Sandisk Extreme Portable SSD 2TB - Recommended file system

[conamor]

Hey!

I was wondering if there was any preferences or best option for that portable SSD drive file system. ExFAT, HFS+ or APFS.

I am not planning into plugging that drive in a Windows computer, should I eliminate ExFAT and go with APFS for an external USB3 SSD drive?

Thanks!

 

[Alexander.Of.Oz]

What OS version are the computers you are using to connect it to running? If you still need to connect to Mac's with older OS versions than High Sierra, then stay with HFS+, if it's a more current Mac OS on all machines & Mac only, go with APFS.

 

[conamor]

I have a Catalina and an High Sierra which can't be upgraded anymore (mbp early2011)

 

[Alexander.Of.Oz]

I have a Catalina and an High Sierra which can't be upgraded anymore (mbp early2011)

Then APFS would be the way to go!

 

[conamor]

Thanks so much!!

 

[oblomow]

Just a sidenote, upgrading your 2011 mbp to Catalina is possible using dosdude1's trick. Works like a charm.

 

[conamor]

Just a sidenote, upgrading your 2011 mbp to Catalina is possible using dosdude1's trick. Works like a charm.

Yes I did it, then reverted it back. I couldn't get some apps working such as Pixelmator Pro...

 

[chrfr]

Yes I did it, then reverted it back. I couldn't get some apps working such as Pixelmator Pro...

Pixelmator Pro likely depends on graphics functionality that just doesn't exist in a 2011 GPU.

 

[conamor]

Pixelmator Pro likely depends on graphics functionality that just doesn't exist in a 2011 GPU.

Ha there we go!
Thanks!

 

[Fishrrman]

If you're going to connect this drive ONLY to a Mac, I recommend HFS+.

You could use APFS, but it's more complicated that HFS+.
And be aware that if it ever has problems, most Mac drive utility apps won't work with APFS.
They will continue to work with HFS+.
(But... because it's an SSD... that reality makes it very difficult [to impossible] to recover lost data, in any case...)

 

[Clix Pix]

I use external SSDs (mostly the Samsung T series) and first thing I do when I get a new one is to convert it to APFS, as both my computers are APFS. I have also converted older external HDDs to APFS as well -- just makes life much simpler. I have never had any problems with my drives and in fact am still using the first-generation Samsung T1 without any issues, although I'm probably going to retire it soon.

 

[oblomow]

Yes I did it, then reverted it back. I couldn't get some apps working such as Pixelmator Pro...

Fortunately I have the poor mans version, Pixelmator 3.9 Classic works.

 

[conamor]

Thanks for all your input!

 

[Tozovac]

What OS version are the computers you are using to connect it to running? If you still need to connect to Mac's with older OS versions than High Sierra, then stay with HFS+, if it's a more current Mac OS on all machines & Mac only, go with APFS.

Hi - thanks all for your help to the OP, it helped me too.

I am running Sierra on a 2014 MBA. To get around the SSD size limitation (512 gb limit) I’m going to use a Sandisk Extreme external SSD for a while till I upgrade my laptop.

To help me understand more, what are the limitations and trade offs with formatting my Sandisk to HFS+ vs. APFS for my particular usage case, where I’d eventually copy all files from the Sandisk onto the newer MacBook Air or Pro, likely to be purchased in 2021 or later? Is it just speed/access to the files (indexing)?