LaCie Rugged SSD Pro5 4TB: 30-second evaluation
Specs
Capability: 2, 4TB
Switch price – Learn: 6,700 MB/s
Switch price – write: 5,300 MB/s
Dimensions – 17× 65 x 98 mm
Weight – 150g
Score – IP68
The LaCie Rugged drives have been the go-to for creatives for the previous twenty years and have usually led the sector in the case of adopting the newest applied sciences. Whereas the efficiency of the Rugged drives has lent itself to make use of by the artistic sector, particularly videographers, it is the design that has actually made them stand out. I take advantage of the older iteration of the Rugged drive, in its unmissable vibrant orange rubber shell, on most shoots—they provide massive capacities, they’re straightforward to find at nightfall in addition to within the backside of a bag as a result of contrasting color, and better of all they will survive a knock or two.
Ranked as a number of the best rugged hard drives, the one difficulty I’ve had with them in recent times is that whereas the capacities have elevated—I stack up the 5TB variations to deal with 4K RAW video recordsdata—the speeds have not typically saved tempo with the newest SSDs, even the superb LaCie Rugged SSD. The prevailing SSD model is USB 3.2 Gen 2 and solely provides 10Gbps, whereas now there is a true ultrafast possibility with this Pro5 and its native Thunderbolt 5.
Eradicating the Rugged SSD Pro5 from the field, and just like the Rugged SSD, it takes the small type issue that has been made attainable by the brand new storage expertise, though this time it is blue slightly than orange.
Aesthetics and design apart, I most popular the orange to be used out on website, and whereas the blue seems to be nice and aligns with the unique LaCie model colors, I am not so eager—I am going to go into why within the efficiency part, together with the IP68 certification, which I’ve to say is a superb improve.
In use, the efficiency of the drive immediately impressed, and whereas I wasn’t capable of check the total Thunderbolt 5 velocity, the switch charges nonetheless surpassed most different drives I’ve examined.
The selection of Thunderbolt 5 has large backward compatibility and can work with USB Sort-C and Thunderbolt ports, in every case enabling the speeds that you just want to be used as a scratch disc for video enhancing and, subsequently, anything.
Whereas I’ve reservations concerning the color alternative, there isn’t any doubting the construct high quality—this can be a drive that can stand as much as way over most, together with being dropped into water or run over by a Ford Transit Customized. After which there’s the velocity. The velocity of the switch and the compact dimension make this a fantastic alternative for any artistic in search of one of many best portable SSDs round; nonetheless, whilst you can see the affect of the enduring design, somewhat extra of an evolution of the design would have been welcome.
LaCie Rugged SSD Pro5 4TB: Worth & availability
The LaCie Rugged SSD Pro5 is extensively out there and might be bought from most photographic, video, and electronics retailers, together with Adorama, CVP, and B&H Photograph, in addition to straight from LaCie.
LaCie Rugged SSD Pro5 4TB: Design & construct
The LaCie Rugged SSD Pro5 is the newest iteration of the enduring moveable exhausting drive and one which has been the go-to for creatives for the previous 20 years. I’ve previous LaCie Rugged drives that I’ve used over time and had chosen for 3 distinct traits.
Firstly, the velocity and capability of the inner drives made them excellent for video and photographic work. Secondly, they’re robust, with that rubberised outer providing loads of safety. And at last, the color made them straightforward to find when figuring out within the area. There is not any lacking a vibrant orange exhausting drive if you pack up.
This newest iteration takes that design, if not the color, and, just like the small SSD model, downsizes the drive to 17 x 65 x 98 mm with a weight of 150 g, so it is extraordinarily small and light-weight. It retains a lot of the aesthetics, so there isn’t any mistaking the make or mannequin of the drive from a look. The one factor is, as talked about, it is now blue slightly than the enduring orange.
The design of the drive is straightforward, with simply the only Thunderbolt 5 port on the facet, which, just like the SSD model, is positioned on the lengthy facet of the drive slightly than on the finish.
