Fastest SSD/NVMe for an iMac (Late 2015)

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Fastest SSD/NVMe for an iMac (Late 2015)

This machine is working fine but is sooo slow. So it's external SSD/NVMe time. What do you recommend?

In my sleuthing I was wondering if you could do this rather contorted combination:

iMac Thunderbolt 2 to USB C
USB C to USB C/NVMe external box
NVMe card

This uses an awful lot of cables as no one appears to do a Thunderbolt 2 Male - USB C Male cable but the real question is would it technically work. You'd end up with the fastest external disk for the iMac if you could.

With many thanks for your ideas.

Posted on Aug 27, 2020 4:20 AM

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Answer 1

padams35

Level 4

3,629 points

Aug 27, 2020 6:55 AM in response to PerplexedOfPutney

If the external box is a Thunderbolt-3 device with its own power source then yes it would work.

USB-C (USB 3.1/3.2) devices do not work with Thunderbolt-2, but can run at USB 3.0 speeds by connecting to a USB port.
Thunderbolt-3 bus-powered devices usually don't work because there is a voltage/current bus-power mismatch between TB2 and TB3)

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Answer 2

padams35

Level 4

3,629 points

Aug 27, 2020 7:11 AM in response to PerplexedOfPutney

That's the simplest/cheapest option, yes, and probably all you need to revitalize a 21.5" 2015 with an anemic 5400rpm HDD.

However if you truly want maximum speed get an Akitio Thunder or Mercury Helios PCIe expansion box and drop an NVMe blade into an NVMe to PCIe adapter card.

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Answer 3

Aug 27, 2020 6:59 AM in response to padams35

So you're saying use a USB device - in which case got for a standard SATA/SSD?

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Answer 4

Aug 27, 2020 6:57 AM in response to DonH49

Many thanks - I have the 27". I should have made this clearer but rather than take the machine apart intend to install an external SSD/NVMe and move the O/S over to that... I presume this article refers to changing the internal disk?

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Answer 5

DonH49

Level 6

16,726 points

Aug 27, 2020 6:37 AM in response to PerplexedOfPutney

you are not going to get the ultimate speed externally you think you can. Read this article. If you can do it this is where the speed is going to be the best. I did this NVMe on my late 2015 MBPro and speeds were doubled. It write at 2600 and reads at 3100.

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Fastest SSD/NVMe for an iMac (Late 2015)

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