Seagate FireCuda 2021 Gaming line-up includes 530 PCIe Gen 4 SSD

Seagate FireCuda 2021 Gaming

The Seagate FireCuda 2021 Gaming line-up includes the new FireCuda 530 – a PCIe NVMe Gen 4 SSD that can reach up to 7300/6900Mbps sequential read/write – or two to three times that in RAID 0 configurations.

That is blisteringly fast. It uses the latest Seagate validated E18 controller and 176-layer 3D TLC B47R NAND. Of course, you need a PCIe Gen 4 motherboard to get that, or it will fall back to PCIe Gen 3 or earlier speeds.

The 11.04mm heatsink is necessary for sustained data transfer and should fit the PlayStation5 M2 2289 SSD slot. The non-heatsink model will fit into most laptops. If it reaches a predetermined temperature, it will simply throttle for thermal management.

FireCuda 530 PCIe Gen 4 SSD

  • Website here
  • Price: 500GB $199, 1TB $349, 2TB 729 and 4TB 1429 and with or without an integrated heatsink (adds about $50)
  • From: MWave, Scorptec and Shopping Express
  • Warranty: Five years includes three years of Rescue Data Recovery Services

FireCuda Gaming Hard Drive 2021

It is an External 2/5TB hard disk with Razer Chroma RGB compatibility. It has a USB-C 3.1 Gen 1 interface capable of 5Gbps (625MBps), and the drive is SATA 3/6 capable of 6Gbps (750Mbps). But the enclosure has a micro-B interface, and as USB is half-duplex, the best sequential read/write speed is 140MBps. The Seagate Toolkit allows you to customise RGB colours and install backup software.

  • Website here
  • Price: 2TB $119, 5TB $219
  • Warranty: Three years includes three years of Rescue Data Recovery Services

FireCuda Gaming Hub (2021)

It is an external 8/16TB hard disk with Razer Chroma RGB compatibility. Requires separate 240V plug pack (supplied). It connects via USB-A to micro-B. Additional USB-A 3.0 and USB-C ports share a 5Gbps half-duplex data rate with the drive.

  • Website here
  • Price: TBA
  • Warranty: Three years includes three years of Rescue Data Recovery Services

FireCuda External Gaming SSD (2021)

This is a USB-C 3.2 Gen 2×2 (20Gbps) capable of up to 2000MBps sequential read/write. Very few laptops have 2×2 external interfaces – if you have Gen 2×1 (10Gbps – about 1000MBps), Gen 1 (5Gbps – about 500MBps) and 3.0 (5MBps – about 150MBps).

  • Website here
  • Price: 50GB, 1TB and 2TB TBA
  • Three years includes three years of Rescue Data Recovery Services

FireCuda Gaming Dock Thunderbolt 3 (2020)

GadgetGuy has previously reviewed this Thunderbolt 3 dock here (8.8/10). It is quite impressive as long as you know its limitations. It shares the Thunderbolt 3 40Gbps data transfer rates with an optional M2 2280 SSD (Tested with a FireCuda 520 – 2700/1516MBps sequential read/write) and an internal 4TB hard disk (260MBps sequential read/write).

  • Website here
  • Price: Approx $599 plus SSD
  • Warranty: Three years includes three years of Rescue Data Recovery Services

Rescue Data Recovery Services

  • Included with all FireCuda products
  • Includes one in-lab recovery attempt
  • Returns your recovered data on an encrypted storage device
  • 95% success rate of in-house data recovery

GadgetGuy’s take

The FireCuda 530 SSD and the FireCuda External SSD are the most exciting Seagate FireCuda 2021 Gaming line-up as long as you have the right PC or laptop.

I have to point out that a micro-B connector in Gaming Hard Drive and Gaming Hub may be fit for purpose (interface speed matches drive speed) but it is so ‘yesterday’. Frankly, these devices are no faster than any of Seagate’s Backup Plus family – just in gaming clothing with shiny RGB lights.