Updating iMac 2017 with NvME

[Mmazzilli73]

I have the possibility to update my 2017 iMac (top of the range, 64Gb ram) with an NvME drive for 400$ (NvME 1Tb + job + adapter). This will replace the FUSION HDD I have now. I would like to know what real improvement I can expect from this. I understand software will load faster... That is fine. But a part from this? I am not changing CPU or GPU.. so what can I expect for my editing job (Adobe Premiere, Da Vinci resolve) ? Will these apps work faster. Will my faster disk help somehow (memory swap maybe?). Will renders be faster? As far as I can see.. no.. But I might be wrong.

I'd like to hear from who's done this already. Thanks

 

[Beau Slim]

A "Fusion Drive" is actually 2 drives, an SSD and a spinning HD. Apple's software combines them into a single virtual disk. According to everymac.com, your particular model already uses a 128GB NVMe SSD as part of your "Fusion Drive".

Since the SSD portion of a Fusion disk acts as a fast cache, most of your (currently being edited) project files will already be on an NVMe SSD. So, if you work on very large projects that total a lot more than 128GB, you will probably see an improvement. If not, you might not.

If I were you, I'd get an external Thunderbolt 3 SSD enclosure, put a fast NVMe SSD in it, and use that for project files.

 

[Mmazzilli73]

Thanks. That is what I told them… the upgrade company. They said that Fusion is more marketing than else and that the fact that all I use is already on NvME is not really true and there are speed compromises already. Also a new NvME (1tb) will have a faster speed (speed seems to go along with size with these). I never keep jobs on my internal HD… these will always be on an external separate HD. My current is an ssd raid that’s fast but not incredibly fast (around 500). I will change it in the future but this is a separate discussion.

So… I agree with your thoughts… but do you have any real experience in upgrading it this way? Because they insist I could gain a 30% minimum in speed not only in starting applications but in using it.

but I would like to speak with somebody who actually did an upgrade. Thanks

 

[Nguyen Duc Hieu]

A Thunderbolt 3 box is 120$~180$
1TB nVME blade: 110$ ~ 180$.
nVME gen 3 speed varying from 1600MB/s to 3000MB/s depending on brand.

I would just go with the shop's offer, if the nVME brand is well-known enough. It's neater when everything you need are kept in-side the machine, and it will spare 1 free Thunderbolt port for other uses you may need in the future.

Feeling about the speed:
I have both nVME gen 4 and 2.5" SATA drive in my PC, benchmarking speed of the nVME is 6 times of the SATA drive.
But in daily working, the difference is not too significant.

 

[Mmazzilli73]

Thanks