Sabrent Rocket nano V2 Portable SSD Review: Sustained Performance on the Go
The Sabrent Rocket nano V2 Portable SSD is a small, lightweight drive with capacities up to 4 TB that’s easy to carry. very similar to Corsair EX100U There are some minor differences, but they differ in performance and price. designed to compete with best external ssd, has TLC flash memory, which is great. The embedded design means it’s small and efficient. This flash produces solid and sustained write performance, which is where the EX100U eventually plateaus, but the otherwise weak UFD controller caps the nano V2’s performance potential. , which is not important for many use cases. This is because USB interfaces already have limited random performance for heavier workloads.
However, the 20 Gbps interface is advantageous for traditional sequential workloads such as media file transfers and backups. In contrast to the EX100U, the Rocket nano V2’s tighter, sturdier design leads to an overall more reliable experience, especially with sustained writes. Corsair X6 I’m stuck with QLC and typically a 10 Gbps interface.of samsung t7 shield It’s also limited to 10 Gbps, but other than that it’s a great portable drive, but it also has a larger capacity. The nano V2 is attractive when you need 20 Gbps for burst transfers, high portability with some durability, and minimal levels of sustained write performance.
Specifications of Sabrent Rocket nano V2
product | 1TB | 2TB | 4TB |
---|---|---|---|
price | $119.99 | $199.99 | $499.99 |
Form factor (internal) | embedded | embedded | embedded |
interface/protocol | USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 (20Gbps) | USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 (20Gbps) | USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 (20Gbps) |
bridge chip | none | none | none |
include | USB cable from Type-C to Type-A and Type-C | USB cable from Type-C to Type-A and Type-C | USB cable from Type-C to Type-A and Type-C |
controller | Phison U18 | Phison U18 | Phison U18 |
DRAM | none | none | none |
Flash/NAND | 128 layer SK Hynix TLC | 128 layer SK Hynix TLC | 128 layer SK Hynix TLC |
Sequential read | 1600MBps | 1600MBps | 1600MBps |
Sequential write | 1500MBps | 1500MBps | 1500MBps |
random read | none | none | none |
random write | none | none | none |
safety | none | none | none |
resistance | Shock/vibration | Shock/vibration | Shock/vibration |
Endurance (TBW) | none | none | none |
Size | 2.85 x 1.28 x 0.57 inch. | 2.85 x 1.28 x 0.57 inch. | 2.85 x 1.28 x 0.57 inch. |
weight | 1.76 oz. | 1.76 oz. | 1.76 oz. |
part number | SB-1TB-NAV2 | SB-2TB-NAV2 | SB-4TB-NAV4 |
guarantee | 3 years, registered | 3 years, registered | 3 years, registered |
The Sabrent Rocket nano V2 is available in 1TB, 2TB and 4TB. Launch prices for these capacities are $119.99, $199.99 and $499.99 respectively. This is subject to price change, but the 2 TB model is the best value.Of course, much cheaper than recently reviewed SanDisk Pro-G40but a bit more expensive than the updated one Important X6The design and price are very similar to the Corsair EX100U.
The Rocket nano V2 has a speed of 20 Gbps. USB3.2 Reach up to 1600/1500 MBps for sequential reads and writes with a Gen 2×2 interface. Interface limitations rarely dictate random performance for external drives.
Drives come with a 3-year warranty with registration, which is rare in the industry, but we prefer 5 years for premium products. The drive is very small and light, at 2.85 x 1.28 x 0.57 inches and 1.57 ounces, but without the outer silicone shell it’s a bit smaller and lighter. This outer cover provides better protection against drops.
Sabrent Rocket nano V2 software and accessories
Rocket nano V2 comes with Type-C to Type-A and Type-C to Type-C USB cables. This means it can work with a wider range of devices without having to buy another cable.
At the time of review, this drive was not supported by Sabrent’s SSD Toolbox application, but may be added later. Sabrent usually offers OEM versions of Acronis True Image Home for SSDs, but this drive is not yet supported. We recommend Macrium Reflect Free for your imaging and cloning needs.
More about Sabrent Rocket nano V2
The Sabrent Rocket nano V2 is a simple, small and portable SSD. The overall design is understated but pleasant. An optional silicone shroud provides additional protection. Unlike the EX100U’s cumbersome solution, it comes with a single USB-C port that isn’t waterproof. Note that this is a very light drive and the large capacity option is very attractive considering it can be managed without QLC.
This is an embedded or hybrid design meaning there is no bridge controller. The Phison U18 is a native UFD controller and in many ways makes it similar to a USB drive. This reduces cost, complexity, and physical size. It also usually means lower power consumption and higher efficiency. It also means that the storage area cannot be shucked. There are four NAND packages used with the controller, two on each side.
The Phison U18 controller has only 2 channels and can enable up to 8 chips per channel. This suggests that 8 dies is optimal, but 16 can be managed just fine. Given the Rocket nano V2’s capacity range, it can use both 512Gb and 1Tb dies, the latter of which he reaches 4TB. Some TLCs are only available at 512Gb and most QLCs are only available at 1Tb, so this limits the flash you can use somewhat.
This gives us a hint of what the Corsair EX100U is using. Corsair only mentions 3D TLC, but Sabrent is more explicit about it. To put it bluntly, we’re looking at either Kioxia’s 112-layer BiCS5 TLC or SK hynix’s 128-layer V6 TLC.
This looks like SK hynix’s 128 layer V6 TLC. This is a very good flash, SK Hynix Gold P31, a very popular drive. That particular SSD of his stood out for its excellent power efficiency, but its performance was also class-leading. Like the EX100U, we believe the TI DDR4000 IC will help sustain high bus speeds with this much flash in a 2-channel controller. It looks like the EX100U we reviewed had the same flash, but Corsair left the door open to change it if needed.
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