The replace to Thunderbolt 5 is welcome, because the SSD model for Mac compatibility remained at USB 3.2 Gen 2, which restricted speeds to 10Gbps. Whereas quick, that is beginning to be challenged by the newest 4K and 8K video file codecs. This new model will deal with these massive video knowledge recordsdata with out difficulty.
The opposite main level concerning the construct, apart from the top quality, is the truth that this drive is now IP68, up from IP67 on the earlier model. This primarily means that you would be able to drop it into water as much as 1.5 m in depth, and it’ll survive for as much as half-hour. It is a large improve over the SSD model, which you can solely submerge briefly. It would additionally stand up to 3m drops and as much as two tonnes of strain, once more reinforcing the construct high quality and its suitability to be a go-to for creatives.
LaCie Rugged SSD Pro5 4TB: Options
In the case of the options, the small SSD retains issues easy, with the headline being the ultra-fast switch charges offered by the Thunderbolt connection. This connection kind, when related to a machine that helps Thunderbolt 5, will obtain learn speeds of as much as 6,700 MB/s and write speeds of as much as 5,300 MB/s with a 50GB cache. To realize these speeds, you will want one of many newest Apple Mac machines, and at current, the provision of Thunderbolt 5 on PCs is nearly non-existent.
This makes it a really perfect possibility for videography as a scratch disc, that means that after the cache, the efficiency will nonetheless allow as much as 5,000 MB/s learn and 1,800 MB/s write. The truth that it is out there in each 2TB and 4TB variations additionally offers you loads of flexibility and price range selections, and contemplating the capability and velocity, it is truly not that costly.
At current, it is solely the newest Mac computer systems that supply the total Thunderbolt 5 speeds, making it a really perfect accomplice for anybody needing to edit 6K and 8K video. Whereas these speeds are good to have, outdoors of video enhancing, these switch charges might be far in extra of the wants of most customers.
One of many options that basically pursuits me is the IP68 score and resistance to water, mud, drops of as much as 3 m, and 2-tonne strain. Whereas I by no means intend to drop a tough drive right into a puddle, run over it in a automobile, or drop it from a peak, these are all attainable outcomes if you work within the area—so understanding that it might probably take this abuse in its stride is reassuring.
One different level concerning the construct is that the Rugged SSD Pro5 is constructed with at the very least 45% recycled supplies, giving the drive a small environmental tick in the case of sustainability.
As with all LaCie drives, the brand new Rugged Pro5 comes with a 5-year restricted guarantee, Rescue Information Restoration Companies, and Toolkit backup software program, all of which I’ve discovered very helpful up to now, particularly the info restoration.
LaCie Rugged SSD Pro5 4TB: Efficiency
Benchmarks
These checks had been carried out on a MacBook Professional M1 Max with Thunderbolt 4
Blackmagic Disk Velocity Take a look at learn: 3518.7MB/s
Blackmagic Disk Velocity Take a look at write: 2968.1MB/s
AmorphousDiskMark Learn: 3451.97MB/s
AmorphousDiskMark Write: 1795.47MB/s
AJA System Take a look at Lite Learn: 3024MB/s
AJA System Take a look at Lite Write: 2015MB/s
ATTO Disk Benchmark Learn: 3280MB/s
ATTO Disk Benchmark Write: 2830MB/s
Opening the field, the small drive could be very paying homage to the SSD model, the primary distinction being that the brand new drive is blue slightly than orange. The distinction in color is a pleasant contact, though I do want they’d additionally launched an orange model. The orange is way over an aesthetic alternative—for a similar motive that the insides of digital camera baggage are sometimes vibrant yellow, crimson, or gray, these colors are chosen to create distinction with equipment so you will discover issues when Gentle is low.
