Transcend Releases JetDrive 820 PCIe SSD for Macs

Transcend is ready with their latest storage drive, the JetDrive 820. The new JetDrive 820 is a PCI Express Gen.3 x2 SSD, designed specifically for Mac computers. It can offer an upgrade to both speed and storage capacity as it is available with up to 960GB. Target systems include the MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, Mac mini, and Mac Pro.

Now PC users will wonder, why a drive specifically for Mac computers. Well, to be fully compatible with the latest MacOS versions and offer a full feature list, the drives need to be validated and approved by Apple.

JetDrive 820 Capacity and Performance.

You have the choice between three different capacities in the JetDrive 820 family: 240GB, 480GB, and 960GB. The sequential performance is rated up to 950MB/s for both read and write operations. A random performance rating isn’t available, so you’ll have to wait for reviews and user reports on those. The JetDrive 820 isn’t the fastest PCIe speeds, but that’s because it only uses a PCIe 3.0 x2 and not a PCIe x4 setup.

Transcend opted for 3D TLC NAND memory which should allow them to offer the drive at a reasonable price. While that’s a plus, there will be noticeable performance differences to MLC-based offerings. That’s a simple fact which is dictated by the technology.

Monitor SSD Health with Exclusive JetDrive Toolbox

Transcend’s exclusive JetDrive Toolbox, a free download from the Transcend website, is a software kit tailor-made for Transcend’s Apple Solutions. JetDrive Toolbox allows users to maintain a healthy SSD by keeping it up-to-date, preventing functional degradation, and predicting problems before they happen. Easy to use, the Toolbox includes Drive Information, S.M.A.R.T. Status, Health Indicator, and Firmware Update functions.

Availability, Pricing, and Warranty

The new series should become available shortly, but Transcend didn’t reveal any pricing at this time. You get a Five-year Limited Warranty with Transcend’s new JetDrive 820.