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But that silicon doesn’t handle USB, so a secondary Asmedia ASM2362 is used for a PCI Express(downstream port) to USB3.1(UFP) bridge. Surely some way to tag the Mags, using changeable coloured ends or a hole to string a label would be possible? That this identification issue was never considered in what is a ‘workflow’ solution is disappointing. What you get with this drive is a short 20 cm cable that works for both Thunderbolt and USB 3.2 Gen 2 connection, but no means to connect the drive to a USB-A, only USB-C ports. For your demanding workloads and high-value content, you can rely on the power and enhanced reliability of the 7200RPM Ultrastar enterprise-class hard drive inside. Maybe G-DRIVE hardware is mostly bought by Apple owners, or they don’t think that Apple users could work out how to reformat and so burdened Windows users with that job. Why they didn’t just format it with something both systems would understand isn’t obvious.
That SanDisk doesn’t include any cross-system boot sector with a utility to configure the drive for any OS is disappointing, and they also provide no software for this drive or others in the same range. In the promotional material, it is noted that the USB interface on this drive is a 10Gbps Gen 2 variety, an improvement over the previous 5Gbps Gen 1 interface on the old design. One area it does shine is that the NVMe inside has the capability for 256-bit AES-XTS hardware encryption, enabling the contents of the drive to be secured effectively.
What’s difficult to deny is that over Thunderbolt 3 or 4, using the 40Gbit/s pathway, the Pro-Blade Station and SSD Mag combination is exceptionally fast. When we return to conventional spinning disks, the difference between the performance of these are capable, and NAND flash is enormous.
With dimensions of 130.4 x 71.5 x 16mm, the Pro-Blade Transport is larger than alternatives like the SanDisk Extreme Pro Portable SSD V2 and Samsung T9. However, the Mags themselves are compact (129 x 103.6 x 14.4mm) and multiple units can be used interchangeably with a single Transport. But the same as that counterpart, SanDisk doesn’t provide a pouch or case to carry the drive and its cables, a niche that some third party will undoubtedly fill. That makes the PRO-G40 the fastest external Thunderbolt drive we’ve tested recently by some margin. The only drive we’ve seen that is close to this is the OWC Envoy Pro FX, and that costs even more than the PRO-G40. What’s nice about the Pro=Blade Station is that the power connection is USB-C, and the unit has two Thunderbolt ports allowing it to daisy chain other Thunderbolt hardware.
Upgrade your game with super-fast SSD performance that lasts.
Why they didn’t use exFAT and a utility that runs on both platforms to reformat the drive for both groups is a mystery. Because that’s normally what Western Digital does, the overarching business that owns the SanDisk brand. We didn’t try to open our review hardware, but there are four visible screws on the top that might help open it for those willing to void their 5-year warranty and negate the dust and water resistance of this device.
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