The new Corsair EX100U portable SSD series comes in 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB capacities with a USB 3.2 Gen2 x2 interface for high bandwidth transfers. Its small size, 3.12in x 1.44in x .43in makes it extremely portable. Corsair quotes read and write speeds up to 1,600MB/s and 1,500MB/s respectively.
The new Corsair EX100U portable SSD series comes in 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB capacities with a USB 3.2 Gen2 x2 interface for high bandwidth transfers. Its small size, 3.12in x 1.44in x .43in makes it extremely portable. Corsair quotes read and write speeds up to 1,600MB/s and 1,500MB/s respectively.
This device comes with both USB Type-C to Type-C and Type-C to Type-A cables for wide compatibility with a multitude of devices.
The connection port has a protective cap that can help prevent getting anything in that port while on the go.
The Corsair EX100U comes in 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB capacities with street pricing of $108, $190, and $484 at Amazon.
| CAPACITY | 1000GB | 2000GB | 4000GB |
| Part Number | CSSD-EX100U1TB | CSSD-EX100U2TB | CSSD-EX100U4TB |
| Form Factor | Portable storage | Portable storage | Portable storage |
| Interface | USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 | USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 | USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 |
| Controller | Phison PS2251-18 | Phison PS2251-18 | Phison PS2251-18 |
| NAND | 3D NAND | 3D NAND | 3D NAND |
| DRAM Cache | No DRAM cache | No DRAM cache | No DRAM cache |
| NAND Cache | Static pSLC | Static pSLC | Static pSLC |
| Encryption | Not supported | Not supported | Not supported |
| Trim Support | Not Supported | Not Supported | Not Supported |
| S.M.A.R.T Support | Supported | Supported | Supported |
| Garbage Collection | Supported | Supported | Supported |
| TBW Rating | 250TBW | 500TBW | 1000TBW |
| MTBF | 1 | ||
| idle power | < 12.5mW | < 12.5mW | < 12.5mW |
| Average Active Read | 3.5W | 3.5W | 3.5W |
| Average Active Write | 3.5W | 3.5W | 3.5W |
| Operating Temperature | 0° C~70° C | 0° C~70° C | 0° C~70° C |
| Storage Temperature | -40° C~85° C | -40° C~85° C | -40° C~85° C |
| Operating Humidity | 90% RH (40° C) | 90% RH (40° C) | 90% RH (40° C) |
| Storage Humidity | 93% RH (40° C) | 93% RH (40° C) | 93% RH (40° C) |
| Shock | 500 G | 500 G | 500 G |
| 20Hz~80Hz/1.52mm, | 20Hz~80Hz/1.52mm | ||
| Vibration | 80Hz~2000Hz/20Gp-p | 80Hz~2000Hz/2 | 80Hz~2000Hz/2 |
| Dimensions | 79.37 X 36.65 X 11 mm | 79.37 X 36.65 X 11 mm | 79.37 X 36.65 X 11 mm |
| Sequential Read (CDM) (2) (4) | Up to 1600 MB/s | Up to 1600 MB/s | Up to 1600 MB/s |
| Sequential Write (CDM) (2) (4) | Up to 1500 MB/s | Up to 1500 MB/s | Up to 1500 MB/s |
For our tests, we used a Lenovo ThinkStation P520 Workstation, previously reviewed here at StorageReview.com.
First up, is the Blackmagic test, where the EX100U recorded 1,241.3MB/s read and 1,331.4MB/s write, not the fastest portable SSD we’ve tested in the USB 3.2 Gen2 x2 category.
The next test is IOMeter. Here, we looked at 2MB sequential read/write, 2MB random read/write, and 4K random read/write. In our first test, the EX100U yielded lower speeds than the quoted peak claims from Corsair.
For 2MB sequential speeds, the EX100U recorded 1,268MB/s write and 1,026MB/s read, while 2MB random showed 1,257MB/s write and 1,015MB/s read. In our 4K tests, the EX100U reached 24,665 IOPS write and 4,493 IOPS read:
| IOMeter (1 Thread) | |
| Seq 2MB Write | 1,268MB/s |
| Seq 2MB Read | 1,026MB/s |
| Random 2MB Write | 1,257MB/s |
| Random 2MB Read | 1,015MB/s |
| Random 4K Write | 24,665 IOPS |
| Random 4K Read | 4,493 IOPS |
When upped to 4-threads (which puts a heavy workload on the device), the EX100U showed stronger results that more than met the Corsair advertised figures.
For 2MB sequential speeds, the EX100U recorded 1,635MB/s write and 1,713MB/s read, while 2MB random showed 1,634MB/s write and 1,701MB/s read. In our 4K tests, the EX100U reached 72,431 IOPS write and 7,180 IOPS read:
| IOMeter (4 Threads) | |
| Seq 2MB Write | 1,635MB/s |
| Seq 2MB Read | 1,713MB/s |
| Random 2MB Write | 1,634MB/s |
| Random 2MB Read | 1,701MB/s |
| Random 4K Write | 72,431 IOPS |
| Random 4K Read | 7,180 IOPS |
The Corsair EX100U targets the high-compatibility USB-connected device space while retaining speeds over 1GB/s using its USB 3.2 Gen2 x2 interface. Traditionally to get into the 1GB/s performance range and above, manufacturers would need to hop on the Thunderbolt interface which limits compatibility to many smaller devices. At the time of this writing, on Amazon, they are pricing the 1TB version for $108 (USD), the 2TB version for $190 (USD), and the 4TB version for $484 (USD), making these drives very cost competitive.
From a performance angle, the Corsair EX100U met its performance claims of up to 1,600MB/s read and 1,500MB/s write. We measured 1,241MB/s read and 1,331MB/s write in BlackMagic, although IOMeter had speeds more in line with the advertised numbers. Here we measured 1,026MB/s read and 1,268MB/s with a single-threaded 2MB sequential workload, although as the workload was scaled up to 4-threads the EX100U offered more at peak saturation. Here we measured 1,713MB/s read and 1,635MB/s write in our 2MB sequential workload, besting its spec sheet.
Overall the Corsair EX100U is cost-effective and performs well, a nice combo for the portable SSD space. Better yet, devices like this routinely go on sale, so if you need a nice portable drive and it’s priced well, the EX100U is a very good option. Additionally, for those who need a large-capacity portable, this is also one of the very few that reaches to 4TB.
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