The ASUS TUF series has been synonymous with a military-inspired style and robust durability. Following this tradition, the TUF Gaming AS1000 external solid-state hard drive maintains the TUF aesthetic. Featuring a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C interface, it delivers ultra-fast data transfer speeds of 10Gbps. With certifications for dust and waterproofing, along with passing the stringent military-grade drop resistance test, this hard drive truly embodies the rugged and hardcore style of TUF, inside and out.
Specifications for the TUF Gaming AS1000:
- Color: Black
- Transmission Interface: USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C
- Maximum Transmission Speed: 10Gbps
- Storage Capacity: 1TB
- Compatibility: Windows 10 / Windows 11 / Mac OS Catalina or later / OTG (Android) / Chrome OS
- Dimensions: 125 x 54 x 13 mm
- Weight: 157g
- Dust and Waterproof Rating: IP68
- Drop Test Certification: 810H 516.8 Drop Test
Aluminum alloy casing, military-standard drop-proof and waterproof | TUF Gaming AS1000 external solid-state drive unpacking
The TUF Gaming AS1000 external solid-state drive is essentially a pre-installed 1TB M.2 NVME SSD within the previously announced TUF Gaming A1 solid-state drive enclosure. This setup allows for hassle-free installation and compatibility with Windows, Mac computers, or Android mobile phones. With a Type-C connection, it offers a theoretical maximum transmission speed of 10Gbps. The drive’s aluminum alloy shell and internal heat dissipation stickers enable efficient cooling, ensuring that the SSD performs at its best.
This product has been rigorously designed to guarantee data security, both in hardware and software. It has earned the U.S. military-grade MIL-STD-810H certification for transport drop resistance and IP68 ratings for dust and water protection. Additionally, the included Backup Now EZ software provides a defense against virus attacks and facilitates straightforward data backup and recovery.
The TUF Gaming AS1000 packaging stays true to the brand’s recognizable black and yellow color scheme. Inside the box, you’ll find the external solid-state hard drive itself, a Type-C to Type-C transmission cable (about 40cm in length), a user manual, and the serial number for the NTI Backup Now EZ software.
The TUF Gaming AS1000 features a dark gray aluminum alloy casing. On the upper part, there’s an option to attach a lanyard as per your preference. The front of the device displays operational indicators and is adorned with the TUF logo, while the back has “TUF Gaming” printed on it.
The TUF Gaming AS1000 can be opened by unscrewing the four inner hexagon screws on the back to remove the quilt cover. However, it’s important to note that doing this may void the warranty. Once opened, you’ll find that the AS1000 houses a standard M.2 PCIe 2280 SSD, with a Phison PS5013-E13-31 control chip, PCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe 1.3 specifications, and a single 256GB 3D TLC flash memory from Hynix, totaling 1TB of capacity. This SSD configuration is more than sufficient to reach the theoretical transmission limit of USB 3.2 Gen2 10Gbps. Additionally, the external box’s control chip uses Realtek’s RTL9210B, which supports both NVMe and SATA specifications.
To enhance the device’s ruggedness, the TUF Gaming AS1000 incorporates rubber rings at the seams and joints of the shell, ensuring waterproofing that meets IP68 dustproof and waterproof ratings. It can withstand immersion in 1.5 meters of water for up to 30 minutes and is designed to prevent dust intrusion. The original factory discourages users from disassembling the unit themselves, as improper reassembly can easily compromise the waterproof function, leading to failure.
TUF Gaming AS1000 External SSD Performance and Temperature Measurement
The TUF Gaming AS1000 utilizes a Type-C USB 3.2 Gen2 transmission interface. To emulate the typical usage scenarios encountered by most users of external drive enclosures, a notebook computer featuring an AMD Ryzen 7 4800U processor, 16GB of memory, and running the Windows 10 operating system is used as the test platform. During the testing process, the TUF Gaming AS1000 is connected to the notebook’s Type-C 3.2 Gen 2 port to ensure the evaluation reflects its full performance capabilities.
The TUF Gaming AS1000 comes with the exFAT file system as its default, ensuring compatibility with both Windows and Mac OS systems. If the drive is going to be used exclusively with Windows, it can be reformatted to the NTFS file system, which may provide higher read and write speeds.
By utilizing CrystalDiskInfo to examine the SSD information on the TUF Gaming AS1000, you can see that the interface is UASP (USB Attached SCSI Protocol). This means that both the computer and the external enclosure support the UASP transmission protocol, allowing for the processing of multiple commands in parallel. This capability enhances the overall transmission speed while simultaneously reducing CPU usage, latency, and wait time.
