The SK Hynix Tube T31 transportable SSD pairs a 2242 M.2 NVMe SSD with USB kind A interface to ship shocking efficiency.
SK Hynix has footing within the storage recreation, each enterprise and client. You normally hear about SK Hynix for NAND chips and inside storage, however they not too long ago took a step into the exterior storage space with the Tube T31 and Beetle X31 drives. The Beetle X31 has been round for a number of months now, however we simply obtained our arms on it and the Tube T31 to try.
SK Hynix Tube T31 and X31 Specs
One factor that caught out to us is that these two drives whereas having fairly a special design and footprint, have fairly comparable specs in any other case. The rationale for that’s fairly fascinating and can be highlighted later.
| Tube T31 | Beetle X31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Mannequin Title | SKHSU3-512G-R1GB00 (512GB) SKHSU3-001T-R1GB00 (1TB) |
SKHPU3-512G(512GB) SKHPU3-001T(1TB) |
| USB Interface | USB 3.2 Gen2 (10Gbps) | USB 3.2 Gen2 (10Gbps) |
| Connector | Male USB Sort A | Feminine USB Sort C |
| Capability | 512GB 1TB |
512GB 1TB |
| Sequential Learn | As much as 1,000MB/s | As much as 1,050MB/s |
| Sequential Write | As much as 1,000MB/s | As much as 1,000MB/s |
| Dimensions | 92.5mm x 30.5mm x 14mm | 74mm x 46mm, 14.8mm |
| Weight | ~35g | 53g |
| Sturdiness | Rated for Drop as much as 2m | Drop as much as 2m |
We don’t know the value of the T31 Tube at the moment (within the US), however we predict it is going to lie near the X31 Beetle which is at present $69.99 for the 512GB mannequin and $89.99 for the 1TB mannequin. This pricing falls in the course of different 3.2 Gen2x1 drives as properly.
SK Hynix Tube T31 and X31 Construct and Design
The T31 Tube has a fairly easy look, with a rounded matte black shell. It comes nearer to the looks of a traditional USB stick than an exterior SSD, with only a bigger footprint than most USB sticks. One odd alternative on this drive although, is most USB sticks have a lanyard or keyring loop and the T31 doesn’t have any attachment level.
The shell on the T31 is a fairly sturdy-feeling plastic, with a canopy that clips over the sort A connector. The kind A is a bit shocking, although within the context of the X31 additionally being out there, the port does make it straightforward to make use of the T31 throughout older methods and trendy desktops. It’s only a bit dicey in case your utilization is on skinny and light-weight laptops – in that occasion the X31 can be the higher alternative. One advantage of the sort A although is the rigidity it gives. This can be a fairly husky drive because of the M.2 SSD inside, so the design ought to be sturdy over time.
The shape issue of the X31 Beetle follows a bit of nearer to another transportable SSDs with a barely rectangular footprint. The X31 Beetle sits a bit of bit bigger than the T31, boasting an aluminum housing as a substitute of the plastic housing of the T31, and has rubber toes on the underside. The X31 takes a two-tone Gold and Silver look with a gold prime case and silver on the underside case.
The underside exhibits the X31’s Silver backside case and the rubber toes to cease it from sliding round. We additionally acquired a silicone bumper for the X31 that may be seen across the perimeter of the drive, although with the bumper, the toes not contact surfaces making it slide round a bit of extra.
Connectivity-wise, the X31 Beetle has a single Sort C port on the top and a standing gentle. This drive additionally doesn’t function any type of attachment factors for a keyring or lanyard, however that may be a function seen much less on portables.
SK Hynix Tube T31 and X31 Inner Building
A facet we normally don’t get into on transportable drives is their inside development. We stumbled throughout some pictures of those drives cracked open and displaying M.2 2242 drives on a customized PCB as a substitute of a particular board with the NAND hooked up like most different drives.
We cracked open the T31 Tube, and as we talked about above, that is simply an M.2 2242 SSD on a particular PCB to go over USB. We weren’t courageous sufficient to crack open the X31 Bettle to take a peek, however Crystal Disk Information confirmed our ideas, The M.2 Inside each drives has the identical mannequin quantity.
One factor we noticed inside this drive, was a very good thermal answer. On the again of the M.2, we noticed a thermal pad in addition to metallic warmth shields on the entrance and rear of the PCB to dissipate warmth. The heatshields aren’t coupled to the housing in any approach, however there didn’t appear to be any points. These drives additionally correctly reported temperature inside Crystal Disk Information.
Efficiency
For these two drives, we’re testing the 1TB fashions of every. The X31 was examined on our Lenovo ThinkStation P520, whereas the T31 needed to be examined on our AMD ThreadRipper Professional client platform. This technique leverages the ASUS Professional WS TRX50-SAGE WIFI motherboard, which turned out to be the one system in our lab with a 10Gb USB-A port. All different methods are usually outfitted with a 5Gb USB-A port. USB-C is mostly discovered with 10Gb and 20Gb assist.
