Angelbird SSD2Go Pro Mobile SSD Review (640GB) – SSD Speed and Craftsmanship From Austria

ANVIL STORAGE UTILITIES PROFESSIONAL (BETA)

You may not see this for long (and it’s definitely not common) but you get a freebee simply for reading!  Over the last little while, we have been assisting with beta testing new benchmark software called Anvil Storage Utilities which is an absolutely amazing SSD benchmarking utility.  Not only does it have a preset SSD benchmark, but also, it has included such things as endurance testing and threaded I/O read, write and mixed tests, all of which are very simple to understand and use in our benchmark testing.

USB 3.0 (UASP)

eSATA

Once again, we see IOPS almost hitting the 60K mark when using the Angelbird SSD2Go Pro Mobile SSD in eSATA mode.

PCMARK VANTAGE X64 HDD SUITE

The SSD Review uses benchmark software called PCMark Vantage x64 HDD Suite to create testing scenarios that might be used in the typical user experience. There are eight tests in all and the tests performed record the speed of data movement in MB/s to which they are then given a numerical score after all of the tests are complete. The simulations are as follows:

• Windows Defender In Use
• Streaming Data from storage in games such as Alan Wake which allows for massive worlds and riveting non-stop action
• Importing digital photos into Windows Photo Gallery
• Starting the Vista Operating System
• Home Video editing with Movie Maker which can be very time consuming
• Media Center which can handle video recording, time shifting and streaming from Windows media center to an extender such as XBox
• Cataloging a music library
• Starting applications

ANGELBIRD SSD2GO PRO MOBILE SSD  PCMARK VANTAGE RESULTS

The difference between USB 3.0 and eSATA performance of the Angelbird SSD2Go Pr0 640 GB Mobile SSD is significant, the eSATA PCMark Vantage result a respectable 56526 points while that of USB 3 was 23751. As much as that makes the same drive look like a lesser drive in USB 3.0 use, this is still one of the fastest performing external SSDs on the planet especialy with top transfer speeds of 403MB/s while testing in Windows Media Center.

USB 3.0

eSATA

REPORT ANALYSIS AND FINAL THOUGHTS

As much as we would like to say our report of the Angelbird SSD2Go Pro Mobile SSD is surprising considering that it’s quality is that of which we don’t see very often these days, we can’t.  As a matter of fact, I would have to say that Angelbird had some boots to fill considering the first SSD2Go that came across our desk some months ago.  It’s build is just that good though and it is probably as close to perfection as one might see if you are looking for a product crafted by hand and containing only the top components money can buy.  Considering the price tag attached to this SSD though , it is a very niche that will only fall into the hands that can afford it, or those that just have to have it.

This is also the first time we were able to go for a run with the Novachips Bugatti SATA 3 10 channel controller and we were impressed.  It is a very strong product which could very well be seen in upper tier SSDs and we have to wonder why its popularity isn’t a bit more evident at this point and time.  Angelbird went and partnered this with 20 modules of Micron’s best NAND flash memory and the performance seen is great.  The only complaint we may have on the component side, none of which is the fault of Angelbird whatsoever, is that most eSATA connectors we find in systems are attached to controllers that will bottleneck eSATA performance unless they are attached directly to the Intel ports.

This goes much the same for USB 3.0 where those who purchase need to be aware of the fact that, in order to get speeds in the 450MB/s mark, they will need to be connected to a system that is UASP compliant, this still being relatively new in retail system sales.  We have a feeling though that those who buy the Angelbird SSD2Go Pro Mobile SSD are those who know exactly what they want and have the equipment to transfer speeds as fast as can be through a portable storage medium.  A quick jump over to the Angelbird website will get you that much closer to purchase of this amazing product.

With respect to our side of things, performance and capacity is great and the build of the Angelbird SSD2Go is something that we have yet to see matched.  Editor’s Choice!