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Seagate Introduces Game Drive SSD for Xbox (360 and One): 512 GB SSD for $199
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Seagate Introduces Game Drive SSD for Xbox (360 and One): 512 GB SSD for $199

Seagate has announced its new Game Drive for Xbox SSD. While the name suggests it is primarily for the original Xbox, this drive is focused for the Xbox One (regular and S) and Xbox 360, allowing users to store more titles using NAND flash memory. Due to the higher performance of SSDs compared to HDDs used in an Xbox One, the Game Drive for Xbox SSD is being promoted as enabling faster boot and game loading times.

The Seagate Game Drive for Xbox SSD has a storage capacity of 512 GB and uses the USB 3.0 interface to connect to the console. According to Seagate, the SSD can store approximately 15 games (assuming that their size is in the range between 35 GB and 50 GB) and various downloadable content. The drive comes in an aluminum enclosure that is durable and somewhat matches the design of the Xbox One (at least, the original black version).

Since the SSD connects to the system using a USB 3.0 Gen 1 cable, its read and write speeds are expected to be limited to near ~400 MB/s (due to overhead incurred by 8b/10b encoding) without additional proprietary drivers (like ASUS’ Turbo modes). Nonetheless, 400 MB/s is considerably higher than read/write performance provided by 5400-RPM HDDs used inside the Xbox family (typically, such drives feature read speeds of around 150 MB/s with poor random performance).

Seagate does not disclose whether the Game Drive for Xbox SSD uses TLC or MLC NAND flash, or which controller is in play so, we cannot make any assumptions regarding endurance of the product. Nonetheless warranty times are listed for America (1-year), Europe (2-years) and Asia-Pacific (3-years).

Update 11/3: Seagate confirmed that the Game Drive for Xbox SSD is based on TLC NAND flash. What is more interesting is that Seagate uses an undisclosed controller developed by SK Hynix/LAMD (which probably means that it also uses memory from SK Hynix) along with its own firmware for the drive. In fact, it is highly likely that Seagate uses SK Hynix’s Canvas SL301 or SL308 SSD inside its Game Drive for Xbox SSD. We do not know a lot about the SK Hynix SL301, but the SK Hynix SL308 SSD is rated for 150 TBW, which is fairly good for a drive, which will be mostly used for reading, not writing, throughout its lifespan. Even if Seagate’s firmware reduces total TBs to be written in a bid to maximize capacity, the endurance of the drive should remain on a decent level (assuming that we are dealing with the SL308).

As for pricing, Seagate intends to charge $199.99 for its Game Drive for Xbox SSD, which is $20 to $30 higher compared to other external SSDs compatible with Microsoft’s latest console. Amazon, GameStop and other consumer electronics retailers plan to start selling the device in November.

In addition to the Game Drive for Xbox SSD, Seagate also offers 2 and 4 TB mechanical hard drives for Microsoft’s Xbox One as well as 1 TB SSHD drive for Sony’s PlayStation 4.

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The Glorious PC Gaming Race GMMK-BRN Modular Mechanical Keyboard Review

In today’s review we are taking a look at the GMMK-BRN mechanical keyboard from Glorious PC Gaming Race the first such keyboard from the recently founded US-based company. The minimalistic keyboard features a modular switch design, allowing it to work with the majority of plate-mounted keyboard switches available, regardless of their manufacturer.

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The Glorious PC Gaming Race GMMK-BRN Modular Mechanical Keyboard Review

In today’s review we are taking a look at the GMMK-BRN mechanical keyboard from Glorious PC Gaming Race the first such keyboard from the recently founded US-based company. The minimalistic keyboard features a modular switch design, allowing it to work with the majority of plate-mounted keyboard switches available, regardless of their manufacturer.

