Are hard drives dead? 8TB M.2 SSD
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Get iFixit's Pro Tech Toolkit now for only $59.99 USD at ifixit.com Use code LINUS and get 25% off GlassWire at lmg.gg SSDs have come a long way since the early SATA II days, but capacity has always lagged behind hard drives... Enter Sabrent Rocket Q. But can QLC be any good? Buy 8TB Sabrent SSD On Amazon (PAID LINK): geni.us On Newegg (PAID LINK): geni.us Buy Apple 16" Mac Pro On Amazon (PAID LINK): geni.us On Newegg (PAID LINK): geni.us On B&H (PAID LINK): geni.us Buy ASUS G14 On Amazon (PAID LINK): geni.us On Newegg (PAID LINK): geni.us On B&H (PAID LINK): geni.us Purchases made through some store links may provide some compensation to Linus Media Group. Discuss on the forum: linustechtips.com GET MERCH: lttstore.com SUPPORT US ON FLOATPLANE: floatplane.com LTX EXPO: ltxexpo.com AFFILIATES & REFERRALS --------------------------------------------------- Affiliates, Sponsors & Referrals: lmg.gg Get Private Internet Access VPN at lmg.gg Get a Mech Keyboard: geni.us NEEDforSEAT Gaming Chairs: geni.us Get a Displate Metal Print at lmg.gg Use code LINUSMEDIAGROUP on Epic Games Store: lmg.gg Get a 30-day free trial of Amazon Prime at lmg.gg Our Gear on Amazon: geni.us FOLLOW US ELSEWHERE --------------------------------------------------- Twitter: twitter.com Facebook: @LinusTech Instagram: @linustech Twitch: twitch.tv FOLLOW OUR OTHER CHANNELS --------------------------------------------------- Techquickie: lmg.gg TechLinked: lmg.gg ShortCircuit: lmg.gg LMG Clips: lmg.gg Channel Super Fun: lmg.gg Carpool Critics: lmg.gg MUSIC CREDIT --------------------------------------------------- Title: Laszlo - Supernova Video Link: youtube.com iTunes Download Link: itunes.apple.com Artist Link: soundcloud.com Outro Screen Music Credit: Approaching Nirvana - Sugar High youtube.com Monitor And Keyboard by vadimmihalkevich / CC BY 4.0 lmg.gg Mechanical RGB Keyboard by BigBrotherECE / CC BY 4.0 lmg.gg Mouse Gamer free Model By Oscar Creativo / CC BY 4.0 lmg.gg
The video examines the feasibility and practicality of the eight terabyte Sabrent Rocket Q, an eight TB M.2 NVMe drive, inside a laptop form factor. It starts by noting the historical gap between SSD capacity and hard drives, then introduces the high-capacity unit and its Phison E12S controller, dual DDR3 DRAM dies, and 96-layer QLC flash from Micron. The host explains how SLC caching is used to boost sustained write performance, allowing up to around 512 GB of cache before the drive must fall back to slower QLC writes, and discusses expected endurance around 1,800 TBW. Real-world testing with CrystalDiskMark and ATTO shows strong read throughput and minimal QLC penalties under cache, but the small-transfer behavior and latency nuances are revealed through PCMark 10 and practical file-transfer scenarios. The video also covers packaging and cooling considerations, compatibility across laptops, and practical guidance about where such a drive fits, emphasizing enthusiasts and content creators who need massive capacity now, with price and thermals as ongoing considerations.
Topics · Storage technology · Computer hardware · Benchmarking · Laptops · NVMe SSDs · High capacity storage
Questions answered
- What is the storage technology used in the 8TB M.2 drive and how does it achieve high capacity?
- The drive uses Micron 96-layer QLC flash with a Phison E12S controller and dual 2-GB DRAM dies. QLC enables four bits per cell, allowing higher capacity, while a sizable SLC cache and caching strategy help maintain high write performance temporarily before data is written to slower QLC NAND.
- How does SLC caching affect performance in real-world use?
- SLC caching temporarily stores writes in a fast mode using a portion of the drive's capacity, enabling higher write speeds for large but not infinite data transfers. Once the cache fills, performance can drop as data is written to slower QLC NAND, though in this drive the cache helps sustain strong throughput for typical large-file transfers.
- Is this 8TB SSD a practical buy for average consumers?
- For most users the price is the main hurdle, and the drive targets enthusiasts and content creators who need massive capacity now. Thermals, compatibility with laptops, and the endurance rating are also key factors. If budget is not a constraint and maximum capacity is a priority, it can be compelling, but for everyday use SSDs with smaller capacities may offer better value.