does bootcamp use CPU?

Running Windows via Boot Camp does use the CPU in the same way as running Windows on any other computer - natively. It does not add usage to the CPU just by running Windows via Boot Camp.
And yes to the "SSD via FW" question. SSDs are just a storage device like HDDs are, they are just faster, but they can be used in the same ways as HDDs can be used with.

qbaser said:

p.s. the SDD enclosure is a Datatale ATS11N.

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Greetings,

Your SSD (and even your internal hard drive) are designed to be connected to an eSATA bus, which has a transfer rate (theoretical maximum) of 3 or 6 Gbps (that's 3 or 6 Gigabits per second, depending on the type of eSATA bus). In order to use the drive externally, you have to put it in some sort of enclosure -- a USB, Firewire or eSATA enclosure (if the Mac supported external eSATA -- which it doesn't). A Firewire 800 bus has a theoretical maximum transfer rate of 800 Megabits per second. So, your experience is about right -- 800 Mbps times 3 = 2.4 Gbps -- about the speed of the internal hard drive connected to the eSATA bus.

Speed isn't just about the device itself -- it's about everything in between the device and the processor. Think of it like driving a superfast car on a winding road. The car is capable of driving very, very fast, but the road conditions don't allow you to go very fast at all...

With the new Macbook Pros, the Thunderbolt port is capable of 10 Gbps -- that's a real step up -- but you will have to wait a bit for enclosures and cables that will take advantage of that level of throughput. Connecting to that port will remove the bus speed as the bottleneck.

S

@ The OP

You might wanna consider selling your current SSD and buying a express card SSD instead, like this one: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003U4BHI2/ref=mp_s_a_1?qid=1303305117&sr=8-1
They are fairly pricy, but its worth it!! The express card slot has a theoretical max throughput of 4.8 gbit/s. Plus that SSD will literally be like a internal one. It wont stick out the side, and no cables like the one you have now. This is a link to youtube of someone who installed one of these. Just to guve you an impression of the speed http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5irgXU_5XUE

qbaser said:

Me again. OK. So I've now done a full format on the SSD and it seems to be fast on the speedtest, but still seemingly about 20 Mbps slower than the internal drive. (see screenshots).

I note that the SSD seems more constant though, with 0.4ms access time, compared to the 17 Ms access time on the 5400 internal drive.

So based on these results, which drive should I use for my cubase audio stuff now?

Sorry, Im not up to speed on the technology, just looking for experienced advice. thanks again

Al

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Why don't you switch the drives? Put the SSD inside the MBP and put the 5400 HDD in the firewire enclosure. You'll get the speed and still have storage. http://www.ifixit.com has instructions on how to open stuff up. It should be very easy to do. P.S. You'll just have to switch the data on the drives too, so you have your OS on the SSD and storage stuff on the HDD.