Boot from 2 different external FW SSDs?

Discussion in 'iMac' started by 7enderbender, Aug 20, 2012.

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  1. 7enderbender, Aug 20, 2012

    7enderbender macrumors 6502a

    7enderbender

    Joined:
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    Location:
    North East US
    #1
    Hello Mac experts,

    Still considering the Mac route for my next desktop. This could be a 27" iMac or a Mac Mini, not sure yet as both have advantages and disadvantages for what I'm doing.

    In either case I had been thinking to install (or have installed) a SSD for the system and applications. While thinking this through and doing some reading I figured I might as well keep the internal drive for data and use external SSD drives via F/W800 for the system and applications (Photoshop, Lightroom, Cubase or ProTools).

    Is it possible to use an external SSD this way and for permanent use? Will the iMac/Mac Mini just boot or do you have to tell it each time?

    And if this works could I then go ahead and build two different systems that way? For example one audio-only system and one photo editing system -or a Mac "creative" sytem and a Win XP work-related environment? I know that boot camp etc will do the latter as well but this would also turn this into a portable system, right?

    Obviously this may all change once new iMacs and/or Mac Minis are released depending on what features will be added or may go away...

    Thanks
     
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  2. flatfoot, Aug 20, 2012

    flatfoot macrumors 65816

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    #2
    Booting off of a FW800 attached drive doesn't make sense performance-wise.

    Maximum theoretical throughput of FW800 is 100MB/s. Just about any mechanical drive is faster than that, like the internal drive of an iMac or a mini.
    Using an SSD that way defeats its purpose (speed) completely.

    You'd have to use Thunderbolt.
     
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  3. HumanImac, Aug 21, 2012

    HumanImac macrumors newbie

    Joined:
    Aug 15, 2012
    #3
    your best option is something like a Seagate GoFlex Thunderbolt port and SSD.

    if you went with this route, depending on the SSD you could achieve speeds of 400Mb/s+.

    My stats using the GoFlex Adapter;

    [​IMG]
     
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  4. dany74m, Aug 21, 2012

    dany74m macrumors member

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    #4
    Aboslutely true. I did some test with an ssd via FW800, and the performance are similar to the internal HD.

    Not worthed, go with Thunderbolt and goflex.
     
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  5. philipma1957, Aug 21, 2012
    Last edited: Aug 21, 2012

    philipma1957 macrumors 603

    philipma1957

    Joined:
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    Howell, New Jersey
    #5
    you can do what you want but I suggest buying a lacie little big disk thunderbolt. from this ebay seller



    http://www.ebay.com/itm/LaCie-90001...ltDomain_0&hash=item3cc8e66dac#ht_1673wt_1064


    cost is 235 pull the enclosed hdds sell them on ebay for about 50 each cost is 135 or so for the enclosure. now put 2 ssd's inside.

    run them as JBOD

    just a bunch of disks. you will have 2 boot drives for your mac some how to info


    http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1280118

    http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1424181
     
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  6. 7enderbender, Aug 22, 2012

    7enderbender thread starter macrumors 6502a

    7enderbender

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    Location:
    North East US
    #6


    Great info. Thanks a lot!
     
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  7. WesCole, Aug 22, 2012

    WesCole macrumors 6502a

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    Texas
    #7
    I would just like to reiterate that you shouldn't spend the money on an SSD to use in a FW enclosure. I got the SeaGate GoFlex Thunderbolt adapter and cannot be happier. It is a little over 3X as fast as my original 1TB HDD inside the iMac. Definitely go this route if you want snappier performance. :)
     
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