Upgrading iMac (256GB SSD, late 2014) with additional SSD or HDD?

[apfelmann]

Hi Mac friends,

I am going to bring my iMac (late 2014, 256GB SSD inside) to my local Apple Service Provider this week to connect something to the SATA connector inside ...

What would you recommend?

a) additional 1TB SSD

or

b) additional 8TB HDD

Is an internal HDD fast enough for working with Logic Pro X?

EDIT: Or should I use external SSDs (in USB 3.0 case)?

Jakob

 

[Mr_Brightside_@]

Have you confirmed the shop will perform this upgrade for you? I used to work for an ASP and we would not have been allowed, per Apple, to perform this.

 

[apfelmann]

Have you confirmed the shop will perform this upgrade for you? I used to work for an ASP and we would not have been allowed, per Apple, to perform this.

yes confirmed

 

[psymac]

Why not run additional SSD as external Thunderbolt 2?

 

[apfelmann]

Why not run additional SSD as external Thunderbolt 2?

I also thought about that. but thunderbolt cases are still expensive ...

 

[nambuccaheadsau]

Not as expensive as opening the machine up and putting a PCI-e Flash drive inside I would guess.

 

[apfelmann]

Not as expensive as opening the machine up and putting a PCI-e Flash drive inside I would guess.

It’s a SATA connection inside ... and opening up is cheaper than a thunderbolt case here in Europe
[doublepost=1510730033][/doublepost]Please help me decide:

What is better for music production and photos library (and other stuff)?

256GB SSD (Original) + additional internal 1 TB SSD

OR

Fusion drive with 256 GB SSD (Original) and 8 TB HDD

???

 

[psymac]

Wouldn't an external USB 3.0 SSD be nearly the same R/W as internal SATA SSD?

 

[Fishrrman]

OP wrote:
"EDIT: Or should I use external SSDs (in USB 3.0 case)?"

THIS is the answer.
Saves trouble and money.
You're going to have 2 drives to manage anyway.
What difference does it make where the second one is located?

Also -- when you someday replace the current iMac, it will be trivial to just unplug an EXTERNAL SSD, and take it to your new Mac.

 

[psymac]

OP wrote:
"EDIT: Or should I use external SSDs (in USB 3.0 case)?"

THIS is the answer.
Saves trouble and money.
You're going to have 2 drives to manage anyway.
What difference does it make where the second one is located?

Also -- when you someday replace the current iMac, it will be trivial to just unplug an EXTERNAL SSD, and take it to your new Mac.

Correct, and your resale value won't be anywhere near what you paid for the internal drive and install. USB 3.0 enclosures are not expensive, buy one and try it and then decide.