Best External SSD for Video Editing, in 2024

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If you’re knee-deep in the world of video editing, you know the struggle is real when it comes to storage. Storing those massive video files and ensuring your editing process is smoother than a freshly paved road requires a reliable external SSD. So, let’s dive into the world of the “Best External SSD for Video Editing” and make your editing journey as seamless as possible.

Best External SSD for Video Editing

Introduction: Unleashing the Power of External SSDs

Let’s kick things off by understanding why an external SSD is a game-changer for your video editing setup. We’ll unravel the mysteries of speed, capacity, and portability.

External SSDs are the unsung heroes of efficient data storage, especially for tasks like video editing. These compact powerhouses offer advantages in speed, portability, and durability. When it comes to video editing, having the right external SSD can make a significant difference in workflow and overall performance.

1. Speed Boost: External SSDs significantly enhance editing speed, providing quicker data access and file transfer times compared to traditional hard drives.
2. Improved Productivity: Using an external SSD for video editing can enhance productivity by streamlining tasks and delivering faster rendering times, allowing for a smoother editing experience.
3. Resilience and Performance: SSDs, whether internal or external, are more resilient than HDDs. This resilience contributes to better video editing performance, ensuring stability during intensive tasks.
4. Formatting Benefits: Editing videos off an external SSD can have formatting benefits, allowing caching and snapshots to be accessed, used, and dropped quickly, optimizing the editing process.
5. Overall Advantages of SSDs: SSDs, in general, offer benefits such as durability, reliability, speed, compact size, lightweight, silent operation, and energy efficiency when compared to traditional hard drives.
6. Considerations for Video Production Teams: While external drives are suitable for individual editors on a budget, video production teams might benefit from other storage solutions.

Why External SSDs Matter in Video Editing

Unraveling the Need for Speed: Explore how the speed of an external SSD can skyrocket your editing efficiency, leaving traditional hard drives in the dust.

External SSDs play a crucial role in enhancing video editing performance for several reasons:

1. Speed and Performance: Modern external SSDs with Thunderbolt 3 or USB 3.1 Gen 2 connections provide excellent performance, ensuring faster data transfer rates and quicker access to files during video editing.
2. Formatting Benefits: External SSDs offer formatting advantages, allowing caching and snapshots to be accessed, used, and dropped rapidly. This quick access contributes to a smoother video editing experience.
3. Durability and Portability: SSDs are more durable, reliable, smaller, and lighter compared to traditional hard drives. Their physical resilience makes them ideal for video editors who may need to work in different locations.
4. Silent Operation: Unlike traditional hard drives, SSDs operate silently, eliminating the distracting noise that could impact the video editing environment.
5. Efficient Editing Workflow: Video editors often choose to edit directly off external SSDs, maintaining project files, transcoded footage, and scratch disks on these drives. This approach streamlines the editing workflow and provides flexibility..

Top Contenders in the External SSD Arena

When it comes to external SSDs, several top contenders stand out in terms of performance, reliability, and overall value. Here are some notable options:

Samsung 990 Pro 2TB

Renowned for its blazing-fast NVMe technology, Samsung’s 990 Pro is a powerhouse for those seeking top-tier performance. The Samsung 990 Pro 2TB stands out as a high-performance SSD with cutting-edge features:

1. Top-tier Performance: This SSD excels in performance, delivering exceptional sequential read and write speeds, making it one of the fastest SSDs available.
2. Improved Controller and Flash: The 990 Pro features an improved controller and utilizes modern flash technology, enhancing overall performance.
3. Gen 4 Speeds: This SSD boasts Gen 4 speeds, providing faster data transfer rates compared to its predecessors.
4. Flagship PCIe 4.0 Drive: As Samsung’s flagship PCIe 4.0 internal SSD, it represents the pinnacle of their storage technology.
5. Positive Customer Ratings: Customer reviews on the official Samsung website highlight the positive reception, with an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.

