Can you use external SSD as main drive and external HDD as secondary drive at the same time?

Question

Can you use external SSD as main drive and external HDD as secondary drive at the same time?

I'm trying to choose between using enclosure for SSD as main drive and taking apart iMac for replacing HDD with SSD.

I have 8TB Seagate Backup for Hub (desktop external HDD) and a couple of 2TB portable external HDDs, I don't need to plug in more than one USB all the time. I usually play the videos on external HDD via USB (and mostly use DNLA that stream video from MacBook Air to TV). So I can't use it on iMac 'cause it has 5,400 RPM HDD. Playing video slow down other apps, even with external hard drive or transferring anything between external HDD and internal HDD.

I haven't bought internal SSD and USB 3.0 enclosure/USB adapter yet and it would be my first time trying. But I need to ask before I decide. I know external SSD is little slow with USB than internal SSD but still faster, anyway.

Have you used external SSD as main drive (or primary drive) on your Mac AND connected external HDD as secondary? Does it affect other app in use or anything while playing video on external HDD? Problems? Let me know.

iMac Line (2012 and Later)

Posted on Sep 11, 2019 8:17 AM

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Answer 1

rkaufmann87

Level 10

148,452 points

Sep 11, 2019 12:03 PM in response to matfromnewarko

Sure, you can use an external SSD as your primary drive, thousands of people have done just that. However, if you decide to do that ensure you get a good quality SSD and enclosure with a minimum of USB 3.1 speed, Thunderbolt would be better due to its speed. Once set up, you can reformat the internal HD and use it as additional storage.

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Answer 2

dwb

Level 7

33,220 points

Sep 11, 2019 9:28 AM in response to matfromnewarko

And I have 6 external drives connected to my 2018 mini which is often booted from one of those 6. I've actually had more than that mounted at one time without issue. As long as it has a valid system, the Mac doesn't care which drive it boots from or where the data is.

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Answer 3

rkaufmann87

Level 10

148,452 points

Sep 11, 2019 8:32 AM in response to matfromnewarko

My 2011 27" iMac has no less than 5 EHD's connected to it and runs perfectly.

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Answer 4

Sep 11, 2019 11:39 AM in response to dwb

Yeah, but what about external SSD as main/primary drive (not HDD)? If I used external SSD as main drive, I wouldn't have problem with connecting external HDD as secondary/backup drive?

(5,400 RPM HDD is really slower, like only runs less than 100mb/s so my iMac has 5,400 RPM HDD and that's why it takes so longer to open up application, that's why I decided to upgrade the hard drive and I would consider using enclosure for internal SSD temporarily until the right time to take apart the iMac for upgrade)

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Answer 5

dwb

Level 7

33,220 points

Sep 11, 2019 12:23 PM in response to matfromnewarko

No problem at all. I’m currently booting from an external SSD, have a second external drive as my TimeMachine drive and a third backing up with CarbonCopyCloner. At home I have a similar situation right now with yet another drive holding my media files.

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Can you use external SSD as main drive and external HDD as secondary drive at the same time?

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