CBennett2498

Q: Can my iMac boot from an external disk?

Hi,

I have a Mid 2010 21.5" iMac that is starting to show its age with slowness. However, I do plan to upgrade the basic 4 GB of Ram to either 8 GB or 16 GB of Ram, depending on price...and my main question.  I know that the Mac originally came with a 500 GB Hard Drive, and I'd also like to upgrade that to an SSD as they make a world of a difference from what I've heard, but I don't have the tech skill level to do the whole 20-30 step process. I'm wondering, as I have a 1 TB external USB SSD, if I could install a fresh version of OS X onto the USB SSD and then set that as my boot up disk and just always keep it plugged in. Would that work or does the boot up disk have to be internal instead of being exterior via USB?

Posted on Jul 19, 2016 10:49 AM

Close

Q: Can my iMac boot from an external disk?

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

Previous Page 2 of 3 last Next
  • by CBennett2498,

    CBennett2498 CBennett2498 Jul 19, 2016 3:31 PM in response to rkaufmann87
    Level 1 (94 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 19, 2016 3:31 PM in response to rkaufmann87

    I already have a My Passport 1 TB SSD I purchased a while back that I haven't even scratched the surface so I was just going to use that, except it's an eye sore compared to a flash drive. I would basically install OS X onto the flash drive and place my more recent and popular documents and files onto the flash drive, and keep the rest of the 500 GB internal HDD.

  • by CBennett2498,

    CBennett2498 CBennett2498 Jul 19, 2016 3:33 PM in response to rkaufmann87
    Level 1 (94 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 19, 2016 3:33 PM in response to rkaufmann87

    I'm just afraid that if the computer is already 6 years old, that I'm just living on borrowed time with that method. Will it really make my computer last that much longer? The iMac is already the second oldest iMac version to receive the Mac OS Sierra update.

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Jul 19, 2016 3:35 PM in response to CBennett2498
    Level 9 (50,397 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 19, 2016 3:35 PM in response to CBennett2498

    You will be disappointed with how long it takes to get anything done that way. I advise against it.

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Jul 19, 2016 3:37 PM in response to CBennett2498
    Level 9 (50,397 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 19, 2016 3:37 PM in response to CBennett2498

    Yes it will, my 2009 MBP is extremely fast since putting the SSD in it. Its still fast by current standards.

  • by rkaufmann87,

    rkaufmann87 rkaufmann87 Jul 19, 2016 3:40 PM in response to CBennett2498
    Level 9 (58,436 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Jul 19, 2016 3:40 PM in response to CBennett2498

    IMHO it's still a very poor idea, but hey it's your computer. One thing I learned a long time ago, long after it's done, you won't remember how much money you (think you) saved  you will remember the experience you are having.

  • by CBennett2498,

    CBennett2498 CBennett2498 Jul 19, 2016 3:42 PM in response to rkaufmann87
    Level 1 (94 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 19, 2016 3:42 PM in response to rkaufmann87

    So it'll be even slower than using the internal HDD?

  • by rkaufmann87,

    rkaufmann87 rkaufmann87 Jul 19, 2016 3:44 PM in response to CBennett2498
    Level 9 (58,436 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Jul 19, 2016 3:44 PM in response to CBennett2498

    CBennett2498 wrote:

     

    I'm just afraid that if the computer is already 6 years old, that I'm just living on borrowed time with that method. Will it really make my computer last that much longer? The iMac is already the second oldest iMac version to receive the Mac OS Sierra update.

    I installed a SSD in my 2011 27" iMac, its only a year younger and it works great. Made that upgrade about 2-3 years ago.

  • by rkaufmann87,

    rkaufmann87 rkaufmann87 Jul 19, 2016 3:49 PM in response to CBennett2498
    Level 9 (58,436 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Jul 19, 2016 3:49 PM in response to CBennett2498

    CBennett2498 wrote:

     

    So it'll be even slower than using the internal HDD?

    Yup. It will be USB 2.0 speed which is MUCH slower than SATA even at 5400 RPM.

  • by CBennett2498,

    CBennett2498 CBennett2498 Jul 19, 2016 3:49 PM in response to rkaufmann87
    Level 1 (94 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 19, 2016 3:49 PM in response to rkaufmann87

    Ok, seems how it won't hurt to try... I already have a 32 gb flash drive that I can use to test how it will work. If it works decently, I'll go out and purchase the 128 Gb flash drive, if not. I'll install an ssd as you advise.

  • by rkaufmann87,

    rkaufmann87 rkaufmann87 Jul 19, 2016 3:55 PM in response to CBennett2498
    Level 9 (58,436 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Jul 19, 2016 3:55 PM in response to CBennett2498

    CBennett2498 wrote:

     

    Ok, seems how it won't hurt to try... I already have a 32 gb flash drive that I can use to test how it will work. If it works decently, I'll go out and purchase the 128 Gb flash drive, if not. I'll install an ssd as you advise.

    Okay, but at least report back with your results. If you come back with a smile and indicate you are totally happy then my hats off to you.

  • by CBennett2498,

    CBennett2498 CBennett2498 Jul 19, 2016 11:01 PM in response to rkaufmann87
    Level 1 (94 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 19, 2016 11:01 PM in response to rkaufmann87

    I will certainly report back one way or another, although hopefully it will work, I know logically I'm siding with you.

