Over the past several years, a new type of storage device has entered laptops and data centers, fundamentally changing expectations regarding the power, size, and performance dynamics of storage. The SSD (solid-state drive) is a technology that has been around for more than 30 years but remained too expensive for broad adoption.
Whenever you think of editing a video, time plays a significant role. This is the great reason editors always look for speed. And further, the speed is fully dependent on SSD, which is situated inside the device used for editing. Editors always pick the hardware, which helps in improving the workflow. Storage is the real backbone of video editing if you run out of it; your entire project will be in danger. So, it would be best if you preferred SSD instead of HDD for editing purposes.
Technology that was previously reserved for enterprise customers and the PC performance elite has gained the common touch, with mainstream desktops and laptops now featuring SSDs rather than hard drives as primary storage choices. Solid-state drives (SSDs) are the PC storage option that will completely replace hard drives in the coming years. They’re smaller, faster, quieter, and often more reliable.
Solid State Drive (SSD) obliterates long boot times, speeds up how fast your programs and games load, and generally makes your computer feel fast. But not all solid-state drives are created equal. SSD interfaces have evolved greatly of late, and SSDs themselves are taking on different shapes and core technologies. Solid-state drives (SSDs) have come a long way in recent years in terms of speed capacity and price.
Table of Contents
Overview:
A solid-state drive (SSD) is a solid-state storage device that uses integrated circuit assemblies to store data persistently, typically using flash memory, and functioning as secondary storage in the hierarchy of computer storage.
Introduced by: SanDisk.
Introduction Year: 1991 (30 years)
Normal Temperature: Most SSDs are rated for running within a temperature range of 0ºC up to a max temp of 70ºC (32ºF to 158ºF). This range is about the same for every consumer SSD currently on the market.
Storage Capacities: As of 2020, common consumer SSD storage capacities are 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB and 2TB. 4TB is available on a few stand-alone SSD models, while 8TB SSD storage capacities can be found in high-end computers, such as the Apple Mac Pro.
Reliability: SSDs are more reliable when it comes to harsh environments than HDDs because they don’t have actuator arms or any moving parts. As such, SSDs can withstand accidental drops and extreme temperatures better than HDDs.
These are two main types of solid-state drives.
- The internal SSDsare cheaper can perform better than portable models and are available in higher capacities. To upgrade your storage, you’ll need to get inside your machine, but that’s not always possible (and can void the warranty).
- Portable external SSDs, on the contrary, can be used out of the box. They allow an easy switch between different devices and can help when you run out of space on internal drives, which may eventually happen.
Top 10 Best SSDs For Video Editing:
While video editors and photographers have typically had drawers full of drives taking up a ton of space, the reliance on slower spinning hard disks for daily use is thankfully coming to a close. You can now work directly off of USB attached solid-state drives, making video editing much easier, especially while traveling.
There are a lot of choices out there, but we’ve narrowed down our picks for the best SSDs for video editing.
1. SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD 1TB:
While there are a lot of options out there when looking for the best SSDs for video editing, I currently really love the “ Sandisk Extreme Portable SSD 1TB ” and it is my best choice of an SSD for laptops.
The SanDisk drives are lightweight, rubberized, and rugged, and at least as fast as any other model out there in its performance class. And it is well priced to boot, making us a fan of these tiny wonders.
- Brand: SanDisk.
- Weight: 1.44 ounces.
- Storage: 1TB.
- Hardware interface: USB 3.1 Type C.
- External/internal: External.
Specs:
- Design: The SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD is not as compact as some of its competitors (like the Samsung T5for example) but it is thin enough, at 8.85mm, to slip comfortably into one’s back pocket. The SanDisk drive employs rubber for its chassis, with an orange plastic loop at the top-right that can be used to securely attach it to an item.
- Water and Dust Resistance: The drive carries an IP55 rating for water and dust resistance. Just make sure to keep it well clear of anything that could potentially get lodged in the USB Type-C connector, and permanently prevent you from connecting it to any other device.
- Shock Resistant: The drive is also fairly shock resistant as it will withstand a drop of 2m on a concrete floor without major damage.
- Lanyard hole: It also features a good-sized lanyard hole on the upper right of the device. Most camera bags come with lanyards attached, so this is a nice feature for professionals. However, most people usually prefer to keep their portable drive inside a bag or pocket when commuting, but this feature is there if you need it.
- Drive Speed: This drive can theoretically reach 550MB/s and in tests performed with a USB 3.1 Gen 2. The drive comes in 3 different options of 250GB, 500GB, and 1TB.
My Review: It is an impressive NVMe storage solution meant for designers and video editors who need a rugged, extremely fast portable drive as well as those who just want an offline alternative backup solution to the Cloud. It is utilitarian and a little chunky, perhaps a bit too big to put on your keychain, but it is very light to carry around.
