Time Machine drive- worth buying with firewire?

Porsche1209 · Jul 1, 2009, 08:39 PM

I have a question about getting a new backup drive for time machine. It will be for a new macbook pro with a 7200 rpm 500 gb hard drive. Is it worth spending the extra money on an external hard drive that supports Firewire 800? Will it make a big difference with backups? I've been using USB 2.0 external hard drives with my family's computers without any problems, but was wondering what experiences the board has had with speed differences between these two interfaces.

(Note: I plan on enabling filevault on that laptop in case of theft. Let me know if that will significantly affect backups, other than the fact that I will have to be logged out for them to occur.)

MacDawg · Jul 1, 2009, 08:42 PM

I would definitely spring for the Firewire myself

I have the 1 TB Western Digital MyBook with Firewire
I highly recommend it

Woof, Woof - Dawg

Le Big Mac · Jul 1, 2009, 08:47 PM

Worth it. Especially FW800. Not to rehash the arguments, which you can find with a search easily, but for most people FW800 is faster than USB 2.0.

thegoldenmackid · Jul 1, 2009, 08:50 PM

I don't think that is at all necessary for Time Machine, but getting it would sorta be useful in case the drive is used for other purposes...

alphaod · Jul 2, 2009, 03:37 AM

Yes a firewire drive is definitely worth; it's a faster interface. And since the MacBook Pro only has 2 USB ports, using a firewire drive will free up on of those ports.

And I would advise against Filevault—it really sucks.

Jul 1, 2009, 08:39 PM	#1
Porsche1209 macrumors newbie Join Date: Jun 2007	Time Machine drive- worth buying with firewire? I have a question about getting a new backup drive for time machine. It will be for a new macbook pro with a 7200 rpm 500 gb hard drive. Is it worth spending the extra money on an external hard drive that supports Firewire 800? Will it make a big difference with backups? I've been using USB 2.0 external hard drives with my family's computers without any problems, but was wondering what experiences the board has had with speed differences between these two interfaces. (Note: I plan on enabling filevault on that laptop in case of theft. Let me know if that will significantly affect backups, other than the fact that I will have to be logged out for them to occur.) __________________ Leopard Macbook 2.16ghz C2D, after-market 2 GB of ram and 5400rpm 250 GB hard drive. Boot-camps to XP.
	0

Jul 1, 2009, 08:50 PM	#4
thegoldenmackid macrumors 604 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Plano, TX/Winston-Salem, NC	I don't think that is at all necessary for Time Machine, but getting it would sorta be useful in case the drive is used for other purposes... __________________ halfwheel
	0

Jul 2, 2009, 03:37 AM	#5
alphaod macrumors P6 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: 北京 (Beijing)	Yes a firewire drive is definitely worth; it's a faster interface. And since the MacBook Pro only has 2 USB ports, using a firewire drive will free up on of those ports. And I would advise against Filevault—it really sucks. __________________ Mac Pro \| 27" iMac \| 15" MacBook Pro with Retina display \| iPhone 5 \| iPad 3 \| iPad mini
	0

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Will the old (egg shaped) Airport Extreme Base Station work with Time Machine	orvn	Mac Basics and Help	2	Nov 5, 2011 05:02 PM
Backing up with Time Machine at a certain time daily	dtemp	OS X	4	Mar 29, 2011 12:19 PM
Osx reinstall with time machine	falseblackbear	OS X	1	Dec 30, 2010 03:27 PM
Time Machine error with incremental size	Doc.Mac	OS X	0	Dec 3, 2010 10:19 AM

Jul 1, 2009, 08:42 PM	#2
MacDawg Demi-God (Moderator) Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: "Between the Hedges"	I would definitely spring for the Firewire myself I have the 1 TB Western Digital MyBook with Firewire I highly recommend it Woof, Woof - Dawg
	0

Jul 1, 2009, 08:47 PM	#3
Le Big Mac macrumors 68020 Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Washington, DC	Worth it. Especially FW800. Not to rehash the arguments, which you can find with a search easily, but for most people FW800 is faster than USB 2.0.
	0