External Thunderbolt SSD Bootdrive for 27" 2012 iMac

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

I'm thinking about getting a Thunderbolt SSD for my iMac to speed up boot times and application starts.

Here are what I was thinking my options were:
- LaCie Rugged 120GB Thunderbolt drive (~$200)
- Elgato 120GB Thunderbolt drive (~$200)
- Backup Plus Portable enclosure ($20-25 from eBay) + Samsung 840 Evo 120GB ($90) + Backup Plus Portable Thunderbolt adapter ($90) + Thunderbolt cable ($20).

I'm not sure which is the best option since the LaCie and Elgato both have been out for awhile and I'm having trouble finding them for a reasonable price from Amazon or Apple Store. The do-it-yourself option may be good since I can use my own SSD, but costs more. Speedwise, I think the LaCie and Elgato are about the same the do-it-yourself option may be the fastest speedwise.

Thoughts?

 

[Childs]

I use the 256GB version on the LaCie at work, and its pretty fast. A DIY would only be faster if you used something like an 840 Pro or EVO.

 

[dclive]

I did a DIY solution a while ago with a 256GB 840; I'm very pleased, and I can change it out with another SSD anytime.

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

What was your DIY solution?

 

[PeeluckyDuckee]

I simply use the Seagate portable thunderbolt adapter and cable and can switch amongst my various SSDs.

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

How do you keep the drive stable? Do you have an enclosure? Or is the SSD just lying on the thunderbolt adapter?

 

[PeeluckyDuckee]

No need for an enclosure at all, I just use a piece of cardboard to level it.

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

No need for an enclosure at all, I just use a piece of cardboard to level it.

I ended up spending $320 for the Seagate Thunderbolt adapter ($88), Thunderbolt cable ($37) and the Samsung 250GB EVO ($170). Those were from Amazon. I got the Backup Plus portable enclosure for $10 on Ebay. I'm hoping everything goes well since I'm probably going to Fusion drive it with my internal drive.

How about enabling TRIM?

 

[TheStu]

I ended up spending $320 for the Seagate Thunderbolt adapter ($88), Thunderbolt cable ($37) and the Samsung 250GB EVO ($170). Those were from Amazon. I got the Backup Plus portable enclosure for $10 on Ebay. I'm hoping everything goes well since I'm probably going to Fusion drive it with my internal drive.

How about enabling TRIM?

You can Fusion a TB external and the internal drive? That's wild.

Also, Fusion Drive is sick, I wish there was something equivalent to it in Windows world. WD even released the new Black2 that has a 120GB SSD in the same enclosure as a 1TB drive, and it's on 1 SATA connector! But nothing like Fusion.

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

You can Fusion a TB external and the internal drive? That's wild.

Also, Fusion Drive is sick, I wish there was something equivalent to it in Windows world. WD even released the new Black2 that has a 120GB SSD in the same enclosure as a 1TB drive, and it's on 1 SATA connector! But nothing like Fusion.

Yeah. Apparently you can Fusion from the command line and it's just like a regular Fusion drive. I've been reading the reviewing on how well it works and I'm liking what I'm seeing. Most of the data will live on the SSD anyways (since I got a 250GB), but the 1TB can keep the other stuff that isn't used much.

The only thing I'm worried about is updates to OS X, but I haven't seen anything that says doing a manual Fusion drive messes with updates (since it's not a Apple created one).

 

[vbuggy]

You can Fusion a TB external and the internal drive? That's wild.

Also, Fusion Drive is sick, I wish there was something equivalent to it in Windows world. WD even released the new Black2 that has a 120GB SSD in the same enclosure as a 1TB drive, and it's on 1 SATA connector! But nothing like Fusion.

If you really want tiering (and there are many situations where you wouldn't) there's Hyperduo.