I guess I will try the docking station, at this point it seems to be the best thing available. :-\
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I just don't want to risk it running a boot drive off it without power, everyone has me freaked out
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Thunderbolt 2.5" HD (SSD) Enclosure for new iMac?
- Thread starter shenan1982
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I guess I will try the docking station, at this point it seems to be the best thing available. :-\
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I just don't want to risk it running a boot drive off it without power, everyone has me freaked out
It's best to use a Thunderbolt enclosure for an SSD, because you can enable TRIM over TB but not over USB 3.0
I've been using the Delock 42490 for a few weeks now and I love it. You can buy it on Amazon US for around $100. It is aluminum, AC-powered, extremely light, compact and quite speedy. It is based on the ASMedia chipset, not Intel and thus the lower prices.
+1 on this sentiment.
Au contraire. The Thunderbolt controller is by Intel. The PCIe to SATA bridge is ASMedia.
Keep your eyes open for refurbished LaCie Rugged Drives with both USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt. Here are some 1TB ones at MacMall for $119 (vs $199 new):
http://www.macmall.com/p/LaCie-External-Hard-Drives/product~DPNo~9597442~pdp.icbeahb
Pull out the HDD and stick in your own Samsung or Micron/Crucial SSD.
And you get a USB 3.0 interface, too, in addition to the Thunderbolt.
LaCie Outlet has the 256GB SSD refurb for $219:
http://www.lacie.com/us/products/clearance/products/?id=10007
Both come with Thunderbolt and USB 3.0 cables.
No need to get freaked out by bus-power. The power spec is quite tight for Thunderbolt computers and devices. If wall power is important, be sure to look for dual-port devices. The Delock is single-port.
Oh, and the Delock doesn't come with a Thunderbolt cable, so in the end, it's more expensive.
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Touché. I don't claim to be an electrical engineer. I was just referring to the fact on the specifications page at Delock it says:
Specification
• Chipset: Asmedia
Thanks for the correction. My point was that the introduction of these new enclosures using the Asmedia controllers (apparently a division of Asus), has finally allowed the prices to come down somewhat.
It is sold in a package with a Delock Thunderbolt cable here for about $30 more but I just bought a Sumitomo 30cm cable separately (that's all I need) for $20.
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Again, I profess my ignorance on the engineering aspects of Thunderbolt enclosure design. I just wonder why Delock would have added an AC adapter if they didn't think it was necessary. It is very light and compact as previously mentioned, and they also include a carrying case so they are clearly marketing it towards travelers. I assume they would have made it bus-powered if they felt it feasible.
I think the wall power restriction is to insure that the enclosure will work with any available SSD or hard disk drive. The Thunderbolt port only supports 10w of power, which must include all daisy-chained devices and the power consumed by the Thunderbolt cable electronics (notice that the connectors get warm?). Although most users think of SSDs as "low powered" devices, they actually consume relatively large amounts of power ... but for very short periods of time ... as power spikes.
While "bus powered" enclosures sound attractive, I have found them to be somewhat limiting in real-world practice with larger and faster SSD power requirements. There is a reason that most SSD Thunderbolt drives are 256GB or less in capacity or are only available with hard disk drives. I, and others posting here, have had problems with 512GB SSDs in bus-powered enclosures due to high power spikes and apparent device sensitivity to power glitches resulting from those spikes. Hard disks, once spinning, have a pretty constant and low power consumption which seems to work fine in any enclosure. Some of the newer large-capacity SSDs are made with a much lower power technology and seem to work in bus-powered enclosures, but they don't have the high speed performance of devices such as the Samsung 840 Pro and equivalent SSD modules built with older faster technology.
It is unfortunate that the Delock enclosure, being wall powered, doesn't have dual passthrough Thunderbolt ports. The lack of the expansion port is something you will always see on bus-powered enclosures as they can't provide the necessary power for downstream devices ... so they simply eliminate the possibility by having only the single port.
Thanks for the explanation on the AC power. Now that you've pointed it out, I agree that the lack of a pass-through port is definitely a shame for those seeking to daisy-chain devices. Perhaps it's another reason why the enclosure is relatively cheap in comparison to competing products. At least they didn't cheap out altogether and not use AC at all. I am using a 500GB Samsung 840 EVO SSD in it.
