2017 mbp 15 inch external ssd

[nervosA]

so I just got my brand new 2017 MacBook Pro 15 inch with a 256 gb. Ssd. It really sucks when you drop $2500 on a computer and can’t even use it until you get an external drive. But I guess that’s my own fault.
I produce music so I have a few programs I need to install and a LOT of content including sample libraries; vast instruments etc.
My question is. What are some good external ssd's to get ?
I’m thinking I’ll install the actual programs on my local ssd and use external for everything else

I was looking at the Samsung T3

 

[New_Mac_Smell]

Why didn't you just get a computer with a larger SSD? Is it within the return window? If it is then you'd be miles better exchanging it for the one you need rather than compromising with an external.

If you do want an external though, the Samsung T5 is probably the best value/speed one around at the moment. If you want something just as good as the internal then look for a ThunderBolt 3 one (It'll be on par with the price of the internal one though). The T3 is okay but older technology now and so slower.

 

[ZapNZs]

I agree with New_Mac_Smell 100000000%. For your usage, it sounds like the 256 GB SSD is not a good match at all, especially if you are constantly creating, moving, and modifying large files, since being able to work on a project that lives on the local SSD can be a huge productivity benefit and a huge convenience (it also simplifies the logistics of backups considerably, especially if you make clones of your boot drives and project drives, which IMO is something anyone using a system to make money should be doing or at least considering.)

The Samsung T5 is a great drive, but bear in mind that its speed is only about 1/5th of the MBP's internal SSD. The 1TB T5 is about $400. The 1TB SSD upgrade is about $600. For $200 more, you will get a ton of speed (like 600% faster speed) and convenience, and would then be able to use less expensive HDDs as archival drives for projects that are not active. Further, you could then make your archive drive into NAS, enabling you to access those files from anywhere in the world where you have an Internet connection.

 

[nervosA]

I just got the computer the other day thru B&H. So yes a return is Possible.
A bigger internal drive would definitely be amazing because now I have to wait longer until I get another drive.
I’m dedintely thinking about returning it and saving up a bit more for a bigger drive.
I love macs but the cost is becoming a bit much. This feels like when I had a 16 gb. Iphone. Why even make devices with such a small amount of storage? Honestly, what kind ignorant “Pro” machine has 256 gb. Of storage. ?
Ok I’m done rantin about Apple. I think I may return it and wait a few weeks to get a bigger drive.
But if I do decide to go the external route, is it really that much slower if I get a usb c external.

 

[wlossw]

I just got the computer the other day thru B&H. So yes a return is Possible.
A bigger internal drive would definitely be amazing because now I have to wait longer until I get another drive.
I’m dedintely thinking about returning it and saving up a bit more for a bigger drive.
I love macs but the cost is becoming a bit much. This feels like when I had a 16 gb. Iphone. Why even make devices with such a small amount of storage? Honestly, what kind ignorant “Pro” machine has 256 gb. Of storage. ?
Ok I’m done rantin about Apple. I think I may return it and wait a few weeks to get a bigger drive.
But if I do decide to go the external route, is it really that much slower if I get a usb c external.

It’s about 400% faster with internal vs external USB 3.1 storage.

 

[jerryk]

But if I do decide to go the external route, is it really that much slower if I get a usb c external.

read max - 500 MB/sec vs 3,200 MB/sec. NVME is fast!

 

[ixxx69]

But if I do decide to go the external route, is it really that much slower if I get a usb c external.

It depends what you're using it for... I know you indicated music production, but how do you plan to use the external in conjunction with the internal? E.g. store your projects on the external and work off of that? Or do you need to load your plug-ins off that? What size projects are you working on?

People suggesting the internal is several orders of magnitude faster are technically correct of course, but the question is whether that has any practical value to your usage. The T5 can still reach 500MB/s sustained transfer speeds... i.e. if you're loading or saving a 1GB project file, you're talking a couple seconds vs a second... in fact the CPU might be the bottleneck there rather than the SSD and you'd never even know the difference.

These insanely fast internal SSD speeds really shine for memory management.

That being said, I completely agree with everyone suggesting that it's kind of crazy to buy a brand new computer that doesn't even meet your present requirements... exchange for one with a larger SSD is excellent advice.

