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spinstorm

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Sep 14, 2007
1,619
146
As I said in the title - I hate having to use a separate power cable for an external HDD.

Does USB3 and Thunderbolt need separate power?

I'm after a cheap 2TB backup HD that doesn't need separate power.
 

WilliamG

macrumors G3
Mar 29, 2008
9,920
3,800
Seattle
As I said in the title - I hate having to use a separate power cable for an external HDD.

Does USB3 and Thunderbolt need separate power?

I'm after a cheap 2TB backup HD that doesn't need separate power.

If you buy something like the Western Digital MyBook 2TB 2.5" USB 3.0 drive, then no you don't need power. Very few, if any, laptop drives need power connected via Thunderbolt or USB 3.0.

I've been using that above 2TB drive with no problems, and also two Thunderbolt SSDs. No power cables.
 

Arman

macrumors regular
Aug 27, 2008
204
1
SoCal
No not if they are running SSD or laptop drives within. However, larger capacity drives which use 3.5" desktop drives will need external power.

Example here
 

halfbelgian

macrumors member
Jan 31, 2009
64
0
Winnipeg, Canada
not this one, 1TB though

HA384
http://store.apple.com/ca/product/H...usb-30-thunderbolt-series-hard-drive?fnode=5f
 

Apple Corps

macrumors 68030
Apr 26, 2003
2,575
542
California
Some do, some don't.

There have been reports that some ssds running off bus power perform at less speed than if operating from a powered enclosure.
 
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