Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

rndman

macrumors member
Original poster
Dec 18, 2013
59
0
I am planning to replace the HDD in the mini with SSD. This is late 2012 mini.
The HDD that comes out, I plan to use as Time machine after SSD is in.
With that in mind and also to make the SSD drive ready before putting it in, I bought an enclosure, but unfortunately it is bus powered (USB 3.0).
I am not sure if the HDD will work in the non externally powered enclosure.
Will this work or I should strictly get one with the adapter?
Thanks in advance for your suggestions..
 
If it's a 500GB 5400rpm drive then there's absolutely no problem.

If it's a 1TB 5400rpm drive then check with the manufacturer. All the big boys in the marketplace offer bus-powered 1TB externals, but some of the badgeless no-marks ship with 'Y' cables (ie they require power from *two* USB ports).

Have you, um, read the accompanying documentation? :)

****

EDIT: USB3 can pump out nearly double the amperage of USB2, and USB2 is capable of bus-powering 1TB 5400rpm externals.
 
Last edited:
If you want to avoid problems, best to look for a enclosure that can run from either bus power OR its own external power supply.

Here's one that has the option to add "power in":
http://www.amazon.com/MiniPro-Exter...34&sr=8-3&keywords=oyen+digital+2.5+enclosure
Note: I don't know if it includes a power adapter. If it doesn't, it probably wouldn't be difficult to buy one on ebay, or use one of those "universal" power brick kits that you can get from a place like partsexpress.com ...
 
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
I am planning to replace the HDD in the mini with SSD. This is late 2012 mini.
The HDD that comes out, I plan to use as Time machine after SSD is in.
With that in mind and also to make the SSD drive ready before putting it in, I bought an enclosure, but unfortunately it is bus powered (USB 3.0).
I am not sure if the HDD will work in the non externally powered enclosure.
Will this work or I should strictly get one with the adapter?
Thanks in advance for your suggestions..

If you still have the standard 500GB 5400RPM drive in there that came with it, you should have no problem running that off a bus powered enclosure.
 
If you want to avoid problems, best to look for a enclosure that can run from either bus power OR its own external power supply.

Here's one that has the option to add "power in":
http://www.amazon.com/MiniPro-Exter...34&sr=8-3&keywords=oyen+digital+2.5+enclosure
Note: I don't know if it includes a power adapter. If it doesn't, it probably wouldn't be difficult to buy one on ebay, or use one of those "universal" power brick kits that you can get from a place like partsexpress.com ...

It's 1TB drive. So yeah, no sure how it will handle..
 
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.