okay took a while but I am running my 2012 with a 256gb ssd via usb3 seagate cable

[philipma1957]

well for the cheapskates (I have pinched pennies myself so cheapskates is not an insult) it works very nicely . I have the seagate 20-25 usb3 cable and a 256gb samsung 830 ssd.

my cost was silly low I grabbed the ssd on a blow out sale for 126 dollars and the cable for 20 so for 146 I have an external usb3 booter.


price today for ssd is 190

http://www.amazon.com/SAMSUNG-2-5-I...=1351516263&sr=8-1&keywords=samsung+ssd+256gb

for cable 25

http://www.amazon.com/Seagate-FreeA...1351516304&sr=1-3&keywords=seagate+usb3+cable



so no deal it is 215 and not pretty but it works well not quite as good as t-bolt but it does cost a lot less.


now for form freaks here is the ministack empty it is 95 bucks.

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Newer Technology/MSQKIT0GBSW/

 

[Poki]

While the MiniStack might be 95, there are other USB 3.0 HDD enclosures out there for less than 25 that look quite a bit better than this Seagate cable thing ...

Speed is okay, though not enough to justify buying a SSD for me.

 

[philipma1957]

I have a few on order. the cable is not pretty but it works well.


this comes tomorrow

http://www.amazon.com/MiniPro-2-5-i...3?ie=UTF8&qid=1351517652&sr=8-3&keywords=oyen

 

[borostef]

Why don't you just put the SSD into the Mini? It is not that hard, and if you are not sure how to do it there is a very good tutorial on ifixit site.
The way you are using it you can't get the speeds the SSD is capable of...
I think it is a shame since you already have an SSD.

 

[tredstone]

If you botch the SSD install on the Mini, don't the fans permanently spin at maximum?

Anyways - how do these speeds compare to a thunderbolt and a regular HDD? Also, are you booting off the USB3 drive?

 

[Poki]

If you botch the SSD install on the Mini, don't the fans permanently spin at maximum?

Anyways - how do these speeds compare to a thunderbolt and a regular HDD?

You can easily reach those speeds with relatively cheap HDD raids, both USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt, but it's faster than most single-HDD-solutions.

 

[philipma1957]

Why don't you just put the SSD into the Mini? It is not that hard, and if you are not sure how to do it there is a very good tutorial on ifixit site.
The way you are using it you can't get the speeds the SSD is capable of...
I think it is a shame since you already have an SSD.

thanks for your post. I like your concern but
this is a service of testing for mac rumors members/

I offer ideas on making your mini faster. USB3 is the only new thing you can do with this mini. Yeah there is Fusion and I may try to do a knock off of it,but that would most likely be not legit so I would not post it.


I have a raid0 1tb ssd in a lacie little big disk as my real booter and the internal 1tb oem is my backup. I get killer speeds and I am quite happy with my setup



Opening your mini which I have done to hundreds of minis for some is scary thing to do. This is a no warranty damaged way of boosting your mac.


Also remember that whatever works here will work for an iMac. whenever a new mini comes out I post 5 or 6 posts on ways to speed your gear up.

 

[borostef]

thanks for your post. I like your concern but
this is a service of testing for mac rumors members/

I offer ideas on making your mini faster. USB3 is the only new thing you can do with this mini. Yeah there is Fusion and I may try to do a knock off of it,but that would most likely be not legit so I would not post it.

If it's for testing purposes than I thank you for your input...

 

[cmonroe]

I had a Samsung 830 256GB HD in the USB 3.0 mini pro enclosure referenced in comment #3 and it screamed. Not quite as fast as internal but the numbers were better than the first post here. I wish I would have saved them, the 830 is now inside the mini along with the original drive using the OWC kit.

 

[tredstone]

It really annoys me that this solution is so much cheaper and easier to implement than a similar Thunderbolt option (well, particularly because I have a 2011 Mini with only USB2 and TB). The Seagate adapter for TB apparently doesn't support SSDs and repeatedly cuts out, according to reviews. Apple really botched it with TB.

 

[philipma1957]

It really annoys me that this solution is so much cheaper and easier to implement than a similar Thunderbolt option (well, particularly because I have a 2011 Mini with only USB2 and TB). The Seagate adapter for TB apparently doesn't support SSDs and repeatedly cuts out, according to reviews. Apple really botched it with TB.

I have done extensive testing of the seagate adapter 256gb ssds and under with this cable

http://www.macmall.com/p/product~dpno~9102188~pdp.hcifjff

you should be fine.

 

[tredstone]

Philip, could you provide the model # of the adapter? Want to make sure I get the right one (I see a few on amazon).

 

[philipma1957]

Philip, could you provide the model # of the adapter? Want to make sure I get the right one (I see a few on amazon).

the seagate adapter for t-bolt is

stae121

http://www.amazon.com/Seagate-GoFle...7&sr=8-2&keywords=seagate+thunderbolt+adapter



------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
now i see stae128

http://www.amazon.com/Seagate-Porta...1&sr=8-1&keywords=seagate+thunderbolt+adapter


this is a newer model no one has tested it as it came out this month.