External SSD Thunderbolt? Best Model?

[MacProFCP]

I am a Pro Video editor. I use Final Cut, Aperture, and Photoshop. I am looking for a blazingly fast SSD hard drive to connect to my 2013 Mac Pro. I do not want to upgrade my internal HD, as I keep the system separate from my documents.

Thunderbolt enclosure with SSD seems like the way to go, but am open to USB 3.0 - Looking for suggestions.

Notes:
1) This is for mission critical documents, and needs to be reliable.
2) Of course it will be backed up with Time Machine...
3) I expect this to run around $1,000.
4) Prefer 2 TB unit
5) My system is set up as follows:
2013 Mac Pro with 512 SSD, 64 GB ram
External 1 USB3: Documents, music, finished movies, photos, etc. - THIS IS THE DRIVE I AM UPGRADING

External 2 TB: Final Cut Pro
External 3 TB: Backup for External 2
External 4 USB3: Time Machine for internal HD and External Drive 1
External 5 USB3: Raw video files for long term storage
External 6 USB3: Backup for External 5
2 Dell 4k Displays, 1 Dell 1080 Display

 

[Synchro3]

USB 3.0 has no TRIM support regarding SSD's. Thunderbolt has.

I propose LaCie Little Big Disk.

 

[rw3]

The LaCie Little Big Disk will max at about 450MB/s. See this thread: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/lacie-2big-thunderbolt-series-6tb-review-custom-specs.1339916/

Now before you say anything about this being the 2big, they use the exact same chipset between the 2big and Little Big Disk.

I would go with the OWC ThunderBay 4 Mini. http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/Thunderbolt/External-Drive/OWC/ThunderBay-4-mini

 

[williamh]

BlackMagic's multidock 2 might be a great solution for SSD via thunderbolt 2. I'm using the multidock2 with 4 SSD's and they perform very well.

 

[hfg]

The LaCie Little Big Disk will max at about 450MB/s. See this thread: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/lacie-2big-thunderbolt-series-6tb-review-custom-specs.1339916/

Now before you say anything about this being the 2big, they use the exact same chipset between the 2big and Little Big Disk.

I would go with the OWC ThunderBay 4 Mini. http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/Thunderbolt/External-Drive/OWC/ThunderBay-4-mini

I suspect the Lacie Little Big Disk suggestion was for this version rated at 1375MB/s:
http://www.lacie.com/products/mobile-storage/little-big-disk-thunderbolt-2/


The ThunderBay 4 mini is also a good choice ... and on sale today for $429 with SoftRAID5 software:
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/TB4MSR0GB/

OWC also has a Cyber Monday deal on the full size ThunderBay 4 with SoftRAID5 software for $425.
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/TB2SRKIT0GB/

 

[MacProFCP]

I like the idea of the enclosures, but I'm having trouble finding REAL SSDs. Everyone seems to have SSHD.
This is mission critical and needs to be reliable.
The Lacie Drive is only 1GB- not large enough.
Please keep sending suggestions.

 

[AidenShaw]

I like the idea of the enclosures, but I'm having trouble finding REAL SSDs. Everyone seems to have SSHD.
This is mission critical and needs to be reliable.
The Lacie Drive is only 1GB- not large enough.
Please keep sending suggestions.

Suggestion: "Time Machine"

Even SSDs fail - backups are still important.

 

[MMcCraryNJ]

I'm still waiting for a TB enclosure for Apple's PCIe SSDs. OWC has a USB 3.0 enclosure, but as mentioned, no TRIM support. Would be great to put my stock 256GB stick in a small enclosure

 

[BeatCrazy]

I'm still waiting for a TB enclosure for Apple's PCIe SSDs. OWC has a USB 3.0 enclosure, but as mentioned, no TRIM support. Would be great to put my stock 256GB stick in a small enclosure

I would be interested in this option as well.

 

[MacProFCP]

Suggestion: "Time Machine"

Even SSDs fail - backups are still important.

That's obvious. My issue is that I want a drive that is not prone to failure. Thankfully, I have only experienced a few of these in my life because I only buy reliable drives.

 

[MacProFCP]

I'm still waiting for a TB enclosure for Apple's PCIe SSDs. OWC has a USB 3.0 enclosure, but as mentioned, no TRIM support. Would be great to put my stock 256GB stick in a small enclosure

Yes. I am very willing to get the OWC 2 TB upgrade for $1,500 but there is no Thunderbolt PCIe enclosure that I could find that would work with a stock MacPro type connection.

I am hoping someone can point me to a real SSD / Thunderbolt option at 2 GB. Even at a cost of $1,500.

 

[nigelbb]

I'm still waiting for a TB enclosure for Apple's PCIe SSDs. OWC has a USB 3.0 enclosure, but as mentioned, no TRIM support. Would be great to put my stock 256GB stick in a small enclosure

TRIM support can be provided by Disk Sensei (the new improved TRIM Enabler) that uses Apple's own supported API in Yosemite & El Capitain

 

[Mago]

No 2TB TB ssd on the market unless you go DIY. I if you go DIY the best alternative I could suggest you is either get an 256 gb akiito thunder (2.5 or m2) take apart and upgrade with 2 1tb ssd, and also if you have deep pockets (as many here with an Mac pro) you could get an external pcie doc from akiito (or owc) and install an Intel m.2 solution at about 2.4 tb will be expensive about 2500 but no other solution will be faster

 

[MacProFCP]

From what I understand, there is no current 2 TB SSD drive available. So I am looking for two 1 TB RELIABLE SSD drives that I can install in a single enclosure.

 

[AidenShaw]

From what I understand, there is no current 2 TB SSD drive available. So I am looking for two 1 TB RELIABLE SSD drives that I can install in a single enclosure.

http://www.neweggbusiness.com/produ...07167 600038497 50001077&isnodeid=1&name=2 tb

 

[MacProFCP]

http://www.neweggbusiness.com/product/productlist.aspx?submit=ene&n=100007167 600038497 50001077&isnodeid=1&name=2 tb
View attachment 604077

Are Samsung drives reliable? I haven't heard a lot about them for Mac use.

 

[Weaselboy]

Are Samsung drives reliable? I haven't heard a lot about them for Mac use.

Yep... lots of forum members here use them and they work just fine.

 

[AidenShaw]

Are Samsung drives reliable? I haven't heard a lot about them for Mac use.

The Pro comes with a 10 year warranty, it that helps your decision.

 

[AidenShaw]

The Pro comes with a 10 year warranty, it that helps your decision.

Noticed in a review on http://storagereview.com that the EVO is rated at 150TB lifetime writes, and the PRO at 300 TB.