Options for 2014 MBP 15 retina external Thunderbolt drives

[soundboy35]

Lots of chatter, but trying to see what newer external Thunderbolt drives I can use for my 2014 i7 MBP 15in retina, and how this is working for others.
I'm not buying a new M1 or M2 Mac, so please refrain from that response

I'm running Pro Tools 2021.x studio, with maybe 48 audio tracks and some VI's.

Sooo, I've read you can't use the newer USB-C type Thunderbolt drives ala SanDisk, because the older Apple thunderbolt ports won't power the drive if you use a legacy Thunderbolt cable, and adapt it to USB-C. Correct??

Is the only way to use a newer external Thunderbolt drive with my MBP, to use a dock, etc that will power the drive, and I can then use a Thunderbolt to USB-C cable?

Of course there must be older, worthy Thunderbolt drives that can be powered off the Mac? Suggestions?

[JFreak]

I assume you have already upgraded the internal SSD to a 2TB model...

[soundboy35]

Originally Posted by JFreak

I assume you have already upgraded the internal SSD to a 2TB model...

I haven't. Still has the original 1TB

[JFreak]

Have you given it a thought? For example macsales.com sells 2TB upgrade kit for 235usd and it includes enclosure where you can put your old stick into, and after cloning you can use it as extra space instead of keeping it as a spare.

Obviously you can use any standard M.2 stick, but then you need an adapter, because Apple sticks are longer. Those OWC sticks are made to 100% replace Apple factory sticks without adapter hassle.

[soundboy35]

Originally Posted by JFreak

Have you given it a thought? For example macsales.com sells 2TB upgrade kit for 235usd and it includes enclosure where you can put your old stick into, and after cloning you can use it as extra space instead of keeping it as a spare.

Obviously you can use any standard M.2 stick, but then you need an adapter, because Apple sticks are longer. Those OWC sticks are made to 100% replace Apple factory sticks without adapter hassle.

Good point, and I didn't know the OWC sticks are a direct replacement. I would also be limited to the Thunderbolt connection, if and when I want to connect the drive to another machine that doesn't have Thunderbolt.

[Darryl Ramm]

The other option for Thunderbolt 1/2 equipped Macs is to use Samsung T7 SSD (just get the base model, non-"rugged", non-fingerprint). They are NVMe over USB vs. NVMe over Thunderbolt. They support up to USB 3.1 Gen 2 (10Gbps) These old MBP only have USB 3.0 (5 Gbps) but the drive should work with them.

https://www.amazon.com/SAMSUNG-Porta...0874XN4D8?th=1

[soundboy35]

Originally Posted by Darryl Ramm

The other option for Thunderbolt 1/2 equipped Macs is to use Samsung T7 SSD (just get the base model, non-"rugged", non-fingerprint). They are NVMe over USB vs. NVMe over Thunderbolt. They support up to USB 3.1 Gen 2 (10Gbps) These old MBP only have USB 3.0 (5 Gbps) but the drive should work with them.

https://www.amazon.com/SAMSUNG-Porta...0874XN4D8?th=1

Thanks, and those look to be a good price as well. In another post, you also mentioned running sessions on the maxed out internal SSD, I believe? I thought that was a no-no. At least back in the day, we were always told to use an external drive for sessions, FW800 etc etc.

Just to confirm, I can't connect to that T7 from my MBP's Thunderbolt port, via Thunderbolt - USB-C?