Corsair EX400U: 30-second evaluation
There’s a second simply earlier than a Tsunami strikes when the ocean begins to withdraw proper earlier than the wave arrives, and that’s the place we’re with USB4 storage.
Whereas Thunderbolt SSDs have been round for some time for these with deep pockets, the promise of USB4 is ultra-high-speed exterior drives which can be far more reasonably priced.
Right now, I’ve been despatched the Essential EX400U, a mainstream entrant that builds on this model’s earlier EX100U, a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 drive, with one thing far more spectacular.
This small, 64mm sq. drive comprises both 1TB, 2TB or 4TB capability and guarantees learn speeds of 4,000MB/s and write efficiency of three,500MB/s. That, in concept, makes it as quick or sooner as a typical Gen 3 inside NVMe drive, however this one connects utilizing a USB4 port.
It is going to work with lower-specification USB-C ports, like people who use USB 3.2, however to get the total expertise, it requires USB4 or Thunderbolt 4 ports.
These programs with a type of ports, and quick sufficient inside storage to help these switch speeds will get efficiency that’s double that of the perfect USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 drives, and 4 instances a typical USB 3.2 Gen 2 SSD.
There are another much less essential promoting factors, and this drive doesn’t help {hardware} encryption, however for uncooked efficiency, it ticks all of the packing containers.
An apparent shoo-in for the best portable SSD, the EX400U is an reasonably priced reply to the query, “Will that file switch occur rapidly sufficient to catch my journey residence?”
Corsair EX400U: Pricing and availability
- How a lot does it price? Begins from £140/$130
- When is it out? Accessible now
- The place are you able to get it? Bought via on-line retailers and in addition immediately from Corsair.
Once you supply, as Corsair does, a drive that may switch recordsdata at twice the velocity of a Gen 2×2 drive and 4 instances the velocity of a typical Gen 2 SSD, a worth premium is to be anticipated.
The beginning worth direct from Corsair for the 1TB mannequin within the UK is £139.99, with the 2TB and 4TB choices being £199.99 and £359.99 respectively.
European pricing is €164.99, €239.99 and €424.99, and US prospects pay $129.99, $189.99 and $349.99. Nevertheless, on the time of writing, the 4TB fashions had been out of inventory throughout the board.
Evaluating this to Corsair’s prior EX100U mannequin, within the USA, the EX400U is roughly 45% dearer for a similar capacities however greater than double the velocity.
Nevertheless, in comparison with the Nextorage NX-PS1PRO that I not too long ago reviewed, which prices $249.99, $349.99, and $599.99 for a similar capacities, the EX400U doesn’t look as deep a gouge.
With comparatively few USB4 SSDs round, a differential is to be anticipated, however these wishing to have the additional efficiency can pay for that privilege, a minimum of within the shorter time period.
Corsair EX400U: Specs
| Mannequin No. | CSSD-EX400U2TB |
|---|---|
| Capacities | 1TB/2TB/4TB |
| Capability examined | 2TB |
| Examined sequential efficiency (Learn/Write) | 4056/3630 MB/s |
| Connection | USB 4.0, Thunderbolt 4, USB 3.2 Gen 2 or Gen 1 on USB-C |
| Controller | Phison PS2251-21 |
| Encryption | Software program solely |
| Dimensions | 64.3 x 64 x 12mm (WxHxD) |
| Weight | 190g |
| Energy supply | USB-bus energy |
| Guarantee | 3-year |
Corsair EX400U: Design
- Aluminium enclosure
- Solely USB-C cable
- MagSafe
When positioned alongside a preferred USB SSD just like the Essential X9 Professional, the Corsair EX400U is thicker and sq. however not bodily about the identical size as its counterpart. There’s some steel on this design, however elements of the case are additionally plastic, and it feels much less sturdy than the Essential X9/X10 line.
Nevertheless, Corsair quotes the SSD inside as with the ability to face up to 1500g loading. Which may appear a lot, however when fired, a typical artillery shell will expertise someplace from 15,000g to 30,000g. Briefly, it ought to deal with being knocked off the desk, nevertheless it has some limitations in that it’s not rated for water or mud encounters.
Together with the drive, Corsair features a single 30cm USB-C to USB-C cable embossed with “40Gbps 240W,” which appears preferrred for the job.
There’s a killer function that the EX400U was provided that I’ve by no means seen on one other USB SSD, within the type of a magnetic MagSafe-compliant ring on the underside.
As a expertise journalist, I’d prefer to confront the parable that all of us use Apple-branded gear; I’ve zero, besides, MagSafe is an extremely helpful possibility.
Once you join it to a laptop computer and even desktop, it’s potential to stick it utilizing the magnet to any ferrous steel floor, which prevents it from falling off and disconnecting.
The price of including this one function have to be minor, nevertheless it’s a stroke of genius that engineers included it on the EX400U.
Total, this SSD won’t be as sturdy as some competitor merchandise, however it’s sufficiently protected towards workplace use except somebody decides it would make a wonderful hockey puck.
