thetoolwiz2

Q: Hybrid drive vs. fusion drive performance

I just got a new Mac Mini (Oct 2012) and it has a 1TB drive in it.

 

I'm going to use it to replace an older Mac Mini in which I installed a 500GB Momentus XT hybrid drive.

 

That sucker ran a LOT faster than the original drive that was in there, even though there's only 4GB of flash cache on it.

 

As I understand things, I can add an SSD to my machine and Disk Utility will configure it to work with my existing drive and make it look like a fusion drive.

 

The other option is a 1TB hybrid drive from Seagate.  They don't call them Momentus XT any more, just SSHD or something like that.  It has an 8GB flash cache on it.

 

Here's my question: is a "fusion drive" configuration with 128GB or 250GB of SSD going to be noticeably faster than a 1TB hybrid drive?

 

Or will the hybrid drive get me ~90% of what the fusion drive configuration will do?

 

What would you do, and why?

Mac mini, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.3)

Posted on Apr 19, 2013 5:04 PM

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Q: Hybrid drive vs. fusion drive performance

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  • by tbirdvet,

    tbirdvet tbirdvet Oct 3, 2014 12:22 PM in response to Zarquon42
    Level 4 (3,008 points)
    Oct 3, 2014 12:22 PM in response to Zarquon42

    I disagree.  The test you reference was comparing working with files (like copying, etc.) which I agree the difference between Hybrid and standard drive is small.  However repetitive tasks like opening apps over and over again the hybrid is much faster as it "remembers' the task you are performing.  I have all 3 drives and the standard drive is much slower in everyday tasks.  However, the hybrid drive I have is the previous Seagate 7200 Momentus which is faster than today's model (5400)

  • by frannbug,

    frannbug frannbug Jun 6, 2015 6:12 AM in response to thetoolwiz2
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Apple TV
    Jun 6, 2015 6:12 AM in response to thetoolwiz2

    I have tried all four types of drive, HDD, hybrid, SSD and fusion in my machines at home. On a scale of 1 to 10, where HDD drive is 1 and SSD is 10, I would put the hybrid drive at 3 and the Fusion drive at 9.5. The Fusion drive is blisteringly fast. The Hybrid drive (a Toshiba one with 8gb SSD) was a bit of a disappointment and didn't appear to make a vast amount of difference.

    There is a YouTube video that shows you how to set up a pair of drives as a Fusion drive with a couple of simple Terminal commands. I'm really tempted to try this in my 2006 MBP which already has a 1TB HDD and a 256GB SSD in it. Only thing holding me back is that you have to format the drives as they will be repartitioned in the process.

  • by j'ski,

    j'ski j'ski Apr 9, 2016 11:46 AM in response to Zarquon42
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Windows Software
    Apr 9, 2016 11:46 AM in response to Zarquon42

    Did you do this?  Can you update us on the results?

  • by j'ski,

    j'ski j'ski Apr 9, 2016 11:48 AM in response to frannbug
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Windows Software
    Apr 9, 2016 11:48 AM in response to frannbug

    Did you do this?  I am wondering how/whether to update/upgrade my 2009 27" iMac, which currently has one 2T internal drive and is painfully slow.

  • by frannbug,

    frannbug frannbug Apr 10, 2016 7:42 AM in response to j'ski
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Apple TV
    Apr 10, 2016 7:42 AM in response to j'ski

    No, I'm afraid I didn't try it. I am generally loathe to try using Terminal as I wouldn't be able to know the best course of action if I got unexpected results. I don't understand how it works as I haven't learned enough programming. I have no qualms about cracking my computers open and tinkering under the bonnet, though, so I did buy a bigger SSD and swapped that out. 512gb SSD alongside a 1tb HD, both internal, makes a massive difference to the old dear!

     

    Cleaning out the fans can also make a vast difference to an elderly MBP. I managed to clean the right fan but lost my nerve with the left one as it is buried under other components.

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