You’d be forgiven for looking for the PNY EliteX-PRO and being slightly confused. PNY’s naming system for its SSDs is barely onerous to comply with, with it at present providing the PNY Elite, PNY Professional Elite V2, and this – the PNY EliteX-PRO.
These equally named gadgets are principally separated by their totally different specs for his or her USB connections, nonetheless, they don’t seem to be separated a lot by their costs, with there solely being a $15 distinction between the Professional Elite V2 and EliteX-PRO on the time of writing.
PNY EliteX-PRO: Specs
Interface: USB 3.2 Gen 2×2
Connection: Sort-C
Included cables: USB-C to USB-C, USB-C to USB-A
Capacities: 500GB, 1TB, 2TB and 4TB
Pace: As much as 1600MB/s learn, 1500MB/s write
Dimensions: 64.5 x 57.8 x 11 mm
Weight: 110 g
Suitable with: Microsoft Home windows, macOS, Linux, Chrome OS
The PNY EliteX-PRO is each the most recent and the quickest of the drives, with a USB-C 3.2 Gen 2×2 connection. Coming in 4 capacities, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB, the 500GB mannequin provides max learn speeds of 1500MB/s and write speeds of 900MB/s. The 1TB can attain 1500MB/s learn and 1400MB/s write, and the 2TB and 4TBtops out at 1600MB/s learn and 1500MB/s write.
Nevertheless, there’s a query of whether or not your machine can benefit from this, with many laptops and desktops coming with simply the usual 3.2 Gen 2, and never the newer 2×2 spec, so many customers may not be capable to really feel the advantages over a slower drive.
However the place EliteX-PRO comes up aces is on worth. You probably have the optimum connection then the PNY EliteX-PRO may nicely be a really tempting proposition because it undercuts the competitors, with different drives from rivals with comparable headline speeds principally far more costly. However even when you can’t get the highest speeds out of your USB connection then it’s nonetheless value contemplating the EliteX-PRO because it matches slower drives for worth, making this an amazing worth choice which may turn out to be extra helpful when you improve your different {hardware}.
PNY EliteX-PRO: Design & Dealing with
The PNY EliteX-PRO is a really non-descript moveable SSD, the small sq. drive seems to be very minimal with a gunmetal gray metallic end and rounded sides, branding can be stored at a minimal with the product identify printed on one aspect, and regulatory info on the base. The EliteX-PRO is just not going to face out, however I don’t thoughts that, with drives like SanDisk’s Excessive vary being very shouty of their design, this drive is modern {and professional} wanting, and would look good in a studio or straight hooked up to a digital camera.
The drive could be very mild too, once I first picked it up it felt virtually hole, and it sounds slightly that manner too, just like the shell is simply too massive for the parts inside. Once more, if you wish to use this for direct digital camera recording, having a light-weight and compact drive makes carrying, balancing, or becoming to a rig a lot simpler.
The drive has a USB-C connector and comes with two cables, one for USB-C to USB-C and the opposite for USB-C to USB-A. These cables are each very brief at solely 19cm (~7in), and the cables additionally don’t have loads of flex in them which meant I couldn’t place the SSD round my laptop computer and different peripherals very simply.
PNY EliteX-PRO: Efficiency
I ought to begin by saying that I shouldn’t have a Gen 2 2×2 USB-C connection on my laptop computer, however I do have an precise laptop computer many photographers and videographers use of their on a regular basis lives – the MacBook Air (M2). So whereas the benchmarks may not be as excessive as they may very well be, that is realistically what lots of people can count on from the drive.
I’m testing the 500GB model which has a quoted most learn velocity of 1500MB/s, and write velocity of 900MB/s. Utilizing the drive straight out of the field, the drive’s efficiency is sweet, though I couldn’t get close to the marketed speeds when transferring recordsdata from my MacBook SSD to the EliteX-PRO. Transferring 16.68GB made up of round 775 JPEG and RAW photographs took 31.36 seconds, which works out as 531.89 MB/s.
Utilizing benchmarking was kinder. Utilizing BlackMagic’s Disk Pace Take a look at, I acquired learn speeds of 848.1MB/s and a write velocity of 772.5MB/s.
After I reformatted the drive from ExFAT, which is how the drive arrives, to Mac OS Prolonged, this identical switch as above took solely 19.62 seconds for a velocity of 850.15MB/s, which is a major enchancment. Nevertheless, when you use a number of working programs then this gained’t be a viable resolution for you.
PNY EliteX-PRO: Closing Verdict
The PNY EliteX-PRO SSD stands out as a remarkably compact and light-weight solid-state drive, that will swimsuit direct-from-camera recording, or as a drive to edit straight from. The EliteX-PRO has an unassuming exterior, with a sensible minimalistic look. The EliteX-PRO can be priced affordably, this drive manages to undercut a good portion of the marketplace for USB-C Gen 2 2×2 drives, making it a compelling alternative for these searching for high-speed, dependable storage options with out breaking the financial institution.
With regards to efficiency, the PNY EliteX-PRO SSD provides commendable speeds, particularly when used with Gen 2 gadgets, which many photographers and videographers might be working with day-to-day. Whereas the EliteX-PRO SSD could not all the time obtain its marketed peak speeds, it constantly delivers efficiency that’s on par with and even surpasses a lot of its rivals inside the identical worth vary.
Must you purchase the PNY EliteX-PRO?
✅ Purchase this if…
- You’ve got a tool able to utilizing Gen 2 2×2 speeds
- You need a compact and light-weight SSD
- You need an inexpensive high-capacity drive
🚫 Do not buy this if…
- You need absolutely the most speeds potential from an SSD
- You need a rugged waterproof SSD
