External SSDs

The Team Group PD20 Mini External SSD looks good and performs well enough for speedy mainstream use. But its sustained write performance is lacking, and some similarly performing drives cost less.

Seagate's Game Drive External SSD performs well and looks the part of a PlayStation accessory, but similarly-performing alternatives are available for much less.

Adata's SC750 delivers true 10Gbps SSD speeds in a compact (but wide) form factor. It's one of the fastest flash drives we've tested, and it will soon be available in capacities up to 2TB.

Perhaps the last hurrah for the portable hard drive

Lexar's SL500 and Professional SL600 do well on most of our tests. But our sustained write testing shows better-performing options are available at lower prices.

PNY's 20 Gbps "rugged" external drive performs well in bursty tasks, but can it handle sustained writes as well as similarly priced alternatives like Crucial's X10 Pro?