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SanDisk Extreme Pro Portable SSD V2 on mac

Hi,

I would like to take advantage of the speed of the SanDisk Extreme Pro Portable SSD V2 2000 mb/s.

Is this possible with the mac or does it always travel at 900 mb/s?


Is it better not to spend for the 2000 model but get ONLY the 1000 model?


thanks

Posted on Jun 29, 2023 6:54 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jun 30, 2023 3:13 AM

That drive has a USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 interface.


Reports on forums (e.g., DPReview) indicate that some recent Macs do not implement USB 3.2 Gen 2x2. Plug in a USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 device and the two will fall back to USB 3.1 Gen 2. USB 3.1 Gen 2 is "up to 10 Gb/s", a.k.a. "up to 1250 MB/s."


If you read the Wikipedia article on USB4, it appears that USB4 has three incompatible "up to 20 Gbps" modes – two of them new, one of them without a marketing name. The new USB4 one (that few peripherals implement) is mandatory for USB4 host ports, while the USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 one is optional for USB4 host ports. So while it might seem odd that Apple implements the optional 40 Gbps USB4 and Thunderbolt ALT mode capabilities, but not the optional USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 one, the USB4 specification allows this.


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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jun 30, 2023 3:13 AM in response to stefano_quare

That drive has a USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 interface.


Reports on forums (e.g., DPReview) indicate that some recent Macs do not implement USB 3.2 Gen 2x2. Plug in a USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 device and the two will fall back to USB 3.1 Gen 2. USB 3.1 Gen 2 is "up to 10 Gb/s", a.k.a. "up to 1250 MB/s."


If you read the Wikipedia article on USB4, it appears that USB4 has three incompatible "up to 20 Gbps" modes – two of them new, one of them without a marketing name. The new USB4 one (that few peripherals implement) is mandatory for USB4 host ports, while the USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 one is optional for USB4 host ports. So while it might seem odd that Apple implements the optional 40 Gbps USB4 and Thunderbolt ALT mode capabilities, but not the optional USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 one, the USB4 specification allows this.


Jun 29, 2023 8:07 AM in response to stefano_quare

It depends on the port and cable you use. Samsung T7 SSDs are rated at about 1050 MBps. But when attached to a USB-A port the best it can do is about 540 MBps.


In order to take advantage of the extreme's speed potential, you have to use the right cable and the higher speed port. The USB-C type port.


Not all ports can provide top speeds even if the connectors mate perfectly.

SanDisk Extreme Pro Portable SSD V2 on mac

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