LaCie d2 Thunderbolt 3 10TB Desktop HDD Review

Bohs Hansen / 8 years ago

Introduction

Today I get to review an amazing looking storage drive with a connection option available for any system. In the testing area is LaCie’s newest d2 model, the d2 Thunderbolt 3 drive with 10TB capacity. Not only does it come with Thunderbolt 3 connections, it also features USB, USB charging and plenty of capacity.

LaCie designed the drive with massive Lightroom libraries, storage expansion for SSD-based laptops, 4K video archiving, and the transport of projects for presentations in mind. It is compatible with both Windows and Mac OS systems. The included setup software even offers the option to split up the drive into two volumes, one for each and each with the size you specify.

If the drive looks familiar to you, then that’s no surprise at all. The d2 series has served as dependable storage options for 20 years and there have been many different versions of them. One thing in common is the external design which was done by Neil Poulton.

Neil Poulton is an industrial product designer and his designs have won countless awards, including the prestigious IF Design Award and the Red Dot Design Award on multiple occasions. Neil Poulton specialises in the design of ‘deceptively simple-looking mass-produced objects’.

The drive’s enclosure is forged from a single sheet of aluminium. That gives the enclosure an uncommon rigidity for long-term durability. The aluminium enclosure also aids with the heat dissipation, but it isn’t the only cooling feature in this drive. There’s also a tiny fan at the rear of the drive which helps with the cooling. While small fans tend to be loud, this one isn’t. It makes less noise than the mechanical parts of the drive does. 10TB portable storage without heat throttling or extra noise levels, that’s something we like.

Inside the d2 Thunderbolt 3 10TB drive is a BarraCuda Pro drive. The BarraCuda Pro features a 7200 RPM spindle speed which allows the drive to perform with up to 240MB/s. For example, it will allow you to copy 64GB of photos from the d2 to your system in just 5 minutes. Sure, it doesn’t beat SSD speed, but it brings a lot more capacity to the table.

The LaCie d2 features more than one connection option, but the main connection is the Thunderbolt 3. The name of the drive gives that away. The d2 actually features two Thunderbolt 3 ports and that is because it supports daisy-chaining of up to 6 devices. With a 40Gbps connection, there is plenty to spare for more drives, monitors, or other Thunderbolt 3 powered devices. There is also a USB 3.1 Type-C port which allows you to connect the drive to systems that don’t have Thunderbolt 3 at their disposal. The included cabled features a Type-A connector on the other end, making it compatible with pretty much any system.

The USB port serves a double purpose with charging capabilities. You can connect and charge laptops with up to 15W power directly through the storage drive. Portability is all about keeping it simple and reducing the amount of cables and adapters you need, and this feature could easily eliminate the need for one of those.

Connections to Thunderbolt 2 devices is possible too, but that requires an extra cable that isn’t included. With the introduction to Thunderbolt 3, the connector changed to a USB Type-C style which makes it more compatible with newer devices.

LaCie is proud of the drive and it shows in the included warranty. The d2 Thunderbolt 3 10TB drive is backed by an impressive 5-year warranty.

Product Highlights

Silent and sturdy though single-sheet aluminium construction
Performance up to 240MB/s
Large 10TB Capacity
Universal compatibility with both Thunderbolt and USB
Reliable and backed by a 5-year warranty
Design by Neil Poulton

Packaging

The package shows the drive from various angels on the various sides. The front side also features all the vital specifications such as speed, capacity, and connection options.

The rear side shows the drive set up next to a laptop and goes a bit more into detail on the various features such as the daisy chaining and the connectivity options.

Inside is another box with the accessories. This box also features the quick install guide printed on top. Connect the drive and run the setup program located on it. Simple instructions, but for some users it might be the first new external drive that they’re purchasing. It has to be easy for them too.

A portable drive has to be usable everywhere, and the LaCie d2 is. The drive came with five different power cables, allowing connection in pretty much any location in the world.