Evaluation
The accessories of Asus’ top-of-the-line SSD enclosure are beyond those of any other smartphone. Various cables, a rubber protector, a strap loop and within the built-in features, for example, an RGB LED. Excessive and annoying? Perhaps, but likely to appeal to the target audience of ROG products. The Strix Arion, among other things, leads the speed tests, and it does so at an exceptionally low power consumption.
Evaluation
The fastest SSD enclosure we’ve tested so far. However, two things should be noted.
The first is that the differences in maximum sequential read and write speeds are minimal, and then the second thing – even with the ROG Strix Arion, we’re still talking about USB 3.2 gen. 2. This means speeds up to about 1100 MB/s.
Considering the higher price of around 50 EUR, someone might have reservations and expect even higher speeds (corresponding to USB 3.2 gen. 2×2, for example). But if not, and the speeds achieved by the Strix Arion enclosure are enough, you will probably be satisfied. Even idle power consumption is below average. And that’s even with the RGB LED lighting on, which can be turned off in the Armoury Crate app. The lower operating consumption of such external SSDs can have the advantage of typically longer battery life of the laptop to which they are connected.
The power consumption at high performance of sequential write is also lower than most of the other solutions tested, even though it achieves higher speeds. Thus, it looks like mainly the case electronics (including the PCIe-USB controller) will be more efficient with respect to power saving.
The temperature of the enclosure surface was, under our test conditions, up to 40 °C, which will be fine, with a margin even for adverse conditions temperature-wise. This is helped by the fact that in addition to the SSD itself, the PCB of the enclosure itself is also being cooled. The enclosure casing is also in contact with it (via the thermal pad).
A more expensive enclosure, but sturdy and with a wealth of accessories. Here we should highlight the cover/edge protector or two USB cables, each of which connects to an end device with a different connector. One is a Type-C connector, the other a Type-A connector. In the case of USB-C connectors being occupied, which are usually fewer in number, there is the option of connecting the enclosure with a USB-A connector. What’s usual with competing, and typically cheaper, enclosures is that you don’t get a choice. You either only get a USB-C cable (most SSD enclosures) or only a USB-A cable (such as the Netac WH61).
Relatively convenient and quick (faster than the TUF Gaming A1) is also the mounting of the SSD itself. And lastly, the ROG Strix Arion case can also be attached to a keychain, for example, via the supplied strap. It is hard to find reservations about this enclosure, but in the end they could include something like “weaker price/performance ratio”. The enclosure already costs quite a bit, is almost at the price of cheaper 1-terabyte SSDs, and yet is speed-limited by the relatively slow interface (USB 3.2 gen. 2). By the way, in addition to the black design from the tests, the ROG Strix Arion case is also available in white.
English translation and edit by Jozef Dudáš
| Asus ROG Strix Arion |
| + High speed at the limits of the interface used... |
| + ... also suitable for bulk data backups/transfers |
| + Extra accessories |
| + Quick assembly |
| + High quality workmanship |
| + RGB LED lighting |
| - Relatively higher price considering it's a "10-gigabit" enclosure |
| Approximate retail price: 50 EUR |
