SSD via USB3

[monokitty]

Is anyone running an SSD (Crucial, Samsung) via USB 3 on their iMac as their primary boot drive? How do you find it? How do you compare it to a SATA-connected SSD internally? (Obviously PCI-e is faster in the new Macs.)

 

[762999]

I don't have a recent Mac but you may consider these helpful

http://www.barefeats.com/hard168.html
http://www.barefeats.com/hard161.html

usb3 SSD benchmarks..

 

[Fishrrman]

The OP asks:
[[ Is anyone running an SSD (Crucial, Samsung) via USB 3 on their iMac as their primary boot drive? How do you find it? ]]

I have a late-2012 Mini, not an iMac.
But I've booted and run the Mini for a year and a half now via USB3, using an SSD in a USB3/SATA docking station.
It boots and runs fine. VERY fast.

[[ How do you compare it to a SATA-connected SSD internally? ]]

The Mini has only an HDD internally, so I can't offer a comparison. But except for a slightly longer boot time, there won't be any noticeable speed difference.

My suggestion is to try it.
I think you'll like it.

 

[SaSaSushi]

Here is a relevant thread:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1736767/

 

[p3ntyne]

If you can, try to use thunderbolt.

The speed difference will be non-existent to small however, you SSD will be able to take advantage of TRIM.