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How to Buy a Pro-Grade External SSD

How to · Tech

How to Buy a Pro-Grade External SSD

Get a drive that handles 4K video without dropping frames, and time your purchase to save cash.

VoAtlas editorial Updated · 3 min read
Typical cost $300 before anything else
Across the 0% window $20.00/mo 15 months, no interest

How we got that: $300 spread evenly across the 15-month introductory window on the Discover it® Cash Back. Checked · at the bank Carry a balance past the window and the standard APR applies to what is left.

You need a pro-grade external SSD that can handle heavy 4K video editing without choking or dropping frames. Buy the right capacity and read speeds now, and you will only have to buy it once instead of upgrading in a year.

Prices on tech hardware drop steadily throughout the year as manufacturers cycle through new releases. If you wait for the newest model to drop, last year's top-tier drive usually goes on sale for a lot less.

That intro window is a deadline, not free money, and any remaining balance when it ends will trigger standard interest charges.

The steps

  1. 01

    Pick your capacity

    Video files eat up space fast, so don't bother with anything under two terabytes if you are editing regularly. Look at how much footage you shoot in a typical month and double it to give yourself breathing room.

  2. 02

    Watch the release cycle

    New external drives hit the market every spring and fall, which drives down the price of older models. Check price history trackers to see when a specific drive typically goes on sale.

  3. 03

    Spread out the cost

    If you are using the Discover it® Cash Back card, you get 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers. Spreading the typical $300 cost across that window comes out to about $20.00 per month.

  4. 04

    Check the read speeds

    Make sure the drive actually hits the transfer speeds your editing software needs to run smoothly. Advertised speeds are often best-case scenarios, so look at real-world benchmarks from independent reviewers.

  5. 05

    Buy from an authorized seller

    Counterfeit storage drives are common online, so stick to major retailers with solid return policies. If the price on a high-end drive looks too good to be true, it is probably a cheap knockoff.

  6. 06

    Check the card terms before you commit

    Every figure we publish for the Discover it® Cash Back carries the date a person verified it against Discover and a link to where they checked. Intro windows and APRs change without notice, so confirm the current terms before applying.

    See Discover it® Cash Back terms →

Common questions

How much storage do I actually need for video editing?

Two terabytes is the sweet spot for most freelance video editors working with 4K footage. Anything smaller will fill up too fast once you factor in project files, cache, and raw footage.

Are portable SSDs better than traditional hard drives?

Yes, because solid-state drives have no moving parts, which makes them much faster and less likely to fail if you drop them while traveling. Traditional hard drives are too slow for smooth 4K timeline scrubbing.

What happens when my 0% intro APR ends?

The card's regular interest rate will apply to whatever is left of your balance after the 15 months are up. Paying off the drive before that deadline helps you avoid any extra finance charges.

Do I need Thunderbolt or is USB-C enough?

USB-C is usually fast enough for most external editing workflows unless you are working with massive multi-stream raw 8K files. Check your computer ports before buying to make sure you get the right cable and full speed.