Nonetheless, in opposition to the within of the Vanguard and Manfrotto baggage, the brand new blue drive contrasts effectively, though, at this dimension, it is now higher observe to pop the drive into one of many small zipped inside pockets slightly than leaving it free contained in the bag. I might even have appreciated to see a lanyard loop for a drive of this dimension simply to safe it, as that is now a standard characteristic elsewhere with drives of this kind.
One other characteristic, and a problem that’s common with the brand new wave of robust drives, is that there is nowhere to stay a label. The rubber outer pores and skin of this and different drives simply does not permit labels to stick with ease, and if you’re coping with a stack of those, some indicator is at all times helpful. If LaCie included a 3M sticker or related for that prime part, it could undoubtedly be welcome, and a flush slightly than raised emblem on this floor would allow the label to put flat slightly than have a bump within the center. On the again, nonetheless, there’s a good flat part with the data label, making it an ideal floor to connect Velcro to safe it to the again of a laptop computer or different system.
The brand new smaller dimension of the drive, made attainable by the small type issue of SSD expertise, undoubtedly makes this an enormous improve in efficiency and value over the earlier technology.
In the case of efficiency, there may be little to fault. Used as a scratch disk for Adobe Premiere Professional and Remaining Reduce Professional X, the drive works seamlessly and on the similar tempo as the inner MacBook Professional M1 Max SSD when below load. Any worries about thermal throttling efficiency when enhancing RAW Gentle had been shortly dismissed, and a 15-minute edit utilizing 4K and a few 8K footage from the Canon EOS R5 C confirmed the drive’s potential, with the restrictions coming from the MacBook Professional slightly than the drive itself.
Because the outcomes from the benchmarking check spotlight, the velocity and skill of this drive as an exterior entity is without doubt one of the quickest out there and the primary to utilise the Thunderbolt 5 interface.
Do you have to purchase the LaCie Rugged SSD Pro5 4TB?
As an all-around moveable SSD, its small dimension and number of capability choices make this a discreet and straightforward alternative. The minimal dimension and weight will enchantment broadly, because it takes up little or no room within the pocket of a jacket or bag, making it a really perfect accomplice for imaging professionals.
The cable’s weight influences its place on a desktop, however with somewhat Velcro, this drive might be completely connected to the again of a monitor. This characteristic is especially helpful for these on the transfer, working in varied places like trains, espresso outlets, or hotdesking round an workplace, because it ensures the protection of the driving force’s connection throughout motion.
Though small pen drives with massive capability choices can be found, this devoted drive provides sustained efficiency, making it a really perfect alternative for actions that require quick switch speeds and dependable entry to knowledge. It’s notably suited to these within the video sector who demand dependable file entry and wish storage that’s protected, safe, and light-weight sufficient to be simply transported in a busy surroundings with out extreme concern about cables disconnecting.
iPhone 15 Professional and Max customers may also profit from the connection to better storage when taking pictures video within the Apple ProRes format. It is a excellent, barely distinctive characteristic. There’s the difficulty of easy methods to connect the drive comfortably, however in the end, it pushes the operate and options of the iPhone 15 Professional even additional. In actual phrases, the video that you would be able to retailer on an iPhone with round 70GB of storage goes from 18 minutes to 1,183 minutes with the 2TB drive connected.
General, contemplating the capability, dimension, and velocity, that is an excellent SSD that can go well with many makes use of however will discover specific enchantment with photographers and videographers.
| Row 0 – Cell 0 | Row 0 – Cell 1 | Row 0 – Cell 2 |
| Worth | Utilising the newest connection expertise, this drive is not low-cost, however all issues thought-about, it is nonetheless nice worth | 4.5 |
| Design | It follows the enduring design, and whereas rugged, there are a couple of design tweaks that might make it excellent | 4 |
| Efficiency | Compact, quick, and one of many solely moveable SSDs that is capable of sustain with 8K video enhancing | 5 |
| Complete | An ideal alternative for artistic professionals figuring out within the area, with unmatched velocity | 4.5 |
Purchase it if…
Do not buy it if…
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