It’s attention-grabbing to notice that Corsair features a three-year guarantee with the EX400U, whereas the extra robustly made Nextorage NX-PS1PRO is barely coated for a single yr.
Corsair EX400U: Efficiency
- Wants USB 4.0
- Cache setting enhancements
- Glorious efficiency
| Bench | Check | Corsair EX400U 2TB | Nextorage NX-PS1PRO 2TB |
|---|---|---|---|
| CrystalDiskMark 8.05 | Default Learn | 4056 MB/s | 3753 MB/s |
| Row 1 – Cell 0 | Default Write | 3630 MB/s | 3220 MB/s |
| Row 2 – Cell 0 | Actual World Learn | 2303 MB/s | 2923 MB/s |
| Row 3 – Cell 0 | Actual World Write | 3269 MB/s | 2391 MB/s |
| AJA System Check 64GB | Learn | 2827 MB/s | 3126 MB/s |
| Row 5 – Cell 0 | Write | 2638 MB/s | 2708 MB/s |
| AS SSD | Learn | 3506 MB/s | 2242 MB/s |
| Row 7 – Cell 0 | Write | 3197 MB/s | 1908 MB/s |
| ATTO | Learn | 3780 MB/s | 3540 MB/s |
| Row 9 – Cell 0 | Write | 3470 MB/s | 3010 MB/s |
| PCMark Knowledge Drive Bench | Rating | 2028 | 2136 |
It ought to go with out saying, however there’s little level in shopping for an EX400U in the event you don’t have a USB4 or Thunderbolt 4 port. It is going to work with USB 3.2, however efficiency can be capped at round 1,000MB/s on that interface.
To realize the speeds I’ve documented, it additionally assumes that you’ve got inside NVMe storage that’s rated as faster than 4000MB/s to ship and obtain knowledge this quickly.
These benchmarks reveal that the EX400U 2TB can match or higher a lot of the velocity exams I carried out on the Nextorage NX-PS1PRO 2TB, which prices extra.
To get these prime speeds, write-caching must be enabled within the system supervisor, however Corsair is upfront about this in its notes.
One end result that wants some explaining is the AJA System Check, the place the caching technique on the EX400U delivers decrease outcomes than the NX-PS1PRO.
Wanting on the graphs, the NX-PS1PRO makes a barely odd write sample the place knowledge is written in chunks at round 2700MB/s, after which each 1500MB or so, it might briefly drop to 1200MB/s. Conversely, the EX400U would function at full velocity with nearer slowdown spikes till it ran out of system RAM for the cache, roughly on the 48GB level, after which it might decline for the ultimate quarter of the write operation.
For a lot of the write, the EX400U would hit 3200MB/s, however the drop off after 48GB lowered the typical rating to 2638MB/s. If the file was smaller than 48GB, the EX400U was sooner in each writing and studying.
Just like the Nextorage product, the Corsair EX400U doesn’t help {hardware} encryption, however you need to use software program encryption to guard delicate paperwork saved on the drive.
Total, the velocity of this drive is what these with USB4 and Thunderbolt 4 ports have been ready for.
Corsair EX400U: Closing verdict
Except you desire a extra versatile caddy answer or {hardware} encryption that you may get with the Ugreen USB4 Enclosure, the Corsair EX400U is the drive to be utilizing on USB4.
The place the older EX100U didn’t present all the Gen 2×2 expertise, this drive does nice service to USB4 as a typical and reveals how helpful it may be sooner or later.
Nevertheless, the EX400U isn’t excellent and leaves room for an enhanced EX500U.
At this worth level, {hardware} encryption ought to have been included. I assumed that each one of Corsair’s MP600 sequence supported this expertise, however I now suspect that the MP600 Micro fashions don’t, and my guess is that’s what is contained in the EX400U.
The one drives from the Corsair M.2 assortment that may bodily match are a 2230 or 2242 drive, and the MP600 Core Mini drives do have encryption, leaving solely the MP600 Micro because the probably candidate.
Which may additionally clarify why the 4TB mannequin seems to be lacking in motion to this point since Corsair has but to launch a 4TB possibility on that drive. Taking that extrapolation one other step may be a very long time earlier than Corsair introduces an 8TB mannequin, as becoming that onto a 2242-sized M.2 module could possibly be a giant problem.
These factors apart, the Corsair EX400U is probably the most reasonably priced USB4 drive to this point. It throws the gauntlet down on the toes of Samsung, SanDisk and Essential, and I’m genuinely excited to see the competing {hardware} from them and others.
Ought to I purchase the Corsair EX400U?
| Worth | Cheaper than different choices, however not low cost | 4 / 5 |
| Design | Small, mild, not waterproof however has MagSafe underside | 4 / 5 |
| Efficiency | Quicker than any USB 3.2 SSD, and most Thunderbolt drives. | 4,5 / 5 |
| Total | Corsair beats SanDisk and Essential to the prize | 4.5 / 5 |
Purchase it if…
Do not buy it if…
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