In last month’s blog, I explored everything you need to know about how much SSD storage you should have.  Although I touched on external SSD drives in the blog, I didn’t elaborate on what situations and for whom an external SSD drive might make the most sense. In this month’s blog, we’ll look at the benefits external SSD drives offer to creative professionals, gamers, business owners, and anyone else who wants and needs to effectively manage files, data, and media, and increase productivity.  If you need help determining if an external SSD drive is a good fit for you, don’t hesitate to reach out to RB’s Computer Service.  We’d be glad to help.  Before we break it all down, let’s first look at what an external SSD drive is for those jumping in for the first time.

What is an External SSD?

An SSD (Solid State Drive) is a storage device that uses flash memory to store data.  Unlike traditional hard disk drives (HDDs), SSDs have no moving parts, which makes them faster, more durable, and completely silent.  An external SSD is simply a portable version of this technology, connecting to your devices via USB or other ports.

Advantages of External SSDs

external ssd drive, external ssd, portable ssd, best external ssd, best ssd external hard drive, ssd external hard drive 4tb, how to speed up computer, how to make my computer faster, computer running slow windows 10, computer running slow windows 11External SSD drives are up to 25 times faster and more durable than HDDs.  With an SSD drive, data transfers and file loading may make that older pc feel like new again, and SSDs have no moving parts.  As a result, they are less prone to physical damage and can last significantly longer.  Lastly, here, SSDs are energy efficient.   SSD drives use less power, extending the battery life of devices like laptops when connected.  These benefits greatly enhance the performance of your laptop, desktop computers, and external SSD drives.  However, the added advantage of an external SSD drive is flexibility and portability. 

external ssd drive, external ssd, portable ssd, best external ssd, best ssd external hard drive, ssd external hard drive 4tb, how to speed up computer, how to make my computer faster, computer running slow windows 10, computer running slow windows 11By flexible, let’s say your laptop’s hard drive is soldered to the motherboard.  Further, assume this laptop works great in every way, including in terms of speed, plus it has been updated with the latest and greatest version of Windows 11.  But, when working with large data files, it becomes overly sluggish.  To overcome this, in “theory” you could buy a new larger SSD drive and have it soldered to the motherboard, I am not aware of anyone that does this, and it would be costly, or you could buy a new laptop with more SSD storage, and that too could be costly.  With an external SSD drive, you could bypass this hassle and cost by buying an external SSD drive.  All you need to do is plug it into your laptop or desktop's USB port and go to work. 

Portability is the other main benefit of using an external SSD drive.  They are compact and lightweight, and external SSDs are easy to carry and use on the go.  If you use multiple computers, one at home, and one at the office, that get overly sluggish when working with large data files, an SSD drive could solve this issue.  Plus, you often don’t know how much SSD storage you need until you need it.  An external SSD drive helps you gauge this, so when it is time to invest in a new laptop, desktop, or office network, you may not need to buy too much SSD storage, called overprovisioning, and by default overspend, and conversely maybe not enough SSD storage.  

Increase Productivity with an External SSD

SSD drive, 1TB SSD, external SSD, SSD hard drive, solid state hard drive, anti-virus protection, anti-virus software, computer repair, computers for sale, malware protection, malware removal, managed IT servicesIf any of the hypotheticals sound like you, it is probably a safe bet you could increase your productivity using an external SSD drive.  But having said that, some consumer users, industries, and professions that seem to see the most increase in productivity are:

1. Media Enthusiasts and Home Users

If you’re someone who enjoys collecting and managing large media libraries, external SSDs can make life much easier.  An external SSD allows you to quickly transfer media files (videos, photos, music) from your PC to a home media center.

2. Creative Professionals

Photographers, videographers, and graphic designers often deal with massive file sizes, making an external SSD indispensable for storing and editing large RAW photo files, 4K video footage, or design projects directly on the drive.

3. Gamers

remote IT support, computer service, ransomware detection, ransomware protection, backup hard drive, cloud backup for business, commercial grade route, computer backup, computer network backupWith modern games exceeding 100GB in size, gamers need extra storage without sacrificing performance.  Storing or playing games directly from an external SSD makes things so much faster. 

4. Business Professionals

Professionals dealing with sensitive data or large files can benefit from the speed, security, and portability of an external SSD drive.  Sharing presentations, large spreadsheets, or confidential documents between devices is easier when they load quickly.

5. Small Businesses and Home Offices

Many modern Wi-Fi routers support USB-connected external drives, making an SSD a cost-effective solution for network-attached storage (NAS).  Setting up shared storage accessible to all devices on a home or small business network speeds things up significantly.

6. Travelers and Remote Workers

Remote workers often need reliable and portable storage to work across devices and locations.  Carrying essential files, backups, or multimedia for presentations and work while on the move is essential to being productive.

Bottom Line

external ssd drive, external ssd, portable ssd, best external ssd, best ssd external hard drive, ssd external hard drive 4tb, how to speed up computer, how to make my computer faster, computer running slow windows 10, computer running slow windows 11, SSD driveExternal SSD drives are versatile, powerful, and increasingly essential for modern storage needs. Whether you’re a gamer, creative professional, business owner, or casual user, the speed, portability, and durability of an external SSD can improve your workflow and productivity. By understanding your specific needs and selecting the right SSD drive, you can unlock the full potential of your data storage.  RB’s Computer Service can help you determine the right external SSD drive for you and help you create a secure environment and protocols for using it at home, the office, on the go, for consumer or business applications, and gaming.  Don’t hesitate to contact us at 763-441-3884 or email us at help@rbsmn.com.   In addition to helping with external SSD drives, RB’s Computer Service sells previously owned commercial-grade PCs with internal SSD drives starting at $570, we offer computer network security plans and data backup programs, and we provide Managed IT Service Agreements to monitor and troubleshoot your computer network.          

References

Portable SSDs aren’t just for backups. Here’s why everybody needs one

https://www.pcworld.com/article/2518109/why-everyone-needs-a-portable-ssd.html

HDD vs External SSD

https://www.kingston.com/en/blog/pc-performance/hdd-vs-external-ssd

What's an external SSD and what can you use it for?

https://www.coolblue.nl/en/advice/what-is-an-external-ssd.html