I really liked the size of this drive; it fits into a pocket and is easy to carry around. What I didn’t like, however, was the cover on the device which is made up of rubber, is fantastic for grip but it can be a dust magnet with little particles sticking into it due to its design.
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2. Samsung 970 EVO Plus SSD 500GB:
The 970 EVO Plus is the first to use 96-layer memory technology. The company calls it 9x-layer. Samsung’s 96-Layer NAND features the fastest bus speed with 1.4Gbps throughput between the controller and the flash.
Samsung’s 970 EVO plus replaced the ever-popular 970 EVO as its mainstream NVMe SSD for tech enthusiasts, hardcore gamers, and video makers. Samsung equipped the SSD with V5 flash, which provides a nice bump in performance up to 3.5 GB/s of sequential read throughput.
- Brand: Samsung.
- Weight: 0.282 ounces.
- Storage: 500 GB.
- Hardware Interface: PCI Express x 4.
- External/internal: Internal.
Specs:
- Superior Heat Dissipation: Samsung’s Dynamic Thermal Guard automatically monitors and maintains optimal operating temperatures to minimize performance drops.
- Breakthrough Read Write Speeds: The sequential read performance peaks at the upper atmosphere of PCI Express 3.0 x 4, 3,500 MB/s. The sequential write performance is the highest on record yet, 3,300 MB/s. This is 300 MB/s higher than the new drives.
- Design Flexibility: The 970 EVO Plus fits up to 1TB onto the compact M.2 (2280) form factor, greatly expanding storage capacity and saving space for other components.
- Exceptional Endurance: The 970 EVO Plus provides exceptional endurance powered by the latest V-NAND technology and Samsung’s reputation for quality.
My Review: It is best overall. If you are looking for SSDs for video editing, you will need performance and endurance packed into one. And as such, Samsung 970 EVO plus is the perfect choice for editors. It includes consistent delivery of up to 3.5/2.7 GBps of reading/write speeds.
Highly Recommended!
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3. Western Digital 1TB WD Blue SN550 NVMe Internal SSD:
The Western Digital Blue SN550 (starts at $54.99 for 250GB; $99.99 for 1TB) is a respectably quick, highly affordable M.2 NVMe SSD that challenges other drives up to twice its cost in performance and speed.
Western Digital has done a great job of designing an SSD that strips functionality back to the bare minimum to make it cheap enough for most PC owners to consider as an affordable upgrade.
This doesn’t provide ultimate speed or hardware encryption then but it’s still substantially quicker than any SATA drive.
- Brand: Western Digital.
- Weight: 0.20 ounces.
- Storage: 1TB.
- Hardware Interface: PCI-E x 4.
- External/internal: Internal.
Specs:
- Performance: Western Digital designed controller and firmware for optimized performance. It Boosts your system’s performance with next-gen NVMe SSDs.
- Safety: Western Digital SSD dashboard constantly monitors the health of your SSD.
- Storage: NVMe goes mainstream with a powerful, cost-effective storage solution that adds to the reliability of an SSD.
- Continuing the legacy: Thousands of hours of hardware, firmware, and validation testing combine to advance the award-winning Western Digital Blue heritage of quality and reliability.
- Accessories: Western Digital supports the company’s SSDs by providing end-users SSD toolbox, as well as cloning software.
My Review: If you want ultimate speeds, especially in respect of writing, or hardware encryption then look elsewhere. The WD Blue SN550 is more of a family people-carrier than a head-turning roadster, to use a vehicle analogy. We’d avoid the 250GB capacity version for many reasons, but the 500GB and 1TB drives are a solid investment for anyone wanting to upgrade to NVMe storage cheaply.
It doesn’t have the caching to handle the intensive situations that data processing tasks and server demands, but for a desktop system it is more than adequately provisioned.
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4. Intel Optane SSD 905P Series:
Intel’s Optane SSD 905P builds on the success of their 900P series by offering double the capacity, more performance, and a bit of LED bling on the AIC (Add-In-Card) model. Intel’s Optane SSDs are not your average run-of-the-mill solid state storage devices.
Optane is unique in the storage world because it is the only SSD that is not flash-based. Intel’s Optane SSDs are based on IMFT 3D XPoint (cross point) non-volatile phase-change memory media.
- Brand: Intel.
- Weight: 1.6 ounces.
- Storage: 960 GB.
- Hardware interference: PCI.
- External/internal: External.
Specs:
- Packaging: Intel’s Optane SSD 905P packaging is one of the most attractive we’ve seen. The back of the packaging features an image of the enclosed SSD, lists a bit of pertinent information about the enclosed SSD, its warranty, form factor, and included an optional low-profile bracket.
- Performance: It delivers read/write performance optimized for workstations. The performance of the SSD 905P means the processor can spend less time waiting and more time computing.
- Endurance: It provides 10 DWPD, making the SSD 905P, the highest endurance client SSD.