We can be evaluating the T31 and X31 towards two different USB 3.2 Gen2x1 drives, that are the Essential X9 Professional, and the Samsung T7 Protect. These drives will all run our regular transportable storage assessments just like the Blackmagic Disk Velocity Take a look at alongside IOMeter 1 Thread and 4 Thread assessments.
Blackmagic Disk Velocity Take a look at
First up is the Blackmagic Disk Velocity Take a look at. This check is single-threaded so it gained’t present the entire potential of the drives nevertheless it offers us reference level of how comparable these drives carry out. The Beetle solely pulled forward of the T31 by 16MB/s on write and 36MB/s on Learn. The X9 and T7 Protect each stayed fairly near the SK Hynix drives too.
Blackmagic Disk Velocity Take a look at T31 (left) and X31 (Proper)
| Disk Velocity Take a look at | Tube T31 (1TB) | Beetle X31 (1TB) | Essential X9 Professional (2TB) | Samsung T7 Protect (2TB) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Write | 949.0MB/s | 965.4MB/s | 901.7MB/s | 936.5MB/s |
| Learn | 925.4MB/s | 961.8MB/s | 957.9MB/s | 893.8MB/s |
IOMeter 1 Thread
The following assessments are the IOMeter assessments. Just like the Blackmagic check, this subsequent check can also be one thread. The 2MB learn and writes convey numbers that comply with an identical sample to the Blackmagic check with the T31 pulling forward, however with a bit of bit extra of a lead this time. Each of the SK Hynix drives additionally carry out a good bit higher than the X9 and T7 Protect.
| IOMeter (1 Thread) |
Tube T31 (1TB) | Beetle X31 (1TB) | Essential X9 Professional (2TB) | Samsung T7 Protect (2TB) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seq 2MB Write | 982.08MB/s | 877.04MB/s | 803.3MB/s | 804.4MB/s |
| Seq 2MB Learn | 1,005.19MB/s | 944.26MB/s | 873.5MB/s | 765.6MB/s |
| Random 2MB Write | 983.00MB/s | 877.77MB/s | 729.1MB/s | 805.2MB/s |
| Random 2MB Learn |
937.35MB/s | 892.78MB/s | 876.38MB/s | 757.81MB/s |
| Random 4K Write | 14,018 IOPS | 15,599 IOPS | 18,102 IOPS | 13,610 IOPS |
| Random 4K Learn | 11,1543 IOPS | 9,068 IOPS | 4,507 IOPS | 3,791 IOPS |
IOMeter 4 Thread
With the entire drives, we see higher numbers on the 4 Thread assessments with the additional 2 threads bringing out extra of the drive’s potential. Right here we additionally see the T31 and X31 performing higher than the X9 and T7 Protect with the largest gaps on the random 2MB write and each of the random 4k assessments.
| IOMeter (4 Thread) |
Tube T31 (1TB) | Beetle X31 (1TB) | Essential X9 Professional (2TB) | Samsung T7 Protect (2TB) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seq 2MB Write | 1,086.35MB/s | 1,092.64MB/s | 975.5MB/s | 1,017.6MB/s |
| Seq 2MB Learn | 1,089.62MB/s | 1,092.84MB/s | 1,039.2MB/s | 1,041.5MB/s |
| Random 2MB Write | 1,086.09MB/s | 1,092.06MB/s | 871.2MB/s | 999.88MB/s |
| Random 2MB Learn | 1,087.70MB/s | 1,091.05MB/s | 1,039.2MB/s | 1,019MB/s |
| Random 4K Write | 44,672 IOPS | 65,475 IOPS | 65,700 IOPS | 17,909 IOPS |
| Random 4K Learn | 39,263 IOPS | 41,697 IOPS | 15,278 IOPS | 15,347 IOPS |
Conclusion
Total, each of those drives carry out equally and comply with the traditional efficiency of USB 3.2 Gen2 drives. In virtually the entire assessments, the SK Hynix Tube T31 and X31 drives pull forward of the Essential X9 and Samsung T7, with the X31 beetle nonetheless pulling the lead on most assessments.
The X31 Beetle is a pleasant total transportable SSD that’s like many others available in the market. It does supply efficiency profile although and it’s priced in step with the market, total we prefer it as a mainstream transportable that may do properly for most individuals.
The T31 Tube is a wholly completely different animal. We’re torn on the USB A port however utterly perceive why SK hynix made the choice. If in case you have a system with a 10Gb kind A port, you’re going to have the quickest thumb drive round. The T31 additionally has a really good thermal design, we’re glad we took the leap and cracked it open to see that.
With the 2 SSDs performing equally, the selection between them comes right down to kind issue and connectivity. We’re glad to see SK hynix bringing its engineering to the transportable SSD house, which may at all times use extra high-quality choices.
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