Which external-drive setup suits an archive, portable files, or a powered workstation?

The advantages and the compromises

The key details

Model covered

9000477

Advertised capacity

1TB

Drive configuration

Dual PCIe Gen 2 SSDs

Host connection

Thunderbolt 2, two ports

Advertised capacity is nominal and usable space is lower after formatting. Published maximum transfer figures are source claims, not measured results for your computer or workload.

A workstation SSD with a specific job

The 9000477 is a compact, powered storage unit built around two PCIe Gen 2 solid-state drives, not a simple USB pocket disk. LaCie's manual describes it as a creative-work drive and documents two Thunderbolt 2 ports. The exact 9000477 retail record identifies the 1TB version. That combination can make sense beside a compatible editing workstation where a fast scratch or project volume is useful. It should not be mistaken for a general-purpose external drive that works from any USB socket: the connection standard and external power requirement shape the whole purchase.

Confirm the connection before comparing speed claims

LaCie documents up to 20Gb/s bidirectional link bandwidth for Thunderbolt 2, but the host computer must support Thunderbolt 2 to reach that interface ceiling. A first-generation Thunderbolt system is listed with a lower ceiling. The connector can resemble Mini DisplayPort, yet the manual warns that the drive works only with a Thunderbolt-capable host and a Thunderbolt cable. Before buying an older unit, identify the computer port and cable you will actually use. The retailer's high read/write figures are vendor specifications; they are not a promise that every computer, chain, file type, or drive condition will reproduce them.

RAID changes the risk and capacity tradeoff

The product is supplied as a striped RAID 0 set, and the exact-model listing describes RAID 1 and JBOD alternatives through macOS Disk Utility. RAID 0 can prioritize throughput and combine the two devices into one volume, but it offers no mirror between them: a failure in either member can put the striped set at risk. RAID 1 mirrors data and trades usable space for duplication; JBOD is a different layout rather than a backup. Choose a mode for a defined workflow, and keep a separate backup whatever layout you select. Do not count a mirrored set as a replacement for another copy.

It needs a place on the desk and an outlet

This is not bus-powered. LaCie's manual shows a 12V power connection and asks users to keep the enclosure's vent clear with airflow around it. The enclosure may feel warm during extended use, according to the manual. That makes placement a practical part of the decision: allow room for the stand, ventilation, Thunderbolt cable, and adapter. The two Thunderbolt ports allow daisy chaining compatible devices, but the drive should be placed first in certain mixed-generation chains if the higher Thunderbolt 2 ceiling matters. A desk-based workflow is a more natural fit than travel without access to power.

Compatibility and ownership need a cautious check

The source material is for an older Thunderbolt 2 product. The manual documents Thunderbolt and Thunderbolt 2 hosts and macOS Disk Utility for RAID setup; it does not establish current support across every present-day operating system, adapter, dock, or security setting. The exact retail record has an older system requirement, which makes a host-specific compatibility check essential. If buying used, the actual drive health, cables, power adapter, prior RAID state, and return terms are unknown here. No claim about reliability, condition, or current vendor service follows from the manufacturer's original specifications.

Who should shortlist it

Shortlist the 9000477 when the computer already has a verified Thunderbolt path, a powered desk setup is acceptable, and a dual-SSD array solves a real project need. A buyer who wants travel convenience should prioritize bus power and a current common interface instead. Someone who needs USB may prefer the Seagate Expansion SSD in this small batch, while someone maintaining an older high-capacity USB archive may have a different reason to inspect the Pushbutton Backup. Those comparisons are about documented connection and power facts, not an unsupported ranking of speed, reliability, or value.

Before you decide

The advantages and the compromises

The key details

Model covered

STJD500400

Advertised capacity

500GB

Drive configuration

Portable solid-state drive

Host connection

USB 3.0, backward compatible with USB 2.0

Advertised capacity is nominal and usable space is lower after formatting. Published maximum transfer figures are source claims, not measured results for your computer or workload.

A compact SSD for everyday file movement

The STJD500400 is an external solid-state drive, not a mechanical hard disk. Seagate maps the model to 500GB and describes its Expansion SSD as small, light, and intended for portable storage. The datasheet lists a 75 × 55.5 × 10mm body and 131g weight, which gives a concrete sense of its carry size without implying that it is indestructible. It can suit someone moving a working set of documents, photos, or project files between compatible computers. Its 500GB capacity is the first practical constraint: measure your actual data set rather than treating the SSD label as a reason to buy.

Check the connection and the speed claim

Seagate specifies a USB 3.0 port for USB 3.0 transfer rates and backward compatibility with USB 2.0 at USB 2.0 rates. That makes the host port an important part of the purchase. B&H's exact-MFR listing gives an “up to 400 MB/s” figure; that is a published maximum, not a result we measured and not a guarantee for every cable, file pattern, computer, or drive condition. If an old computer only provides USB 2.0, the drive can still connect according to the datasheet, but it will operate at the older interface rate. Confirm your port and cable before expecting the highest published transfer claim.