 

[nervosA]

It depends what you're using it for... I know you indicated music production, but how do you plan to use the external in conjunction with the internal? E.g. store your projects on the external and work off of that? Or do you need to load your plug-ins off that? What size projects are you working on?

People suggesting the internal is several orders of magnitude faster are technically correct of course, but the question is whether that has any practical value to your usage. The T5 can still reach 500MB/s sustained transfer speeds... i.e. if you're loading or saving a 1GB project file, you're talking a couple seconds vs a second... in fact the CPU might be the bottleneck there rather than the SSD and you'd never even know the difference.

These insanely fast internal SSD speeds really shine for memory management.

That being said, I completely agree with everyone suggesting that it's kind of crazy to buy a brand new computer that doesn't even meet your present requirements... exchange for one with a larger SSD is excellent advice.

Well since the internal is so small my plan was to install the programs I use on the internal drive then install all the sample libraries and content on the external. VST plug-ins would probably be run off the external drive also.
Yes, I realize it is a bit crazy to get a brand new computer that doesn't even meet my needs but these MacBook pro's are insanely expensive and upping the storage is even more insanely expensive. Like I said, my plan was to use an external but I didn't realize it was THAT much slower. This **** is stressing me out. Plus the fact that these things are 100% non upgradable. Damn, I might just return it and get a windows computer. I love Mac and Mac OS but this is getting pretty ridiculous!

 

[treekram]

The internal SSD is indeed very fast but an external SSD would be "fast" as well. If the file(s) you need to process (plug-ins, sample libraries) require processing in order to use it, there may be very little difference, speed-wise, between the internal and external because there may be a bottleneck at the processor. I don't know the answer to this but you may want to go to forums dedicated to music production and ask the question there - whether or not one would have a noticeable difference between a NVMe internal vs. USB external SSD for what you want to do. You may also want to see if you have enough RAM for what you want to do.

 

[nervosA]

The internal SSD is indeed very fast but an external SSD would be "fast" as well. If the file(s) you need to process (plug-ins, sample libraries) require processing in order to use it, there may be very little difference, speed-wise, between the internal and external because there may be a bottleneck at the processor. I don't know the answer to this but you may want to go to forums dedicated to music production and ask the question there - whether or not one would have a noticeable difference between a NVMe internal vs. USB external SSD for what you want to do. You may also want to see if you have enough RAM for what you want to do.

I have 16 gb. RAM which I think isn’t enough.
Turns out I can’t teturn it after all so I will Ben going the external route. I think it’ll Ben ok .
I’m using an external HDd right now and it’s fast as hell.
I’m just a bit upset that I rushed into buying a 256 gb. Oh well. What’s done is done

 

[New_Mac_Smell]

I have 16 gb. RAM which I think isn’t enough.
Turns out I can’t teturn it after all so I will Ben going the external route. I think it’ll Ben ok .
I’m using an external HDd right now and it’s fast as hell.
I’m just a bit upset that I rushed into buying a 256 gb. Oh well. What’s done is done

Live and learn but always buy the computer you need, and give yourself a little headroom. I always take what I currently use on average and try double it within budget. But I would never knowingly buy a machine that I had to immediately make use of an external drive to use, it's just asking for trouble!

Hopefully things will be okay for you, get a T5 as it'll be much more worth it than a T3, I grabbed a 256GB one for like $120, and use wireless drives for archives.

Also this is why you buy from Apple and not a 3rd party .

 

[1k9]

I just got the computer the other day thru B&H. So yes a return is Possible.
A bigger internal drive would definitely be amazing because now I have to wait longer until I get another drive.
I’m dedintely thinking about returning it and saving up a bit more for a bigger drive.
I love macs but the cost is becoming a bit much. This feels like when I had a 16 gb. Iphone. Why even make devices with such a small amount of storage? Honestly, what kind ignorant “Pro” machine has 256 gb. Of storage. ?
Ok I’m done rantin about Apple. I think I may return it and wait a few weeks to get a bigger drive.
But if I do decide to go the external route, is it really that much slower if I get a usb c external.

B&H doesn’t allow returns of computers if it has been opened