- Storage: It features larger capacities so users can handle larger data sets to better extract the value of Intel Optane technology with workloads that place heavy demands on the storage I/O subsystem.
My Review: I love this Optane drive. Yes, it is expensive but in return, it has ridiculously low latencies and provides the best computer experience you will ever have. It does not have an extremely high transfer speed. This 4x PCIe3 Optane drive tops out at a read and writes speed of about 2 Gbps.
Highly Recommended!
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5. Samsung T5 Portable SSD:
Samsung T5 is a small, light, and compact SSD. It’s one of the most popular SSD’s out there for Video Editing due to its price point, versatility and storage options. It offers the latest in Samsung V-NAND flash memory technology and a USB 3.1 Gen 2 interface to transfer and store large-sized data including 4K videos and high-resolution photos.
- Brand: Samsung.
- Weight: 6.4 ounces.
- Storage: 250 GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB.
- Hardware interface: USB 3.1 Gen2 backward comp.
- External/internal: External.
Specs:
- Drive speed: The T5 Performs very well in tests, it has a theoretical read/write speed of 540MB/s when used with USB 3.1 and about 450MB/s when used with USB3.0 which is what any standard laptop currently has.
- Design: The T5 is well built, stylish, and compact, which makes it ideal for on-the-go, traveling, and general work. It comes in a variety of colors, such as Black, Blue, and Silver.
- Seamless connectivity: It includes USB Type C to C and USB Type C to A cables to connect to PCs, Macs, smartphones, and other devices.
- Secure encryption: Optional password protection and AES 256-bit hardware encryption keep your personal and private data more secure.
My Review: I think Samsung T5 is a great all-rounder SSD for those looking to move or carry incredibly large amounts of data. With a fast transfer rate and a three-year warranty, the T5 shows that Samsung is at the top of its game when it comes to NAND technology and producing a quality product.
I will surely recommend this to you; it is a very stylish portable hard drive that offers fast speeds and more importantly, a very small footprint!
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6. ADATA XPG SX8200 Pro:
The Adata XPG SX8200 is probably the best bang for the buck SSD you can get. Its 1TB capacity is sufficient for purposes of editing high-res footage and the SSD provides performance that matches Samsung 970 EVO Plus and PRO SSDs.
In addition, SX8200 Pro SSD supports LDPC error-correcting code technology and E2E Data Protection to ensure data safety and integrity. It has great power efficiency and comes at a respectable price that won’t break your bank.
- Brand: XPG.
- Weight: 0.28 ounces.
- Storage: 1TB.
- Hardware Interface: Express card.
- External/internal: External.
Specs:
- Speed: Sequential read/write speeds up to 3500/3000 MB/s. This exceptional speed will help to boost overall system responsiveness
- Ideal SSD: It is Ideal for intense 3D animation, rendering, video and photo editing, and other intense applications.
- Storage: Capacities top out at 2TB, which should be plenty of room for most people, though the best value options might be down at the lower capacities.
- Reliability: This is an SSD stick that has consistently scored well in benchmarking tests, and it’ll suit everyone from gamers to video producers, with no problems as far as long-term reliability goes either.
My Review: I recommend “Adata XPG SX8200 Pro” to those who want a truly rugged solution that only an IP68-certified storage device will provide. It won’t survive fires, but at least it will live through an accidental coffee spill without much harm.
I love the DIY black heat spreader which comes along with it, to make our SSD match with PC’s aesthetic. Overall, it is the best SSD for video editing that will serve your needs perfectly.
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7. SanDisk 1TB Extreme PRO Portable External SSD:
SanDisk offers plenty of internal SSD solutions, but its Extreme Pro Portable SSD is an improvement from its predecessor.
The Extreme Pro Portable SSD delivers great performance no matter what you’re throwing at it. The tough design makes it much more durable for throwing into a camera bag, and with up to 2TB of capacity and blazing-fast transfer speeds, it is an excellent external storage solution for both PC and Mac users.
- Brand: San Disk.
- Weight: 5.1 ounces.
- Storage: 1TB.
- Hardware Interface: USB 3.1 Type C, USB 3.1 Type-A.
- External/internal: External.
Specs:
- Blazing-fast Performance: The SanDisk Extreme PRO leverages our lightning-fast in-house NVMe technology to dramatically increase transfer speeds to up to 1050MB/s.
- Design: Ruggedized design with a forged aluminum body protects the SSD core and dissipates heat. Its IP55 rating lets you know that it is water and dust-resistant.
- Storage: With a capacity of up to 1TB, creative professionals have enough space for full libraries of content.
- Lightweight: Compact, pocket-sized design won’t weigh you down when you travel.
My Review: It is very fast and it comes with two USB Type-C cables, one with a Type-C and one with a Type-A for your computer, rather than an easy-to-lose USB-C-to-A adapter.
