Is the fusion drive as fast as an ssd?

[vladfein]

So really, the only DOWNSIDE is SSD is it costs an arm-and-a-leg to get from Apple on the iMac. Or it's a REAL PitA to install on an iMac.

The problem with Apple's SSD solution at the moment is only lack of options (there are no 256GB or 512GB configurations).

As for the price, considering either educational or EPP discount, Apple gets close to $1 per GB, similar to 840 Pro. Also, you don't need to buy the "kit" and do the cracking yourself.

 

[karpich1]

I'm guessing it's what you meant, but it's only a PITA to install an internal SSD on a Mac. I have 3 external 256GB SSDs, 2 are USB 3.0 and 1 is Thunderbolt.

Yeh, internal

Obviously an external on a Thunderbolt is going to be heller-fast and easy to hook up. But one of the things I like about the AIO is the lack-of-clutter. What i've done in the past is setup my NAS somewhere else so my desk just has the AIO + mouse + keyboard and thus looks clean. Putting a Thunderbolt unit next to it means 2 more cables dangling around (data + power).

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The problem with Apple's SSD solution at the moment is only lack of options (there are no 256GB or 512GB configurations).

As for the price, considering either educational or EPP discount, Apple gets close to $1 per GB, similar to 840 Pro. Also, you don't need to buy the "kit" and do the cracking yourself.

Yeh, I realize that $ per Megabyte isn't TOO bad considering... but I'd be rather just have a 256GB internal SSD for my apps and an external for music / movies. The 768GB is a bit overkill space-wise for my apps and that makes it a hefty cost option.

But, not to nit-pick, but it's a $1-per-GB for the UPGRADE, meaning you're sacrificing the Fusion drive for it. So factor that in and it's slightly more get GB that Apple is ultimately charging.

 

[flynz4]

But, not to nit-pick, but it's a $1-per-GB for the UPGRADE, meaning you're sacrificing the Fusion drive for it. So factor that in and it's slightly more get GB that Apple is ultimately charging.

Personally, I would not call out the 768GB as "sacrificing the FD". Of course it depends upon your data sizes and needs.

I have 1.5TB of primary data. I put my iTunes and Video library on an external TB array... and everything else sits on my SSD. I found that that streaming iTunes and Video libraries are just fine on spinning media. No complex management of data... everything still works and is fully managed. It is about the same complexity as if everything was on the internal SSD.

/Jim

 

[vladfein]

But, not to nit-pick, but it's a $1-per-GB for the UPGRADE, meaning you're sacrificing the Fusion drive for it. So factor that in and it's slightly more get GB that Apple is ultimately charging.

You are right - I forgot about upgrade, but you are also wrong - the upgrade is NOT from fusion option, but from standard 1TB HDD, which isn't worth much

 

[karpich1]

Personally, I would not call out the 768GB as "sacrificing the FD". Of course it depends upon your data sizes and needs.

I have 1.5TB of primary data. I put my iTunes and Video library on an external TB array... and everything else sits on my SSD. I found that that streaming iTunes and Video libraries are just fine on spinning media. No complex management of data... everything still works and is fully managed. It is about the same complexity as if everything was on the internal SSD.

/Jim

I didn't mean loosing the fusion drive is a "loss," I was replying to an earlier post saying that Apple isn't charging much for the SSD ($1 per GB). I (incorrectly) thought the Fusion came standard and that replacing a fusion with the SSD for ~$800 (after discount) was really closer to like $1000 price for the SSD. But I guess standard TB HDD is the default option so the price-diff isn't as great.

And if you read my past posts I say the same thing: apps on small drive, movie+video library on large HDD. I have no love for fusion, and would rather just do small SSD for apps.

Personally I prefer that way, because if my rig tanks I can still easily access my movies + music from a backup rig or my laptop.