LaCie Launches 6big and 12big: Up to 60/120 TB External Storage with Thunderbolt 3
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LaCie Launches 6big and 12big: Up to 60/120 TB External Storage with Thunderbolt 3

LaCie this week has introduced two new workstation-grade external storage solutions using Thunderbolt 3 with the focus on big on-the-desk data storage. The 6big and 12big devices pack in six or twelve enterprise-grade hard drives respectively and can provide up to 60 TB or up to 120 TB of storage space. The HDDs can be implemented as a JBOD or work in various RAID modes. LaCie’s devices promise to be able to take advantage of Thunderbolt 3’s 40 Gb/s bandwidth by providing up to 1400 MB/s or 2600 MB/s read speeds, which can be important for those who work with UHD video content.

The LaCie 6big and 12big DAS with six and 12 drive bays are made of aluminum and come with integrated PSUs and cooling. The storage devices are based on a proprietary platform from LaCie, which supports hardware RAID 0/1/5/6/10/50 modes. Seagate, the owner of the LaCie brand, does not disclose details about the platform behind the new DAS products, but it naturally has a hardware RAID controller (presumably from Seagate’s LSI division) as well as Intel’s Alpine Ridge controller for Thunderbolt 3.

The LaCie 6big and the LaCie 12big external storage devices will be sold in various configurations that use different hard drives, all of which support hot swapping and feature 7200 RPM spindle speed. The top-of-the-range 60 TB and 120 TB models use Seagate’s helium-filled Enterprise Capacity 10 TB HDDs rated for 2 million MTBF and 550 TB/year writes unannounced 10 TB HDD. Meanwhile the lower-capacity DAS devices will use Seagate’s Enterprise NAS HDDs rated for 1.2 million hours MTBF and 300 TB/year writes. The LaCie 6big and 12big will initially be available fully populated, and from a performance point of view maximum read and write speeds will mostly depend on RAID modes.

Update 11/3: As it appears, the LaCie 6big and 12big DAS do not use Seagate’s Enterprise Capacity 10 TB HDDs, but rely on unannounced 10 TB drives from the company.

The LaCie 6big and 12big DAS
  6big 12big
HDDs Unannounced 10 TB HDD
Enterprise NAS 8 TB
Enterprise NAS 6 TB
Enterprise NAS 4 TB
Maximum Number of HDDs 6 12
Capacity 60 TB (6 × 10 TB)
48 TB (6 × 8 TB)
36 TB (6 × 6 TB)
24 TB (6 × 4 TB)		 120 TB (12 × 10 TB)
96 TB (12 × 8 TB)
72 TB (12 × 6 TB)
48 TB (12 × 4 TB)
RAID 0/1/5/6/10/50
RAID 0 Read Speed 1400 MB/s 2600 MB/s
Write Speed 1400 MB/s 1700 MB/s
RAID 5 Read Speed 1200 MB/s 2400 MB/s
Write Speed 1150 MB/s 1200 MB/s
Ports 2 × Thunderbolt 3
1 × USB Type-C
Fans 2 4
PSU 250 W 400 W
Dimensions (W x H x L) 161 × 225 × 237 mm
6.3 × 8.9 × 9.3 inch		 161 × 447 × 237 mm
6.3 × 17.6 × 9.3 inch
Cables Included USB-C (Thunderbolt 40Gb/s or USB 3.1 10Gb/s) cable
USB-C to USB-A cable
Power cable
Software LaCie RAID Manager
LaCie Private-Public for AES 256-bit software encryption
Intego Backup Manager Pro
Genie Backup Manager Pro
Prices 24 TB starts at $3199 48 TB starts at $6399

Both DAS solutions from LaCie feature two Thunderbolt 3 ports, making it possible to daisy-chain a display or another TB3 device to the storage arrays. In addition, the 6big and the 12big are equipped with one USB 3.1 Type-C connector which allows to use them with systems not equipped with TB3, but at considerably lower speeds (i.e., up to 350 – 400 MB/s depending on RAID mode).

Like other LaCie’s DAS products with multiple drives, the 6big and the 12big come with the company’s proprietary RAID management software that allows setting them up and then monitoring the condition of the drives.

For pricing the LaCie 6big 24 TB starts at $3199 whereas the LaCie 12big 48 TB starts at $6399.

