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User profile for user: Dan Neumann
Dan Neumann Author
User level: Level 1
51 points

External SSD Recommendations for Mac Pro (Late 2013)

Hi, my current external HD that I use for Time Machine backup seems to be dying. I would like to replace it fairly quickly.


I have a Mac Pro (Late 2013) running Monterey (which I don't think I can upgrade past on this machine). The tower has 4 USB 3 ports and 6 Thunderbolt 2 ports.


Any suggestions? I just want to make sure I get something with compatible cables that will for sure mount on this older computer. Thanks very much!

iMac 21.5″, macOS 10.13

Posted on May 28, 2024 9:03 AM

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4 replies
User profile for user: Grant Bennet-Alder
Grant Bennet-Alder
User level: Level 10
134,623 points

May 28, 2024 9:18 AM in response to Dan Neumann

ThunderBolt-2 ports are great... for connecting displays. ThunderBolt-2 use for other purposes never really caught on.


Time machine does not benefit from a drive that is FAST. Do not pay extra for a FAST drive.


USB-3 ports can run a drive enclosures at speeds of 5,000 Megabits/sec, equivalent to 500 M Bytes/sec. The fastest rotating magnetic drives can produce a burst of data at a maybe 125 M Bytes/sec, but steady state, they run at more like 50 M Bytes/sec.


The internal speed limit for SATA enclosures is around 550 M Bytes/sec. Pushing everything as fast as SATA would go would barely slow down a far less expensive SATA enclosure on a USB-3 cable.


Faster enclosures would require using NVME modules instead.

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External SSD Recommendations for Mac Pro (Late 2013)

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