External SSD recommendation

Jochen Mönch

Hello,

I hope I landed in the right category :)

I just updated from K12 CE to K14 CE. I would like to switch to a MAC Studio soon and move the library to an external 4 TB drive. Is it absolutely necessary to use a Thunderbolt connection or is USB 3.1 sufficient? Is an NVMe (e.g. Sandisk Extreme Portable) required or is it enough e.g. the Crucial X8? Can it be that the SSD are more durable than the NVMe SSD? Do you have a recommendation for an external harddrive for me? Thanks & greetings

LostInFoundation

First thing to check is if your HW even supports NVMe.

That said, I would say that any of the possibilities you listed would be sufficient. Of course with difference in speed, but often not that noticeable.

About suggestions, I’ll tell you what I use: the Samsung t7 is for me more than capable and even plugging it with an USB C to USB A adaptor sometimes is fast enough for me.

About NVMe, on Kingston’s site there is this analogy, that is quite well made in my opinion:

”A SSD is the Formula One race car of storage while spinning drives are more like an old family sedan. The SSD can only go as fast as the road it's riding on. If you put a Formula One car on a race track (NVMe) it's going to travel at it's full potential, but if you drive it on an old dirt road full of rocks (SATA) it needs to slow down.”

Kubrak

Generally, NVMe SSD is way, way faster than SATA SSD. One definitely notices difference if using several big Kontakt libraries.

I do not think SATA SSDs would be more durable than NVMe SSDs (when the both use comparable SSD memories).

LostInFoundation

First thing to check is if your HW even supports NVMe.

That said, I would say that any of the possibilities you listed would be sufficient. Of course with difference in speed, but often not that noticeable.

About suggestions, I’ll tell you what I use: the Samsung t7 is for me more than capable and even plugging it with an USB C to USB A adaptor sometimes is fast enough for me.

About NVMe, on Kingston’s site there is this analogy, that is quite well made in my opinion:

”A SSD is the Formula One race car of storage while spinning drives are more like an old family sedan. The SSD can only go as fast as the road it's riding on. If you put a Formula One car on a race track (NVMe) it's going to travel at it's full potential, but if you drive it on an old dirt road full of rocks (SATA) it needs to slow down.”

Jochen Mönch

Thank you for the quick reply. I have also had good experiences with Samsung so far :-) I just ordered the T7 in the 2TB version. That should be enough for now. Thanks again!

Kubrak

Generally, NVMe SSD is way, way faster than SATA SSD. One definitely notices difference if using several big Kontakt libraries.

I do not think SATA SSDs would be more durable than NVMe SSDs (when the both use comparable SSD memories).

Jochen Mönch

Thanks for your answer too. I bought the t7 and am currently loading the new instruments into the library. I'll try it out tomorrow. :) When I eventually have the MacStudio, I'll buy an external TB-case for the NVMe-SSD that's currently working in my computer.