Does a SSD external drive need to be powered?

Hi Everyone

I have 2 external 7200 rpm mains powered drives by G Technology.

 

I want to replace them with SSD drives, do these need to be mains powered for Logic? or are the mobile ones fine? if so, is this one fine? https://www.jigsaw24.com/products/g-technology-g-drive-ev-raw-ssd-500gb-x078aam#

 

Many thanks

I loaded the cheapest usb3 case with my ssd.

Literally a $14 snap together case

Not powered.

 

i run all my third party instruments off it and have not had one glitch or hiccup for over two years

 

Hope that helps

 

Drew

Thank you

Though I have no idea what you mean :" I loaded the cheapest USB Case with my ssd" !?

I have no idea what you mean :" I loaded the cheapest USB Case with my ssd" !?

 

You can often save money by buying your own enclosure and the bare drive.

You can get internal SSD drives like Samsung EVO, QVO series and put them in a 2.5 enclosure which are really cheap

or even can use just a SATA to USB cable which the simple cases are really nothing more than this.

 

I use this case (which is on the expensive side) for two 4TB Samsung EVO internal SSD drives and it works without power.

https://www.owcdigital.com/products/mercury-elite-pro-dual-mini

I got this because I did not want to use 2 Thunderbolt ports of my MBP for 2 SSDs but if you will only use one drive, any cheap enclosure will do.

Thanks everyone, though i am not really asking about cases, cheers for the info

I just wanna know that a bus powered SSD drive is fine, rather than having to be a mains powered one!

Bus-powered SSD drives are just fine. Plug them directly in to you Mac, or plug them in to a properly powered USB 3 hub.

 

The cheap USB3 enclosures get the power needed from the bus.

Bus-powered SSD drives are just fine. Plug them directly in to you Mac, or plug them in to a properly powered USB 3 hub.

 

The cheap USB3 enclosures get the power needed from the bus.

Thank you!

Thanks everyone

Will this one be ok? https://www.apple.com/uk/shop/product/HLRB2VC/A/g-technology-1tb-g-drive-mobile-ssd-r-series-storage

Yeah but it's a lot of money. Check out the Samsung options deffo.

Thanks everyone

Will this one be ok? https://www.apple.com/uk/shop/product/HLRB2VC/A/g-technology-1tb-g-drive-mobile-ssd-r-series-storage

Probably ok but a bit expensive. This would suffice: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Samsung-MU-PA1T0B-Portable-SSD-1TB/dp/B074M774TW/&tag=loprhe-20

Thanks everyone

Will this one be ok? https://www.apple.com/uk/shop/product/HLRB2VC/A/g-technology-1tb-g-drive-mobile-ssd-r-series-storage

Probably ok but a bit expensive. This would suffice: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Samsung-MU-PA1T0B-Portable-SSD-1TB/dp/B074M774TW/&tag=loprhe-20

 

I checked that one, but I cant find out if its compatible with El Capitan, also its not formatted for MAC unfortunately, I dont really want to get into formatting tbh

I bought a cheapo SATA-USB cable (about 5 €), works just fine, no power needed.

The formatting really isn't hard. Open Disk Utility, select your drive, then the Erase tab, then choose APFS. The one David suggested is exFat (as are all Samsungs I think) so will open in Disk Utility so that it can be reformatted.

Amazon.co.uk has Crucial 1TB SSD listed for 82.83 GBP, a UGREEN snap-together enclosure (the ones I use) is listed for 14.99 GBP. Get the parts, spend the 5 minutes with Disk Utility (it's worth it) and save the 117 GBP - better yet - buy 2 !

I checked that one, but I cant find out if its compatible with El Capitan, also its not formatted for MAC unfortunately, I dont really want to get into formatting tbh

You don't need to worry about a drive being compatible with your MacOS, any current drive will work with El Capitan. As for formatting, I always format all drives I purchase myself, even if they were already formatted for Mac. It takes a few seconds and that way I can control exactly how I format it.

