Hey everyone! I'm gearing up for a video shoot tomorrow and need to record three large video feeds onto a 2.5" SSD using my Atomos Shogun 7. I've previously used a WD Blue 1TB drive, but it struggles when I push it to two feeds. I'm on the lookout for a reliable drive that I can grab from a physical store (Canada Computers) tomorrow morning. Ideally, I need something that performs better than my current WD Blue, as I don't have time for stress testing. I know Atomos has a compatibility list, but it's outdated, so I'm a bit lost on what to choose. I'm considering the 870 EVO because the older 860 Pro is listed as compatible, but I'm having trouble finding clear comparisons on sustained writes and cache. Any recommendations? Thanks a bunch!
4 Answers
I found that many 2.5" SATA SSDs are getting tough to locate since the focus has shifted to M.2 NVMe drives. But if you're looking for high performance, absolutely consider the 870 EVO or the Crucial MX500—they’re both top-notch SATA options. Just a heads-up, though: production for the MX500 might be winding down, so the 870 EVO could be your safest choice. And if you can swing it, M.2 SSDs would be a way better option overall!
For sustained writes, you seriously can't go wrong with the 870 EVO; just search for reviews online, and you’ll see it's highly regarded. The MX500 is a solid second choice if you want to consider it.
What's the bit rate for your video streams? And what setup are you using for the drives? Also, could you share that compatibility list you mentioned?
The 870 EVO is actually your best bet—it’s the only 2.5" SATA SSD with DRAM cache that Canada Computers carries in-store at 1TB size, so it fits your requirements. Other options like the WD Blue SA150 and Teamgroup drives are DRAM-less and won’t really offer an upgrade over your current setup.
I'm using a lower bitrate format that caps at around 40 Mb/s per feed, but I aim for about 200 Mb/s for better quality. The Shogun connects via a SATA port to the SSD enclosed in plastic. Here’s the compatibility list: [Atomos Compatibility List](https://www.atomos.com/compatible-drives/?productValue=shogun-7#information).