Working with External SSD on a (late-2015) iMac 5K

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Working with External SSD on a (late-2015) iMac 5K

JoeTaylorCinema

Hello all,

I have been editing 4K PRORES well enough using a RAID spinner system until recently the drive died. This raid was connected to one of the Thunderbolt-2 inputs on my (late-2015) iMac 5K.

I'd like to begin editing again using an external SSD. Most of the ones I've seen are USB-C (Thunderbolt 3). Could I use an external SSD going from the drive and it's USB-C cable to an adapter (Thunderbolt-3 to Thunderbolt-2) and into my late-2015?! /Users/Handcranked_Films/Desktop/Screen Shot 2022-02-07 at 12.42.58 PM.png

joelwsmith

JoeTaylorCinema

Hey Joe, thanks for reaching out. I apologize for the delay while I figured out my HTTPS issue this last week.

This situation is a bit tricky. You can technically use Thunderbolt 3 drives through Thunderbolt 2 ports, but you have to be careful with the adapter you use. I would only recommend using the Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter.

You also usually have to use self powered, not bus powered, drives because nearly all adapters don't use power delivery. So that unfortunately will limit your options significantly.

You may want to consider using bare SSDs in an enclosure. This is probably what I would do in your situation. That way you can simply swap out the enclosure if/when you upgrade to a USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 computer.

JoeTaylorCinema

Hello Joel, I've read a little about external bays, but how are external bays connected to the iMac system?

As far as running the drive through the thunderbolt 2 port, if I use the correct adapters such as the Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter that you linked, would that be enough to edit 4k PRORES files?

There are two drives I am looking at on Sweetwater. Both say "USB C compatible," the LaCie claiming "USB-C and USB 3.0 Compatibility." I'm not sure if that simply means that USB-C and TB-3 cables work since they are physically the same.

It will be some time before I buy a new system, so I'm hoping a newer SSD will be enough until i finish this project.

Thank you Joel!!!

joelwsmith

JoeTaylorCinema

I've read a little about external bays, but how are external bays connected to the iMac system?

Any external drive is just a drive in an enclosure with the proper chipset and protocols that allows it to connect to and communicate with the computer. The only difference is you buy one that includes the drive(s) already (external SSDs) or you buy one that you can put your own drive(s) into (external enclosures or docks). The plus side to purchasing just an enclosure is you can get a Thunderbolt 2 version and then add your own SSDs instead of having to worry about an adapter or dock and whether or not the the Thunderbolt 3 drive will work properly through that adapter or dock.

The biggest issue with Thunderbolt 2 enclosures is that it's been quite a few years since Thunderbolt 3 was released, so they're becoming hard to find.

But here is a Thunderbolt 2 enclosure I'm referring to: AKiTiO Thunder2 Quad. It plugs into the iMac directly with a Thunderbolt 2 to Thunderbolt 2 cable and you put your own 2.5" SATA SSDs in the enclosure.

As far as running the drive through the thunderbolt 2 port, if I use the correct adapters such as the Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter that you linked, would that be enough to edit 4k PRORES files?

Possibly, yes. Just keep in mind you're limited to Thunderbolt 2's bandwidth limitations instead of Thunderbolt 3's. So if you buy a Thunderbolt 3 SSD that is faster than the bandwidth limitations of Thunderbolt 2 then you will not get the full speed from that drive.

There are two drives I am looking at on Sweetwater. Both say "USB C compatible," the LaCie claiming "USB-C and USB 3.0 Compatibility." I'm not sure if that simply means that USB-C and TB-3 cables work since they are physically the same.

USB-C is just a connector type. Thunderbolt 3 and USB both use USB-C connectors. What is more important is that you use a certified Thunderbolt cable and that the drive supports Thunderbolt if you want the best performance and reliability.

I'm also not sure what drives you're looking at, but keep in mind what I said in my earlier comment - you have to use drives that are self powered if you want to use the Apple TB3/TB2 adapter or regular Thunderbolt 2 enclosures/drives.

JoeTaylorCinema

Hello Joel, might this work per your recommendations? Has AC power. 2TB

Glyph Thunderbolt 3 NVMe Dock - 2TB SSD

Would go Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 with apple's adapter. /Users/Handcranked_Films/Desktop/Screen Shot 2022-02-15 at 12.52.46 PM.png

joelwsmith

JoeTaylorCinema

Yes, that should definitely work. Just keep in mind you won't get the full speed the enclosure or the drive(s) are capable of with Thunderbolt 2.

However, that's not quite what I meant with my enclosure recommendation. The enclosure was recommended if you choose to go with a direct Thunderbolt 2 connection. That way you can just upgrade to a better/faster enclosure and keep the drives if you ever upgrade the machine (which I recommend doing considering any hardware more than 7 years old is considered obsolete and unsupported by Apple).

If you're going to stick with Thunderbolt 3 and use the adapter, then basically any Thunderbolt 3 drive with AC power should do just fine.