Fusion Drive - 5400rpm or 7200rpm for 27"?

[unknownx]

If I buy a Fusion Drive for iMac 27"

Will it be SSD + 5400rpm, Or SSD + 7200rpm ?

Will it be different from the 21,5 fusion drive version ?

[xgman]

The standard in the 27" is 7200, so I assume fusions will work with that.

[iLondoner]

Think of fusion as being an SSD add-on to whatever is in the box.

So if you have a 21-in model, the hard drive will remain 5400rpm, and on the 27-in model it will be the 7200rpm drive.

[unknownx]

Okay so basically you just buy a 128gb ssd disc..
Should be fun to see what the price will be in Sweden

[iLondoner]

2450 kr

Hint: same as the Mac mini price

[Designer Dale]

Someone needs to create a sticky called The Truth About Fusion.

The ssd used in the new iMacs isn't a standard over the counter disk style device that can be had at a discount almost everywhere. It's a "blade" style device like the one used in the Retnia MacBook Pro. It's going to be an easy swap to a larger one if the glass isn't glued on, but you just can't drop a generic ssd in there. Go to macsales.com and click on the SSD tab. Look at the ssd upgrade for the rMBP to see what I'm talking about.

When iFixit does their teardown, this will me more obvious.

Dale

[hfg]

Published info here indicates the 27" iMac has a 7200rpm 3.5" hard disk whereas the 21" iMac has a 5400rpm 2.5" hard disk (there aren't any 7200rpm 2.5" 1TB drives at this time, only 5400rpm). The SSD is a blade type device as used in the laptops and sold by OWC.

Looking forward to a iFixit report on whether either drive is upgradeable, especially if all the parts are there if the iMac wasn't ordered with one or the other drives (i.e. hard disk mounting bracket and cable).

EDIT: there is one 7200rpm drive from HGST Travelstar ... sorry.

[rw3]

Originally Posted by hfg

(there aren't any 7200rpm 2.5" 1TB drives at this time, only 5400rpm).

Incorrect.

[hfg]

Originally Posted by rw3

Incorrect.

link please ... i would like to put one in my Mini.

The largest I have found are 750GB.


AhHa ... I searched some more and found one from HGSt Travelstar ... I stand corrected.

[rw3]

http://www.frys.com/product/7325974?...H:MAIN_RSLT_PG
http://www.jr.com/hgst/pe/HIT_0S0356...ductTabDetails
http://www.microcenter.com/product/4...rnal_Drive_Kit

I tested one in a LaCie Rugged Thunderbolt and it is about 20MB/s faster over the 5400RPM equivalent.

[iLondoner]

Originally Posted by Designer Dale

The ssd used in the new iMacs isn't a standard over the counter disk style device...

Big difference between "Think of fusion as being an SSD add-on..." and "The fusion IS an SSD add-on."

[hfg]

Originally Posted by rw3

http://www.frys.com/product/7325974?...H:MAIN_RSLT_PG
http://www.jr.com/hgst/pe/HIT_0S0356...ductTabDetails
http://www.microcenter.com/product/4...rnal_Drive_Kit

I tested one in a LaCie Rugged Thunderbolt and it is about 20MB/s faster over the 5400RPM equivalent.

nice ... none of the links mentioned the height, but I found one feedback comment that indicated it was 9.5mm ... is that correct? I don't think anything taller will fit in my dual drive Mini.

[rw3]

9.5mm

[drambuie]

Originally Posted by Designer Dale

Someone needs to create a sticky called The Truth About Fusion.

The ssd used in the new iMacs isn't a standard over the counter disk style device that can be had at a discount almost everywhere. It's a "blade" style device like the one used in the Retnia MacBook Pro. It's going to be an easy swap to a larger one if the glass isn't glued on, but you just can't drop a generic ssd in there. Go to macsales.com and click on the SSD tab. Look at the ssd upgrade for the rMBP to see what I'm talking about.

When iFixit does their teardown, this will me more obvious.

Dale

If the chassis could be opened, then one could replace the 1TB HDD with a 512GB SSD, or wait until 1TB SSDs are available. If the HDD part of a fusion drive was replaced with a 512GB SSD, then you would have a 640GB, all SSD, fusion drive.

One thing I'm wondering about is, if there would be extra wear on the 128GB SSD with the constant swapping in and out of large application and data segments.

[iLondoner]

Originally Posted by drambuie

One thing I'm wondering about is, if there would be extra wear on the 128GB SSD with the constant swapping in and out of large application and data segments.

MacBook Air notebooks are totally SSD, ranging from 128GB to 512GB.

[unknownx]

Originally Posted by iLondoner

2450 kr

Hint: same as the Mac mini price

Doesn't have to be the same on iMac duo, Hope not..
128gb ssd goes for ~900:- SEK, Paying 2450:- SEK will definitely make me think twice before ordering

[drambuie]

Originally Posted by iLondoner

MacBook Air notebooks are totally SSD, ranging from 128GB to 512GB.

There is a difference. The contents of the MBA SSDs are generally location static, and not being swapped to and from an HDD, depending on usage. The only thing that stays on the fusion drive's SSD is the OS itself. Of course, using 100% SSD storage is the best solution. Fusion is only a stopgap measure, until large capacity SSDs come down in price.

It would be better if the user could pin selected apps and files to the SSD.

[iLondoner]

If you use the arguement that there's a danger associated with a lot of data being swapped between the SSD and HDD, then the weak point in that setup will still be the HDD.

Totally SSD would of course be preferable to Fusion, but I don't see this as a stopgap technology. I'm just about to order a 3TB setup and I don't see 3TB SSDs becoming affordable any time soon.