The problem of insufficient storage capacity that every gamer encounters. Recently, there are many high-quality works, and the file size tends to be large, and the storage fills up as soon as many softwares are installed.
There are several ways to increase storage, but if you can’t solve the problem with an external SSD instead of the built-in SSD or HDD, we recommend installing a large-capacity external SSD that supports high-speed transfer.
This time, CyberMedia Communications, a public relations agent for “Lexar”, which develops flash memory products, provided a sample of the gaming portable SSD “SL660 BLAZE Gaming Portable SSD” that is perfect for PC gamers.
As the name “gaming” suggests, it was a portable SSD that was perfect for PC gamers, so I would like to introduce the specifications in detail.
Design / specifications
“SL660 BLAZE Gaming Portable SSD” is an ultra-high-speed portable SSD that achieves a maximum read speed of 2,000MB / s and a maximum write speed of 1,900MB / s by adopting a USB 3.2 Gen 2 x 2 interface and NVMe SSD. Of course, it may not be as good as the built-in SSD, but it is a fairly fast class for external storage. It is a product with perfect performance for gaming applications.
Two models with capacities of 512GB and 1TB are available, and this time we provided the 1TB model.
The main body uses an aluminum housing, and the surface is matte for a smooth feel. Since the main body is dark black, it seems to be compatible with other gaming devices.
The semi-transparent part on the right side of the main unit is equipped with an RGB LED, which lights up when the SSD is accessed from a PC. The color automatically changes to 7 colors, which makes it feel like a gaming product. However, since it does not support color customization, it is not possible to change the lighting pattern.
The color of the LED part is changing (orange)
The color of the LED part is changing (blue)
As it is a portable SSD, the main body is quite compact, the size is about 57.4 x 112.6 x 10.6 mm, and the weight is only 80 g. It’s one size smaller than my iPhone 13 mini, and it’s sized so that it can be held with one hand, so it doesn’t get in the way when placed on a desk.
There is a USB-C port on the other side of the RGB LED, and you can connect a USB-C cable to this port to connect to your PC. The main body is designed to operate by supplying power from a PC, so there is no need to connect it to a separate power supply.
You can connect to your PC using the included USB-C to USB-C cable or USB-C to USB-A cable. However, the length of the attached cable is as short as 30 cm, so if you want a longer cable, prepare a cable compatible with USB 3.2 Gen 2 x 2 separately.
The above is a list of bundled items. In addition to the cable, a stand for standing the main body and a carrying case are included. Felt material is used for the case, which protects the main body from scratches.
The above is the state when the attached stand is attached to the main body. Personally, rather than letting the main unit lie on the desk as it is, I like it because it gives me a sense of security and I like it.
Check transfer speed
“SL660 BLAZE Gaming Portable SSD” features ultra-high-speed transfer with a maximum read speed of 2,000MB / s and a maximum write speed of 1,900MB / s. I connected and measured the transfer speed with the benchmark software “CrystalDiskMark (v8.0.4a)”.
| reading | write in |
|---|---|
| 2079MB/s | 1892MB/s |
As a result of the measurement, we were able to confirm the amazing transfer speed of 2079MB / s for reading and 1892MB / s for writing. With this, even if you save the game file, you should be able to play the game as comfortably as the built-in SSD.
Also, although it doesn’t have a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 compatible port, I connected it to Mac Studio via Thunderbolt 4 and measured the transfer speed there as well. The “Blackmagic Disk Speed Test” was used for the measurement.
| reading | write in |
|---|---|
| 920MB/s | 865MB/s |
As a result of the measurement, the read was 920MB / s and the write was 865MB / s. Since the Mac Studio port does not support USB 3.2 Gen 2×2, the transfer speed is slower than the previous Windows PC, but it seems that the speed is reasonable for using it as storage for data evacuation.
Also, with a low quality SSD, if you start transferring a large amount of data, the transfer speed may become extremely slow from the middle, or the transfer speed may vary every time you transfer a file, but with this product, these phenomena occur. I haven’t encountered it, so you should be able to use it with confidence.
summary
The “SL660 BLAZE Gaming Portable SSD” achieves a transfer speed close to that of the built-in SSD in a USB 3.2 Gen 2 x 2 compatible environment, so you can comfortably play games by high-speed reading while storing a large amount of game files externally. It’s a portable SSD that can be played and has the power to match the name of “gaming”.
In particular, gaming notebook PCs have limited expandability, and it is difficult to increase the capacity of the built-in SSD. If you use this product, you should be able to get great benefits.
Also noteworthy is that the main body is small and easy to carry because it is a portable SSD. Even if you have the opportunity to play games outside your home, such as at an esports cafe, you can lighten your luggage.
If you have many opportunities to play PC games and are concerned about the remaining capacity of the built-in SSD, or if you want to save game files outside your PC, why not take it with you?
