Asus announces new External HDDs with RGB and AES 256 Bit Encryption

[AlTech]

If your wallet has not been ripped to pieces with RGB products in 2018, Asus has something for you.

 

Asus has announced new External HDDs with Aura Sync RGB and 256 Bit AES Encryption.

 

(Source: Anandtech)

 

Quote

ASUS has introduced its new FX family of external storage devices, which are aimed at gamers and feature the company’s Aura Sync RGB lighting. The FX drives can store up to 2 TB of data and come with software for automatic backups.

The ASUS FX external hard drives rely on 2.5-inch/7-mm HDDs featuring 1 TB or 2 TB capacity as well as ASMedia’s ASM1153E USB 3.0-to-SATA bridge, which supports up to 5 Gbps data transfer rates. The HDDs come in a brushed metallic chassis featuring RGB-lit futuristic patterns on both sides as well as skid proof mats on the bottom. The enclosure of the ASUS FX-series hard drives was designed to match its FX-series as well as ROG-series gaming laptops.

1

 

(Source: Anandtech)

 

Wow. Did we really need External HDDs with RGB? At this point, the RGB craze is so messed up with everybody making 50 variants of the same product but using RGB as if it'll magically transform a product to greatness.

 

Spoiler Alert: It won't.

 

Source: https://www.anandtech.com/show/13160/asus-unveils-fx-external-hdds-with-aura-sync-rgb-aes-256

 

[Rauten]

It's not just RGB, it's also the whole "aimed at gamers" malarkey.

What exactly would make an external HDD a "gamer" external HDD?!

[Spotty]

Quote

ASUS does not disclose which 2.5-inch HDDs it uses for its FX external storage devices or their performance numbers. It's still common for 2.5-inch hard drives based on 1 TB platters use shingled magnetic recording (SMR) technology, and therefore offer a rather low (re)writing performance. In the meantime, it is possible that ASUS procured unannounced PMR-based HDDs featuring a more predictable performance.

So no idea what manufacturer is making the internal drives. Sounds like they'll be torn open and 'shucked' as soon as reviewers get their hands on them to see what is inside. Not sure why ASUS doesn't just release the name of the manufacturer.

 

8 minutes ago, AluminiumTech said:

Did we really need External HDDs with RGB?

At this point is there anything that doesn't come with RGB variants?

Honestly I don't mind as long as the sale of the more "premium" RGB products, with presumably a higher profit margin, enables those companies to continue researching and developing new products. Consider it a tax for people who like bright shiny things to help subsidise the cost of things for the rest of us.

 

2 minutes ago, Rauten said:

It's not just RGB, it's also the whole "aimed at gamers" malarkey.

What exactly would make an external HDD a "gamer" external HDD?!

In my opinion; blazing fast speeds. Something that you can store your Steam Library on and play games directly off of with little to no performance loss over an internal HDD.
For someone with a laptop that they use at work/school during the day [that only has an NVME SSD in it with no potential to add in additional storage, or worse a non replaceable SSD], they could come home at the end of the day, plug their laptop in to their external GPU and their "gaming external drive" and play their games off of that. Like it or not, we're now living in a dongle world. Or for only an extra $9.99; an RGB dongle world.

[Deus Voltage]

"So whats on your mind Jeff?"

"I think we need to come up with something Mark, sales are stagnating"

"What's on your mind?"

".....HDD's...External HDD's...WITH RGB!"

"ROUND THE BOYS UP, WE'RE DOING IT! KIDS ARE GONNA LOVE EM"

 

I half expect cookies to come with RGB in the future

[NMS]

I somehow want this. Badly. Just please take my money!

Spoiler

 

[Arika]

how stupid

[NelizMastr]

8 minutes ago, Spotty said:

For someone with a laptop that they use at work/school during the day [that only has an NVME SSD in it with no potential to add in additional storage, or worse a non replaceable SSD], they could come home at the end of the day, plug their laptop in to their external GPU and their "gaming external drive" and play their games off of that. Like it or not, we're now living in a dongle world. Or for only an extra $9.99; an RGB dongle world.

Still doesn't need to be RGB. Most external HDDs are plenty fast for games and a heck of a lot cheaper. In fact, most external HDDs are cheaper than the same capacity internal units in stores, lol.