WD Black SN850X SSD 2TB

Western Digital’s Black series offers a winning combination of speed and storage capacity, making it a solid choice for demanding tasks. The WD Black SN850X SSD 2TB is a high-performance storage solution, offering impressive speed and reliability for demanding tasks. Key features include:

1. Exceptional Speed: This SSD is renowned for its face-meltingly fast performance, making it an excellent choice for users requiring high-speed data access.
2. Updated Review: The SSD has received positive reviews with an emphasis on its impressive speed and reliable performance.
3. Capacity: With a spacious 2TB capacity, it provides ample room for large files, games, and applications, catering to users with substantial storage needs.
4. X Means Better: Branded with an “X,” the SN850X signifies an enhanced version, promising better performance and efficiency.

Teamgroup Cardea Z540 2TB SSD

Teamgroup’s Cardea Z540 is recognized for its reliability and efficient performance, making it a contender for users looking for a balance between speed and cost. The Teamgroup Cardea Z540 2TB SSD is a powerhouse, setting new standards in speed and performance. Key features include:

1. Impressive Speeds: Boasting astonishing continuous read/write speeds of up to 12,000 and 10,000 MB/s respectively, this SSD ensures rapid data access for a seamless user experience.
2. Graphene Cooling: Equipped with a graphene pad cooling system, it not only delivers exceptional performance but also ensures efficient heat dissipation for sustained speeds.
3. PCIe 5.0 NVMe Technology: Utilizing PCIe 5.0 NVMe technology, this SSD sets itself apart as one of the fastest in its class, making it an ideal choice for demanding tasks.

Crucial T700 SSD 2TB

Crucial’s T700 SSD is a reliable option, offering substantial storage space with competitive read and write speeds. The Crucial T700 SSD 2TB stands out as a powerhouse in the world of storage solutions, offering unparalleled performance. Key features include:

1. Record-Breaking Speeds: The T700 shattered benchmarks and real-world records, providing record-shattering PCIe 5.0 speeds, with read speeds reaching up to 12,400MB/s and write speeds up to 11,800MB/s.
2. DirectStorage Optimization: The T700 is optimized for DirectStorage, enhancing its capabilities and ensuring seamless performance for demanding applications.
3. Reliability and Savings: Beyond its speed, the T700 is recognized for its reliability, making it not only one of the fastest but also one of the most dependable SSDs in the market.

These external SSDs cater to different needs, from gaming to professional video editing. It’s essential to consider factors like speed, capacity, and budget when choosing the right contender for your requirements.

Capacity Matters: Finding Your Sweet Spot

128GB to 2TB – What’s Ideal for You? Understanding your storage needs and making sure you don’t compromise on capacity.

Determining the optimal storage capacity for video editing depends on various factors, including project size, file formats, and future scalability. Here’s a guide to help you find your sweet spot:

1. Minimum Requirements: For efficient video editing, a minimum of a 500GB SSD or HDD for the operating system (OS) drive is recommended. This ensures smooth application performance.
2. Project Size Consideration: Analyze the typical size of your video projects. Larger projects with high-resolution footage or complex effects may require terabytes of storage. A 1TB or 2TB drive could be suitable for moderate-sized projects, while larger projects may benefit from 4TB or more.
3. External Storage Options: External drives are a convenient solution for additional storage. Consider reliable options like the WD Black series, providing up to 4TB of portable and lightweight storage for video editing.
4. Future-Proofing: Anticipate your future needs. If you plan to work on more extensive projects or expect increased storage requirements, investing in a larger capacity drive upfront can save you from frequent upgrades.
5. Professional Recommendations: Professional video editors often work with a combination of internal and external storage. SSDs or 7200rpm hard drives are recommended for smooth video editing experiences.

Finding the sweet spot involves balancing your current needs with future growth, ensuring your storage solution supports seamless video editing experiences.

The Portability Factor: Editing on the Go

Pocket-sized Powerhouses: Shedding light on the most portable external SSDs that won’t weigh you down.