LaCie Launches 6big and 12big: Up to 60/120 TB External Storage with Thunderbolt 3
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LaCie Launches 6big and 12big: Up to 60/120 TB External Storage with Thunderbolt 3

LaCie this week has introduced two new workstation-grade external storage solutions using Thunderbolt 3 with the focus on big on-the-desk data storage. The 6big and 12big devices pack in six or twelve enterprise-grade hard drives respectively and can provide up to 60 TB or up to 120 TB of storage space. The HDDs can be implemented as a JBOD or work in various RAID modes. LaCie’s devices promise to be able to take advantage of Thunderbolt 3’s 40 Gb/s bandwidth by providing up to 1400 MB/s or 2600 MB/s read speeds, which can be important for those who work with UHD video content.

The LaCie 6big and 12big DAS with six and 12 drive bays are made of aluminum and come with integrated PSUs and cooling. The storage devices are based on a proprietary platform from LaCie, which supports hardware RAID 0/1/5/6/10/50 modes. Seagate, the owner of the LaCie brand, does not disclose details about the platform behind the new DAS products, but it naturally has a hardware RAID controller (presumably from Seagate’s LSI division) as well as Intel’s Alpine Ridge controller for Thunderbolt 3.

The LaCie 6big and the LaCie 12big external storage devices will be sold in various configurations that use different hard drives, all of which support hot swapping and feature 7200 RPM spindle speed. The top-of-the-range 60 TB and 120 TB models use Seagate’s helium-filled Enterprise Capacity 10 TB HDDs rated for 2 million MTBF and 550 TB/year writes unannounced 10 TB HDD. Meanwhile the lower-capacity DAS devices will use Seagate’s Enterprise NAS HDDs rated for 1.2 million hours MTBF and 300 TB/year writes. The LaCie 6big and 12big will initially be available fully populated, and from a performance point of view maximum read and write speeds will mostly depend on RAID modes.

Update 11/3: As it appears, the LaCie 6big and 12big DAS do not use Seagate’s Enterprise Capacity 10 TB HDDs, but rely on unannounced 10 TB drives from the company.

The LaCie 6big and 12big DAS
  6big 12big
HDDs Unannounced 10 TB HDD
Enterprise NAS 8 TB
Enterprise NAS 6 TB
Enterprise NAS 4 TB
Maximum Number of HDDs 6 12
Capacity 60 TB (6 × 10 TB)
48 TB (6 × 8 TB)
36 TB (6 × 6 TB)
24 TB (6 × 4 TB)		 120 TB (12 × 10 TB)
96 TB (12 × 8 TB)
72 TB (12 × 6 TB)
48 TB (12 × 4 TB)
RAID 0/1/5/6/10/50
RAID 0 Read Speed 1400 MB/s 2600 MB/s
Write Speed 1400 MB/s 1700 MB/s
RAID 5 Read Speed 1200 MB/s 2400 MB/s
Write Speed 1150 MB/s 1200 MB/s
Ports 2 × Thunderbolt 3
1 × USB Type-C
Fans 2 4
PSU 250 W 400 W
Dimensions (W x H x L) 161 × 225 × 237 mm
6.3 × 8.9 × 9.3 inch		 161 × 447 × 237 mm
6.3 × 17.6 × 9.3 inch
Cables Included USB-C (Thunderbolt 40Gb/s or USB 3.1 10Gb/s) cable
USB-C to USB-A cable
Power cable
Software LaCie RAID Manager
LaCie Private-Public for AES 256-bit software encryption
Intego Backup Manager Pro
Genie Backup Manager Pro
Prices 24 TB starts at $3199 48 TB starts at $6399

Both DAS solutions from LaCie feature two Thunderbolt 3 ports, making it possible to daisy-chain a display or another TB3 device to the storage arrays. In addition, the 6big and the 12big are equipped with one USB 3.1 Type-C connector which allows to use them with systems not equipped with TB3, but at considerably lower speeds (i.e., up to 350 – 400 MB/s depending on RAID mode).

Like other LaCie’s DAS products with multiple drives, the 6big and the 12big come with the company’s proprietary RAID management software that allows setting them up and then monitoring the condition of the drives.

For pricing the LaCie 6big 24 TB starts at $3199 whereas the LaCie 12big 48 TB starts at $6399.