What is Thunderbolt?
Thunderbolt is a hardware interface standard developed collaboratively by Intel and Apple. It allows connection of peripherals to a computer and provides high-speed data transfer speeds up to 40Gbps (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thunderbolt_(interface)).
The Thunderbolt interface utilizes USB-C connectors and cables but provides more speed and capabilities compared to standard USB-C. It operates over the USB-C connector but uses a PCI Express protocol for data transfer rather than USB. This allows Thunderbolt to have much higher bandwidth than regular USB-C connections (https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/architecture-and-technology/thunderbolt/overview.html).
Overall, Thunderbolt allows fast connection of devices such as hard drives, RAIDs, displays, and other peripherals while enabling high-speed data transfer not possible over regular USB-C. It combines PCI Express, DisplayPort, and USB in one connection.
What is an SSD?
SSD stands for solid-state drive. It is a type of storage device that uses flash memory instead of spinning platters like traditional hard disk drives (HDDs). SSDs use microchips for storing data and have no moving mechanical components. This allows SSDs to access data much faster than HDDs (see What is an SSD (Solid-State Drive)?).
Some key advantages of SSDs over HDDs include:
- Faster read/write speeds – SSDs can read and write data much faster than HDDs which rely on physical movement of a magnetic head.
- Better durability – With no moving parts, SSDs are less prone to failure or damage from bumps/drops.
- Lower latency – SSDs can access data almost instantly, while HDDs require time for the platter to spin and the head to move.
- Lower power consumption – SSDs are more energy efficient, using less electricity than HDDs.
Thanks to these performance benefits, SSDs have become the preferred storage option for consumer devices like laptops as well as enterprise servers and data centers.
Thunderbolt and SSD Compatibility
Thunderbolt ports provide high-speed connectivity between computers and peripherals, making them ideal for connecting external solid state drives (SSDs). Thunderbolt 3 and 4 ports offer bandwidth of up to 40Gbps, which allows fast transfer speeds when using an SSD that can take advantage of it.
Most external SSDs that connect via Thunderbolt are fully compatible and can utilize the full bandwidth provided by Thunderbolt 3 or 4 ports. This includes models from major SSD brands like Samsung, SanDisk, WD, and LaCie (Amazon). The SSD itself must have a fast enough internal controller and interface to saturate the Thunderbolt pipeline.
The key benefit of using an SSD over a traditional hard disk drive (HDD) is the much faster speeds, lower latency, and overall better performance that solid state drives provide. Connecting an SSD externally via a Thunderbolt 3 or 4 port allows the drive to operate at speeds closer to its maximum potential than if it were connected via a slower interface like USB 3.2 or earlier (Apple Forums). This makes Thunderbolt well suited for activities like video editing, data transfer, backups, and gaming where peak drive performance is desired.
Thunderbolt SSD Use Cases
Thunderbolt SSDs provide extremely fast external storage for large files that require high bandwidth like video files or projects. The fast throughput allows for smooth playback and editing of high-bitrate 4K and 8K video footage [1]. Thunderbolt SSDs are also useful as boot drives to significantly improve system performance. Installing macOS or Windows on a Thunderbolt SSD provides faster boot times and snappier response when loading programs and files compared to a traditional hard drive or SATA SSD boot drive [2]. As a high-speed portable external storage device, Thunderbolt SSDs excel at tasks like quickly transferring large design files between the office and home or streaming sample libraries while producing audio on the go.
Thunderbolt SSD Performance Benefits
One of the biggest advantages of using a Thunderbolt SSD is the incredible performance benefits compared to a traditional SATA or USB SSD.
Thunderbolt 3 and 4 provide bandwidth of up to 40 Gbps, which allows for extremely fast data transfer speeds. For comparison, the maximum bandwidth of USB 3.2 is 20Gbps and SATA is 6Gbps. This means Thunderbolt SSDs can offer up to 2.8x faster performance than SATA drives.1
In addition to raw bandwidth, Thunderbolt has very low latency and high throughput capabilities. Together, these result in real-world transfer speeds reaching up to 2800 MB/s for Thunderbolt 4 SSDs. This level of performance simply isn’t possible over USB or SATA connections.
The blazing fast speeds of Thunderbolt SSDs make them ideal for tasks like video editing, 3D rendering, gaming, or as boot drives. For professionals and enthusiasts who work with large files and need snappy response times, a Thunderbolt SSD can save significant time compared to slower USB and SATA SSD options.
