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vishavg

macrumors member
Original poster
Oct 2, 2014
94
15
Hi everyone,

I picked up the new macbook pro and I'm in search for an external hard drive that has both usb-c and usb 3.0 compatibility. I haven't seen a thread for external hard drive options, so thought I might as well start one. I know many people are looking into this. What are your suggestions?

The two I'm looking at currently:

http://www.lacie.com/ca/en/personal/porsche-design/porsche-design-mobile-drive/
- charging ability through usb-c

http://www.g-technology.com/products/g-drive-mobile-usb-c

thanks
 

iizmoo

macrumors 6502
Jan 8, 2014
260
34
T3 come from a line of very dependable SSD. But I'll also say to wait until January. Samsung had released the T1 and T3 the first week of Jan in 2015 and 2016. The next competitive product should be a version of the T3 that uses USB 3.1gen2 (10Gbps). There's already a competing product out a few months, so the T3 is behind the curve at this point. If you're good with 5Gbps, then go for a T3, otherwise, maybe hold off until Jan and see if a T4 get announced ;)
 

powerocool

macrumors 6502
Jun 5, 2007
437
408
Just picked up this PNY Elite 480GB for $119 (or 240GB for $69). If you want something cheaper and much smaller than the Samsung T3 with similar (slightly slower in some situations, but still plenty fast).

https://www.amazon.com/PNY-Elite-48...e-20&qid=1480751922&sr=8-1&keywords=pny+elite

I plan to install Windows 10 on it for Boot Camp for gaming. This way I can keep the internal drive purely for Mac OS.

Also bought this USB Micro-B to USB-C cable to go with it for $6.99. It should provide the full USB 3.0 (3.1 gen 1) speed of ~400MB/s.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B...age_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&tag=earthvillage-20&psc=1
 
Jul 4, 2015
4,487
2,551
Paris
T3 come from a line of very dependable SSD. But I'll also say to wait until January. Samsung had released the T1 and T3 the first week of Jan in 2015 and 2016. The next competitive product should be a version of the T3 that uses USB 3.1gen2 (10Gbps). There's already a competing product out a few months, so the T3 is behind the curve at this point. If you're good with 5Gbps, then go for a T3, otherwise, maybe hold off until Jan and see if a T4 get announced ;)

The problem here is that gen2 only offers a few hundred megabytes more bandwidth but to achieve that they would have to :

1. RAID 0 a couple of mSATA. This is what a few competitors are doing but it increases the physical size of the external enclosure.
2. Use m.2 drives. This would be great but very expensive and make more sense to ship as a TB device.
3. Use a custom SSD design - again more expensive than standard mSATA design.
 

azntaiji

macrumors member
Sep 22, 2014
95
26
Currently, most of the Type-C external storage options available (like what you linked to) are just a standard 2.5" HDD in an enclosure with USB 3.0. You are better off saving your money and buying something like this Seagate (consistently rated best bang for your buck in online reviews) + this adapter (or this one if you want the straight conversion).

If speed is your thing, you might consider Samsung's T3 which is an external SSD with Type-C connector but at a higher price.

If you are looking for Thunderbolt speeds through Type-C, your best bet is to wait till January. CES 2017 is right around the corner.
 
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iizmoo

macrumors 6502
Jan 8, 2014
260
34
The problem here is that gen2 only offers a few hundred megabytes more bandwidth but to achieve that they would have to :

1. RAID 0 a couple of mSATA. This is what a few competitors are doing but it increases the physical size of the external enclosure.
2. Use m.2 drives. This would be great but very expensive and make more sense to ship as a TB device.
3. Use a custom SSD design - again more expensive than standard mSATA design.
The flash technology has the speed, just a matter of a controller chip and usb controller that support the pipe. Speed increase is mostly in the continuous file transfer area anyway, random 4K still wouldn't be anywhere saturating a USB3 pipe. The way I see it, the limit is just on raw pipe, whether USB3 or SATAIII, the controller and underlying flash can go faster. Sooner or later someones gotta have a controller that can do :)
 

JohnnyGo

macrumors 6502a
Sep 9, 2009
956
620
Currently, most of the Type-C external storage options available (like what you linked to) are just a standard 2.5" HDD in an enclosure with USB 3.0. You are better off saving your money and buying something like this Seagate (consistently rated best bang for your buck in online reviews) + this adapter (or this one if you want the straight conversion).

If speed is your thing, you might consider Samsung's T3 which is an external SSD with Type-C connector but at a higher price.

If you are looking for Thunderbolt speeds through Type-C, your best bet is to wait till January. CES 2017 is right around the corner.

For USB-C native options, the best course of action now is PATIENCE. Wait for the new products and subsequent REVIEWS by actual users. In 6-12 months we'll have plenty of options to choose from, be it storage be it monitors, hubs, etc
 

vishavg

macrumors member
Original poster
Oct 2, 2014
94
15
Thanks for all the options everyone. I am not looking for the latest and newest technology, I'd be satisfied with a year old. I won't be accessing this hard drive on a daily basis mostly on a month basis just to keep my macbook backed up. I'm thinking of going for the samsung T3 or the seagate @azntaiji linked. My question is can the samsung T3 connect via USB-C with an adapter? and also for the price difference the seagate, does seem like a better idea for my use.
[doublepost=1480923664][/doublepost]how's this? https://www.amazon.com/ADATA-SV620-...1480923569&sr=8-2&keywords=adata+external+ssd

since the storage capacity on my macbook is 256, i would be going for the 480GB, or even 240GB, since I have yet to fill up 100GB.
 

iizmoo

macrumors 6502
Jan 8, 2014
260
34
For backing up, esp time machine, just get a regular HDD like an HGST. Time machine doesn't go fast, too many files and its desgiend to work in the background without impacting your machine, so you'll never even see it roll anywhere near what an HDD can handle.

