I need an affordable SSD for caches, renders, and asset files while working on projects in applications such as Blender and After Effects. I already own a 4TB Samsung T9, but it contains personal files, photos, and other important archives, so I would prefer to keep it safely stored and use it mainly for backups rather than daily work. Cloud storage is not ideal because local cache and bake files can fill my laptop during rendering.
I'm considering buying an NVMe drive and a USB-C enclosure separately to save money instead of purchasing another prebuilt portable SSD. I need around 2TB, or possibly less if the price difference is significant, and it should be fast enough for active project work. After having unreliable SD cards fail in the past, I'm unsure which SSDs and enclosures are dependable. I'm also open to using a hard drive for long-term backup if that makes more sense.
3 Answers
I wouldn’t use the T9 as an offline archive forever without thinking about how it’s stored. SSDs are excellent for active work, but data left unpowered for very long periods can eventually become less reliable. A large hard drive, or preferably multiple backup copies, would be more suitable for long-term storage. You could keep the T9 for project work and move your personal files to a separate backup drive.
If you build one yourself, a decent NVMe drive plus a USB-C enclosure is the usual route. Just keep in mind that smaller M.2 drives aren’t necessarily much cheaper right now, and very low-capacity models can offer poor value and performance. For your workload, prioritize sustained performance, a reputable manufacturer, and an enclosure that supports the drive’s interface and has adequate cooling.
The SanDisk E30 is a compact option, and the 2TB model has been available for around $250. For active project files it should be convenient and fast enough, but I’d consider a traditional external hard drive for archival backups. HDDs are usually cheaper per terabyte and are a better fit for storage that will mostly sit unused.
That makes sense. I may buy a larger hard drive for proper backups and return to using the T9 for active projects, since it’s portable and already reliable. My existing hard drive is only about 1TB and is old enough to have mini-USB and FireWire connections.