Portable power, with a cable to keep track of

B&H identifies this model as bus-powered, and Seagate lists a short USB 3.0 cable in the box. That avoids carrying a separate power brick, a useful difference from the two desktop-oriented products in this small group. The tradeoff is that a cable remains part of the setup, and a 20cm cable may be awkward if the computer's ports are crowded or positioned behind a display. The manufacturer dimensions and weight describe the drive itself, not the whole carry kit. A small pouch or a longer compatible cable may be useful, but verify cable requirements before substituting one.

Compatibility and formatting need care

The datasheet lists Windows 7 or later and macOS 10.12 or later, while cautioning that compatibility varies with the computer and operating system. It says reformatting for Apple's Time Machine may be required. That is a practical setup question to settle before moving a long-term backup onto the drive: confirm the intended filesystem and any data already stored, because reformatting erases existing content. The datasheet lists a three-year limited warranty for the model family, but it cannot establish warranty eligibility for a used device or an offer today. The historical title's Rescue Service phrase is not supported by the manufacturer sheet, so it is excluded from this review.

Capacity and performance are different decisions

An SSD's small body and solid-state construction make it attractive for a frequently carried work set. The 500GB capacity is not a substitute for a larger archive disk when the data collection is measured in terabytes. Likewise, a maximum transfer claim alone does not tell you sustained performance under your workload. Video editing, backup, and many-small-file transfers stress storage differently, and the product source does not publish a guaranteed result for a particular workload. Pick it because compact SSD storage at this capacity and interface fits your task; do not extrapolate from the model name to a benchmark we do not have.

Who should shortlist it

Shortlist the Expansion SSD if USB connectivity, bus power, a small body, and a 500GB work set align with your routine. It is the easiest of these three to carry according to its product dimensions, but it does not offer the 1TB capacity or Thunderbolt array layout of the LaCie, and it is not the 400GB powered 3.5-inch HDD represented by the Pushbutton Backup. None is a universal winner: choose the connection and storage role you can actually support. Before purchase, verify that a current listing is the STJD500400 500GB model and confirm any warranty and condition terms directly.

Before you decide

The advantages and the compromises

The key details

Model covered

ST3400601U2-RK

Advertised capacity

400GB

Drive configuration

3.5-inch desktop HDD

Host connection

USB 2.0

Advertised capacity is nominal and usable space is lower after formatting. Published maximum transfer figures are source claims, not measured results for your computer or workload.

A specific legacy desktop model

ST3400601U2-RK is a populated external hard disk in Seagate's 3.5-inch Pushbutton Backup family. Seagate's support listing maps this exact code to 400GB, 7200rpm, and 16MB cache, while an exact-model retailer listing confirms the USB 2.0 and 3.5-inch configuration. This is more useful for maintaining a known archive or a compatible older workstation than for shopping by broad phrases such as “Seagate external drive.” The product code matters: Seagate also sold a similarly named 400GB USB-and-FireWire version with a different code, and the interface should not be transferred from that sibling.

What USB 2.0 means for the workflow

The U2 version connects over USB 2.0. The interface is widely recognizable on older computers, but it is an older, slower path than later USB generations. Seagate's product page does not provide a buyer-specific transfer guarantee, and an interface ceiling is not the same as a measured copy speed. Large photo, video, or disk-image transfers can therefore take substantially longer than with newer drives. If the task is simply to retrieve or retain a modest legacy archive, broad compatibility may matter more than speed. If the task is frequent work with large current files, this connection is a meaningful limitation rather than a minor spec-sheet detail.

Capacity and physical setup

The listed 400GB capacity is fixed for this model. That may be enough for a narrowly defined older collection, but it leaves less room than current multi-terabyte external products. The drive is a 3.5-inch desktop unit, and the exact-model package record includes a power adapter and cord, so it does not operate as a one-cable pocket drive. Check that the particular used unit still has the correct adapter and that your workspace can keep it plugged in. The sources describe the original package, not the contents or working state of a unit offered today.

Old software is not a current feature promise

Retail copy mentions BounceBack Express backup software and automatic backup functions. Those are historical bundle descriptions, not evidence that the software can still be downloaded, installed, or supported on a present-day system. For an ongoing backup plan, choose a supported backup application independently and confirm that the host can communicate with the drive. More importantly, one old external disk should not be the only copy of irreplaceable data. A second independent copy and a restore plan matter more than a button or software name printed in a legacy listing.

Assess the individual unit, not just the model number

The model specification does not tell us whether a particular drive has been heavily used, dropped, stored poorly, or developed errors. It does not establish current reliability. Before relying on a used unit, check its health with suitable diagnostics, make a test copy, and confirm that files can be read back; those are buyer checks, not tests we performed. Also verify the port, cable, power adapter, return terms, and operating-system recognition. Because the Amazon page could not be inspected and no present exact offer is verified, use the model-specific search link as a search destination only.

Who should consider it

This is a narrow-fit choice for a buyer who already has a need for this exact legacy capacity and interface: for example, accessing a known archive or keeping an older system's media accessible. It should not lead a fresh shortlist for someone who wants portable backup, large headroom, fast transfers, or a current direct product listing. The Seagate Expansion SSD in this batch is smaller and bus-powered with a newer USB interface; the LaCie is a different, powered Thunderbolt workstation array. Those distinctions help locate the Pushbutton Backup's place without claiming it is better or worse in reliability.

Before you decide