iMac/external drive buying advice

[JAMSHOP]

I am looking into replacing my early 2009 640gb iMac which is limping along and hard drive close to full of mostly pix/videos. I would like 2gb fusion drive but feel 27" iMac too big for me and want the 21.5" but no 2gb fusion drive available for the 21.5" iMac. My idea is to get the 21.5" with 256gb ssd internal drive and move my pix/videos and other media to external drive. For now I can live with 1tb external drive... the question is which type of external drive the best in terms of performance... samsung 1tb ssd with USB-3 or LaCie (or other manufacturer) sata thunderbolt 3 (USB-C)... a ssd USB-C would be cost prohibitive unfortunately. The question boils down to ssd performance versus USB-C or USB-3 connectivity...

 

[kschendel]

Any USB-3 SSD would be faster than your old (SATA 2) internal HDD was, so I think you might want to ask which connectivity is good enough, rather than which is best. Some sort of NVMe (not SATA) Thunderbolt-3 external is probably the fastest, but I'd expect it to be expensive. Any decent SATA 3 capable SSD in a quality USB-3 (5 Gbit) UASP enclosure would be plenty fast enough, and such enclosures are not expensive.

The one wild card here is TRIM. To the best of my knowledge, TRIM doesn't work over USB. Whether this matters depends a lot on your situation and workflows. As long as you don't get the SSD too full (let's say 2/3 as a line in the sand) and you aren't writing / rewriting files constantly, you will probably be OK.

 

[JAMSHOP]

Any USB-3 SSD would be faster than your old (SATA 2) internal HDD was, so I think you might want to ask which connectivity is good enough, rather than which is best. Some sort of NVMe (not SATA) Thunderbolt-3 external is probably the fastest, but I'd expect it to be expensive. Any decent SATA 3 capable SSD in a quality USB-3 (5 Gbit) UASP enclosure would be plenty fast enough, and such enclosures are not expensive.

The one wild card here is TRIM. To the best of my knowledge, TRIM doesn't work over USB. Whether this matters depends a lot on your situation and workflows. As long as you don't get the SSD too full (let's say 2/3 as a line in the sand) and you aren't writing / rewriting files constantly, you will probably be OK.

[doublepost=1510429711][/doublepost]what is TRIM?

 

[joema2]

...feel 27" iMac too big for me and want the 21.5" but no 2gb fusion drive available for the 21.5" iMac...

Don't be so certain the iMac 27 is too big. I was afraid my wife's iMac 27 would not fit properly on her small desk which is only 39 inches wide and 24 inches deep. It turns out it fit just fine and does not look too big. The extra screen size and resolution is very nice and as you are finding out, there are better config options on the 27.

 

[nambuccaheadsau]

TRIM Enabler is software that clean s up and tidies your Solid State Drive in order it may perform to its peak ability.

 

[Fishrrman]

OP:

If you can afford the 27", GET the 27". Once you have it, you will NEVER regret having opted for the larger display.

Also -- after display size, the BEST OPTION you can choose is to get an internal SSD drive.
Even the 256gb drive if that's all you can feel justified spending the extra money on.
Go for the 512gb if you can afford it.
I don't consider the 1tb drive to be worth the money spent.
(256gb adds $100; 512gb adds $300)
For more "drive space", just plug in a USB3 external drive (SSD or HDD).

You MUST order the SSD through the "build-to-order" program, either online at the Apple Store or there are a few resellers who can order them or may even stock them (I've had good results from portableone.com)

DON'T fall prey to the "I have to have it today!" urge.
Take a little time now and get something that will make you happy for a LONG time!!