The TeamGroup PD20 ECO Mini SSD is an offshoot of the PD20 series, with differences in build quality and performance. The ECO moniker is part of TeamGroup’s effort in sustainability, which was first showcased at Computex 2024. The TeamGroup PD20 ECO Mini 1TB portable SSD is a product made from the brand’s commitment to carbon reduction, environmental protection, and sustainability. Let’s see how it compares to other external SSD solutions in the market.
TeamGroup PD20 ECO Mini SSD – A Closer Look
The PD20 ECO Mini SSD’s packaging right off the bat screams sustainability with the green text, tree background, and PCR markings. Every 100,000 units of the PD20 ECO effectively eliminates the use of approximately 42,200 plastic bottles, thanks to the usage of 75% post-consumer recycled plastics.
Staying true to their sustainability cause, you only have the TeamGroup PD20 ECO Mini and USB C-to-C cable inside the packaging.
The PD20 ECO Mini has the same design as the PD20 but with a difference in build materials. Instead of a gunmetal and rugged black rubber on the PD20, you have a mint green and semi-translucent housing on the PD20 ECO mini. The PD20 ECO Mini uses 75% PCR to minimize carbon emissions as part of TeamGroup’s mission to sustainability.
Despite using recycled materials, the PD20 ECO Mini still maintains its IP54 dust and splash resistance from the original PD20 SSD.
The PD20 ECO Mini features a hanging hole design that can be used to attach a strap or carabiner to be used in backpacks as a keychain. The inclusion of the handles makes the PD20 ECO Mini a viable everyday carry and reducing the chance of losing the SSD especially considering its size.
The PCR construction on the TeamGroup PD20 ECO Mini 1TB allows for a waterproof design as it has an IP54 rating. The USB Type-C port has a cover for full water resistance, so there’s a bit of an added step of uncovering the port when using the SSD.
The TeamGroup PD20 ECO Mini measures 75mm x 34mm x 15mm, which is larger compared to our Kingston XS1000R and ADATA SE880 SSD. It’s still relatively small and portable, especially at 22 grams. The added strap hole design more than makes up for its size, thanks to the additional flexibility and durability of the SSD.
TeamGroup PD20 ECO Mini SSD Specifications
| Interface | USB 3.2 Gen 2 x1 Type-C |
| Speed | Up to 1,000MB/s read, 950 MB/s write |
| NAND | 3D |
| Capacities | 1TB, 2TB |
| Dimensions | 75(L) x 34(W) x 15.2(H)mm |
| Weight | 22g |
| Casing Material | 75% Post-Consumer-Recycled Plastic |
| Includes | 1x USB type C to C cable |
| Operating temperature | 0°C~70°C |
| Storage temperature | -40°C~80°C |
| Warranty/Support | Limited 3-year warranty |
Benchmark Setup and Test Methodology
Gadget Pilipinas’ testing philosophy is to provide detail-oriented results as accurately as possible so that our readers can replicate our tests given that these conditions are met. Different benchmarking apps and sequences are used depending on the component or device being tested.
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 9 9950X |
| COOLER | ASUS ROG RYUJIN II 360mm V2 – Noctua NT-H2 Thermal Paste |
| MOTHERBOARD | ASUS ROG Crosshair X670-E HERO |
| MEMORY | Kingston Fury Beast RGB 32GB(2x16GB) 6000 MHz DDR5 |
| GPUs | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 Founders Edition |
| STORAGE | Kingston Renegade 2TB PCI-E Gen4 NVMe SSDD |
| POWER SUPPLY | FSP HYDRO GT PRO 1000W Gold ATX 3.0 |
| OPERATING SYSTEM | Windows 11 Pro Build 22H2 |
We use CapFrameX 1.7.2 Beta as our primary FPS capture and analysis tool for all our gaming benchmarks. The latest build version of Windows 11 Pro and WHQL-certified drivers are used for our benchmarks. Readings such as temperatures and power draws are recorded using HWINFO64, and other relevant software for cross-checking.
For more information read our Benchmark Methodology article.
TeamGroup PD20 ECO SSD Benchmarks
We pit the TeamGroup PD20 ECO External SSD against various portable SSD types. We decided not to include thumb drive benchmarks as we don’t have a 512GB or higher capacity to compare with. The TeamGroup PD20 ECO External SSD is tested against an Orico USB-C 10gbps enclosure paired with a Sabrent Rocket 512GB Gen3 SSD, TeamGroup PD400 512GB SSD, Kingston XS2000 2TB Portable SSD, Kingston XS1000R 2TB Portable SSD, ADATA 1TB SC610 Portable SSD and ADATA SE880 1TB Portable SSD, for reference.
We are currently expanding our SSD benchmark suite with the addition of 3DMark, Procyon, and SSD Slowmark Benchmarks. You may see incomplete DATA compared to our throughput, IOPS, and Access time benchmarks as we are still expanding our database.
THROUGHPUT Performance
Developed by Noriyuki Miyazaki, CrytalDiskMark is a free benchmark tool that is being used by thousands of experts. This tool measures SSD’s sequential read and write speeds. That means how fast files can be read from and written to the drive, usually measured in MB/s.
IOPS Performance
IOPS, or Input/Output Operations Per Second, is a measure of how many inputs or outputs an SSD can perform in a short period. IOPS is a useful parameter to measure how fast it can process small amounts of workload that are similar to real-world usages, such as loading a webpage and launching apps.
ACCESS TIME
Access time or latency is just as crucial as sequential, random, and IOPS for an SSD. It wraps up all the values from the previous performance and shows the SSD’s responsiveness, whether it be small or heavy workloads.
AS SSD’s Copy benchmark simulates copying various file types, namely, ISOs, Games, and applications. Different file types result in different transfer speeds.
TeamGroup PD20 ECO SSD Temperatures
The PD20 ECO Mini is our hottest SSD with a peak temperature of 66°C. That said, 66°C isn’t concerning as far as portable SSD goes, but it’s slightly near the max operating temperature of 70°C. It’s also worth noting that the PD20 ECO Mini is made up of recycled materials, so its enclosure doesn’t double as a heatsink, unlike most aluminum portable SSDs, hence the higher temperatures.
Performance Summary and Conclusion
The TeamGroup PD20 ECO Mini is a budget version of the already existing PD20 SSD with the bonus factor of contributing to the environment with its 75% post-consumer recycled plastics. TeamGroup managed not to sacrifice any aspect of the SSD while achieving its mission to produce an eco-friendly product. Its hanging hole design and IP54 rating make it a much more versatile and portable SSD compared to the rest of our test suite. Its 1,000MB/s read and 950MB/s write speed make it a fast enough SSD for storing files and playing games at a lower price.
At Php 5,999, you’re getting a relatively fast, water-resistant, and highly portable 1TB SSD with the bonus of contributing to saving the planet with its eco-friendly design. That said, its eco-friendly build doesn’t compromise on the overall build quality and performance of the SSD. Unlike most “eco-friendly” products, you’re not paying for a senseless premium on the TeamGroup PD20 ECO Mini External SSD. You’re simply getting a well-rounded portable SSD with the added bonus of reducing carbon emissions as you purchase the product – and that, by far, is a win for the planet, TeamGroup, and the consumer.
Grant is a Financial Management graduate from UST. His passion for gadgets and tech crossed him over in the industry where he could apply his knowledge as an enthusiast and in-depth analytic skills as a Finance Major. His passion allows him to earn at the same time help Gadget Pilipinas' readers in making smart, value-based decisions and purchases with his reviews and guides.