Overall, from its silicone-wrapped aluminum case to its blazing data transfer speeds, SanDisk’s Extreme Pro Portable SSD has a lot to offer, but it’s neither as rugged nor as well-designed as some competitors.
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8. SAMSUNG T5 Touch Portable SSD 1TB:
Samsung’s new Portable SSD T5 Touch adds a fingerprint reader, an innovative solution to securing the vast trove of data that many of us carry around on our external drives.
Samsung’s Portable SSD T5 is a crowd-pleasing, compact external drive with strong security (256-bit AES hardware encryption) and a rough and tumble aluminum chassis. The T5 Touch is the first drive to offer fingerprint security.
- Brand: Samsung.
- Weight: 6.4 ounces.
- Storage: 1TB.
- Hardware Interface: USB 3.1 Type C.
- External/internal: External.
Specs:
- LED Status Indicator: The T5 Touch features an LED square that illuminates to keep you informed of what your SSD is doing at a glance.
- Built Strong: Unlike HDDs, the T5 Touch SSD has no moving parts so it’s more resistant to shock. Plus, its solid aluminum body construction adds further protection.
- Compact Style: It is roughly the size of a credit card only weighing 2 ounces, the T5 Touch fits comfortably in the palm of your hand.
My Review: I like everything about this product (minus the obnoxious blue light around the fingerprint reader), its performance is lightning fast, and the fingerprint reader works without a hiccup. Its aesthetic is nice, with built-in encryption.
Portable SSD T5 Touch is a versatile external solid-state drive.
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9. Samsung 970 PRO (1TB):
The Samsung 970 PRO 1TB class M.2 NVMe is the perfect pick for video editors. One of the key features of the Samsung 970 PRO SSD includes consistent delivery of up to 3.5/2.7 GBps of reading/write speeds.
The performance does of course come with a price but you get quality assurance from a reliable brand like Samsung in addition to the 5-year warranty.
- Brand: Samsung.
- Weight: 1.92 ounces.
- Storage: 1TB.
- Hardware Interface: PCI Express x4.
- External/internal: Internal.
Specs:
- Compatible device: This drive is compatible with servers and arrays that accept M.2 2280 PCIe drives.
- Speed: The 970 PRO combines the next-gen PCIe Gen 3×4 NVMe interface with the latest V-NAND technology and a newly enhanced Phoenix controller to achieve fearless read/write speeds up to 3,500/2,700 MB/s, approximately 30 percent faster than the previous generation.
- Endurance: The 970 PRO delivers up to 1,200 TBW with a 5-year limited warranty, achieving 50 percent greater endurance than the previous generation.
My Review: If you want the absolute best storage for your screaming PC build or upgrade then it is an excellent choice for you. The Samsung SSD 970 Pro is the fastest consumer-grade internal M.2 solid-state drive you can buy.
It has a 5 years warranty on this drive, has the best support in the business, and when you look at the overall picture, the Samsung 970 Pro is well worth it. I highly recommend this to you.
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10. Crucial MX500 2TB 3D NAND SATA:
If you are not familiar with Crucial as a big brand name, then don’t hesitate. This company always makes sure with its pretty great tool that the customer gets the perfect memory which has been guaranteed to work with the customer’s system.
The MX500 uses an adaptable pool of high-speed flash memory to generate blistering speeds at a great price-performance ratio.
- Brand: Crucial.
- Weight: 0.01 ounces.
- Storage: 2TB.
- Hardware Interface: SATA 6.0 GB/s.
- External/internal: Internal.
Specs:
- Reliability: A decades-long legacy, Crucial MX500 gives you the best combination of quality, performance, and security.
- Power loss immunity: Integrated power loss immunity preserves all your saved work if the power unexpectedly gets cut.
- Save data: AES 256 bit hardware-based encryption keeps data safe and secure from hackers and thieves.
- Speed: Sequential reads/writes up to 560/510 MB/s and random reads/writes up to 95k/90k on all file types.
My Review: I absolutely love Crucial SSD. I can happily confirm that I am satisfied by its performance with respect to what it promises to offer. If budget is a concern, you don’t necessarily require an NVMe SSD, Crucial MX500 SSD is just the right pick for you. Crucial SSD offers the maximum value for the price you pay for any capacity that you would want.
Highly Recommended!
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To Sum Up:
It’s easy to take SSDs for granted these days. The ability to have these tiny, little lightweight, sturdy, resilient drives that can store ridiculous amounts of videos and let us edit without taking up space on the internal drive is a godsend to many editors and filmmakers.
When narrowing down the best SSD for your needs, also check the physical specifications of the drive, to make sure your computer has enough physical room for it, and that the connections between the two are compatible.
I personally think both SanDisk and especially Samsung have done a lot of good in this part of the industry, making video editing on the go much more easy and affordable for everyone.