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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →A scratch disk is temporary storage an application uses when RAM is not enough for the work in progress. Photoshop still supports scratch disks in 2026, and a second drive can make sense for sustained, storage-heavy creative work—but a separate SSD is not a universal requirement, and ordinary scratch use is not proven to quickly wear out a main drive.
What a scratch disk does
Adobe describes Photoshop scratch disks as hard drives or SSDs used for temporary storage when computer RAM is insufficient for current operations. They provide working space; they are not a replacement for RAM or a backup of your project files.
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Photoshop can use more than one scratch drive, and Adobe says to order them by priority with the fastest drives first. That makes a dedicated drive an available workflow choice, not a mandatory configuration.
Does Photoshop scratch use wear out an SSD?
SSD NAND has finite write endurance, but that does not mean a drive is destroyed when it reaches its published endurance figure. TBW, or terabytes written, is a manufacturer rating for the total amount of data written under defined conditions. DWPD expresses the number of full-drive writes per day over a warranty period. These ratings help compare products; they are not a countdown to sudden failure. Kingston’s 2024 explanation of TBW and DWPD also makes clear that these are ways to express rated endurance.
#1 Best Overall
- Get NVMe solid state performance with up to 1050MB/s read and 1000MB/s write speeds in a portable, high-capacity drive(1) (Based on internal testing; performance may be lower depending on host device & other factors. 1MB=1,000,000 bytes.)
- Up to 3-meter drop protection and IP65 water and dust resistance mean this tough drive can take a beating(3) (Previously rated for 2-meter drop protection and IP55 rating. Now qualified for the higher, stated specs.)
- Use the handy carabiner loop to secure it to your belt loop or backpack for extra peace of mind.
- Help keep private content private with the included password protection featuring 256‐bit AES hardware encryption.(3)
- Easily manage files and automatically free up space with the SanDisk Memory Zone app.(5). Non-Operating Temperature -20°C to 85°C
Actual endurance depends on the drive and workload. Micron notes that internal write amplification can add NAND activity beyond data sent by the host, and that workload conditions affect results. Host writes therefore cannot simply be treated as a universal measure of a drive’s internal NAND writes. The available manufacturer information does not establish a typical Photoshop scratch-write rate or show that ordinary use quickly wears out a system SSD. Micron’s discussion of SSD endurance and workload explains why a single wear estimate does not fit every user.
When a separate scratch drive makes sense
Consider a separate drive if your creative work regularly produces substantial temporary-storage demand, your system drive is short on free space, or you want to allocate sustained write-heavy work to a drive selected for that workload. A second drive may also help organize storage, but it should not be assumed to make Photoshop faster or extend the life of the system SSD: the sources do not provide comparative benchmarks that establish either result for every setup.
Rank #2
- MADE FOR THE MAKERS: Create; Explore; Store; The T7 Portable SSD delivers fast speeds and durable features to back up any endeavor; Build your video editing empire, file your photographs or back up your blogs all in an instant
- SHARE IDEAS IN A FLASH: Don’t waste a second waiting and spend more time doing; The T7 is embedded with PCIe NVMe technology that brings fast read and write speeds up to 1,050/1,000 MB/s¹, making it almost twice as fast as the T5
- ALWAYS MAKE THE SAVE: Compact design with massive capacity; With capacities up to 4TB, save exactly what you need to your drive – from large working files to game data and everything in between
- ADAPTS TO EVERY NEED: Whether using a PC or mobile phone, count on the T7 for extensive compatibility²; It’s a true team player when it comes to heavy-duty application usage or file-saving
- HI RESOLUTION VIDEO RECORDING: Record Ultra High Resolution (4K 60fs) videos directly onto the T7 Portable SSD with your favorite camera or mobile devices; Supports iPhone 15 Pro Res 4K at 60fps video and more³
Before buying, compare the things that determine whether the drive suits your actual machine and work:
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- Workload and scratch-space demand: consider how often your applications need temporary space and how much room your projects require.
- Capacity and free space: make sure there is adequate room for scratch data as well as your other files.
- Compatibility: confirm your computer supports the drive’s form factor and interface.
- Endurance and warranty: check the specific model’s TBW or DWPD rating and warranty terms.
- Sustained performance and cost: match these to your workflow rather than assuming a particular interface guarantees a noticeable improvement.
