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SSD Thunderbolt for MacBook Pro (2013)

Old Timer

Old Timer

Active Member
Does anyone know of an SSD I can run from my MacBook Pro's (late 2013) thunderbolt connector. I see I can get Samsung SSDs for USB 2 and USB 3, but there doesn't seem to be much for thunderbolt.

I know about the Blackmagic multidock but this is kind of expensive. Is there a cheaper option I'm missing? I've spent the last hour looking online and nothing is popping up.

Currently both my USB connectors are in use and I have a 7,200 drive connected to the thunderbolt. The drive struggles with the orchestral libraries and I'm figuring an SSD would improve matters, but I'd like to use the thunderbolt if I can.

Any thoughts/advice would be, as ever, appreciated.

Yours, Old Timer.
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Old Timer said:
Does anyone know of an SSD I can run from my MacBook Pro's (late 2013) thunderbolt connector. I see I can get Samsung SSDs for USB 2 and USB 3, but there doesn't seem to be much for thunderbolt.

I know about the Blackmagic multidock but this is kind of expensive. Is there a cheaper option I'm missing? I've spent the last hour looking online and nothing is popping up.

Currently both my USB connectors are in use and I have a 7,200 drive connected to the thunderbolt. The drive struggles with the orchestral libraries and I'm figuring an SSD would improve matters, but I'd like to use the thunderbolt if I can.

Any thoughts/advice would be, as ever, appreciated.

Yours, Old Timer.
Click to expand...

https://www.amazon.com/Transcend-512GB-Thunderbolt-StoreJet-TS512GSJM500/dp/B00NV9LSEE/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1536253944&sr=8-10&keywords=thunderbolt+SSD (Transcend), https://www.amazon.com/gp/slredirect/picassoRedirect.html/ref=pa_sp_atf_aps_sr_pg1_2?ie=UTF8&adId=A04178863LVU4GZH2AJIM&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FLacie-Rugged-Thunderbolt-Portable-STFS500400%2Fdp%2FB071FWB8L2%2Fref%3Dsr_1_2_sspa%3Fie%3DUTF8%26qid%3D1536253944%26sr%3D8-2-spons%26keywords%3Dthunderbolt%2BSSD%26psc%3D1%26smid%3DA3JC02LVN0LU5G&qualifier=1536253944&id=3906387404396754&widgetName=sp_atf (Lacie), https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008D4X9UI/ref=sxbs_sxwds-stvpv2_2?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=6375e697-f226-4dbd-a63a-5ec697811ee1&pd_rd_wg=blY8p&pf_rd_r=P1P1RPDQYZ64MHRJNF9W&pf_rd_s=desktop-sx-bottom-slot&pf_rd_t=301&pd_rd_i=B008D4X9UI&pd_rd_w=DFAkR&pf_rd_i=thunderbolt+SSD+portable&pd_rd_r=c22a6b48-51bf-4434-ac75-2857854c2d4f&ie=UTF8&qid=1536254074&sr=2 (Buffalo), https://www.amazon.com/G-Technology-G-DRIVE-Thunderbolt-Portable-0G03040/dp/B00G9TZM22/ref=sr_1_27?ie=UTF8&qid=1536254218&sr=8-27&keywords=thunderbolt+enclosure (G-technology)

Ive already burned through a few buffalo SSDs. I find that SSDs eventually will die on you, and buying portable drives is a waste of money. Akitio used to have a really small RAID enclosure that could fit two SSDs in it. I believe they've updated it and added HDMI but removed the ability to daisy chain. If you're looking for another alternative, you can just buy an SSD, and use a https://www.amazon.com/G-Technology-0G03586-1TB-G-Drive-Thunderbolt/dp/B00SIJHO9K/ref=sr_1_52?ie=UTF8&qid=1536254286&sr=8-52&keywords=thunderbolt+enclosure (thunderbolt enclosure). at least that way, if the drive dies on you, you can just buy another SSD and swap it out.
 
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Old Timer said:
Thanks for your reply chocobitz825. I had another thought. Could I get a USB hub (like this, Amazon product ASIN B00N2D24QK) and just plug the SSD into that. Would it work do you think?
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There are a few things to consider. An SSD will be faster than a disk drive, period. However if you want to get the best out of those speeds, the type of connection is everything.

more%20speed.jpg



If I recall correctly, a 2013 MacBook has Thunderbolt 2 ports, which means you're getting the second best speed potential available. Thunderbolt 2 is still faster than all USB options right now. There are many (broken link removed) available that will let you plug in HDMI devices, usb devices, etc., and daisy chain thunderbolt devices, but if you plug a USB SSD device into a thunderbolt 2 hub's USB port you'll be restricted to USB speeds.

Ideally you would want a thunderbolt 2 SSD drive connected directly to your MacBook for the best speeds. Second best option is to daisy chain a Thunderbolt SSD through a thunderbolt hub. If you go the SSD route, really you'll see speed improvements no matter what, but it will be a waste considering the cost and overall potential of SSD Drives if you only use a USB-based SSD.
 
Unless the external SSD uses a PCIe/NVMe interface rather than SATA, you’re not going to see any benefit from Thunderbolt over USB 3. USB 3 is entirely capable of handling the bandwidth of external SATA SSDs, at lower cost than Thunderbolt enclosures. Personally, for sample library usage, I’d just buy a Samsung T5 and be done with it.

As for SSD longevity, the only SSD I’ve ever killed was a crappy off-brand with a SandForce controller. All my Samsung and Intel SSDs have been reliable, some of them for many years now.
 
Symfoniq said:
Unless the external SSD uses a PCIe/NVMe interface rather than SATA, you’re not going to see any benefit from Thunderbolt over USB 3. USB 3 is entirely capable of handling the bandwidth of external SATA SSDs, at lower cost than Thunderbolt enclosures. Personally, for sample library usage, I’d just buy a Samsung T5 and be done with it.

As for SSD longevity, the only SSD I’ve ever killed was a crappy off-brand with a SandForce controller. All my Samsung and Intel SSDs have been reliable, some of them for many years now.
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Hi - do you think it would work okay with a USB hub?
 
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