EXTERNAL THUNDERBOLT 2 HARD DRIVE FULL
EXTERNAL THUNDERBOLT 2 HARD DRIVE PORTABLE

The first real-life test is our HTPC scenario. The testing conditions for this review include a mid-2011 Apple MacBook Air for the Thunderbolt connection testing through Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit, and our consumer testing platform for native SATA, USB 2.0, and USB 3.0. Instead of looking at normal synthetic benchmarks of peak sequential read or write speed, we felt the best measurement of the performance of each interface would be using our real-world traces. For a long-term solution you would really need to cannibalize a GoFlex external hard drive and swap in your SSD of choice. A bare drive can connect and interface, but will easily disconnect if moved around. It is designed to mount to the connection on the back of the GoFlex product line with a snug and secure grip. It just so happens that Seagate uses normal SATA power/data port to make this happen, allowing users with a DIY interest to use these adapters for other means.Д«efore we go any further, we need to stress that the Thunderbolt adapter was never designed to connect to a bare drive. This gives it an ultimate level of compatibility no matter what the next interface protocol is see the USB 2.0, USB 3.0, FireWire, eSATA, and now Thunderbolt adapters. SeagateвЂ™s GoFlex connection puts all the interface electronics into the adapter itself and passes pin-to-pin power and data from the drive through the enclosure. The way the Thunderbolt adapter connects in a universal fashion to any 2.5-inch hard drive or SSD is nothing new. ThatвЂ™s exactly what we did, pairing the Thunderbolt adapter with the Intel SSD 520 and showing how much performance scales from USB 2.0 to native SATA.

EXTERNAL THUNDERBOLT 2 HARD DRIVE FULL

WhatвЂ™s really interesting though, is the Thunderbolt adapter uses a standard SATA interface for data and power, meaning users could buy the $99 sled and connect pretty much any 2.5вЂі hard drive to SSD to take full advantage of the Thunderbolt port, without paying the massive premium for current pre-packaged external Thunderbolt storage options.

The Thunderbolt adapter is appealing, but with current Seagate externals it can only go so far, equaling USB 3.0 and FireWire 800 speeds due to the limitations of the external hard drives offered.

EXTERNAL THUNDERBOLT 2 HARD DRIVE PORTABLE

We just completed a review of the Seagate Thunderbolt adapter which is designed for SeagateвЂ™s line of GoFlex portable hard drives.

External thunderbolt 2 hard drive