Choosing a Thunderbolt SSD
When choosing a Thunderbolt SSD, there are a few key factors to consider:
Capacity – Determine how much storage space you need. Thunderbolt SSDs are available in capacities ranging from 500GB to 4TB.
Speed rating – Faster SSDs with higher speed ratings will provide better performance but come at a higher price. Look for read/write speeds of at least 500MB/s.
Physical size – If portability is important, look for more compact M.2 SSDs. Larger 3.5″ desktop drives offer more storage but less convenience.
The NVMe protocol is recommended for Thunderbolt SSDs to enable maximum read/write speeds up to 2800MB/s. NVMe SSDs transfer data much faster than traditional SATA SSDs.(1)
When evaluating options, look for SSDs specifically designed for Thunderbolt 3 connectivity. These will be optimized to take full advantage of Thunderbolt’s capabilities.
Setting Up and Using a Thunderbolt SSD
Setting up a Thunderbolt SSD is a straightforward process. Simply plug the Thunderbolt cable from the SSD into any available Thunderbolt port on your computer. Most Thunderbolt SSDs are plug-and-play and will not require any driver installation. However, you may need to install drivers provided by the SSD manufacturer for full compatibility (https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-250003583).
One of the main benefits of using a Thunderbolt SSD is the ability to boot your computer directly from the external SSD. Supported Mac computers can boot from an external Thunderbolt SSD. This allows you to use the SSD as your primary system drive for faster performance compared to an internal hard disk drive. On Windows machines you may need to change the boot order in your BIOS to select the external Thunderbolt SSD as the first boot device.
A Thunderbolt SSD functions just like any other external drive for storage purposes. You can use it to store files and applications. The super fast Thunderbolt interface provides lower latency and higher throughput compared to USB SSDs, allowing you to transfer large files quicker.
Thunderbolt SSD vs. USB SSD
When it comes to choosing between a Thunderbolt SSD or a USB SSD, the main differences come down to speed and cost. As explained on Apple Stack Exchange, Thunderbolt 3 has a maximum bandwidth of 40Gbps, while USB 3.1 Gen 2 tops out at 10Gbps.
This means Thunderbolt is capable of much faster transfer speeds, with theoretical maximums up to 4 times higher than USB. As noted in a discussion on Apple’s forums, this makes Thunderbolt better suited for tasks that require high bandwidth like video editing or accessing large files.
However, USB SSDs have the advantage of being more affordable and accessible. The USB standard is older and more universal, meaning USB SSDs can be used with virtually any computer. Thunderbolt ports are less common, and Thunderbolt devices usually cost more. For more basic external storage needs, a USB SSD gets the job done at a lower price point.
In summary, Thunderbolt SSDs excel at leveraging their faster potential speeds but come at a premium cost. USB SSDs are slower but cheaper and compatible with more devices. Choose Thunderbolt for maximum performance or USB for simplicity and value.
Thunderbolt SSD Enclosures
Thunderbolt SSD enclosures allow you to add your own high-performance NVMe SSD to get faster Thunderbolt speeds at a more affordable price point compared to pre-packaged Thunderbolt SSDs.
Since Thunderbolt utilizes the PCIe interface, it’s important to use a PCIe NVMe SSD inside the enclosure to get the full performance benefits. SATA SSDs will be bottlenecked by the slower SATA interface speed.
Some of the most popular and high performing Thunderbolt 3 enclosures include:
– OWC Express 4M2 – supports up to 4 M.2 NVMe SSDs with RAID (Source)
– Sabrent EC-T3NS – tool-free NVMe SSD enclosure (Source)
– AKiTiO Node Duo – supports two M.2 or U.2 NVMe SSDs (Source)
Overall, Thunderbolt SSD enclosures provide a cost-effective way to build your own high performance external SSD that takes full advantage of Thunderbolt speeds.
Conclusion
In summary, Thunderbolt and SSDs are highly compatible for use together. Thunderbolt is a high-speed interface developed by Intel that can transfer both data and display signals. SSDs, or solid state drives, are a type of storage device that utilize flash memory and have no moving parts.
When paired together, a Thunderbolt SSD can provide extremely fast read/write speeds compared to traditional hard drives or even USB SSDs. Thunderbolt bandwidth enables SSDs to fully leverage their fast access times and data transfer rates. This makes Thunderbolt ideal for tasks like video editing, gaming, or as high-performance external storage.
While more expensive than standard external hard drives, Thunderbolt SSDs deliver exceptional speeds and responsiveness. For professional media workflows or other storage performance needs, a Thunderbolt SSD is an excellent option.