By: Hai Wang
November 1, 2024
It was a late Sunday afternoon when I finally decided it was time to tackle the mess that had become my digital life. Years of old project files, countless family photos, and unfinished video edits were scattered across multiple devices. Some files were saved in Dropbox, others were on old laptops, and a few were on an SSD that I had removed from my previous daily use computer. It felt like trying to piece together a jigsaw puzzle without knowing what the completed picture was supposed to be. The sheer volume of scattered memories and unfinished tasks was overwhelming, and I found myself wishing for a simple solution to make sense of it all. That was when I remembered today’s review unit, the Acasis TBU405ProM1. This compact and powerful SSD enclosure was exactly what I needed to streamline everything in one place. With a sense of hope, I pulled the dusty SSD out of my drawer, where it had been lying untouched since my last computer upgrade. I clicked it into place inside the enclosure, feeling an unexpected satisfaction, almost like finding the right key to an old lock or discovering a forgotten treasure chest. The simplicity of the tool-free design made the process quick and effortless, and as I connected the enclosure to my computer, the drive popped up on my screen almost instantly without needing to install anything. It was in that moment that I realized this little device might become my new favorite tool for bringing order to the chaos of my digital past. It was more than just an enclosure; it felt like a gateway to memories and projects I thought I had lost or forgotten. So, do you want to know more about the Acasis TBU405ProM1, and how it might help you too? Let us read on and find out!
The Acasis TBU405ProM1 was shipped from Acasis' headquarters in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China. Upon entering Canada, the package was transferred to Canada Post for delivery. As seen in the photo above, the item was shipped in a soft package with a layer of cushioning for protection. There were no noticeable signs of damage before opening the package, so I believe everything inside should be in good condition.
I firmly believe that a well-designed retail box is essential for a product's commercial success, especially for shelf-displayed computer accessories. These products are typically placed alongside dozens of similar items, making it crucial for the retail box to persuade potential customers to choose it over the competition. A good retail box design should effectively convey the product's design language or unique features to quickly capture the customer's attention. For the Acasis TBU405ProM1, the product photo is prominently displayed in the center of the retail box, allowing customers to clearly see what they are getting without needing to open the package. Key features, such as the 40Gbps transfer rate, supported SSD types, and the built-in cooling fan are clearly highlighted next to the product image. Overall, the retail box design for the Acasis TBU405ProM1 is simple and easy to understand.
Upon opening the box of the Acasis TBU405ProM1, I found quite a lot packed into the small package. The enclosure itself was placed in a semi-clear plastic bag and secured within a cardboard holder, ensuring it was well-protected from any impact or scratches during transportation. A Thunderbolt 4 cable was also included, allowing for easy connection of the SSD to a computer. In terms of accessories, the package contained two rubber buckles, two thermal pads, and a plastic SSD clip. Notably, the product features a tool-free installation, which explains why no tools were included in the package.
Before we move on to see the details of the Acasis TBU405ProM1, let us take a look at the specifications from Acasis' website:
Supported Bandwidth: 40Gbps
Compatible Protocol: Thunderbolt 4/3; USB4.0/3.2/3.1/3.0/2.0
Chip: JHL7440/RTL9210B
Supported Hard Disk Protocols: NVMe
Supported SSD Size: M Key & (M+B) Key(2280)
Supported SSD Capacity: 8TB
Heat Dissipation: Built-in Cooling Fan
Material: Aluminum Alloy Shell
Dimension: 118*57*18mm
Weight: 163.2g
Installation Method: Tool-Free
Color: Dark Grey
Now, let us take a closer look at the Acasis TBU405ProM1. It measures 118mm in width, 18mm in thickness, and 57mm in depth. The TBU405ProM1 supports M.2 SSDs ranging from 22mm to 80mm in length, accommodating all mainstream SSDs available today. The enclosure is made entirely of aluminum, providing an excellent balance of structural integrity and lightweight construction. The black anodized aluminum finish also helps prevent fingerprints, keeping the enclosure looking clean. The Thunderbolt port on the TBU405ProM1 feels solid and secure when the cable is plugged in as well.
