Real-time visual software like Isadora , TouchDesigner , Resolume , and others are extremely sensitive to how your media is stored and accessed. Choosing the right SSD is critical for smooth playback, system stability, and avoiding unnecessary production stress. You always want to put your files on the internal hard drive, but there may be scenario where your production involves massive file size that you will need to use an external hard drive to run the show.
Many external SSDs advertise fast speeds like 2000 MB/s, but in real-world use, they often underperform — especially in high-pressure, real-time settings.
Why?
Budget drives can’t maintain their top speed for long. When they heat up, they "throttle" — slowing down dramatically to avoid overheating. This leads to:
In order help the production to save a bit of cost, we initially used a budget SSD (Fanxiang PS2000) with 2000 MB/s advertised speed. On paper, it looked perfect. But during live visuals in Isadora, the software lagged, spiked CPU, and became unstable.
Why? The drive couldn't sustain its performance. It overheated and throttled, which caused media delays and playback errors. Replacing it with a Crucial X10 Pro — a drive with similar on-paper speed but better build quality — instantly solved the problem.
the example comparison in our production scenario: Fanxiang PS2000 vs. Crucial X10 Pro
| 💾 SSD | Fanxiang PS2000 (Initial Drive) | Crucial X10 Pro (Replacement Drive) |
|---|---|---|
| 🚀 Advertised Speed | Up to 2,000 MB/s (Read) | Up to 2,100 MB/s (Read), 2,000 MB/s (Write) |
| 🧪 Performance under load | Fast at first, then drops dramatically (thermal throttling) | Sustains high speeds even during long sessions |
| 🔥 Thermal design | Minimal cooling – drive heats up and slows down quickly | Rugged aluminum shell with built-in thermal dissipation |
| 🎥 Video playback in Isadora | Caused playback glitches, CPU spikes, and errors due to drive choking | Smooth real-time playback, designed for creative software |
| 📉 Risk of errors or corruption | Higher risk during long sessions or heavy use | Low risk — pro-level stability for large files and long cues |
| 💻 Build quality | Basic plastic shell, no environmental protection | Durable, IP55-rated for dust/water resistance |
| 🔐 Security | No encryption | AES 256-bit hardware encryption |