Using the default profile in CrystalDiskMark to test the TUF Gaming AS1000, the results are as follows:
- Sequential Read Speed: 965MB/s
- Sequential Write Speed: 953MB/s
- Random 4K Read: 38MB/s
- Random 4K Write: 63MB/s
When switching to real-world performance mode, the metrics change to:
- Sequential Read Speed: 707MB/s
- Sequential Write Speed: 787MB/s
- Random 4K Read IOPS (Input/Output Operations Per Second): 9246
- Random 4K Write IOPS: 15335
These results demonstrate the drive’s capability to handle both large sequential data transfers and random small file operations effectively, reflecting its robust performance characteristics.
ATTO Disk Benchmark, which tests the maximum performance of a device using different I/O sizes ranging from 512B to 64MB and a Direct I/O queue with 4 layers, reveals the following results for the TUF Gaming AS1000:
- Maximum Read Speed: 921MB/s
- Maximum Write Speed: 920MB/s
These numbers indicate the impressive capabilities of the TUF Gaming AS1000 across various file sizes and types, highlighting its versatility and performance potential.
For professionals in the film and television industry who require specific performance metrics, the AJA System Test was used to simulate the write and read performance of professional video multimedia on the TUF Gaming AS1000. By setting the parameters to 4K resolution, 10-bit YUV, and a 64GB test file, the following results were achieved:
- Writing Speed: 854MB/s
- Reading Speed: 571MB/s
These figures demonstrate the TUF Gaming AS1000’s strong capability in handling the specific demands of professional multimedia applications, making it a suitable choice for individuals working with high-resolution video content.
FastCopy is a tool designed to optimize file copying, allowing for quicker transfer speeds compared to the Windows built-in file system. In this particular test, both video and picture files were used to assess the actual transmission speed with the TUF Gaming AS1000.
- Copying a 22.6GB Video File to the TUF Gaming AS1000: The transfer took 32.9 seconds, with an average speed of 723.2MB/s.
- Copying the Same File from the TUF Gaming AS1000 to the Computer: The transfer took 30.2 seconds, with an average speed of 788.4MB/s.
These results underline the efficient and effective performance of the TUF Gaming AS1000 for typical file transfer tasks, showcasing its competence in handling large multimedia files with speed and reliability.
When testing with a 27.2GB RAW image file and the TUF Gaming AS1000, the results were as follows:
- Copying the 27.2GB RAW Image File to the TUF Gaming AS1000: The transfer took 47.9 seconds, with an average speed of 597MB/s.
- Copying the Same File from the TUF Gaming AS1000 to the Computer: The transfer took 40.2 seconds, with an average speed of 711.9MB/s.
These outcomes further confirm the TUF Gaming AS1000’s capability in managing large and complex file transfers. It demonstrates the device’s robustness and efficiency, particularly suited for professionals dealing with significant volumes of high-resolution multimedia content.
In a final test, CrystalDiskMark was used to conduct a temperature assessment, setting the number of executions to 9 times. With room temperature at 25 degrees Celsius, the TUF Gaming AS1000 reached a maximum temperature of just 39 degrees Celsius. These results indicate that the device’s heat dissipation performance is quite good, showcasing its ability to manage thermal conditions effectively even under continuous and intensive use.
TUF SSD Dashboard monitoring software and NTi Backup Now EZ 7 backup software
ASUS has introduced exclusive monitoring software specifically for the TUF Gaming AS1000. This software allows users to inspect essential details about the SSD, such as basic information, service life, and also includes a secure erase function. This utility enhances the user experience by providing convenient access to vital statistics and features, further contributing to the overall functionality and management of the device.
NTi Backup Now EZ 7 is reputable backup software, and every purchase of the TUF Gaming AS1000 includes a set of boot serial numbers for this program. Operating it is relatively straightforward; users simply select the data they want to back up along with the backup location. Additionally, there is an option to set a schedule for regular backups at fixed times. This feature adds further value to the TUF Gaming AS1000, providing an efficient and user-friendly way to ensure data safety and integrity.
Conclusion
The TUF Gaming AS1000 external solid-state drive showcases a rugged TUF military-style design. With a transmission speed reaching up to 10Gbps, it’s more than adequate for average users. What sets it apart from similar products is its IP68 dustproof and waterproof rating, a feature that’s relatively rare. Additionally, having passed the MIL-STD-810H transportation drop test, it proves to be more convenient and durable for travel compared to more fragile traditional external hard drives.
The built-in PCIe 3.0 x4 SSD allows the TUF Gaming AS1000 to perform at its full potential. Priced at 2990 yuan for the 1TB model, it offers good value for its features and capabilities. If you already have an extra M.2 SSD, you can also consider purchasing the TUF Gaming A1 external enclosure for 1290 yuan.
Overall, the TUF Gaming AS1000 provides a satisfactory balance of performance, durability, and cost, making it a solid choice for those looking for a robust external storage solution.
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Title: Unboxing the ASUS TUF Gaming AS1000 external solid-state drive, complete with IP68 waterproofing and certified to meet military-standard drop resistance!
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