AFT Blackbird VX-2SSD USB 3.1 review: Internal SATA speed at the end of a wire - stovallhadvieterell

At a Glance

Expert's Rating

Pros

SATA 6Mbps-equal performance at the oddment of a USB 3.1 wire
Tiptop-hardline sheath
Functions in RAID 0, Foray into 1, or JBOD

Cons

Practised some small issues when changing Foray into modes

Our Verdict

This small, handy, and versatile 2.5-inch USB 3.1 (10Mbps) RAID inclosure gives you interior SATA speed in an external box. And for far less than the Thunderbolt competitors.

There are times when adding additional drives to your laptop or PC just International Relations and Security Network't an option. That doesn't mean you have to pee due with less storage, or even compromised performance from an extrinsic solution, as Atech Flash's Blackbird VX-2SSD proves. This dual-bay, 2.5-inch, external USB 3.1 enclosure lets SATA drives perform as quickly at the remainder of a cable system every bit they would internal your computer. Good-hearted of liberating, if you think about IT. Of course, that's assuming your laptop Beaver State PC has 2nd-generation, 10Mbps USB 3.1 connected board. If your Microcomputer doesn't have IT, you can add it well enough with a $35 PCIe card. If your laptop lacks it, you'll have to live with 5Mbps USB 3.x.

Ironware

The VX-2SSD (which has an MSRP of $149 but ass be had for about $10 little on Virago) is a kind of small, but extremely inflexible, just about 4.6-inch long, by 2.2-edge high, past 4-in wide negro box. Styling is express to the Bolshevik accents around the front end-ready to hand drive slots, and logos on the advance and position.

A fair quantity of pressure is required to insert and remove drives; perhaps more you might comfortable with at first. Only you'll get ill-used to that, and a wee shin forthwith and again is surely better than your drive popping or dropping out in mid-write. A shell out better.

The back of the VX-2SSD is home to a single USB 3.1 (Character C) port, the AC jack, a RAID-mode DIP switch, and a readjust button. To configure operating theater reconfigure the unit, you set the DIP switches to the desired modality: Maraud 1 mirrored, RAID 0 striped, or JBOD, which in this case results in dual drives; then printing press and hold the readjust button for about 5 seconds. At that place's a legend for the douse-exchange settings printed on the back of the drive. Discriminate extend to.

I had no issues mise en scene up the VX-2SSD for the first time, but it seemed that when I wanted to interchange from RAID 0, to Foray into 1 or JBOD, the building block would nary longer mount—i.e., show up in Windows. Subsequently reinitializing some drives, then partitioning them while direct attached to the motherboard, things were hunky-dory again. Atech Flash was as puzzled over this every bit I was, but I have a talent for making things misbehave, largely based on impatience. Go figure.

Performance

The VX-2SSD performed as expected—like a SATA RAID array. We used cardinal fast OCZ Vector 180's configured in Foray into 0 (patterned) and sawing machine 591MBps reading and 791MBps writing in AS SSD. Almost enclosures are quicker readers than writers, but we do see the reverse occasionally, depending on chipset and drives. Note that the same drives mounted in the Akitio Thunder3 Duo Pro performed in the more common personal manner.

Regardless, the VX-2SSD is a heck of a lot faster than a single internal SATA drive in, As fast as twofold-drive intramural SATA Foray 0, and anything we've seen from USB 3.0.

as ssd atech vs 2ssd — The VX-2SSD is an exceedingly instant writer, though learn performance was slower than with the Akitio Thunder3 Duo Pro.

20gb copies atech vs 2ssd — The VX-2SSD is a worthy competition for the Akitio Thunder3 Duo Pro, and at considerably to a lesser extent than one-half the toll.

Note that we used an Asus X99 Deluxe motherboard with the Asus Thunderex 3 PCIe expansion bill for connecting the VX-2SSD.

Conclusion

The VX-2SSD is a great little product that allows you to leverage some case of 2.5-inch SATA media to best effect. I butt see victimization it for data recovery, backup, and a host of past chores as well simple storage. It's easy to role, and at $149… Okay, I was hoping for $99, but it's even a firm and highly versatile enclosure. And surely a good deal less high-priced than the Thunderbolt 3 SATA enclosures we've seen to that degree.