External solid state drives (SSDs) have become a popular way to add fast, portable storage to your computer setup. As SSD technology has improved over the years, manufacturers are able to cram more and more storage capacity into these compact devices.
If you need maximum storage space in an external SSD format, there are a few high capacity options on the market. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the biggest external SSDs available and what use cases they are best suited for.
Why You May Want a Large Capacity External SSD
First, let’s discuss why you might need such a large external SSD in the first place. There are a few common scenarios where a high capacity external SSD could come in handy:
- Storing or working with very large files like high resolution photos and videos.
- Keeping entire media libraries and archives portable.
- Running large applications or games from the external drive.
- Backup drive for full system images and other important files.
- A portable drive for a desktop/laptop used for intensive creative work like 3D modeling and rendering.
Standard external SSD capacities tend to top out at around 2TB. This is fine for general use, but power users with large storage needs will want to look into higher capacity options.
8TB External SSD Options
As of late 2022, some of the biggest consumer external SSDs on the market offer up to 8TB of storage in a portable, solid state format. Here are a few examples:
Samsung T7 Shield 8TB
The Samsung T7 Shield provides an excellent balance of performance and protection in a compact aluminum housing. It can reach sequential read speeds up to 1,050MB/s and write speeds up to 1,000MB/s over the USB 3.2 interface. The T7 Shield also has reinforced rubber sides to help protect against drops of up to 9.8 feet.
With Samsung’s reputation for solid state storage, the 8TB T7 Shield is a great option if you want huge capacity paired with great performance and resilience. It currently retails for around $700.
Western Digital 8TB My Passport SSD
From Western Digital, another leader in the storage space, the My Passport SSD maxes out at a whopping 8TB capacity. It can hit read speeds up to 1,050MB/s and write speeds up to 1,000MB/s, very similar performance to the Samsung T7 Shield.
Western Digital includes handy backup and encryption software with the My Passport SSD to help protect your data. At around $650 for the 8TB version, it’s competitively priced with the Samsung option.
SanDisk Professional G-Drive SSD 8TB
The SanDisk Professional G-Drive SSD reaches up to 2,900MB/s read and 2,500 MB/s write speeds, the fastest SSD on this list. It uses the fast USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 interface to achieve these blazing speeds.
In addition to great performance, the durable aluminum housing makes this a good option for on-location media work. And at 8TB of capacity, you can load it up with massive amounts of high resolution footage and assets. Expect to pay around $900 for the 8TB G-Drive SSD.
How These External SSDs Connect
The external SSDs mentioned above all connect over a USB interface, either USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps) or USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 (20Gbps). This allows them to pair easily with a laptop or desktop PC that has USB ports. No separate power source is required.
Many higher-end laptops today offer USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports with 10Gbps bandwidth. For the fastest transfer speeds, you’ll want a computer with USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 and compatible port. You’ll also need high performing internal storage to take full advantage of these external SSDs.
Ideal Use Cases
So when would 8TB of external SSD storage make sense? Here are some of the best use cases for these high capacity drives:
Photographers and Videographers
For professional photographers and videographers working with very large, high resolution files, being able to store entire shoots on a small SSD is invaluable. An 8TB drive has room for over 750,000 24 megapixel RAW images from a Sony a7R IV camera.
Or with 8K RAW uncompressed video requiring 7.4GB per minute, an 8TB SSD could hold over 18 hours of footage. This makes it easy to take entire shoots with you in the field.
Animation and Visual Effects
Animators and VFX artists use assets like 3D models, texture maps, particle effects and renders that can easily eat up huge chunks of storage. An 8TB external SSD provides ample space for an entire digital workspace of assets that can move between computers as needed.
Game Installs and Storage
As game install sizes balloon to over 100GB each for many AAA titles, an 8TB SSD can be ideal for console gamers who want to store a large library ready to play. This much capacity is also useful for PC gamers who don’t want to compromise on installing many games at once.
Full System and Machine Backups
IT professionals tasked with backing up entire systems and disk images benefit from large external SSDs. Rather than relying on multiple smaller drives, a single 8TB model can store many machine backups ready for recovery or duplication.
Archival and Secondary Storage
While not intended as a primary place for keeping archives, the massive space on these external SSDs does provide safe long term storage for important files and media. The portability also helps prevent data loss in case a computer crashes.