The design of the TBU405ProM1 prioritizes heat dissipation, with fins on the top, bottom, and both sides of the enclosure. There is also an internal cooling fan, which explains the grilles visible on the top and sides. With the inclusion of thermal pads, I would say this product is fully optimized for cooling performance, ensuring the SSD can maintain maximum speed for extended periods. This is important because the TBU405ProM1 is a NVMe M.2 SSD to 40Gbps Thunderbolt enclosure, which requires more cooling than the SilverStone MS12 I reviewed previously. The MS12 featured a 20Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C interface, which operates at a lower rate compared to the TBU405ProM1 in Thunderbolt mode, but is faster than the TBU405ProM1's USB 3.2 Gen 2 speed.
Opening the Acasis TBU405ProM1 requires no tools. We can just simply pull the back plate of the enclosure, and it should pop off. An arrow is printed on that end to indicate the direction to pull. Once you hear a clicking sound, the back plate is released and can be easily removed. Notably, with the provided thermal pads, the back plate can make firm contact with the SSD, ensuring efficient heat dissipation. The back plate itself features fins to aid in heat dissipation, along with four rubber feet to prevent the enclosure from moving on slippery surfaces. As shown in the photo above, the SSD is installed directly on the carrier PCB, which also has a hole for inserting a rubber buckle to secure the SSD in place. Two rubber buckles are provided in the accessory packet, ensuring you have a spare in case one gets lost. For SSDs shorter than 80mm, the rubber buckle can still be used to secure them effectively.
On the opposite side of the PCB, you will find the dual-chip design, featuring the Intel JHL7440 and Realtek RTL9210B chips for performance and backwards compatibility. The Intel JHL7440 is a Thunderbolt 3 controller, so marketing the TBU405ProM1 as a Thunderbolt 4 enclosure is a bit of a misnomer, although it is commonly practiced. The RTL9210B is an NVMe/SATA to 10Gbps SuperSpeed USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C bridge. The JHL7440 Thunderbolt 3 chip serves as the main controller, supporting ultra-fast transfer rates of up to 40Gbps. However, while the JHL7440 is the fastest Thunderbolt 3 controller, it is important to note only 22Gbps of 40Gbps is usable due to reserved bandwidth for DisplayPort and USB traffic. Meanwhile, the Realtek RTL9210B supplies two lanes of PCIe 3.0 bandwidth for up to 16Gbps in USB-to-PCIe mode.
Once the carrier PCB is removed, we can see the cooling fan inside the Acasis TBU405ProM1. This fan is not designed to directly cool the SSD itself; instead, it functions to increase airflow throughout the enclosure, effectively helping to dissipate heat from the entire case. This cooling approach enhances the overall temperature management of the SSD, as the airflow aids in preventing hotspots from forming, thus maintaining more consistent performance during extended use. Underneath the grille of the top panel, there is also a dust filter, which serves an important purpose in preventing dust particles from entering the enclosure. This filter helps to maintain the cleanliness of the internal components, ensuring that the cooling fan and other parts continue to function effectively over time. Such attention to detail makes the design more practical for long-term reliability.
The fan itself is controlled by a switch located on the carrier board, allowing users to easily turn it on or off based on their cooling needs. This is a convenient feature, particularly for those who may not need the fan running at all times, or if they prefer a quieter operation when full cooling is not necessary. However, there is one small detail that could potentially confuse first-time users: The label next to the switch simply reads “Switch.” This vague labeling may leave users unsure of the purpose of the switch, especially if they have not referred to the manual. It would be far clearer if the switch were labeled more explicitly, such as “Fan On/Off”, which would immediately indicate its function and eliminate any potential guesswork.
