Advice/opinions requested please re. Thunderbolt storage

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Level 1

4 points

Advice/opinions requested please re. Thunderbolt storage

I need to purchase some more storage for my MacBook Pro. SInce I will be storing and working on large photos speed is important.

I am considering purchasing a WD My Book Thunderbolt Duo 6TB (in RAID 0) but will need to daisy chain it between my Mac and it's monitor and am a little concerned about doing this… Just wondered if anyone has any experience of this and whether they would recommend it.

Any advice would be much appreciated….

Many thanks, Karen

P.S.

I only have USB2 ports on my Mac - so have discounted USB drives.

Mac OS X (10.7.5)

Posted on Apr 26, 2015 5:34 AM

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Answer 1

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dwb

Level 7

32,920 points

Apr 26, 2015 7:29 AM in response to KEP27

I’d never buy any external drive from Western Digital. They use proprietary chipsets and their customer support is industry worst class. Even though I like their drives just the bad experiences I’ve had with customer and tech support makes me think twice. Consider OWC or LaCie instead. I don’t have any experience with daisy chaining monitors with TB, just drives. Hope somebody can chime in top help there.

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Answer 2

KEP27 Author

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4 points

Apr 26, 2015 7:52 AM in response to dwb

Hi dwb,

Thank you very much for your response…..

I've had a quick look and I think OWC is US based (I'm in the UK) but have found the LaCie 4TB d2 Thinderbolt2 and USB 3 desktop hard drive so think this might be a good bet….?

I'm still hoping someone will be able to advise on the daisy chaining...

Many thanks, again….

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Answer 3

Csound1

Level 9

59,973 points

Apr 26, 2015 7:55 AM in response to KEP27

Theoretically the monitor can be placed at the end of any TB chain, (caveat) provided that everything in the chain is properly compliant with TB standards and the maximum device limit (7 I believe) is not exceeded.

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Answer 4

KEP27 Author

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4 points

Apr 26, 2015 7:59 AM in response to Csound1

Hi Csound1,

Thanks for your reply.

I would just like to chain it between my Dell monitor with Thunderbolt connection and my Macbook Pro….. Do you think this would be fine…?

Probably a stupid question but will I see any degradation on the monitor if I have the drive in between…?

Many thanks, Karen

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Answer 5

Csound1

Level 9

59,973 points

Apr 26, 2015 8:02 AM in response to KEP27

Does the Dell really have a TB input or is it a MiniDisplay Port (same connector, different abilities)

I have done this using an Apple TB monitor (and a Promise Raid) but have no knowledge of Dell monitors. But if it works there will be no degradation.

You can also use a TB hub (OWC make a good one)

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Answer 6

KEP27 Author

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Apr 26, 2015 8:08 AM in response to Csound1

Sorry, I have an HDMI to Thunderbolt cable to connect the monitor to my MacBook,,,,,, Would this still work please?

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Answer 7

Csound1

Level 9

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Apr 26, 2015 8:18 AM in response to KEP27

No.

(I think but have not tried, I have no Dell to try with)

Use a hub if it doesn't.

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Answer 8

KEP27 Author

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4 points

Apr 26, 2015 8:26 AM in response to Csound1

Hi,

Just to clarify...

Currently I connect my Dell Monitor into the Thunderbolt connector in my Macbook and it works fine…. But you think that I could not connect my monitor to the drive using the same Thunderbolt connector and then connect the drive to the Macbook…?

Apologies if I'm misunderstanding….

Many thanks, Karen

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Answer 9

Csound1

Level 9

59,973 points

Apr 26, 2015 8:31 AM in response to KEP27

I am saying that I can not know as I have not tested the configuration but my gut tells me no.

But if it does not work you could use the OWC dock, connect the monitor to it along with many many other things. It has a lot of connection options.

See below

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Answer 10

dwb

Level 7

32,920 points

Apr 26, 2015 8:36 AM in response to KEP27

CContact OWC customer support. I know several people who have purchased OWC items in the UK. Either they'll ship or there's a UK dealer of OWC stuff

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Answer 11

KEP27 Author

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4 points

Apr 26, 2015 8:38 AM in response to Csound1

Hi,

Thanks for your detailed reply… The hub looks good…

However, I did a quick search for it and I don't think it is available in the UK….. 😟

I'll keep looking but thanks very much for your help….

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Answer 12

Csound1

Level 9

59,973 points

Apr 26, 2015 8:39 AM in response to dwb

When I am home, in London, I use OWC exclusively, I buy RAM, SSD's and everything else Mac from them and no-one else. Where I happen to be in the world does not alter that.

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Answer 13

KEP27 Author

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Apr 26, 2015 8:39 AM in response to KEP27

I've just seen dwb's message above...

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Answer 14

KEP27 Author

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Apr 26, 2015 8:40 AM in response to Csound1

Thanks, I will….

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Answer 15

Csound1

Level 9

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Apr 26, 2015 8:40 AM in response to KEP27

KEP27 wrote:

Hi,

Thanks for your detailed reply… The hub looks good…

However, I did a quick search for it and I don't think it is available in the UK….. 😟

I'll keep looking but thanks very much for your help….

Sure it is, OWC ship worldwide, even to tiny little backwaters like London. (My house is in Greenwich, I know what you can get in London)

Deal with OWC, it won't cost much more.

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