what is the difference between 512 GB SSD, 1 TB SSD, and 2 TB SSD? is bigger SSD make iMac run faster ?

nhamoda1 wrote:

Hi,

I intend to buy iMac 2017 i7, and wanted to know what is the difference between 512 GB SSD, 1 TB SSD, and 2 TB SSD? is bigger SSD will make iMac run faster?

If you are buying a new 27" iMac and trying to configure the size of the SSD, size will not determine the speed! In other words a 1TB SSD is not faster than a 512GB SSD, it simply has 2x the amount of storage. Storage is like a file cabinet, a 2 drawer file cabinet is not better than a 1 drawer file cabinet, it simply has 2x the amount of storage.

It's really that simple, nothing else needs to be read into it.

Yes. The sizes refer to the available space, not data rate.

However, you can also purchase SSD drives with different data rate speeds. Get the one that matches your Mac's capabilities. An example is the OWC Mercury Electra 3G I put in my 2010 Mac Pro. I could have spent the extra money on the 4G SSD model, but my Mac's own bus can't transfer data any faster than the 3G speed. So, the extra speed capability of the 4G SSD drive would have been wasted money. Not that I couldn't use the 4G drive, but data wouldn't be able to move any faster than my Mac Pro's own 3G limit.

I don't believe the previous responders read your post carefully.

No, we got it. Both of our responses were to the OP's second post:

so the three sizes have the same speed, but different sizes for storages?

macjack's response of "yes" is then correct. As was mine: "Yes. The sizes refer to the available space, not data rate."

The second part of my response is also correct. Yes, you can get SSD drives that have a faster top speed transfer rate than another. Just as a 7200 rpm standard platter drive can move data faster than a 5400 rpm drive.

Because a fusion drive is a combination of a small SSD with a regular disk drive which the system treats as one drive.

Any spinning disk drive is much slower than any SSD. So, the loss of speed comes from the fact that most of your data is going to end up on the slower hard drive part of the fusion drive.

If the iMac you plan on buying is a new unit from Apple, you don't need to know the read/write speed of the SSD drive choices you have. They will match up the most efficient (fastest) unit with the Mac's capabilities. Just pick the size (storage space) you want.

No, it won't make it run faster but you will be able to store more data. Just figure out how much data you plan to store then double it and that should work.

Yes.

nhamoda1 wrote:

so the three sizes have the same speed, but different sizes for storages?

Yes!!!

Because the fusion drive is an SSD paired with a rotational drive.

You're welcome. Enjoy your new Mac! 🙂