In January, the Chinese consumer electronics startup Ziketech, which primarily sells various ports, adapters, and accessories, initiated a crowdfunding campaign for an interesting SSD enclosure on Indiegogo. According to the product page, ZikeDrive is the first in its category to incorporate USB4 connectivity with a maximum speed of 3,763 MB/s in reading and 3,146 MB/s in writing, which is theoretically faster than ThunderBolt 3 (TB3) rivals.
SSD enclosures are handy tiny gadgets that hold M.2 solid-state drives (SSDs), enabling you to transform these high-speed storage devices into portable, external storage solutions.
Such products are regarded as niche because they primarily appeal to consumers who prefer ultra-high-speed storage expansion at a lower cost and DIY projects. In comparison, most consumers tend to choose stock storage upgrades or finished portable drivers.
PingWest received a prototype of the ZikeDrive from the firm to review. Long story short: the product boasts some innovative industrial designs, exceptional speed, and a convenient built-in USB4 cable. However, there are some areas that require improvement, such as the heat control.
Priced at $109 for early birds on Indiegogo, the Shenzhen-based firm estimated to deliver the first batch of the product in mid-May, as mentioned in a notice posted on their crowdfunding page.
TL; DR:
Fors
● Fast Speed
● Ease installation
● Delicate cable design
● High stability
Againsts
● Severe overheating issue
● Larger and heavier case than rivals
● A less appealing price tag (if without discounts)
A “Weighted” Design
The aluminium body of the enclosure is wrapped in rectangular grooves, which facilitate heat dissipation. But those chamfered edges will not create discomfort when holding in hands.
The matte finish adds a premium touch to the overall holding experience. The middle portion is made of black plastic-like material where essential electronic components are housed.
The cover can be opened effortlessly without the need for screws or complicated attachment designs. Moreover, it remains firmly closed and doesn't loosen up over time.
What sets it apart is the additional room allotted for USB4 cables within the case. This convenience is particularly useful since USB4 or TB3/4 cables are still relatively rare. Utilizing such cases mandates the need to bring a compatible cable along wherever you venture.
The cable appears to be aesthetically pleasing with its soft rubber coating over the connectors and fabric material for the cable. Additionally, there is a convenient protrusion or handle on one side, which makes it easy to pull out from its case.
Although this design features some advantages, it also results in a larger and heavier body compared to some competitors, which deviates from the objective of being compact and portable for such prooducts.
Furthermore, an issue that concerns me is the absence of a thermal design to connect the SSD to the case. This may lead to heat-related problems that can cause lessened performance, shorter lifespan, and even pose a risk of skin burns.
A Fast But Stable Runner
ZikeDrive uses a certified ASM2464PD controller, which ASUS subsidiary Asmedia developed. I have tested it with a late-2020 MacBook Pro, which offers two USB4/TB3 ports.
I prepared two SSDs for the test: YMTC Zhitai TiPlus 7100 1 TB and Samsung 990 Pro 1 TB. Both are PCIE 4 SSDs with a transfer speed of around 7,000 MB/s which far exceeds the limit of USB4.
We failed to hit the theoretical speed but the results are still stunning. Formated with Apple's (Apple File System) AFPs, YMTC tested 1,938 MB/s in writing and 3,040 MB/s in reading. While Samsung tested 2,780 MB/s and 2,815 MB/s, respectively.
For comparison, its TB3 rival tested 2,469 MB/s and 2,788 MB/s in writing and reading, respectively for the same YMTC SSD. But the results are quite similar to ZikeDrive for Samsung.
Using cross-platform format (Extensible File Allocation Table) exFat, which most users would use for portable drivers, caused a sharp decrease in performance on my Mac.
The writing speed for the Samsung SSD decreased to 1,216 MB/s while the reading speed just had a minor drop to 2,949 MB/s.
The case also worked with USB 10 Gbps ports at its full speed as I tested it with a dock. It even works well with my iPad mini 6, considering such portable devices provide have trouble delivering enough power to support a consuming accessory.
Aside from the data, I tried to burden it with more tasks and see how it handles the heavy tasks during extended working hours.
I transferred one of my virtual machines onto the Samsung hard drive using the case, and let it run for several hours to update systems, install new games, and play them.
During this time, the machine's performance remained consistent and stable. After completing the tasks, I ran a speed test and noticed only slight changes in the results.
Unignorable Overheating Issue
ZikeDrive heats fast when connected to my Mac, and it soon became uncomfortably hot to the touch.
This issue is less severe when working with the YMTC SSD, but it still feels burning.
Thankfully, Ziketech has included a plastic case to insulate heat. However, one could argue that this isn't a wise decision since it obstructs the cooling of the SSD and other electrical parts inside the case.
This could accelerate the ageing of electronic components and SSDs, causing them to potentially fail more quickly than expected.
Honestly, even with the cover on, it still feels hot. Additionally, the case diminishes the overall appearance of the sleek design by appearing cheap and susceptible to falling out of the enclosure.
Conclusion
ZikeDrive SSD enclosure from Ziketech is a compelling option for those looking for ultra-fast storage addition to their gadgets like gamers and video creators.
With its USB4 connectivity, the device is theoretically faster than its TB3 rivals, and it offers a convenient built-in cable, adding to its portability.
ZikeDrive also has some highlights in its industrial design, offering convenience to install SSDs (the incoming version won't need screws to fix SSDs according to Ziketech).
But if you have a tighter budget, cheaper TB3 or even USB 20Gbps enclosures work just fine too.