Maximize the Lifespan of a Large External SSD
Like any storage device, external SSDs have a limited lifespan tied to write endurance. Here are some tips to maximize the longevity of your large capacity external SSD investment:
- Avoid unnecessary file copies and transfers that cause repeated writes to the drive.
- Use the SSD for your active workspace, storing archives on other media.
- Employ smart data management practices like compression and deduplication.
- Minimize Fragmentation with tools like Defraggler to reduce wear from file access.
- Consider using the SSD in a read-only configuration if possible.
Following best practices for using solid state storage will help ensure your high capacity external SSD stays fast and functional for as long as possible.
What Size Do You Need?
When deciding how much capacity you need in an external SSD, consider both your current storage requirements and potential future needs. While 8TB drives are enticing, a more moderately sized 1TB or 2TB SSD may be all you need for on-the-go business and personal files.
Here are some guidelines based on use case:
- General everyday file transfer – 500GB to 2TB
- Photography and design work – 2TB to 4TB
- Videography and animation – 4TB to 8TB+
- Game storage drive – 2TB to 8TB+
- System and machine imaging – Up to 8TB
Evaluate both your short term and long term storage requirements before choosing the largest external SSD your budget allows. And remember that external storage needs can change over time. A modular approach with multiple smaller SSDs may make more sense than a single massive drive.
The Future of Large Capacity SSDs
External SSD capacities will continue growing over the next several years. We can expect to see 10TB and even 12TB+ options arrive on the market. This will come through ongoing improvements in flash memory technology like triple-level cell (TLC) and quad-level cell (QLC) NAND.
Interface bandwidth will also increase, with USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 already available on high end drives. Eventually this will evolve into USB 4.0 and beyond. Faster interfaces allow the SSD controller and flash memory to operate at full speed.
As drive capacities grow, it’s important that interface speeds and internal SSD performance grow to match. This will prevent bottlenecks when moving large volumes of data to and from the SSD.
M.2 SSDs with Enclosures
Another option for massive SSD capacities is using an M.2 NVMe SSD in an external enclosure. M.2 drives are commonly used for internal storage in laptops and high end PCs.
With an M.2 enclosure that connects over USB or Thunderbolt, you can access the storage externally. This allows combining laptop class internal SSDs to achieve huge capacities. Some current examples:
- 8TB Samsung 870 QVO M.2 SATA III SSD
- 8TB Crucial P5 Plus M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD
- 8TB Sabrent Rocket Q4 NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD
When paired with a compatible M.2 enclosure, these provide similar performance and portability to a traditional external SSD. Just be prepared to pay significantly more, as these high capacity M.2 SSDs cost well over $1000 for an 8TB drive.
External HDDs Still Have a Place
If your budget doesn’t allow for a multi-terabyte external SSD, mechanical hard disk drives (HDDs) are still a viable solution for huge amounts of external storage. Options like the WD Elements Desktop HDD can be found at 18TB capacities in the $400 price range.
Compared to SSDs, these external HDDs offer significantly slower speeds and larger physical sizes. But for bulk archives and backups that don’t need quick access, an external HDD can work very well.
Build Your Own Large External RAID Array
For those who need vast amounts of external storage with flexibility on speed, connection types, and configurability, building your own external RAID array is an option. With an external RAID enclosure and multiple internal SSDs or HDDs, it’s possible to create massive storage pools tuned for your specific needs.
For example, a 4 bay RAID 0 SSD array could provide up to 32TB of very fast storage. Or a HDD RAID 5 array with large individual drives can combine ample capacity and redundancy.
Going the external RAID route takes more effort to setup and manage. But it can provide the exact external storage solution you need through a custom build.
Final Thoughts
External SSDs have cemented themselves as a versatile solution for adding significant storage, speed, and portability to any computer setup. As the technology progresses, massive 8TB+ external SSDs are now within reach for power users.
For creative professionals, IT administrators, and demanding home users, these high capacity drives offer convenient access to huge storage pools on the go. Prices are still in the premium range, but should become more affordable over time.
Make sure to assess your actual external storage needs before splurging on an 8TB SSD. In many cases, more budget friendly solutions like 500GB – 2TB external SSDs or larger external HDDs can fit the bill nicely. But for those who truly require portable, high-speed access to vast libraries of data, today’s largest external SSDs are a compelling option.