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External Thunderbolt enclosure

BeatCrazy said:
The Magic Trackpad is the device that gives me the most trouble. Are you using bare 3.5" HDD docks? Those seem to be the worst offenders, in my experience.
Click to expand...
I have a Startech USB 3 3.5" dual drive enclosure. It is under the desk and a bit away from the computer and the trackpad, so that may be a factor in lessening the problems.

I do recall reading something about USB 3 and Bluetooth interference issues actually, but I have never experienced it myself.
 
twilexia said:
Can you run some speed tests for us? :)
Click to expand...
No problem. I only have the Blackmagic app though. And keep in mind I have no idea what I'm doing. :confused:

The rig is a 2011 27" Imac 2.7GHz i5 running 10.9.5 with 12GB RAM and the stock Western Digital Caviar Black 7200rpm HD. All Blackmagic speed tests were run with a 1 GB stress level. Whatever that means.

I don't know if the SSD is running as fast as it can, but for my purposes, that's irrelevant. I boot up in maybe 15 seconds, all applications are practically instant-on. I'd be happy to keep this setup forever as I don't see any speed improvements making a lick of difference to my life.

Here is the stock HD:

DiskSpeedTest-HD.png


This is the boot drive, which is a Crucial MX100 512GB I got from Newegg about a year ago for $179, inside a refurbed LaCie Tbolt enclosure I got from MacMall as a 1 TB Rugged External drive for $89, now bungeed to the back of the mac. Not running TRIM.

DiskSpeedTest-ssd.png

For the heck of it, this is a Silicon Power A30 1TB 5400rpm external, running through the Kanex Tbolt to USB3 adapter and an Anker 7-port USB3 hub:

DiskSpeedTest-orange.png


Let me know if there is something else you need.
 
Last edited:
T Coma said:
No problem. I only have the Blackmagic app though. And keep in mind I have no idea what I'm doing. :confused:

The rig is a 2011 27" Imac 2.7GHz i5 running 10.9.5 with 12GB RAM and the stock Western Digital Caviar Black 7200rpm HD. All Blackmagic speed tests were run with a 1 GB stress level. Whatever that means.

I don't know if the SSD is running as fast as it can, but for my purposes, that's irrelevant. I boot up in maybe 15 seconds, all applications are practically instant-on. I'd be happy to keep this setup forever as I don't see any speed improvements making a lick of difference to my life.

Here is the stock HD:

View attachment 603954

This is the boot drive, which is a Crucial MX100 512GB I got from Newegg about a year ago for $179, inside a refurbed LaCie Tbolt enclosure I got from MacMall as a 1 TB Rugged External drive for $89, now bungeed to the back of the mac. Not running TRIM.

View attachment 603961
For the heck of it, this is a Silicon Power A30 1TB 5400rpm external, running through the Kanex Tbolt to USB3 adapter and an Anker 7-port USB3 hub:

View attachment 603962

Let me know if there is something else you need.
Click to expand...
So you know how to install your own ssd into the LaCie but don't care for speed tests? :) thank you for those tests! I want to get the same configuration as you provided I can find a refurb LaCie
 
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bielen said:
I've been researching numerous enclosures. Check out the Inateck enclosure. Search the reviews for "Sabrent" and look at the comparisons speed tests between Sabrent and Inateck in the Update #2 (USB 3.0 speed tests). The Inteck performed much better in the timing results. Similar price point.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...=as2&tag=bielennet-20&linkId=ALZE62DZUZFAI3BU
Click to expand...

Why are you linking us to a USB 3.0 enclosure (which I have BTW). I think we are still looking for TB options.
 
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MrX8503 said:
This is what I have and it's the best you'll get.
http://www.amazon.com/Akitio-Neutri...1438922082&sr=8-8&keywords=akitio+thunderbolt

Key Features
1. Cheaper than most single thunderbolt enclosures
2. Bus power
3. Can power 512GB drives (seagate adapter is known to kill drives due to not providing enough power)
4. Includes thunderbolt cable
5. Isn't driveless, but at least it includes an SSD
6. Fastest write speeds you'll get in a bus powered thunderbolt enclosure
Click to expand...

I just bought this and it works great. You get a fast 128 GB SSD (300MBs read/550 mbs write) and the enclosure can be swapped out for others. Comes with a .5m thunderbolt cable (25$ value I think). Overall a solid product, looks great on the desk.

So far I'm liking Akitio as a brand, they aren't overpriced and they don't overmarket themselves, and make quality products.
 
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twilexia said:
I just bought this and it works great. You get a fast 128 GB SSD (300MBs read/550 mbs write) and the enclosure can be swapped out for others. Comes with a .5m thunderbolt cable (25$ value I think). Overall a solid product, looks great on the desk.

So far I'm liking Akitio as a brand, they aren't overpriced and they don't overmarket themselves, and make quality products.
Click to expand...

How are you finding the fan on the Akitio? Is it very loud?
 
hey guys,

This may help a bit. It's a SanDisk Ultra II 240GB in an Akitio Neutrino Thunderbolt "enclosure." I took out the stock
SSD (an older SanDisk) thereby voiding the warranty(which is my speciality), but it was a trivial procedure. It was
connected directly to the thunderbolt port of one of my 2012 Mac Minis (it was not the boot drive). It is bus powered and comes with a thunderbolt cable. I also ran the test with the 960 GB version of the Ultra II and got the same exact results.

Interestingly, both the 240GB and the 960GB have the same exact power requirements.

I also have the seagate portable adapter, but it isn't as fast as the Akitio. It is nice, however, and the notion that it "kills drives" seems a bit, um, weird.

SanDisk Ultra II 240GB in an Akitio Neutrino Thunderbolt enclosure:

San Disk Ultra II DiskSpeedTest.png
 
Just wondering if the swap of Lacie / OWC harddisk with SSD works, will it also work with the WD 4Tb Thunderbolt duo drive?

Manual says it is not possible, only WD green drives supported. My idea is to put one SSD in 1 slot, and keep one of the 2Tb in the other slot, in JBOD mode it would give me SSD and 2 TB drive over Thunderbolt. Anyone have experience with this solution?

My speed mark for the WD 4TB Thunderbolt duo drive in RAID-0 mode is 180 mb/s.
 
RAID 0 for WD Green Drives is a pretty pathetic solution offered by WD... instead of going cheap they should have put WD Black drives in them.

I'm pretty sure trying to use a WD Thunderbolt Duo drive with an SSD will not work because the controller board looks for WD Caviar drives only.
 
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