Features of Lexar’s New SL500 Portable SSDs
Late last week, Lexar gave a short glimpse of some of their new products, including professional CF Express cards, M.2 NVMe SSDs, and portable SSDs. After spending some valuable time at the storage specialist’s exhibit in Las Vegas, TPU staff members noted that Lexar’s New SL500 portable SSD solutions had received a lot of attention. The standout seems to be the ARMOR 700 Portable SSD, which is positioned prominently and has an additional tough build that gives it the sort of on-the-go protection that contemporary professionals need.
ARMOR 700 Portable SSD specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Interface | USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 |
| Performance | 2000 MB/s max read/write speeds |
| Durability | IP66-rated, withstands 3-meter drops |
| Cooling | Stays cool at top speed |
| Capacity | 1 to 4 TB |
There will be three different capacity options for the ARMOR 700: 1 TB, 2 TB, and 4 TB. With compatibility for 6K RAW video files, Lexar’s wall-mounted exhibit promises maximum read and write rates of 2000 MB/s. The robust and long-lasting housing offers IP65 certification and drop resistance. The previously announced SL660 BLAZE Gaming Portable SSD made its debut at CES, but it was accompanied by a more somber-looking (but non-RGB enabled) sister, the new SL600, which is targeted towards professionals.
SL660 BLAZE Gaming Portable SSD specifications
| Capacity | 512GB/1TB |
| Color | Graphite Grey |
| Interface | USB 3.2 Gen2x2 |
| Performance | Speed up to 2000MB/s read, up to 1900MB/s write |
| Operating Temperature | 0°C ~ 70°C |
| Storage Temperature | -40°C ~ 85°C |
| Dimension | 57.4 x 112.6 x 10.6mm / 1.722” x 3.378 ”x 0.318” |
| Weight | 80g / 0.176lbs |
| Systems Supported | Mac OSX 10.6+, Windows 10/8/7, Android 4.4+ |
| Warranty | 5-year limited warranty |
The SL500 Portable SSD is suitable for a variety of devices, including computers, gaming consoles of the present generation, cameras, and mobile devices. Silicon Motion Technology portable SSD controllers, according to Lexar, can read and write data at up to 2000 MB/s and 1800 MB/s, respectively, power the SL500 Portable SSD. The show wall’s stated capacities of 1 TB, 2 TB, and 4 TB also apply to the SL600 standard.
TPU also looked at a handful of internal SL500 portable SSD choices. For dedicated PC gamers, Lexar’s Professional NM1090 M.2 PCIe Gen 5 NVMe SSD delivers performance. Here, maximum read and write rates of 12,000 MB/s and 11,000 MB/s are possible, almost doubling PCIe Gen 4 capability. The NM1090 has an RGB-enhanced heatsink + fan combination and DRAM cache. List prices for capacities include 1 TB, 2 TB, and 4 TB.
The PLAY M.2 2230 PCIe 4.0 SSD (1 TB only) is a tiny form factor SSD designed for gamers who want to enhance the storage options in their M.2 2230 compatible laptops or portable consoles. With more capacity possibilities, Lexar has improved the Professional NM800 PRO variant that was previously available. Eight and four-ton variants are under preparation. W1zzard expressed dissatisfaction about the fewer capacities available at the time, but still thought the 2 TB NM800 PRO was deserving of an Editor’s Choice award in the spring. It’s wonderful to see Lexar responding to this input from outlets such as TPU.
According to an official business blurb, Lexar has an ARES RGB DDR5 RAM module installed on their wall. The highest option will feature rates that come in at 8400MT/s (with timings as low as CL40). Representatives from Lexar told TPU that the 8000+ modules are planned for a March 2024 launch. There will be 48 GB (2×24 GB) kits available, but only in 8000 & 8400 form. The standard configuration for the ARES RGB DDR5 product line is 32 GB (2×16 GB). TPU also took a chance to review the THOR DDR5 Desktop Memory product range, which was just introduced stateside.
The state-of-the-art Professional CFexpress 4.0 Type B Card (DIAMOND Series) was on exhibit at Lexar. This top-of-the-line model is stated to take use of “latest PCIe Gen 4 for the powerful performance and accelerated post-production efficiencies that professionals demand a blistering-fast max. read speed of 3600 MB/s and max. write of 3300 MB/s.” Next-generation performance is provided by the DIAMOND CFexpress 4.0 Type B Card, which supports “smooth 8K RAW video” and quick post-production systems.
Customers that purchase Type-A hardware are the target market for the Professional CFexpress 4.0 Type A Card (GOLD Series), which boasts the fastest CFexpress Type A card in the world with maximum read and write speeds of 1800 MB/s and PCIe Gen 4 technology. The 8K RAW footage in the series is future-proof.
SL500 Portable SSD specs
| Compatible Devices | Desktop |
| Hard Disk Size | 2 TB |
| Included Components | USB Type-C to USB Type-C cable, USB Type-C to standard USB Type-A cable |
| Read Speed | 550 Megabytes Per Second |
| Cache Size | 2 |
How does SL500 protect data?
Password protection and 256-bit AES encryption safeguard your data in SL500.
How does Lexar SL500 differ from other SSDs?
Lexar SL500 combines speed, durability, and design well. It’s a data storage innovation, not simply an SSD.
Does SL500 handle gaming well?
Yes, SL500’s fast performance makes it excellent for gaming, assuring fast load times and smooth gameplay.
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