External SSD for iMac

I've got an iMac (late 2012) and I'm thinking about getting an external SSD.

I'm thinking about getting this Samsung 250GB, however, I'm not sure what I need to connect it to my iMac.

1. Would something like this USB to SATA cable be sufficient?

2. I've heard mentions of Thunderbolt but is this recommended?

3. Would I need to do anything to the SSD to get it to work with my iMac or would it work 'out of the box'?

That ad for that drive is a bit confusing as it says: "250GB USB portable external hard drive", but to me it appears, at least as shown, as a bare drive and no enclosure that would normally have at least a USB connection.

Likewise for that adapter, that's to fit a drive to an existing connector.

Unless I'm completely out to lunch.

Most external drives look like these:
http://eshop.macsales.com/search/ssd+external+hard+drive
http://www.newegg.ca/External-SSDs/SubCategory/ID-2022

As stated it would need to be mounted in a caddy, enclosure or a docking device.

Thunderbolt would be the fastest but they are dear. After that USB3..

I would NOT at all bother using SSD externally if not attached via Thunderbolt or eSATA. A USB SSD is an expensive waste IMO.

Dysfunction said:

I would NOT at all bother using SSD externally if not attached via Thunderbolt or eSATA. A USB SSD is an expensive waste IMO.

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I haven't checked what the USB 3.0 speed would be that that 2012 should have, but I'd also suggest that an SSD as an external would be overkill.

I'd sure do some checking on speed and dollar value. Even with a TB drive.

pm-r said:

I haven't checked what the USB 3.0 speed would be that that 2012 should have, but I'd also suggest that an SSD as an external would be overkill.

I'd sure do some checking on speed and dollar value. Even with a TB drive.

Click to expand...

USB3 isn't fast enough to over-run a rotational drive either enough to justify the additional costs. It's faster, that is true.. but about half the speed of TB.