Recommend external flash drive or SSD for system image(s)?

Title. I'd like something to hold onto recovery system images other than the recovery partition.

Storage: anywhere between 64GB to 512GB
Price: up to USD150

 

Get a 1TB Samsung T5 its $139.99 at Best Buy assuming you are in the US. Maybe cheaper on some other sites if you look around.

 

For system images, I use a Patriot Supersonic Rage Elite as shown in this guide:



For file backup (Documents, Pics, Music, Videos, Software, etc.) I use a 2TB Samsung T5 Portable SSD as shown in this guide:

 

I actually just did a ton of comparisons on this and the best option for the $ is Sandisk SDCZ880

I picked up the 256GB version w/ a discount from either Chase ($15) / Amex (40%) for $53.94 shipped w/ tax, w/o discounts ~$65+tax

For an in between of speed/capacity and portability it's your best bet w/o venturing into the SSD in a pocket realm like the PNY / Samsung T series.

Real world transfers
Advertised 256GB Speed 380MB/s 420BM/s
SanDisk 256GB WR ~285MB/s R ~360MB/s

 

At that price a legit SSD would be better even if a little more expensive, large transfers on the Sandisk are not always that reliable and it has a tendency to overheat and can burn out, not to mention unlike an actual external SSD (The Samsung T7 500 GB can be had at around $75-80), a small USB stick like that SanDisk drive doesn’t have proper wear leveling or as good quality NAND... the T7 maybe $15-20 more but you get 2x the space and it will last far longer through multiple writes.

 

Always two sides to every recommendation.....

For repeat tasks like imaging... I would rather put the wear on a SDD stick like the SanDisk than a backup drive in an enclosure or pay much more than $50 for the same speeds when transferring data to/from the stick.

When I'm moving more than just an OS then I'll pull out my nvme enclosure with a more robust pro drive in it for the speed, stability, and durability the drive will provide for more critical data. The SD Pro though is a good middle ground for those that may not need a full blown mini ssd or a spare nvme laying around to put into an enclosure.

Sure a typical SSD can push 500MB/s in either direction over Sata / USB

Conversely I found a drive that competes with the T series by PNY (Pro Elite) when looking for something new this month that was enticing @ $123 that will push NVME speeds around 800-900MB/s. I'm thinking they threw a 2240 NVME into a small enclosure vs sata/msata in the T series.

 

I personally use 1TB Crucial MX500 that I plug in using a USB 3 to SATA adapter, cheap and works great so far.