Early 2008 iMac SATA Speeds

[Tarjas]

I have a 2008 iMac 2.8 C2D that I hit the final possible upgrade on- picked up a Intel 330 120GB SSD for $90 after rebate. Pulled the 1TB drive out and put it in a external FW800 box.

Cloned/etc and system seems to run fine, snappy, not quite as dramatic as my first SSD experience was (2010 MBA) but fasts non-the-less.

Benchmarks, however, were not where I expected them for a SATAII drive, max through-put was right around what I saw with the 1TB seagate. Checked out the system profile, turns out the SATA port speed is negotiated at SATAI vice SATAII speeds. Drive is SATAIII.

Did the forum/internet searches and seems this is not uncommon. Could get a new SSD and install in hopes of connecting at SATAII or just live with it, my guess is that most of the SSD benefit is IOPS/seek time based and that I rarely saturate the SATAI port with normal use...

Anyone been in the same boat? Thanks!

 

[philipma1957]

many sata I speeds from sata II drives. your problem is not unique .

long clones will suffer but it is only a 120gb clone max. the iops are more important. let me look for the thread on this issue

not the thread i want but an imac had an issue

http://communities.intel.com/thread/24220


also not quite right but talks about sata I II III issues.

http://communities.intel.com/commun...t=60&filterID=content~category[compatibility]

 

[Tarjas]

Thanks- this computer is used as the family machine (photos/email/web browsing), nothing it does even pushes the C2D behind its capabilities.. (it routinely has sling player running, FFV decoding a video for air video while surfing the web and playing music). Best bet will be to hang onto the 330 and put it into a TB enclosure when I get a new iMac or Mini next year or so... I have my 2011 MBA when I need more power..