In terms of noise level, you can definitely hear the fan when it is on, but it is not loud by any means. As with all our reviews at APH Networks, we rate noise levels on a scale of 0 to 10, with 0 being absolute silence and 10 being the loudest. For the Acasis TBU405ProM1, I would rate it at 3.0/10. The fan RPM is tuned under the consideration of balancing both cooling performance and noise level.
The SSD installation in the Acasis TBU405ProM1 is impressively simple, thanks to its tool-free design. Without the need for any tools, the installation process is both straightforward and convenient. The M.2 SSD can be directly inserted into the socket on the carrier PCB, and the design ensures that even someone unfamiliar with hardware installation would have little trouble getting it done. I found the process so intuitive that I did not need to consult the installation guide at all. A quick glance at the product's website was enough for me to understand how to assemble everything correctly.
Once the SSD is inserted at an angle, it clicks into place smoothly, and the next step involves securing it using the provided rubber buckle. Inserting the rubber buckle to hold the SSD down was also quite simple, and it provided a snug fit that ensured the SSD would not move around, even when the enclosure is handled. This method is far more user-friendly compared to traditional screw installations, especially for users who may not have specialized tools on hand. Once the thermal pad is applied, the drive is ready to be used, and the backplate can be easily reattached to complete the setup. Overall, the entire installation process is designed to be effortless and quick, making it accessible for users of all experience levels.
The above photo shows how the enclosure looks like with my Western Digital Black SN750 NVMe SSD. Your mileage may vary depending on what SSD model you install inside and your motherboard's controllers as far as the performance of this enclosure is concerned. The Intel JHL7440 is one of the best Thunderbolt 3 controllers around, providing about 10% better performance than the competition, while the Realtek RTL9210B is a well-known tried-and-true USB 3.2 Gen 2 chipset.
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The Acasis TBU405ProM1 is a thoughtfully designed NVMe M.2 SSD to Thunderbolt enclosure that stands out for its combination of user convenience and high performance. Featuring a tool-free installation, the enclosure allows users to easily secure an M.2 SSD with a simple rubber buckle, eliminating the need for specialized tools. Its robust build, made of dark gray anodized aluminum, not only ensures structural integrity, but also facilitates heat dissipation, supported further by an integrated cooling fan and thermal pads. The use of Intel JHL7440 and Realtek RTL9210B chips provides fast data transfer rates and reliable performance, making it suitable for demanding tasks. It is important to note the TBU405ProM1, despite being marketed as Thunderbolt 4, is really a Thunderbolt 3 enclosure, and RTL9210B is USB 3.2 Gen 2 rather than USB 3.2 Gen 2x2. Minor improvements could be made, such as clearer labeling of the fan switch, but the Acasis TBU405ProM1 otherwise delivers on its promise of speed, reliability, and user-friendly setup, making it a great choice for users looking to expand their storage solutions with confidence. The Acasis TBU405ProM1 falls on the higher end of the price spectrum for SSD enclosures at around $105 USD. While the price may seem a bit steep compared to more basic enclosures, it is important to consider the features that justify this cost. The Acasis TBU405ProM1 offers the premium Thunderbolt interface, which is significantly faster than traditional USB-based enclosures. For users who need top-tier speed, durability, and versatility to handle NVMe SSDs, the price could be seen as a reasonable investment in quality and long-term functionality. However, for those who do not require the ultra-fast speeds or the Thunderbolt interface, there are more affordable alternatives on the market that could suffice for general use.
Acasis provided this product to APH Networks for the purpose of evaluation.
APH Networks Review Focus Summary:
7/10 means Great product with many advantages and certain insignificant drawbacks, but should be considered before purchasing.
-- Final APH Networks Numeric Rating is 7.0/10
Please note that the APH Networks Numeric Rating system is based off our proprietary guidelines in the Review Focus, and should not be compared to other publications.
The Acasis TBU405ProM1 is a high-performance 40Gbps Thunderbolt SSD enclosure offering solid hardware controllers, tool-free installation, and excellent heat dissipation.