[Rauten]

46 minutes ago, Spotty said:

In my opinion; blazing fast speeds. Something that you can store your Steam Library on and play games directly off of with little to no performance loss over an internal HDD.
For someone with a laptop that they use at work/school during the day [that only has an NVME SSD in it with no potential to add in additional storage, or worse a non replaceable SSD], they could come home at the end of the day, plug their laptop in to their external GPU and their "gaming external drive" and play their games off of that. Like it or not, we're now living in a dongle world. Or for only an extra $9.99; an RGB dongle world.

Sure, there are use cases where gamers might benefit from it; but it is far from being a "gamer" product. A lot of people could want a decently fast (this is a spinning HDD we're talking about, I don't really think any such device can be described as "blazing fast") external HDD.

It simply doesn't seem to offer any features that would cater specifically to gamers.

 

Only gamery thing about this is the looks and the AARRR GEEEE BEEE so it's probably just going to be a decent 7200RPM external HDD with a "gamer" tax on top of it because why the hell not.

[LAwLz]

These days, whenever I see a product with a "gamer" label on it I instinctively assume it is shit in some way.

 

"Back in my dag", the "gamer" label were for keyboards with a high #KRO, mice with good tracking, and monitors with low input lag. We didn't have "gaming microphones" because there is nothing about a microphone which makes it more or less suitable for gaming. A good microphone is a good microphone regardless. Same with routers, and now external hard drives apparently.

[Taf the Ghost]

2018 has taught us: There still isn't enough RGB.

[Salv8 (sam)]

http://rrrgggbbb.com/

for all of your RGB needs...

also this product can also do that but who cares!!!

[yian88]

"Futuristic Pattern"  ill buy 20

[Lathlaer]

LC community would be in a very poor and ugly shape if everyone had the same attitude as people in this thread ;-)

 

God forbid someone wants something aesthetically different on display next to their PC. 

[Lathlaer]

2 hours ago, VegetableStu said:

something about slapping Strix/Aorus/Gamery + RGB design onto storage hardware makes me want to conduct an impact test on them ._.

 

Can't see anything like that on the picture from OP, only the Tron-like lightning pattern and a dark ASUS logo on the side ;-)

 

Some people might like and others don't but this is needed. External storage is no different than other peripherals and there is nothing wrong in wanting to customize your personal PC space. If someone wants to go for the classic black stuff there is no shortage of that from other companies.

 

Here you can probably set all the Aura Sync goodies so if someone wants something less tacky than constantly breathing or pulsing or weaving RGB, the can probably set it to a single color and be done with it. 

 

They should also make ext. SSD like that, btw.

[artuc]

Seems a bit weird.

 

Does someone that wants pretty lights want encryption ?

 

Then vice versa

 

Does someone that wants encryption want pretty lights ?

 

Needs someone that wants srs security but also appreciates multi coloured glowing, seems like a niche market ?

[The Benjamins]

AES 256 Bit Encrypted RGB

[Doobeedoo]

Enclosure looks good though. 

[Speed Weed]

Where is RGB toilet? I probably will need it after Tacos Tuesday. 

[Peskanova]

11 minutes ago, The Benjamins said:

AES 256 Bit Encrypted RGB

AES 256 Bit Encrypted RGB porn

You wont touch my steam colection!!!!  ffs 

[TVwazhere]

5 hours ago, huilun02 said:

What next? Aura sync flash drives?

RGB toilet and faucet?

Well.....

 

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/LED-Faucet-Light-Temperature-Sensor-RGB-Glow-Shower-Water-Shower-Head-Stream-Sink-Tap-Torneira-Bathroom/32805472788.html

https://www.amazon.com/Docooler-Flexible-Photosensitive-Activated-Resistant/dp/B01MR0PUWM

[JediFragger]

Cunts.

[orbitalbuzzsaw]

Soon : RGB flooring, cause everything else you own is RG

[Speed Weed]

4 minutes ago, OrbitalBuzzsaw said:

Soon : RGB flooring, cause everything else you own is RG

Later, RGB causes cancer. 

[S w a t s o n]

I blame reddit

[orbitalbuzzsaw]

2 minutes ago, DaPhuc said:

Later, RGB causes cancer. 

xkcd.com/925