I want a reliable SSD, no spinning HD, for use between newer Macs.
Most are USB, so I have to use an adapter. What do we like here in 1TB minimum (but I would like more)?

For backups, I'll get something cheaper at Costco - 5TB or more.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/04/2019 03:46PM by Buck.

Budget?

By "newer" do you mean USB C connector? or a mix of USB C and the older style USB?

How big are the files? Wireless between 2 moderish macs is really fast... maybe just transfer files wirelessly?

Regardless, dozens to choose from, although a DIY solution might be the cheapest.

Does size or speed matter? 2.5" SSD being the biggest and slowest (and cheapest) vs PCIe = fastest and costs more...

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Edited 999 time(s). Last edit at 12:08PM by jdc.

USB? USB-C? ThunderBolt?

what model computer?

Do your Macs support USB 3.1 and/or Thunderbolt 3?

You need to check the tech specs (unless you already know them).

USB 3.1 is about twice as fast as USB 3.0. T3 is about twice as fast as USB 3.1

Both 3.1 and T3 use a USB C connector/port, but not all USB C ports support 3.1 and T3.

If even one supports both, I'd get an NVMe drive and which ever of the two protocols you can afford.

If the budgets a little tight, a NVMe-3.1 drive will be more palatable, price wise. There won't be any cheap $7 as with USB 3.0. But they'll be cheaper than a T3 enclosure.

At some point, you could upgrade to a T3 enclosure which would then let that NVMe run wild, maximizing it's speed capability.

Or just flip over all the cards and go straight to a T3 enclosure. That's the priciest move, and possibly your only move if say- none of your Mac supported 3.1 but did support T3.

Can/does any Mac support T3 and not 3.1? I don't know.

---

I am that Masked Man.

All you can do, is all you can do.

There’s trouble — it's time to play the sound of my people.

Your boos mean nothing to me, I've seen what you cheer for.

Insisting on your rights without acknowledging your responsibilities isn’t freedom, it’s adolescence.

I've been to the edge of the map, and there be monsters.

We are a government of laws, not men.

Everybody counts or nobody counts.

When a good man is hurt,
all who would be called good
must suffer with him.

You and I have memories longer than the road that stretches out ahead.

There is no safety for honest men except
by believing all possible evil of evil men.

We don’t do focus groups. They just ensure that you don’t offend anyone, and produce bland inoffensive products. —Sir Jonathan Ive

An armed society is a polite society.
And hope is a lousy defense.

You make me pull, I'll put you down.

I *love* SIGs. It's Glocks I hate.

iMacs and MacBook Pros are all 2017 and newer, and in multiple locations. So, Thunderbolt 3.
Yes, I saw some high prices for those.

As long as it has a TB3 or USB-C port, it should be fine. Maybe it's too high a price to avoid dongles.

So USB C, no adapters needed. Thunderbolt isnt a connection type...

$87 for a 1 TB drive: [www.amazon.com]

$13 for a case: [www.amazon.com]

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Edited 999 time(s). Last edit at 12:08PM by jdc.

We've had great luck with Oyen drives. I've been personally using this one for the past month: [oyendigital.com]

In case of a clone, will it be bootable?

Quote
Buck
In case of a clone, will it be bootable?

Of course? Why wouldnt it be?

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Edited 999 time(s). Last edit at 12:08PM by jdc.

Plenty of USB3 drives can use either USBA or USBC cables, no adapters needed.

Quote
jdc
So USB C, no adapters needed. Thunderbolt isnt a connection type...

$87 for a 1 TB drive: [www.amazon.com]

$13 for a case: [www.amazon.com]

This will be just about twice as fast...

$108 1TB m2 SATA:
[www.amazon.com]

$20 USB 3.1 m2 enclosure:
[www.amazon.com]

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Thunderbolt 3: Plugable

I have the 500GB model. It comes close to its rated "up to" specs (2400MB/sec read, 1800MB/sec write).

Quote
Sarcany

Quote
jdc
So USB C, no adapters needed. Thunderbolt isnt a connection type...

$87 for a 1 TB drive: [www.amazon.com]

$13 for a case: [www.amazon.com]

This will be just about twice as fast...

$108 1TB m2 SATA:
[www.amazon.com]

$20 USB 3.1 m2 enclosure:
[www.amazon.com]

I dont see how, both drives rated a the same 550/520 R/W speeds.

But I would prefer the smaller size if I was using it as sneaker net.

Although honestly, if it was just a few GBs of files a good old regular HDD
would be fine... or even just the cloud, ala. dropbox. I certainly dont have stellar net, only 55/11, but if I was driving cross town even a couple of GBs would transfer before I got there...

Pupp -- for $300 it better be 3X as fast =)

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Edited 999 time(s). Last edit at 12:08PM by jdc.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/04/2019 10:30PM by jdc.

Quote
jdc
I dont see how, both drives rated a the same 550/520 R/W speeds...

On a good day, USB 3.0 hits about 380MBs. You're likely to get far less than that in real-world-day-to-day.

Real world USB 3.1 speed is twice that. You'll consistently max out the speed of the drive.

Also, don't buy a QVO drive. They seldom come anywhere near the rated write-speed with large file-transfers (they actually write slower than hard drives after they fill their tiny buffers) and they're designed from scratch to be cheap and short-lived with half the endurance of a regular SSD. Go ahead and buy a 2.5-inch SSD and a USB 3.0 case if you want, but don't buy a QVO drive.

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Quote
jdc
Although honestly, if it was just a few GBs of files a good old regular HDD would be fine...

So, pick up a 2.5-inch Seagate hard drive and one of these cables:
[www.amazon.com]

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Quote
Sarcany
Also, don't buy a QVO drive.

Thats my fault, hes right. Thought I linked to the EVO drive not the QVO. the price looked really good... its $110 for the EVO.

[www.amazon.com]

and FWIW, the case I linked was a 3.1 case, not USB 3. However, you should do your own research before buying...

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Edited 999 time(s). Last edit at 12:08PM by jdc.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/04/2019 11:54PM by jdc.

Quote
jdc
and FWIW, the case I linked was a 3.1 case, not USB 3. However, you should do your own research before buying...

USB 3.1 "Gen 1" is USB 3.0.

Max theoretical speed is 5Gbps.

USB 3.1 "Gen 2" is "real" USB 3.1.

Max theoretical speed is 10Gbps.

[www.msi.com]

You linked to a USB 3.1 Gen 1 enclosure.

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This is exactly right. And Tbolt3 us theoretically 40 Gbp, IIRC.

Quote
Sarcany

Quote
jdc
and FWIW, the case I linked was a 3.1 case, not USB 3. However, you should do your own research before buying...

USB 3.1 "Gen 1" is USB 3.0.

Max theoretical speed is 5Gbps.

USB 3.1 "Gen 2" is "real" USB 3.1.

Max theoretical speed is 10Gbps.

[www.msi.com]

You linked to a USB 3.1 Gen 1 enclosure.