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Seagate Barracuda Fast SSD 500GB External Solid State Drive Portable – USB-C USB 3.0 for PC, Mac, Xbox & PS4-3-Year Rescue Service (STJM500400)

Seagate Barracuda Fast SSD 500GB External Solid State Drive Portable

Status: Seagate Barracuda Fast SSD 500GB External Solid… (500GB portable SSD USB 3.2 Gen 1): Unavailable on Amazon as of . SpecPicks has no in-stock 500GB portable SSD USB 3.2 Gen 1 on file; an Amazon search for "500GB portable SSD USB 3.2 Gen 1" lists current offers with the same specs. eBay sellers may still list this model new or used.

Bottom line: The Seagate Barracuda Fast SSD 500GB External Solid State Drive Portable: Read speeds up to 540MB/s, several times a portable HDD; main trade-off: 500GB fills fast if you store modern 100GB+ game installs.

Unavailable on Amazon as of

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Mike Perry — Hardware researcher since 2014. For external drives and portable storage, synthesises manufacturer specs and independent reviews rather than first-hand lab testing. Core beat: GPU performance across gaming, rendering, and local-LLM inference.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • ✓ Read speeds up to 540MB/s, several times a portable HDD
  • ✓ Reversible USB-C plug goes in either orientation
  • ✓ Works with PC, Mac, Xbox and PS4 out of the box
  • ✓ 3-Year Rescue Data Recovery Service included

Cons

  • ✗ 500GB fills fast if you store modern 100GB+ game installs
  • ✗ Usable capacity is under 500GB after formatting
  • ✗ 540MB/s trails NVMe externals that hit 1,000MB/s+
  • ✗ PS4/Xbox use is external storage only, not a system drive swap

Manufacturer description

The Seagate BarraCuda Fast SSD 500GB is a pocket-sized external solid state drive built for people who move large files between machines all day. Seagate rates it at read speeds up to 540MB/s over USB-C, which is the difference between waiting on a 4K project folder and simply dragging it across. The reversible USB-C connector plugs in either way, and USB 3.0 compatibility means it also works with older ports on a PC, Mac, Xbox, or PS4 without an adapter hunt. Boot games from the drive, offload a growing photo library, or stream stored video to your laptop without the stutter you get from a…

SpecPicks Verdict

SpecPicks scored Seagate Barracuda Fast SSD 500GB External Solid State Drive Portable using a rating × review-volume × price-fit model applied to published specs and reviews across the external storage category. Compare with similarly-priced alternatives in the external storage category before committing. Judge it on the specification table and the price rather than on sentiment: check the figures that decide your use case, then put it side-by-side with two or three close alternatives in the Compare tool before clicking through.

Common buyer scenarios for external storage of this kind: matching it to an existing build, replacing a failing part, or upgrading from a previous-generation equivalent. Check the spec table below against your current setup — particularly socket / form-factor / power-rating fields — and confirm compatibility on the retailer's listing before purchase. Prices and stock are set by the retailer and may have moved since this page was last updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How fast is the Seagate BarraCuda Fast SSD 500GB?

Seagate rates it at up to 540MB/s, which is USB 3.0/SATA-class SSD speed. Real-world transfer rates depend on your port, cable, and file sizes.

Does it work with PS4 and Xbox?

Yes. Seagate lists PC, Mac, Xbox, and PS4 as compatible devices. Consoles use it as external game storage; check your console's storage settings for setup steps.

Do I get the full 500GB of storage?

No. Seagate states the available storage capacity may vary, since formatting and file-system overhead reserve part of the raw 500GB.

What cable does it use, and do I need an adapter for USB-A?

It uses a reversible USB-C connector and supports USB 3.0. Check the product listing for exactly which cables ship in the box before ordering.

What warranty or data recovery coverage comes with it?

The STJM500400 includes Seagate's 3-Year Rescue Data Recovery Service. Confirm current warranty terms on the product listing before purchase.

Key Features

  • compatible devices: Laptop Desktop
  • The available storage capacity may vary.

Full Specifications

BrandSeagate
ColorBlack
Model NameBarracuda Fast SSD
Read Speed540 megabytes_per_second
Form FactorPortable
Media Speed540 megabytes_per_second
ConnectivityUSB-C
Model NumberSTJM500400
CompatibilityPC, PS4, Xbox, Mac
Built-In MediaBarraCuda Fast SSD 500GB USB 3.1 TYPE C
Item Type NameSeagate 8TB Expansion Desktop External Hard Drive HDD – USB 3.0 for PC Laptop (STEB8000100)
Hard-Drive Size500 GB
Mfr Part NumberSTJM500400
Number of Items1
Special FeaturePortable
Hardware PlatformMac, PC
Installation TypeExternal Hard Drive
Compatible DevicesDesktop, Laptop
Data Transfer Rate90 megabits_per_second
Enclosure MaterialElectronic components, Plastic
Full listing titleSeagate Barracuda Fast SSD 500GB External Solid State Drive Portable – USB-C USB 3.0 for PC, Mac, Xbox & PS4-3-Year Rescue Service (STJM500400)

Ready to buy?

Amazon shows no buyable offer for Seagate Barracuda Fast SSD 500GB External Solid… at the last check. An Amazon search for "500GB portable SSD USB 3.2 Gen 1" lists current offers. SpecPicks earns a small commission on qualifying purchases — thank you for supporting independent review work.

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