 

 

The only stressful thing about formatting a drive is erasing data that is on it, but if you're buying a new drive, there's no data on there to start with, so no stress! All you need to do is open Disk Utility and erase the drive, choosing the desired format: https://support.apple.com/guide/disk-utility/erase-and-reformat-a-storage-device-dskutl14079/20.0/mac/11.0

I checked that one, but I cant find out if its compatible with El Capitan, also its not formatted for MAC unfortunately, I dont really want to get into formatting tbh

You don't need to worry about a drive being compatible with your MacOS, any current drive will work with El Capitan. As for formatting, I always format all drives I purchase myself, even if they were already formatted for Mac. It takes a few seconds and that way I can control exactly how I format it.

 

 

The only stressful thing about formatting a drive is erasing data that is on it, but if you're buying a new drive, there's no data on there to start with, so no stress! All you need to do is open Disk Utility and erase the drive, choosing the desired format: https://support.apple.com/guide/disk-utility/erase-and-reformat-a-storage-device-dskutl14079/20.0/mac/11.0

 

 

Thank you for this David, If I do get a drive which needs formatting I feel more confident about it now, though I do like G Technology, but I will take another look at stuff.

Cheers

The formatting really isn't hard. Open Disk Utility, select your drive, then the Erase tab, then choose APFS. The one David suggested is exFat (as are all Samsungs I think) so will open in Disk Utility so that it can be reformatted.

 

 

Thank you!

I have used G-Technology drives and they're good, but the one you linked to is frankly overpriced IMO.

I have used G-Technology drives and they're good, but the one you linked to is frankly overpriced IMO.

 

yep, it does seem to be pricey compared to others.

 

Thank you

You're welcome kerochan, good luck whatever you choose to do.

Does anyone know this store in UK called CCKTech ?

The G tecnology drive I am looking at is almost £50 cheaper than the Apple store., how can this be so?

 

https://ccktech.com/product/g-technology-g-drive-mobile-ssd/?attribute_pa_capacity=1tb&utm_source=Google%20Shopping&utm_campaign=Copy%20Copy%20Google%20Shopping&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=27409&gclid=Cj0KCQjw4v2EBhCtARIsACan3nw13Egg4uBSc93u9jPi_v3dEbSOCkXNZ3hH8D2OCG4INiVsqV0vxAcaAiXhEALw_wcB#description

Quite a few of the third party products in the Apple store can be found cheaper at other dealers. I only buy through Apple if the product is exclusive, otherwise I buy elsewhere.

Yes indeed you typically pay high prices when purchasing straight from Apple. Even Mac computers themselves can often be found cheaper at other retailers than when buying direct from Apple.

Thanks lads. Now I read that the cable is only 12cm! is too short as my Macbook Pro is on a stand! I think I might go for the Samsung t5 instead and format it. But I have read that it doesn't work with recent OS! fine for me at the moment on El Capitan, but at some point I will have a new computer. I cant believe its that difficult just to a get 1tb SSD drive which works with USB3 , preferably formatted for Mac and with a long enough cable!

But I have read that it doesn't work with recent OS!

Where have you read that?

But I have read that it doesn't work with recent OS!

Where have you read that?

 

Hi David

I read two reviews already that its not compatible with Catalina. On UK websites

I read two reviews already that its not compatible with Catalina. On UK websites

There's no "compatibility" between an SSD and an OS: any SSD is compatible with any OS, it's just plug and play, and then you format the SSD for the OS you're using. For an external SSD you need only to check that the SSD has the right connector for your Mac (for example USB3). If you give us a link to the review perhaps we can see what they're talking about. Maybe they're talking about the Samsung software that can be used with the SSD — however you don't need to install the software to use the SSD on your Mac.

I read two reviews already that its not compatible with Catalina. On UK websites

There's no "compatibility" between an SSD and an OS: any SSD is compatible with any OS, it's just plug and play, and then you format the SSD for the OS you're using. For an external SSD you need only to check that the SSD has the right connector for your Mac (for example USB3). If you give us a link to the review perhaps we can see what they're talking about. Maybe they're talking about the Samsung software that can be used with the SSD — however you don't need to install the software to use the SSD on your Mac.

 

Thank you so much for your time David

Maybe they are talking about the Samsung software ? not sure about the first review though.

I use 2 Samsung SSD without problems in Catalina and Big Sur.

What is not compatible is as you said the Samsung Software which is PC only and I don't know why would one need that software. I have never used an HDD or SSD software in my life