A broad category such as a 2TB NVMe SSD is not, by itself, a recommendation. Micron’s 3500 series specification provides a model-specific example of a 2TB PCIe Gen4 NVMe drive; compatibility, warranty, availability, and current specifications still need checking for any purchase.
Rank #3
- Solid state performance with up to 800MB/s read speeds in a portable drive. (Based on internal testing; performance may be lower depending on host device, interface, usage conditions and other factors. 1MB=1,000,000 bytes.)
- Back up your content and memories on a storage solution that fits seamlessly into your mobile lifestyle.
- Take it with you on your adventures—up to two-meter drop protection means this durable drive can take a beating. (Based on internal testing.)
- Secure it to your belt loop or backpack for extra peace of mind thanks to the tough rubber hook.
- From Sandisk, a brand professional photographers trust to take on assignments.
How published endurance figures differ
Endurance figures vary by model and capacity, and the conditions behind the rating matter. Micron’s December 2023 technical specification for its 3500 SSD Series lists the following total-bytes-written ratings. It validated them with the drive 90% full, volatile write cache enabled, and a defined mix of sequential and random access sizes; materially different workloads can produce different results. See Micron’s 3500 SSD Series technical specification.
| Micron 3500 capacity | Listed endurance |
|---|---|
| 512 GB | 300 TB written |
| 1 TB | 600 TB written |
| 2 TB | 1,200 TB written |
These are Micron 3500 ratings, not a rule that every SSD of the same capacity has the same endurance. Kingston’s 2024 explainer gives a separate illustrative example: a 1.92TB SSD rated at 3,504 TBW, and a 7.68TB SSD rated at 14,016 TBW over five years, equivalent to 1 DWPD. Those examples explain the metrics; they are not recommendations for a consumer scratch drive. Kingston’s explainer sets out the examples and definitions.
Rank #4
- Note: Magsafe is not available in this version
- High-speed Data Transfer: Lexar external SSD ES3 supports USB 3.2 Gen 2 up to 1050MB/s read and 1000MB/s write to transfer files fast for more efficient work. (Performance may be lower if not supporting USB 3.2 Gen 2 on Mac and other systems)
- Wide Compatibility: Lexar Portable SSD ES3 compatibility with iPhone 17 series (Not supported on iPhone 14 and older models), Android mobile devices, laptops, cameras, Xbox X|S, PS4, PS5, gaming console, and more
- On The Go: Lexar external solid state drive ES3's thin, stylish, and durable design, weighs 42g and is only 10.5mm thick, making it smaller than a card and easily fits in your pocket. It comes with a Type-C cable for plug-and-play convenience
- Data Safety First: Lexar SSD ES3 includes Lexar DataShieldTM 256-bit AES encryption software to protect files
Set Photoshop’s scratch-disk priority
If you already have a second drive and want Photoshop to use it, select it in the application’s scratch-disk settings and put the fastest available drive first, following Adobe’s guidance.
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- On Windows: open Edit > Preferences > Scratch Disks.
- On macOS: open Photoshop > Settings > Scratch Disks.
- Select the drives you want Photoshop to use, then arrange their priority with the arrow buttons. Adobe instructs users to put the fastest drives first.
Adobe’s setup guidance was last updated February 23, 2026. Menu wording can vary by Photoshop version, so consult Adobe’s current scratch-disk instructions if the path differs in your installation.
Best Value
- UP TO 5X FASTER THAN OLD-SCHOOL PORTABLE HARD DRIVES(4). Transfer large files quickly with read speeds up to 1000 MB/s(2), so you spend less time waiting and more time creating.
- DURABLE DESIGN. With no moving parts and drop protection up to 2 meters(3), help your files stay protected on the go.
- POCKET-SIZED PORTABILITY. Slim and lightweight enough to fit in your pocket or bag without adding bulk.
- SPACE FOR MODERN FILES. Store photos, videos, and AI-generated edits with fast, reliable performance.
- USB-C READY. Plug in and start transferring instantly, no drivers or setup needed.
Keep endurance separate from backup planning
A TBW or DWPD rating addresses rated write endurance under specified conditions; it is not a guarantee against sudden drive failure and does not protect files. Keep separate backups of important projects regardless of whether Photoshop uses one drive or several.
Quick Recap
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