I have a 2011 iMac that is completely filled up on storage, I have a lot of music and photo's. I've considered upgrading to the new iMac but after reading a few posts on here, it seems people are still recommending going with the SSD drives and then using an external. Something just seems wrong to me about buying a computer and then still having to have an external. I've only used an external for back up in the past. How does it work, you obviously have to have the external on all the time, does that wear it out quick? If I have my music and pictures on an external is there a huge delay to load it? Is that really the best option?
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External Hard Drives
- Thread starter jw3571
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If I'm not mistaken, your 2011 iMac only has USB 2.0 ports, not the faster USB3.0. For most interactive uses, there is a "fast enough" disk speed and USB 2 isn't fast enough, while USB 3 is (and USB 3.1 gen 2 beats all but the fastest internal drives, whether HDD or SSD).
The external SSD recommendation you read about is partly a cost saving move and partly due to the current size limits for affordable SSD. Apple is charging a very high increment for the 1 Tb internal, so it's far more cost effective to put in a smaller internal unit and then expand to an external. Since the new machines have the very fast USB 3.1 (as well as Thunderbolt 3, which is also very fast but external units are more expensive), you won't see a speed difference internal vs external for most uses. And, if you need more than 1 Tb storage, you have to either go with HDD (slow) or add an external SSD (fast), since >1Tb SSD's are rare and very expensive today. A properly chosen external hard drive won't wear out any faster than an internal (i.e. you pick a drive meant for always-on use, not a backup grade drive), and of course SSD doesn't need to spin-down to save power or wear.
On your machine I think you'll see a significant delay using an external drive. If you can arrange to move stuff you very rarely access to the external, that might be fine. If splitting your libraries is too inconvenient, then you either have to put a larger HDD into your iMac, or buy a new(er) one.
The external SSD recommendation you read about is partly a cost saving move and partly due to the current size limits for affordable SSD. Apple is charging a very high increment for the 1 Tb internal, so it's far more cost effective to put in a smaller internal unit and then expand to an external. Since the new machines have the very fast USB 3.1 (as well as Thunderbolt 3, which is also very fast but external units are more expensive), you won't see a speed difference internal vs external for most uses. And, if you need more than 1 Tb storage, you have to either go with HDD (slow) or add an external SSD (fast), since >1Tb SSD's are rare and very expensive today. A properly chosen external hard drive won't wear out any faster than an internal (i.e. you pick a drive meant for always-on use, not a backup grade drive), and of course SSD doesn't need to spin-down to save power or wear.
On your machine I think you'll see a significant delay using an external drive. If you can arrange to move stuff you very rarely access to the external, that might be fine. If splitting your libraries is too inconvenient, then you either have to put a larger HDD into your iMac, or buy a new(er) one.
Don't forget that you can easily add a bus-powered external drive for additional archive storage and simply velcro it to the stand for convenience. This is a Seagate 4TB RAID-0 USB 3.0 drive on a 27" iMac. Of course, only having USB 2 available on an older Imac will limit the effectiveness of the faster external drives.
I have an eight year old 2Tb Buffalo Linkstation at home that I use for video storage and such. I only turn it on when I need it so there is a nominal delay for it to spin up and connect, but nothing unusual. It's connected via USB 2 and I haven't run into many issues playing videos (mostly 720p & 1080) from it.
At work I have a Synology Diskstation for backup & archival that connects via the network. Our IT department swears everything is gigabit, but I don't really get a sense that it's faster than the USB 2 buffalo at home.
At work I have a Synology Diskstation for backup & archival that connects via the network. Our IT department swears everything is gigabit, but I don't really get a sense that it's faster than the USB 2 buffalo at home.
It would help if you told us how large your existing internal drive is, and how much space you have left.
With a 2011 iMac you don't have USB3, so your only practical option for adding an external "boot SSD" would be via thunderbolt.
It's possible, but pre-assembled thunderbolt SSD's can be expensive.
It WILL give you a nice speed boost, and the iMac will probably "feel like a newer machine".
But I'm not sure if you want to spend the $$$ for a 6-year-old Mac.
You could also pick up a "bare" 2.5" SSD, and a thunderbolt enclosure, and do it that way.
Be aware that about the only thunderbolt enclosure you can buy is (or was?) the Delock, and it may no longer be available.
If your wallet isn't hurting, it might be time to start thinking about a new iMac.
Or... consider picking up a platter-based external, perhaps 1-2gb in size, and "move off" some of the stuff you've accumulated on the existing internal drive.
You don't REALLY need all that stuff on there.
A lot of it could exist just as well on an external...
With a 2011 iMac you don't have USB3, so your only practical option for adding an external "boot SSD" would be via thunderbolt.
It's possible, but pre-assembled thunderbolt SSD's can be expensive.
It WILL give you a nice speed boost, and the iMac will probably "feel like a newer machine".
But I'm not sure if you want to spend the $$$ for a 6-year-old Mac.
You could also pick up a "bare" 2.5" SSD, and a thunderbolt enclosure, and do it that way.
Be aware that about the only thunderbolt enclosure you can buy is (or was?) the Delock, and it may no longer be available.
If your wallet isn't hurting, it might be time to start thinking about a new iMac.
Or... consider picking up a platter-based external, perhaps 1-2gb in size, and "move off" some of the stuff you've accumulated on the existing internal drive.
You don't REALLY need all that stuff on there.
A lot of it could exist just as well on an external...
That's what I have - Seagate thunderbolt adapter with a 120gb Samsung 850 evo. Do they still sell the adapters?