  • by CBennett2498,

    CBennett2498 CBennett2498 Jul 20, 2016 1:10 PM in response to rkaufmann87
    Level 1 (94 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 20, 2016 1:10 PM in response to rkaufmann87

    Ok, so here's the rundown. I have El Capitan currently installed on my flash drive and I"m running the OS off of it right now. A couple things I have noticed is that, yes, it is a tad slower than the internal 500 GB HDD, and it does seem to lag here and there due to it being bottled down to USB 2.0 speeds. After reading many other forums of people in the same boat, most have decided to risk it and install an SSD inside the machine due to USB 2.0 limiting the speed of an external SSD. However, there are a few out there, and I will provide links below, that made the jump and decided to use their iMac Firewire 800 port and hook up an external SSD through the port as their boot disk. I don't know if it's just their luck or if it's truly faster than the internal HDD. I did find some tests regarding a firewire 800 ssd v. internal HDD...

    Internal drive, a WD2500JS:

    Code:

       Disk Test   68.04  
          Sequential   93.78  
             Uncached Write   90.39   55.50 MB/sec [4K blocks]
             Uncached Write   95.53   54.05 MB/sec [256K blocks]
             Uncached Read   81.87   23.96 MB/sec [4K blocks]
             Uncached Read   112.27   56.42 MB/sec [256K blocks]
          Random   53.39  
             Uncached Write   20.74   2.20 MB/sec [4K blocks]
             Uncached Write   110.38   35.34 MB/sec [256K blocks]
             Uncached Read   97.04   0.69 MB/sec [4K blocks]
             Uncached Read   136.24   25.28 MB/sec [256K blocks]

     

     

    SSD in enclosure connected over FW800:

    Code:

       Disk Test   130.44  
          Sequential   87.27  
             Uncached Write   114.65   70.40 MB/sec [4K blocks]
             Uncached Write   108.10   61.16 MB/sec [256K blocks]
             Uncached Read   47.90   14.02 MB/sec [4K blocks]
             Uncached Read   143.18   71.96 MB/sec [256K blocks]
          Random   258.08  
             Uncached Write   142.01   15.03 MB/sec [4K blocks]
             Uncached Write   197.96   63.38 MB/sec [256K blocks]
             Uncached Read   1351.91   9.58 MB/sec [4K blocks]
             Uncached Read   375.07   69.60 MB/sec [256K blocks]

     

    http://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/19402/is-upgrading-an-imac-to-an-ssd-ov er-usb-2-firewire-an-upgrade

    (This guy did it on his 06/07 iMac and it made a difference, but I don't know if it's 5400 Rpm or 7200 Rpm internally)

     

    http://forums.macrumors.com/threads/ssd-drive-worth-it-as-an-external.1364215/

    (Post #14 by thestickman states his positive experience from Firewire 800, but he doesn't specifically say which Mac he has, although the forum was originally about a 2011 iMac)

     

    External SSD HD as system drive

    (Apple support community post with the solving response have a successful try with Firewire)

     

    http://www.macworld.com/article/2907125/use-an-external-ssd-to-make-an-old-mac-f eel-new-without-cracking-it-open.html

    (Lastly, this guy had a Mac Mini that was slowing down and firewire revived it)

  • by MichelPM,

    MichelPM MichelPM Jul 21, 2016 1:06 AM in response to rkaufmann87
    Level 6 (13,762 points)
    iPad
    Jul 21, 2016 1:06 AM in response to rkaufmann87

    I hate to interrupt, but I have some questions relating to SSD, as well.

    OWC has a 480 GB SSD in a FireWire 800, USB 3.0 enclosure for $240.

    Are you really saying an SSD won't perform faster than a conventional hard drive over a FW800 conhection?

    To my way of thinking, with an SSD, I should now get even closer to the total data throughput of FW800, no?

    A spinning hard drive is always going to have some data retrieval delay that will keep from reaching the total data transfer of FW800.

    To my way of thinking,  performance of an SSD on FW800 should be noticeably better than a normal external hard drive.

    I really can't pay for both an internal  SSD and installation inside my 2009 iMac and since this is my main work Mac, I don't have the confidence to open up my iMac and try to install one of these inside.

    Plus, this will be my first experence with SSD technology and actually using this.

    So, this is more of an experiment/experience sort of thing for me.

    Using an externally enclosed SSD over FW800 seems like a good compromise to me and if responds faster over FW800 than a normal spinning hard drive...

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Jul 21, 2016 7:37 AM in response to rkaufmann87
    Level 9 (50,397 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 21, 2016 7:37 AM in response to rkaufmann87
    At 0.8GB/s It will be faster than USB2 (0.48 GB/s) but hugely slower than the internal bus (6.0 Gb/s) and the disk itself. frankly its a waste of money
  • by CBennett2498,

    CBennett2498 CBennett2498 Jul 21, 2016 8:21 AM in response to MichelPM
    Level 1 (94 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 21, 2016 8:21 AM in response to MichelPM

    I think in our case, we're better off, or at least I am, in just saving the money by using the internal 7200 RPM HDD because it uses a SATA connection which uses the Hard Drive's full potential and is faster than Firewire 800. There might be a few things that are faster using Firewire 800 because it's connecting an SSD, but overall, it's not worth the money to purchase the SSD and an external closure.  It's almost $100 for a basic 250 GB SSD and enclosure, and in your case, $240. That kind of money is roughly 15 to 20 percent of a new iMac! I know, it sounds good to say that the Mac is running on an SSD, but in reality the Firewire 800 cuts down on it's ability too much. However, if you do end up going that route, please post on this forum and let us know how the experience went regardless of the outcome.

Previous Page 2 of 3 last Next