Using External SSD Drive with USB 2.0

[Asatar]

I've got a late 2009 iMac (27", quad i5, 8GB RAM) and have been pondering whether or not to get an external SSD and attach it via USB 2.0. I would be using it for gaming (Black Ops / WoW), Logic 9, maybe Final Cut, and possibly even to install OSX / Win7 onto. Couple of quick questions:

1 - How would the performance be for boot times / load times etc when comparing an internal 7200rpm HDD versus an external (USB 2.0) SSD?

2 - Would a 64gb SSD be suitable for 2 operating systems and 2 games, no media stored at all?

3 - Would I see any noticeable improvement with games such as WoW / Black Ops?

Thanks!

EDIT - Forgot that I also have FW800 available if that would/could outperform USB 2!

 

[ri0ku]

I've got a late 2009 iMac (27", quad i5, 8GB RAM) and have been pondering whether or not to get an external SSD and attach it via USB 2.0. I would be using it for gaming (Black Ops / WoW), Logic 9, maybe Final Cut, and possibly even to install OSX / Win7 onto. Couple of quick questions:

1 - How would the performance be for boot times / load times etc when comparing an internal 7200rpm HDD versus an external (USB 2.0) SSD?

2 - Would a 64gb SSD be suitable for 2 operating systems and 2 games, no media stored at all.

Thanks!

EDIT - Forgot that I also have FW800 available if that would/could outperform USB 2!

Yikes what a waste of an ssd... running it through usb 2.0 will still be slow...you wont notise much difference between running the 7200 and the SSD through USB 2.0.

Wast of a decent SSD imo. Unless you could run it thunderbolt of even usb 3.0. Still would be way slower than through SATA

Edit: yeah that firewire will outperform USB 2.0

 

[simsaladimbamba]

FW800 definitely outperforms USB 2.0. See this thread for an SSD booted via FW800.
Btw, Windows can't be installed onto an external HDD or SSD, unless there is some serious hacking involved.

2. 64GB is really, really short for two OSs and two games, I have a 64GB SSD and I still have to shift things around, as I used some quite big applications (1GB+ per application).

PS: Why not built the SSD into the iMac?

 

[clyde2801]

I think the SSD drive will be throttled by the USB2 connection. I don't even think FW800 can keep up with it.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/711770/

TB in the 2011's may be a better choice, assuming apple doesn't sprinkle some special sauce to keep people from booting on them (which may keep a lot of people from ordering SSD's as a BTO option).

EDIT: Dang, you guys are fast on the keyboard!

 

[ri0ku]

FW800 definitely outperforms USB 2.0. See this thread for an SSD booted via FW800.
Btw, Windows can't be installed onto an external HDD or SSD, unless there is some serious hacking involved.

2. 64GB is really, really short for two OSs and two games, I have a 64GB SSD and I still have to shift things around, as I used some quite big applications (1GB+ per application).

PS: Why not built the SSD into the iMac?

Agreed