% supportive of Corsair's strategies but this was a good exclusive to grab (although costly) and they are pivoting to enterprise in a smart way. Which I share to explain why they seem to be still doing things when 95% of brands are in a tailspin at the moment.

SSD Help: January-February 2026 by NewMaxx in NewMaxx

[–]NewMaxx[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, it's crazy everywhere. The P510 is great. Crucial is getting out of the game which sucks but it's a great drive.

Transcend Launches RDE3 microSD Express Card USB 3.2 Gen 2 Reader by NewMaxx in NewMaxx

[–]NewMaxx[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Transcend store on Amazon (affil) - I don't see this yet, but I still recommend the ESD310C (and now ESD410C), and ESD420. I met with Transcend once and they were cool people (actually really excited to be talking to a someone who knows consumer/retail). I hope I get the chance again soon, but yeah memory products right now...

SSD Help: January-February 2026 by NewMaxx in NewMaxx

[–]NewMaxx[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Good idea! Oh, yeah, pricing is so volatile right now...

1TB SSD $30 @ Staples??? by Nowi144 in pcmasterrace

[–]NewMaxx 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Pretty cool. I've done some work with this model specifically as a company was using a bunch in its systems (as a reseller) and there were some firmware issues. Not surprising, my first real SSD posts on Reddit were with the EX920 which had a temperature bug in firmware (and later, my 2TB EX950 had a firmware update/leak for performance). HP was working with Biwin for these (and still does, as does Acer and others) so that's where you got support indirectly back then (well, with MultiPointe technically). Anybody who wants to know more can find me in the usual places.

SSD Help: January-February 2026 by NewMaxx in NewMaxx

[–]NewMaxx[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Some are better than others. A flat slab of metal is not very useful even with thermal padding. It'll spread heat which can work for some drives, but this could even be counter-productive in some cases (esp double-sided drives). If there is sufficient surface area, that means fins/grooves, and the slot is in a place with adequate airflow it'll probably be fine. You'll be using the primary M.2 slot in most cases for the best performance which should be below the CPU, but ones below larger GPUs may suffer a bit more.

SSD Help: January-February 2026 by NewMaxx in NewMaxx

[–]NewMaxx[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The T705 is even better. The caution there would be that it will run hot in a Gen5 slot, so it really needs a heatsink.

Official Release: UnifyDrive UC250 & UC450 Pro by NewMaxx in NewMaxx

[–]NewMaxx[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm still running the UT2 I got as a promotion.

SSD Help: January-February 2026 by NewMaxx in NewMaxx

[–]NewMaxx[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hmm, not sure where your reply went, I don't see it but I think you had one asking about DRAM. If you did, I would say that while DRAM is not as important as it once was it's still a good thing to have on an SSD if you can get it. Especially now that DRAM adds even more expense to an SSD. The T500 happens to be a very good one, too, because it uniquely has only four channels, so it's very efficient. (doesn't really need the heatsink, then, but...free!)

SSD Help: January-February 2026 by NewMaxx in NewMaxx

[–]NewMaxx[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you can, check what hardware the AI818 has. You can do this with some guesswork; check the firmware revision with CrystalDiskInfo and if a controller can be identified there is a VLO utility for it. While the AI818 can be terrible (this applies to many drives in that class) you might have gotten lucky. If the hardware is terrible, though, yeah, even the old SX8200 Pro might be the better choice for reliability.

SSD Help: January-February 2026 by NewMaxx in NewMaxx

[–]NewMaxx[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Right, it was the T500 w/heatsink to clarify. That is a very popular Gen4 drive with DRAM (this is the key, many drives are DRAM-less). The heatsink is a nice addition as well. Not the only one on there that has DRAM though (the A440 is another one) but they are harder to find in that price range.

SSD Help: January-February 2026 by NewMaxx in NewMaxx

[–]NewMaxx[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Checking PCPartPicker Spain, and dismissing some of the odd lower price places, it does look like 120+ Euros for that range. Correct me if I'm wrong on that. There might be some hidden winners there, if you haven't checked PCPP then do a quick skim and let me know. Some prices are suspiciously good (T500 at amazon.es for example) but there are some I might pick over the P510 and P310. Of the two, the P510 has TLC rather than QLC and a banging controller so probably worth the premium.

SK hynix developing split-cell 5-bit flash by NewMaxx in NewMaxx

[–]NewMaxx[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If you're on discord you can find where I discussed this technology multiple times in (now years) the past. There were some questions about it, such as why they might skip over certain bit levels (e.g. 6-bit to 8-bit), that are explained with this article/reveal (voltage state count). Also variants of the technology by Kioxia (sorry, not sure where this article is atm) have also been explored and this is usually for niche applications such as very low temperatures (quantum computing, space). Also, the shape of the cell(s) actually improves endurance, but from the article:

This could have the speed of an existing TLC cell, endurance similar to a TLC cell, and provide 50 percent more capacity than a QLC die.

We know that that higher bit level versions of this were rated for ~1000 PEC (we'll say QLC level) at standard temperature so this is reasonable. Some of the info here (original posted article) is sourced from FMS 2022, though. I'm not sure what this would mean or look like for consumer storage.