Recommendation sought: Thunderbolt 3, external SDD 1TB storage drive

[Eldiablojoe]

In anticipation for the new MBP having at least one USB-C port for Thunderbolt 3 transfer speeds (40 gbps!), I am starting to explore my options for a backup solution. I have a few I use now (a CCC clone drive, one the holds my iTunes and Photos libraries, and one for TimeMachine backups), but i would really like to take advantage of the incredible speeds available with Thunderbolt 3.

Can anyone recommend a good solution?

 

[jerryk]

In anticipation for the new MBP having at least one USB-C port for Thunderbolt 3 transfer speeds (40 gbps!), I am starting to explore my options for a backup solution. I have a few I use now (a CCC clone drive, one the holds my iTunes and Photos libraries, and one for TimeMachine backups), but i would really like to take advantage of the incredible speeds available with Thunderbolt 3.

Can anyone recommend a good solution?

No idea on backup, but it better have more than one USB-C port. Even the tiny HP Spectre has 3!

But, regarding the port, USB-C supports USB 3.1 and TB-3. USB 3.1 is backwards compatible with USB 3.0 and USB 2. So any existing USB drive will work. You just need the right cable.

 

[killawat]

I would steer you away from an actual Thunderbolt 3 solution unless you have serious high speed needs (2000 MB/s read/writes) or you know that you will connect multiple Thunderbolt 3 devices in a daisy chain and need the storage to be a part of that array. The 40 Gbps bandwidth really isn't needed for a single device. Only when you start adding things to the chain (such as displays, storage devices, eGPU, PCI-E devices) will you start to hit that limit.

These are the types of enclosures you see for TB3 connectivity:
http://www.lacie.com/professional/big/12big-thunderbolt-3/

A usb-c (or even USB 3.1 gen 1) interface will max out most drives (including any SSD or HDD) and cost a fraction of the price. If your stuff is USB 3 already I would just keep what you have, maybe get a USB-A to USB-C cable so can plug it right in to your new MBP.

There are several USB-C solutions available for 2.5" drives, less so for 3.5" drives but they're coming out.


http://www.lacie.com/personal/porsche-design/porsche-design-desktop-drive/
https://www.amazon.com/MiniPro-RAID-Type-C-USB-C-Enclosure/dp/B01GVVC59A

 

[Freyqq]

Backup drives don't really need fast speed; it runs in the background and happens every hour. You want a lot of storage at ok speeds. Get a USB 3 hard drive with a lot of TB of space.

 

[FireWire2]

Yes, for backup you do not need lot of speed just ample of space
How about this
http://www.datoptic.com/ec/quad-4-sataiii-to-usb3-0-support-uasp-for-mac-windwows-linux.html
One connection you see FOUR drives