Best M.2 NVMe SSDs for the ACASIS Thunderbolt 4 Enclosure

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What is the point of an SSD enclosure?

Many users wonder about the purpose of SSD enclosures. In fact, SSDs can be directly installed on a computer's motherboard, but these can only serve as internal storage. While SSDs connected to enclosures can be used as external storage devices connected to the computer. Overall, SSD enclosures offer a convenient external storage solution, particularly great for users who need portable storage or quick data transfer.

Today, the most efficient enclosures on the market are USB4 Case and Thunderbolt 4 SSD enclosure. They are super fast, offer data transfer speeds up to 40Gbps, and work with almost all devices. Most people choose to use M.2 Thunderbolt SSD enclosures because they are more common and compatible with a large number of devices. If you have higher requirements for data security and reliability, you may learn about U.2 Thunderbolt enclosures, but they are not common and are mainly used by enterprise users.

The best M.2 NVMe SSDs for ACASIS Thunderbolt 4 enclosure

Although ACASIS Thunderbolt 4 enclosures can work with almost any M.2 NVMe SSD without a heatsink, you might notice some speed differences between different SSD combinations. In fact, factors such as system compatibility, how you've formatted the drive, your laptop's performance, and the SSD's own speed limitations can all affect the measured speeds. However, there's no need to worry too much about this, as it's completely normal.

To help those of you who have already purchased an ACASIS Thunderbolt enclosure, we did some homework. We tested a large number of M.2 NVMe SSDs in our labs, testing them on both macOS and Windows. We'll recommend a few that performed well in our testing. When you combine them with the ACASIS Thunderbolt SSD enclosure, you'll have an even better experience. If you know which SSD models perform best with the ACASIS Thunderbolt SSD enclosure, you can also tell other ACASIS users in the comments section.

Note: Don't buy SSDs with heatsinks. Choose SSD capacity based on your needs.

Recommended List：

Samsung 970Evo

Samsung 980Pro

Samsung 990Pro

Western Digital WD Blue SN570

Western Digital WD BLACK 2TB SN770

Western Digital WD BLACK SN850X

KIOXIA EXCERIA PLUS

KIOXIA EXCERIA G2

Fanxiang S500Pro

Fanxiang S660

Fanxiang S770

Kingston FURY Renegade

Kingston KC3000

Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus

Sabrent Rocket Q4

Corsair Force Series MP510

Corsair MP600 CORE XT

Corsair MP600 Pro NH

Crucial P3

Crucial P3 Plus

PNY XLR8 CS3040

Seagate FireCuda 530

Lexar NM620

Lexar NM790

How to install the SSD

ACASIS's currently available Thunderbolt enclosures are designed for easy, tool-free installation with the convenience of mobile office. ACASIS users can simply follow the illustrated guide to install their SSD quickly and effortlessly.

How to set up an SSD

Initialization: Creating a new partition table

How to initialize an SSD on Windows

How to initialize an SSD on macOS

Initialization is a necessary step before using a hard drive. It creates a new partition table, allowing the operating system to recognize and use the SSD.

This process is crucial for new drives or when moving a drive from another computer. Since initialization erases all data on the drive, it's usually not needed for SSDs already in use, unless you're changing partitions or fixing specific issues.

Warning: Don't initialize a SSD containing important files. This will erase all data on your drive. Always back up important data before performing these operations.

Formatting: creating a file system

How to format an SSD on Windows

How to format an SSD on macOS

Formatting creates a file system on a drive partition, allowing the operating system to store and access data.

For new SSDs, initialization and formatting are usually done together. When initializing (creating a new partition), you can immediately choose a file system type for formatting. For used, properly functioning SSDs, formatting isn't necessary. It's more flexible than initialization, allowing you to format specific partitions without reinitializing the entire SSD.

Warning: Formatting also erases all data on the specified SSD. Frequent formatting may affect the SSD's lifespan. Before formatting, always copy important data to your computer or a backup SSD.

SSD speed improvement guide

1. Choose the right file system.

   - For macOS: APFS (Apple File System) is recommended.

   - For Windows: NTFS (New Technology File System) is recommended.

   - For sharing large files between different operating systems, exFAT (Extended File Allocation Table) may be the better choice.

2. Regularly update SSD management software for performance optimization.

3. On Windows, enable disk write caching.

4. Use certified Thunderbolt cables that support required transfer rates and protocols.

5. Don't overfill your SSD. Try to keep at least 10-20% of your SSD free to avoid performance issues.

6. Ensure proper cooling for your SSD to prevent overheating and performance drops.eg: use an SSD enclosure with a cooling fan.

If you have any questions don't hesitate to contact ACASIS.