This will work right?

[antman2x2]

In my ongoing quest to use an SSD with my iMac without opening it for UNDER 500 bucks ive stumbled upon yet another interesting idea.

Can I buy this

http://store.apple.com/us/product/H8875ZM/A/lacie-esata-hub-thunderbolt-series

and connect this to it:

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/SSDEX6G060/

using this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812119251

and achieve internal SSD speed thanks to esata?

And also this is just a rant but we can connect esata to thunderbolt but its too hard to make a god damn empty drive enclosure that uses thunderbolt?

 

[Doggman]

I might be thread jacking but curiosity gets to me sometimes. I apologize in advance but here's what I'm wondering. Why doesn't someone make an SSD that can be hooked directly into thunderbolt? That would be sweet to just buy a 128,256,512 SSD, connect it via 1 cable directly into the Thunderbolt port, get internal SSD speeds, and be done with it. I feel like that would solve alot of people's problems with regards to upgrading/adding storage to all Apple computers with Thunderbolt ports. I'm assuming this isn't possible, or someone would have already done it?

/end thread jack - sorry but at least its on topic right?

 

[BigZ243]

In my ongoing quest to use an SSD with my iMac without opening it for UNDER 500 bucks ive stumbled upon yet another interesting idea.

Can I buy this

http://store.apple.com/us/product/H8875ZM/A/lacie-esata-hub-thunderbolt-series

and connect this to it:

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/SSDEX6G060/

using this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812119251

and achieve internal SSD speed thanks to esata?

And also this is just a rant but we can connect esata to thunderbolt but its too hard to make a god damn empty drive enclosure that uses thunderbolt?

You could do that, but why not just open the mac and put in a drive. You would save yourself money and it's easy enough to do.

If you have some other reason for not wanting too you could in theory achieve similar speeds, but not the same.

SATA has a max speed of Gbps
Thunderbolt has a max speed of 10 Gbps

 

[Ifti]

Hmmm, not a very neat solution but can't see why it wouldn't work. Although how do you intend to power the SSD? The cable you link to doesn't include power.....

 

[antman2x2]

I might be thread jacking but curiosity gets to me sometimes. I apologize in advance but here's what I'm wondering. Why doesn't someone make an SSD that can be hooked directly into thunderbolt? That would be sweet to just buy a 128,256,512 SSD, connect it via 1 cable directly into the Thunderbolt port, get internal SSD speeds, and be done with it. I feel like that would solve alot of people's problems with regards to upgrading/adding storage to all Apple computers with Thunderbolt ports. I'm assuming this isn't possible, or someone would have already done it?

/end thread jack - sorry but at least its on topic right?

Exactly! I dont understand why either. Just makes no sense.

 

[BigZ243]

I might be thread jacking but curiosity gets to me sometimes. I apologize in advance but here's what I'm wondering. Why doesn't someone make an SSD that can be hooked directly into thunderbolt? That would be sweet to just buy a 128,256,512 SSD, connect it via 1 cable directly into the Thunderbolt port, get internal SSD speeds, and be done with it. I feel like that would solve alot of people's problems with regards to upgrading/adding storage to all Apple computers with Thunderbolt ports. I'm assuming this isn't possible, or someone would have already done it?

/end thread jack - sorry but at least its on topic right?

They do: http://amzn.to/PeJfxz

 

[antman2x2]

I have 3 years of applecare I do not want to void.

 

[joe-h2o]

I might be thread jacking but curiosity gets to me sometimes. I apologize in advance but here's what I'm wondering. Why doesn't someone make an SSD that can be hooked directly into thunderbolt? That would be sweet to just buy a 128,256,512 SSD, connect it via 1 cable directly into the Thunderbolt port, get internal SSD speeds, and be done with it. I feel like that would solve alot of people's problems with regards to upgrading/adding storage to all Apple computers with Thunderbolt ports. I'm assuming this isn't possible, or someone would have already done it?

/end thread jack - sorry but at least its on topic right?

You need a Thunderbolt controller. That's what's expensive (at least right now).

What you propose is similar to the internal SSDs available that are bolted right onto a PCI card that bypass the SATA bus altogether and go right to the source, but Thunderbolt is not quite pure PCI bus - hence the need for the controller.

Since only Intel makes them at the moment, they are not cheap.

 

[antman2x2]

They do: http://amzn.to/PeJfxz

I have heard some people are having some not-so-pleasant results every now and than like this.

 

[Ifti]

I might be thread jacking but curiosity gets to me sometimes. I apologize in advance but here's what I'm wondering. Why doesn't someone make an SSD that can be hooked directly into thunderbolt? That would be sweet to just buy a 128,256,512 SSD, connect it via 1 cable directly into the Thunderbolt port, get internal SSD speeds, and be done with it. I feel like that would solve alot of people's problems with regards to upgrading/adding storage to all Apple computers with Thunderbolt ports. I'm assuming this isn't possible, or someone would have already done it?

/end thread jack - sorry but at least its on topic right?

The Elgato external drive does that. It's an external SSD drive in an enclosure with a Thunderbolt interface. However, it's expensive, and it uses a SATA II drive as well, so not the best bang for your buck!
Ideally you'd want the Elgato caddy for your own SATA III drive.

http://store.apple.com/uk/product/H...-state-drive?gclid=CO2DxOaq5bECFagmtAod9iAAlA

I don't see why we aren't able to purchase Thunderbolt caddies though?!!

It's easily possible as the Elgato drive proves, not sure why other companies haven't jumped on the bandwagon. It's either Elgato, or the very difficult to open Buffolo thunderbolt drive.

Either way I'd want to open it and install my own faster SSD.
Ideally I'm after an empty thunderbolt and and USB3 caddy.

The Drobo Mini is out soon, which looks interesting - up to 4 SSDs, or 2.5" drives - in RAID, with a thunderbolt or USB3 connection to your system. In theory, with 4 SSDs in RAID it should be crazy fast!

 

[orbilator]

sorry but i would use this to be honest

This looks like the best way to go, i been looking for an externals solution for a while but this seems to be what i am really after and would give me the 559 mb loading speeds i crave for.

Just a pain to open your imac for sure but ssd generate so little heat that i dont see it causing any problems at all.

I just ordered one so ill let you know how it goes.

sorry forgot the link

http://blog.macsales.com/13606-owc-introduces-diy-kit-to-add-ssd-to-2011-27-apple-imac