Fusion drive vs. SSD

[lclev]

I am looking at an iMac for work. Used in the 2015-2017 year range. I am debating on the virtues of a fusion drive versus an SSD. I can get a lot more storage with a fusion drive but I am skeptical as to their reliability. I have a budget amount of $700 so used is what I am planning. My quest for all macs at work is within my grasp!!!

Opinions are welcome!

Lisa

 

[IWT]

Hi Lisa

Always a personal opinion based on personal experience.

I got one of the early Fusion iMacs being, at that time, the only realistic choice. I found that it worked fine, but experienced the following:

In order to utilise the faster SSD part which is small, storage wise, I was advised by Apple, at the time, to move my home folder to the SSD. Exact details escape my memory, but things went okay till they didn't and I had to send the iMac to Apple under warranty.

It never worked properly from then on. On 2 or 3 occasions the "Fusion" broke and Apple had to talk me through the process of uniting them, via Terminal - which is scary if, like me, I have zero Terminal skills.

Oh, BTW, when you do TM backups, they work as you'd expect, but in fact they create 2 BUs - SSD and Spinner - and I only found this out when I got my next iMac and had to do 2 transfers from TM to the new iMac with a single spinner. More problems. Apple to the rescue.

As your purchase would be out of warranty, I'd advise against Fusion. Now, my experience may be a one-off. But I'd go for the SSD as it will be way faster and you wouldn't have to worry about potential Fusion issues.

NB. A very personal opinion.

Ian

 

[lclev]

Thanks Ian. I just needed some input and was thinking I should avoid them but the lure of all that storage space.... I think I will just say no to the Fusion options. I just got my last holdout on board with changing to a mac and I don't want to have issues with it from the start.

Lisa

 

[pigoo3]

My 2 cents. Try to get an iMac with an SSD already in place. If not...and you can get a great deal on an iMac with a Fusion drive...DIY time...replace the Fusion Drive with an SSD.

SSD prices seem much more affordable than they used to...thus you could get the speed of an SSD...and better SSD storage amounts too.

Yes newer iMac's are a pain in butt to get into...but you can do it!

Nick

p.s. Just an option to consider if you're feeling DIY-ish!

 

[Randy B. Singer]

Here is an interesting source for used and refurbished Macs that I've had excellent success with in the past:

https://www.groupon.com

One option, with regard to what internal hard drive to get, is to get an iMac with the smallest, cheapest internal hard drive you can find, and then purchase an external SSD, and set it to be your boot (startup) drive. Here is a fast, inexpensive, 1TB external SSD:

Crucial X8 1TB Portable SSD – Up to 1050MB/s – USB 3.2 – External Solid State Drive, USB-C, USB-A – CT1000X8SSD9
$100
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07YD5TK4F/

 

[lclev]

Randy - I had checked out Groupon, OWC, Mac2Sell and a few others. Settled on eBay. Cheapest price from a reputable seller. I have always had good luck on eBay and I like using PayPal.

I found my co-worker a 27" 2017 i5 with 500 SSD. All she does is email, word and excel docs, some Teams or Zoom and that is it. The one I purchased comes with a 1 year warrantee from Allstate included, free shipping, 30 day return with seller paying shipping.

Lisa