Portability is a crucial factor for video editors who need to work on the go. Here’s why having a portable setup is essential:

1. Flexibility: A laptop offers flexibility, allowing video editors to work from various locations, whether it’s a coffee shop, client meeting, or during travel.
2. On-the-Go Editing: Portability enables on-the-go video editing, ensuring that editors can meet deadlines and make quick edits without being tied to a specific location.
3. Client Collaboration: For video editors involved in collaborative projects or client meetings, having a portable setup facilitates real-time collaboration and immediate adjustments.
4. Field Work: Professionals engaged in videography often need to capture and edit footage in the field. A portable laptop is indispensable for fieldwork, offering both shooting and editing capabilities.
5. Cost-Effective Solutions: Portable laptops are available at various price points, making them a cost-effective solution compared to building a stationary editing workstation.
6. Screen Size and Resolution: While considering portability, it’s essential to balance screen size and resolution for optimal video editing experience.

Durability: Handling the Rough Edits of Life

Rugged vs. Sleek: Delve into the world of rugged external SSDs, built to withstand the bumps and bruises of an editor’s life.

In the realm of external SSDs, rugged options stand out for their durability and ability to withstand challenging environments. Here are some top choices for rugged external SSDs:

1. SanDisk Extreme Pro SSD: Known for its robust build and high-speed performance.
2. Apricorn Aegis NVX External SSD: Combines security, ruggedness, and speed, making it an excellent choice for safeguarding files on the go.
3. LaCie Rugged SSD Pro: A robust option with a high price tag, offering durability for demanding situations.
4. SanDisk 1TB Extreme Portable SSD: A top recommendation for video editing, combining portability and durability.
5. LaCie 2big RAID External Hard Drive: Known for its reliability in video editing tasks.

These rugged external SSDs offer a blend of durability, speed, and reliability, making them ideal choices for users who prioritize the safety of their data in challenging conditions.

The Future of External SSDs: What’s on the Horizon?

Tech Teasers and Innovations: Peek into the crystal ball to see what the future holds for external SSD technology.

As we peer into the future of external SSDs, several key trends and developments shape the landscape:

1. AI Integration: AI integration is becoming a pivotal trend, enhancing storage devices’ performance, efficiency, and adaptability.
2. Market Growth: The solid-state drive (SSD) market is poised for substantial growth globally, driven by advancements and a predicted CAGR of 14.65% from 2024 to 2031.
3. Portable SSD Market Expansion: The portable SSD market is expected to expand significantly, with projections indicating growth from USD 2270.5 million in 2022 to USD 3629.2 million in 2029.
4. Performance Rankings: External SSDs continue to dominate performance rankings, with devices like the Samsung T9 Portable SSD, WD My Passport HDD, SanDisk Extreme Pro Portable SSD, and Crucial X6 Portable standing out.
5. Video Overview: Stay informed about the best external SSDs for 2024 through video reviews, offering insights before making a purchase.
6. Concerns and Debates: Researchers debate the future of SSDs, with some suggesting potential challenges and limitations by 2024.

The future of external SSDs appears promising, with technological advancements, market expansions, and debates shaping the trajectory. Users can anticipate improved performance, innovative features, and a broader range of options in the evolving SSD landscape.

Conclusion: Elevate Your Editing Game

Considering the information gathered, investing in external SSDs for video editing can significantly enhance your workflow. Here’s why:

1. Performance Boost: External SSDs offer a notable performance boost, especially when compared to traditional hard drives. 
2. Versatility and Portability: Portable SSDs provide the flexibility to edit your videos on the go, offering a seamless and mobile editing experience.
3. Comparative Speeds: While there may be differences in speed between internal and external SSDs, external SSDs can still deliver impressive performance for video editing tasks.
4. Durable and Reliable: SSDs, in general, offer durability, reliability, and faster data access, making them a robust choice for video editing tasks.

In conclusion, incorporating external SSDs into your video editing setup can bring about tangible benefits. The combination of enhanced speed, portability, and reliability makes external SSDs a valuable investment, enabling you to elevate your editing game and streamline your creative process.

Summing up the key takeaways and helping you make that crucial decision to elevate your video editing setup.

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