best external hard drive for 2011 imac?

I recommend drives from OWC (MacSales.com) as they have proven reliability, excellent customer support and warranties. 

OWC Mercury Elite Pro 7200 RPM Storage - excellent choice for Time Machine usage, inexpensive. I have a a 4 ½ year old 6 TB model running Time Machine and it has been a work horse and very reliable. Whatever brand you get get a drive that's about 2 ½ - 3 times the size of the drive you're backing up.

A 2011 iMac has FireWire 800 ports.

Other Word Computing has FireWire 800 / USB 3 drives, or an empty enclosure.

You can use the USB 3 when you upgrade to a new computer…

https://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/MSTG800U3K/

Make sure you get an external power supply…

https://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/MOTGPWR/

Thanks.

This drive should work for you: LaCie Rugged USB-C + USB 3.0 Portable Hard Drive - Apple. It is USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 compatible, so when you get a new Mac, it will work (and actually work faster).

Jack

I suggest an empty enclosure, then put a Samsung 870 Evo SSD inside.

The 870 is a replacement for the 860, which has been a very good drive…

I use Newegg for drives…

https://www.newegg.com/samsung-1tb-870-evo-series/p/N82E16820147793?Description=Samsung%20870%20eco&cm_re=Samsung_870%20eco-_-20-147-793-_-Product&quicklink=true

I also just wanted to let you know that the link I gave you was to a 4TB hard drive. It won't arrive until October (current Apple estimate), and you also might not need that much storage. A 2TB might be sufficient for you.

Welcome to the Apple Support Communities.

Your iMac does not have USB 3.0, just USB 2.0. That is a very slow connection. Are you planning to purchase a new Mac and use this backup drive to transfer information?

Jack

jpanock wrote:

Only got one cable. Dealing with Apple Support today was 😖 excruciating. Returning it and seems the only hard drive which comes with USB TO USB-C is the LaCie Rugged.

Didn’t you get the LaCie Rugged?

Just out of curiosity, what issue are you having with this Mac? We might be able to give you some pointers.

You are welcome.

Yes it can. Two cables are included, one of which is a USB-C to USB-A cable that will work.