When most of us talk about the ext SSD, that's for things where raw speed is utilized as a time saver.
 

azntaiji

macrumors member
Sep 22, 2014
95
26
Thanks for all the options everyone. I am not looking for the latest and newest technology, I'd be satisfied with a year old. I won't be accessing this hard drive on a daily basis mostly on a month basis just to keep my macbook backed up. I'm thinking of going for the samsung T3 or the seagate @azntaiji linked. My question is can the samsung T3 connect via USB-C with an adapter? and also for the price difference the seagate, does seem like a better idea for my use.
[doublepost=1480923664][/doublepost]how's this? https://www.amazon.com/ADATA-SV620-...1480923569&sr=8-2&keywords=adata+external+ssd

since the storage capacity on my macbook is 256, i would be going for the 480GB, or even 240GB, since I have yet to fill up 100GB.

Samsung T3 is USB-C on the hard drive, comes with a USB-C to USB type A cable, but if you want USB-C to USB-C, you should be able to use the charge cable that came with your MBP.

I just got the PNY elite yesterday, it's a lower price than the T3. I am using it to run Win 10 externally. So far it is pretty fast, comparable to the T3.

But if you're doing just monthly backups, you should just go the external HDD route than an SSD. Plus a cloud backup like Crashplan.
 
Last edited:

chabig

macrumors G4
Sep 6, 2002
11,437
9,301
For USB-C native options, the best course of action now is PATIENCE. Wait for the new products and subsequent REVIEWS by actual users. In 6-12 months we'll have plenty of options to choose from, be it storage be it monitors, hubs, etc
There is no such thing as native USB-C. USB-C isn't a data transfer protocol. It's just a plug and socket connector.
 

iizmoo

macrumors 6502
Jan 8, 2014
260
34
Samsung T3 is USB-C on the hard drive, comes with a USB-C to USB type A cable, but if you want USB-C to USB-C, you should be able to use the charge cable that came with your MBP.

I just got the PNY elite yesterday, it's a lower price than the T3. I am using it to run Win 10 externally. So far it is pretty fast, comparable to the T3.

But if you're doing just monthly backups, you should just go the external HDD route than an SSD. Plus a cloud backup like Crashplan.
Actually you can't,that cable is USB 2 not USB 3, need to buy a real USB 3 cable to use with the T3.
 

Wowereit

macrumors 6502a
Feb 1, 2016
964
1,485
Germany
T3 come from a line of very dependable SSD. But I'll also say to wait until January. Samsung had released the T1 and T3 the first week of Jan in 2015 and 2016. The next competitive product should be a version of the T3 that uses USB 3.1gen2 (10Gbps).

USB 3.1 Gen 2 doesn't matter for external SSDs right now.
You can't go from PCIe to USB without large active hardware, so external SSDs will be limited to SATA III.
SATA III is maxing out at 6 Gbit/s minus overhead for converting to USB etc. we are talking about 5.7 Gbit/s.
Roughly a 15% increase over USB 3.0 (3.1 Gen 1)


Long story short: get a T3 or something similar, external SSDs won't get noticeably better for at least 1 year.
 

vishavg

macrumors member
Original poster
Oct 2, 2014
94
15
any opinions on the ADATA SV620, the price seems like a better buy than the T3
 

powerocool

macrumors 6502
Jun 5, 2007
437
408
I also got the PNY Elite 480 GB to run Windows 10. Pretty good speed for the low price of $119.
 

vishavg

macrumors member
Original poster
Oct 2, 2014
94
15
the PNY Elite is so sweet, the size of that allows it to be carried around like a thumbdrive. Too bad I just picked up a 64 patriot thumbdrive. it'll cost me 158$ CAD
[doublepost=1481072120][/doublepost]Another question, can someone who has used crashplan describe how it works and if its worth subscribing to for 5.99 a month. im currently using icloud 50GB at 1.29
 

azntaiji

macrumors member
Sep 22, 2014
95
26
the PNY Elite is so sweet, the size of that allows it to be carried around like a thumbdrive. Too bad I just picked up a 64 patriot thumbdrive. it'll cost me 158$ CAD
[doublepost=1481072120][/doublepost]Another question, can someone who has used crashplan describe how it works and if its worth subscribing to for 5.99 a month. im currently using icloud 50GB at 1.29

I have Crashplan, it's simple to use. You install the client app, then set which drives you want to backup and schedule backups to run at certain times. Then it all runs in the background, similar to Dropbox.
 

vishavg

macrumors member
Original poster
Oct 2, 2014
94
15
I have Crashplan, it's simple to use. You install the client app, then set which drives you want to backup and schedule backups to run at certain times. Then it all runs in the background, similar to Dropbox.

Do you use the paid version or free?
 

cerberusss

macrumors 6502a
Aug 25, 2013
932
364
The Netherlands
Do you use the paid version or free?
I use the free version. I've got one instance running on a little media PC with a big (spinning) harddrive, which acts like the destination. I also have it running on my MBP, which acts as the source.

If you do not have always-on storage space somewhere, then you have to use the paid version.

However if you only have a single Mac to back up, I'd advise BackBlaze. Its client is much more Mac-like. It sits in your System Preferences and is a native client (by which I mean, it uses all the standard macOS libraries where possible). I would prefer it.

CrashPlan is great if you have multiple PCs which can back up to each other, or to a friend. It's however more complicated, takes some getting used to, and is in general slower.
 
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