Information for new hard drive: Hi all: I am needing to replace my 9 year old iMac 21.5 inch desktop computer. In looking at the specs on the Apple site I see options for Fusion drive...

clixpix Loc: Surprise, Arizona

Hi all:

I am needing to replace my 9 year old iMac 21.5 inch desktop computer. In looking at the specs on the Apple site I see options for Fusion drive or an SSD. Can you folks tell me the difference between the two types of drives and which one you would select for you new computer.

Thanks for forthcoming help.

Joe

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

clixpix wrote:

Hi all:

I am needing to replace my 9 year old iMac 21.5 inch desktop computer. In looking at the specs on the Apple site I see options for Fusion drive or an SSD. Can you folks tell me the difference between the two types of drives and which one you would select for you new computer.

Thanks for forthcoming help.

Joe

Joe,

Apple's Fusion Drive combines hard disk and SSD storage in a drive that appears to the operating system as a single volume. Hard disks provide a lot of storage for a low cost per gigabyte, but they're relatively slow. SSDs — solid-state drives — are much faster but can cost over 5 times more per gigabyte.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

To me the speed difference is not worth the price difference.
Mechanical drives work faster than I can, and if something takes a second or two more, I can wait.
(I also don't need the latest and greatest innovation.)

Your choice really.

Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.

clixpix wrote:

Hi all:

I am needing to replace my 9 year old iMac 21.5 inch desktop computer. In looking at the specs on the Apple site I see options for Fusion drive or an SSD. Can you folks tell me the difference between the two types of drives and which one you would select for you new computer.

Thanks for forthcoming help.

Joe

The Fusion drive is not a bad option, BUT go with a 2 or 3 TB Fusion Drive to get the larger SSD portion ( 1 TB Fusion = 1 TB spinning plus a 24 GB SSD, 2-3 TB = a 2 or 3 TB spinning plus a 128 GB SSD)

chrissybabe Loc: New Zealand

I am not sure about this but I read somewhere that Fusion drives only spin at 5400 so will be quite slow. By adding a small SSD drive (or probably a very large cache) the overall average performance is better than a 5400rpm drive by itself. However it has moving parts. I personally wouldn't touch one with a barge pole but would rather have a 1TB SSD and a 7200rpm data drive of whatever size (plus, of course, 2 x 7200rpm drives for backup).

Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.

chrissybabe wrote:

I am not sure about this but I read somewhere that Fusion drives only spin at 5400 so will be quite slow. By adding a small SSD drive (or probably a very large cache) the overall average performance is better than a 5400rpm drive by itself. However it has moving parts. I personally wouldn't touch one with a barge pole but would rather have a 1TB SSD and a 7200rpm data drive of whatever size (plus, of course, 2 x 7200rpm drives for backup).

Depends on the spec...many 21.5 inch iMacs might be a 5400, but many of the 27” iMacs are a 7200, and the larger fusion drives will provide quite snappy performance as long as your OS & often used apps/data remain on the SSD portion. Definitely opt for a 2 or 3 TB fusion to get the 128 GB Flash memory.

Hamltnblue Loc: Springfield PA

Best option is an SSD (500 gig) plus a large hard drive for storage.
When doing post, I copy the files being worked on to the desktop (ssd) for speed. When done they go to the hard drive.

CaptainBobBrown

To me the issue with hard drives is that they spin at incredibly tight tolerances and eventually they will crash. SSD's have no moving parts so they should last a lot longer, barring electronic component failure. Neither is guaranteed to last forever so my choice is to go with the biggest SSD I can afford given current price points and then always backup.

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

I just upgraded to the new 27" oMac and love it. The new screen is unbelievable. I( don't store anything on mr mac. I have external drives (Has 2 connections for supper fast drives). I will not save anything on a Solid Stat Drive as if they fail (and all drives do) you ave a 0% chance of recovery. I now have 2 drives to save my work-- to always have a back-up.. I had one fail

clixpix Loc: Surprise, Arizona

Thanks to all who responded to my SSD/Fusion drive question. You all gave me lots to think about and I can be better informed when I visit the MAC store.

neillaubenthal

Go for the SSD. Fusion is a small SSD and a larger spinning rust drive. If either fails the whole volume dies. SSDs are faster and more reliable since no moving parts. Fusion was something Apple did to keep price down when SSDs were more expensive...prices have come down. Also better performance with the SSD...if you are editing photos in LR then you will notice the performance difference.