Need advice on new purchase

[brentg33]

Hi everyone,

I have a 2013 iMac with a fusion drive.
the mechanical HDD is failing again (had it replaced a few years ago) when i do heavy processing in Photoshop, the machine is kernel panicking and restarting. Different HDD diagnosis apps have marked the drive as ‘failing’

I have a 2016 MacBook Pro. And I was going to try and hold out till the new Apple silicon based larger iMac will be released Which doesn’t seem likely till 2022

I guess I wasn’t expecting the new MacBook pros released yesterday to be so tempting
Can’t decide if I should try to hold out on my current MacBook (only given $500 via apple trade in)
Or go all in on a new MBP
Only to be jealous when the new iMacs are eventually released
Not sure I can buy two new computers in one year.

thanks

 

[CWallace]

If the 2016 MacBook Pro will do the job and you prefer a desktop, then I'd use the MBP and wait for the larger iMac.

I ordered a 14" M1 Pro the moment the store went live to replace my 2017 15" MBP and 2018 12.9" iPad Pro. Also bought a refurb 2020 iMac 5K last month since I:
a) don't want to wait for the M1 Pro/MAX model and,
b) I really need Intel Boot Camp for now with WFH.

I do plan to eventually put Windows 11 ARM on the 14" and see how that works with my Windows workflow.

 

[Fishrrman]

OP:

A cheap and easy solution to solve the internal drive problems.

Get an EXTERNAL USB3 SSD, plug it in, and set it up to become the "new boot drive".

You could get a SATA 2.5" bare SSD
and
A 2.5" USB3 enclosure.

or...

Get an "nvme" blade drive
and
A USB3.1 gen2 enclosure.

Either will work, the USB3.1 gen2 setup will run faster on any new Mac you get "later on down the line".

Just wondering, what SIZE was the original fusion drive?
Was it 3tb, by any chance?
Those had a reputation for failing "back then".

ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE:
SPLIT the fusion drive into 128gb SSD and HDD.
Set up the SSD to be the new "non-fused" boot drive.
It's on the small side, but still large enough to hold the OS, apps, and basic accounts.

Either use the internal HDD for extra storage, or again use an external drive (preferably an SSD).

 

[ElCani]

OP:

A cheap and easy solution to solve the internal drive problems.

Get an EXTERNAL USB3 SSD, plug it in, and set it up to become the "new boot drive".

You could get a SATA 2.5" bare SSD
and
A 2.5" USB3 enclosure.

or...

Get an "nvme" blade drive
and
A USB3.1 gen2 enclosure.

Either will work, the USB3.1 gen2 setup will run faster on any new Mac you get "later on down the line".

Just wondering, what SIZE was the original fusion drive?
Was it 3tb, by any chance?
Those had a reputation for failing "back then".

ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE:
SPLIT the fusion drive into 128gb SSD and HDD.
Set up the SSD to be the new "non-fused" boot drive.
It's on the small side, but still large enough to hold the OS, apps, and basic accounts.

Either use the internal HDD for extra storage, or again use an external drive (preferably an SSD).

This is good advice.