TerraMaster is best known for its network attached storage (NAS) devices, but the company also makes some external storage enclosures. TerraMaster has now revealed the D1 SSD Pro, which turns any NVMe SSD into a super-fast Thunderbolt 5 external drive.
The TerraMaster D1 SSD Pro is an external drive enclosure “designed for 8K/4K video editors, hardcore gamers, and high-performance MacBook Pro/Mac mini users.” As with many other SSD enclosures, you insert your own M.2 2280 NVMe SSD into the unit, and it becomes a high-performance removable external drive. The enclosure is portable like a flash drive, but many times faster than a typical flash drive or external hard drive.
This enclosure is unique because it supports Thunderbolt 5, and specifically the 80 Gbps mode. If you’re using the enclosure with a PC or Mac that also supports that standard, and the NVMe SSD is fast enough, you can get read speeds of up to 7061MB/s and write speeds of 6816MB/s. That’s a one-second transfer for a 6 GB file.
TerraMaster says it supports any standard M.2 2280 NVMe SSD up to 8TB in capacity—larger drives will be “supported in the future.” Drives using PCIe 3.0, 4.0, and 5.0 should all work as expected.
Credit: TerraMaster
The other standout feature here is the design. It uses an aluminum frame optimized for passive cooling—most other SSD enclosures don’t have cooling fans either, but the larger block design in TerraMaster’s design might be more efficient. The company said in its announcement, “The fanless passive cooling design ensures truly silent operation, while the premium matte sandblasted surface provides a delicate feel and a discreet, sophisticated appearance.” It also comes with a carrying case, which is a nice touch.
The enclosure is also backwards compatible with Thunderbolt 4 and 3, and USB 4/3.2. You won’t get the fastest speeds on USB 3.2 or older connections, but you’ll still be able to access your files across nearly any PC, Mac, or mobile device. The included cable is a double-ended USB-C cord, but a USB C-to-A cable or adapter should work for connecting to older devices.
You can buy the TerraMaster D1 SSD Pro from the company’s online store. The regular price is $250, but there’s an introductory 15% off sale, dropping the cost to $212. That’s certainly expensive for a drive enclosure—you have to buy an SSD as well, if you don’t already have one to use—but that’s the cost of Thunderbolt 5 support.
Source: TerraMaster via TechPowerUp
