Imac 5K, Extra storage options

Les McLean

Les McLean

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Seriously considering one of the new 5k Imacs., and although there is 1TB internal storage, I have 5TB of internal hard drives (2x2TB+1TB) in my current Hackintosh that I'd like to swap over to use on the Imac.
What are the best options for storing these 5TB of hard drives that I can access them directly from the Imac.
I don't need a NAS or a streaming solution, just an effective & fast method of accessing the content (image back up/documents/mp3/films/TV shows etc)
I have a 1TB Time Capsule that takes care of my Time Machine backups.
 
Take a look at a OWC Mercury Elite Pro Raid. It will be very quick but could be costly.
 
Thanks for all the help, it is appreciated, I've gone for the ICYBay USB3 4 Bay Enclosure, which will hold my 5TB of Hard Drives, I did look at thunderbolt option, but as mentioned, thunderbolt is expensive, and might be overkill for what I need.
I've specced the Imac with a 256GB SSD instead if the 2TB Fusion Drive, upgraded to 4.0Ghz i7 Processor and have ordered an extra 16GB memory (Crucial) to make 24GB, so should keep me going for a few years.
 
What memory did you buy. My new iMac is on order but Crucial were adamant that they didn't have RAM for the new Late 2015 iMac.

I ended up getting it from Mr Memory.
 
I've spoken to Crucial few days ago and they confirmed they haven't got the RAM for new iMacs 5K in stock yet... It's weird that you managed to get it from different site, and it's from crucial...
 
Well, I'll check with them again today. Did you already installed the RAM? Is it working ok?
 
Still not available... I think they're trying to sort out bigger 16gb modules as the new 27" iMacs are upgradeable up to 64gb
 
The RAM that crucial have are 1866Mhz. The new iMac uses 1867Mhz. Although the memory I got from Mr memory are 1866Mhz, they have assured me that they are compatible and will work fine. I wonder if Apple have called the RAM something obscure in the hopes of people buying it from them after finding them difficult to source.

Unfortunately, whilst I have received the RAM, I am still waiting for the iMac so can't verify this.

CCL have also sold the OP 1866mhz chips from crucial.
 
Last edited:
ecoleman said:
The RAM that crucial have are 1866Mhz. The new iMac uses 1867Mhz. Although the memory I got from Mr memory are 1866Mhz, they have assured me that they are compatible and will work fine. I wonder if Apple have called the RAM something obscure in the hopes of people buying it from them after finding them difficult to source.
Click to expand...

A slight difference in speed is probably not important provided that the other specs are identical.
 
Andy Taylor said:
A slight difference in speed is probably not important provided that the other specs are identical.
Click to expand...

Agreed.1mhz is probably not going to make any difference. It seems that everybody is recommending 1866mhz except for crucial

Either they know something nobody else does, or they are missing out on quite a few sales.

Hopefully, I'll be able to confirm that by Tuesday.
 
Fazi27 said:
I've spoken to Crucial few days ago and they confirmed they haven't got the RAM for new iMacs 5K in stock yet... It's weird that you managed to get it from different site, and it's from crucial...
Click to expand...

I know, when Elliot mentioned Crucial didn't have memory for the latest Imac, I checked with CCL to make sure it was the correct memory, and they confirmed it was.
My Imac & memory arrive Monday, so I'll know for definite then.
 
Had a quick try out of the IcyCube 4 Bay USB3 Dock with my current set-up, did a quick copy/paste a number of files (37GB, 142000 files in 12 folders) from an SSD in computer (SATA 6GB Port) to a range of destinations using both types of hard drive (SSD & conventional HD) , reflecting typical file storage/back-up I'll be using, I also wanted to compare speed against an internal copy (6GBSATA-6GBSATA), here are the results, SATA to USB3 is pretty quick, although copying SSD to SSD was significantly faster than SSD to HD for both internal copying and internal to USB3. I did try SSD to USB2 but was painfully slow.
So although the test was unscientific, and there are plenty of other factors that influence drive/copy speeds, the USB3 4 BAY Dock will more than meet my needs.

Screen Shot 2015-10-25 at 1.18.10 am.jpg
 
ecoleman said:
Agreed.1mhz is probably not going to make any difference. It seems that everybody is recommending 1866mhz except for crucial

Either they know something nobody else does, or they are missing out on quite a few sales.

Hopefully, I'll be able to confirm that by Tuesday.
Click to expand...

Well my iMac eventually arrived yesterday. New ram installed and everything works perfectly. Whilst I've added 1866mhz ram, the iMac does report them as 1867mhz.
 
Well, that sounds promising. I think it's time for an upgrade then.
 
Guys - one more thing. I have a G Technology 2tb drive on Firewire 800. As my new iMac do not have firewire, i was thinking about Thunderbolt-Firewire adapter. Do you know what kind of speeds can i expect? Same as on Firewire?
 
Fazi27 said:
Guys - one more thing. I have a G Technology 2tb drive on Firewire 800. As my new iMac do not have firewire, i was thinking about Thunderbolt-Firewire adapter. Do you know what kind of speeds can i expect? Same as on Firewire?
Click to expand...

Yes, the adapter is a full Firewire 800 interface, so the speeds will be comparable.
 
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