Fusion or external SSD?

[Phil77354]

The discussion seems to be solely focused on speed, however in my own case I purchased my iMac with internal SSD looking for greater reliability. I didn't want an internal hard drive that would be likely to fail eventually. If I could get a desktop iMac with no moving parts then to my way of thinking, that would be the most reliable, but as it is the fan is the only moving part in my iMac.

So - isn't reliability also a consideration that should be taken into account?

(I do also appreciate the speed advantage to the SSD).

 

[wardie]

The discussion seems to be solely focused on speed, however in my own case I purchased my iMac with internal SSD looking for greater reliability. I didn't want an internal hard drive that would be likely to fail eventually. If I could get a desktop iMac with no moving parts then to my way of thinking, that would be the most reliable, but as it is the fan is the only moving part in my iMac.

So - isn't reliability also a consideration that should be taken into account?

(I do also appreciate the speed advantage to the SSD).

Yes reliability is important but SSD can fail too and also gradually wears out. I’ve had some early ones catastrophically fail. My concern would be with SSD that is hard wired in so you can’t change it when it fails, if it’s before the rest of the computer is obsolete anyway.

 

[McTinker]

A) Use the Fusion as my main/boot and the USB SSD for Time Machine or CCC

B) Use the USB SSD as my main/boot and the Fusion for Time Machine or CCC

Personally, I would go for option A. It gives you also more flexibility; if you need the USB SSD for main/boot, and another external drive for extra data, all will use the same controller. If you use the FD for main/boot, it will use the internal controller, and an extra external drive will the USB controller. that gives you more resources to work with.

 

[Lankyman]

The discussion seems to be solely focused on speed, however in my own case I purchased my iMac with internal SSD looking for greater reliability. I didn't want an internal hard drive that would be likely to fail eventually. If I could get a desktop iMac with no moving parts then to my way of thinking, that would be the most reliable, but as it is the fan is the only moving part in my iMac.

So - isn't reliability also a consideration that should be taken into account?

(I do also appreciate the speed advantage to the SSD).

Everything fails eventually. Many Mac's are happily running with the original HDD a decade on.