I still have another Thunderbolt port on my iMac that's just sitting empty at the moment. I realize that everyone's needs there are different though.
The Rugged Thunderbolt/USB 3.0 is quite easy to take apart. That orange rubber wrap around easily comes off - not glued at all. Inside is a metal/plastic case with standard Phillips head screws, concealing a 9.5mm 2.5" SATA drive.
Couldn't be easier.
As for what to put inside?
LaCie has HDD configs up to 2TB, and SSD up to 256GB. I've seen Samsung, Sandisk, Toshiba, and Micron inside. Stay away from anything larger as they typically draw too much power after heavy operation which could lead to data loss. I've got Micron C500 inside mine.
Oh wow, that's awesome! I'm going to get one very soon. Together with a Samsung 840 EVO
Thanks!
So here we are, 3½ years later, and there are evidently still no reasonably priced single-drive TB enclosures available to hold my Sammy 1TB 850 Pro. When Googling 'ThunderBolt Enclosures', all that shows up is enclosures with a drive already mounted in it, multi-drive Raid enclosures, or el-cheapo USB3 enclosures. I'm not a happy camper! Not even demanding TB2, I'd be happy just with TB1, but nope, can't do apparently.
Going to open up my LaCie TB drive that came with a 5400 HDD, and see if I can mount that 1TB Sammy SSD in there..... Wish me luck.
I have been using LaCie "Rugged" Thunderbolt/USB3.0 enclosures which I buy as "reconditioned" with a 1TB hard disk for around $100.
It is easy to slip off the orange "life-boat" and open the case to replace the hard disk with a SSD. You can leave the orange ring off if desired. They are working great for me as external Windows boot drives on my iMacs and as portable library transfer/storage drives since they have both interfaces and can be used with all generations of my Mac computers which have different interfaces available. I repurpose the hard disk removed from the enclosure.
It is easy to slip off the orange "life-boat" and open the case to replace the hard disk with a SSD. You can leave the orange ring off if desired. They are working great for me as external Windows boot drives on my iMacs and as portable library transfer/storage drives since they have both interfaces and can be used with all generations of my Mac computers which have different interfaces available. I repurpose the hard disk removed from the enclosure.
It's good to hear that this actually works. I wasn't sure, some of those interfaces are custom designed, and work only with certain drives.... I will now definitely go ahead as planned, and afterwards stick that 5400 drive (used only a few times) in an el-cheapo USB3 enclosure for back-up purposes. Thanks for the insight!
$85 (+ shipping & thunderbolt cable). This is the only official distributor in the US. I ordered from them last year without any issues.
http://www.synchrotech.com/products...sd-drive-external-enclosure-delock-42510.html
http://www.synchrotech.com/products...sd-drive-external-enclosure-delock-42510.html
Richdmoore
Will the enclosure work with just bus power or are you required to use the included power adaptor? I could not tell from the web site link & no user manual was available.
You have to use the power adapter. I use mine on a 2011 iMac, wall power supply is fine with a stationary computer.
Thunderbolt certification process will not certify "empty" bus powered chassis.
Buying refurbished LaCie Rugged or similar from others with HDD or SSD inside is only real option.
I have had no issues with any 9mm or 7mm drive in the LaCie Rugged. Watch various internet resellers, as well as eBay. HDD or SSD. For SSD, I've used Toshiba, Micron, SanDisk, and my favorite, Samsung.
Buying refurbished LaCie Rugged or similar from others with HDD or SSD inside is only real option.
I have had no issues with any 9mm or 7mm drive in the LaCie Rugged. Watch various internet resellers, as well as eBay. HDD or SSD. For SSD, I've used Toshiba, Micron, SanDisk, and my favorite, Samsung.
Here's one of mine.
I use a Lo-Tech mounting method ... a couple of adhesive velcro dots.
![iMac attached disk drive.jpg]( "iMac attached disk drive.jpg")
I use a Lo-Tech mounting method ... a couple of adhesive velcro dots.
