Fastest Bus Powered USB 3 external HD?

I'm looking for the fastest bus powered USB 3.0 external HD for use with my macbook pro. I would LOVE at least 2TB, but can get by with less if necessary. I'm looking to stream samples for music composition, so it needs to access thousands of small files from different part of the disk as quickly as possible.

I was thinking of getting the Western Digital My Passport 2 TB USB 3.0 (goes for $180 at Amazon), which says it has a 5 Gb/s (Max), but it doesn't say how fast the actual drive is. Are there any drives by different manufacturers as big and fast (or faster) for less? For example, I found a Seagate GoFlex 1.5TB portable HD at Costco for only $99, but seagate says NOTHING about the specs/speed!

I'm currently using a Seagate 3TB GoFlex Desk USB 3 External Drive, which is working very well, but I dont like having the power brick. Or will switching from a 3.5" to a 2.5" sacrifice performance, no matter which brand I go with, due to the slower throughput on 2.5 drives?

Thanks in advance for your help or reply.

Quote from MacDude : I'm looking for the fastest bus powered USB 3.0 external HD for use with my macbook pro. I would LOVE at least 2TB, but can get by with less if necessary. I'm looking to stream samples for music composition, so it needs to access thousands of small files from different part of the disk as quickly as possible. I was thinking of getting the Western Digital My Passport 2 TB USB 3.0 (goes for $180 at Amazon), which says it has a 5 Gb/s (Max), but it doesn't say how fast the actual drive is. Are there any drives by different manufacturers as big and fast (or faster) for less? For example, I found a Seagate GoFlex 1.5TB portable HD at Costco for only $99, but seagate says NOTHING about the specs/speed! I'm currently using a Seagate 3TB GoFlex Desk USB 3 External Drive, which is working very well, but I dont like having the power brick. Or will switching from a 3.5" to a 2.5" sacrifice performance, no matter which brand I go with, due to the slower throughput on 2.5 drives? Thanks in advance for your help or reply.

I don't think you will get 2TB, fast, and USB-powered - you are going to have to pick 2 of those. Anything that is 2TB and 2.5" is going to be a 5400RPM drive. I think it will still be fast enough to do what you are doing, though. The technical bandwidth of USB 3.0 will never be saturated with a mechnical HDD. You should be good with that drive on Amazon.

if you want it to be fast.. get a SSD

if you insist on a HDD, Hitachi's Touro Mobile Pro is currently the fastest I think

why not stream the music across your network?

you need a drive with fast seek time and high rpm because you need high random IO (raptor hard drive maybe a option between ssd cost and response time from regular drive)
usb 3 is probably not important since you are going to play one by one;

you can get a hdd and enclosure to build your own external drive

Thanks for the replies! Just to clarify, I'm NOT streaming music, but creating music from samples in a mobile rig, so network streaming is not an option. And the samples are not triggered one at a time, but are layered 10-50 deep at any moment, so 10-50 5-10MB files going at a time, and switching every second (as play different notes, articulations, etc). True, SSD would be the fastest, but I need at least 1TB to hold all my samples (different instruments for different types of music I write).

Dude2000 is 100% correct, I need a drive with fast seek time and high RPM. I wish portable 2.5 HD manufactures said what RPM their drives ran at! I guess I may have to build my own so I know exactly whats in it, but I might just try that Seagate GoFlex and if it doesn't work return it (Costco is GREAT with returns!)

Quote from MacDude : Thanks for the replies! Just to clarify, I'm NOT streaming music, but creating music from samples in a mobile rig, so network streaming is not an option. And the samples are not triggered one at a time, but are layered 10-50 deep at any moment, so 10-50 5-10MB files going at a time, and switching every second (as play different notes, articulations, etc). True, SSD would be the fastest, but I need at least 1TB to hold all my samples (different instruments for different types of music I write). Dude2000 is 100% correct, I need a drive with fast seek time and high RPM. I wish portable 2.5 HD manufactures said what RPM their drives ran at! I guess I may have to build my own so I know exactly whats in it, but I might just try that Seagate GoFlex and if it doesn't work return it (Costco is GREAT with returns!)

I think you might be better off with one of these - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Pro...6822148837

and get a case for it. Only 750GB though.

Quote from MacDude : Thanks for the replies! Just to clarify, I'm NOT streaming music, but creating music from samples in a mobile rig, so network streaming is not an option. And the samples are not triggered one at a time, but are layered 10-50 deep at any moment, so 10-50 5-10MB files going at a time, and switching every second (as play different notes, articulations, etc). True, SSD would be the fastest, but I need at least 1TB to hold all my samples (different instruments for different types of music I write). Dude2000 is 100% correct, I need a drive with fast seek time and high RPM. I wish portable 2.5 HD manufactures said what RPM their drives ran at! I guess I may have to build my own so I know exactly whats in it, but I might just try that Seagate GoFlex and if it doesn't work return it (Costco is GREAT with returns!)

Since you are using a MBP im guessing you don't have an esata port do you?
If its that big of a deal your best bet is a thunderbolt.

From what my friend tells me you are going over board on this, I would just find a deal on a 7200rpm drive and put it in a cheap enclosure and be done with it. You could also get a SSD for the MBP and just move the project file you are working on the ssd and copy it back when you are done.

Quote from mrbobhcrhs : Since you are using a MBP im guessing you don't have an esata port do you? If its that big of a deal your best bet is a thunderbolt. From what my friend tells me you are going over board on this, I would just find a deal on a 7200rpm drive and put it in a cheap enclosure and be done with it. You could also get a SSD for the MBP and just move the project file you are working on the ssd and copy it back when you are done.

USB 3.0 is faster than eSata, and Thunderbolt is still limited by physical drive speed (as is every other external connection).

Quote from Jabbit : USB 3.0 is faster than eSata, and Thunderbolt is still limited by physical drive speed (as is every other external connection).

I was thinking the esata route you might be able to do it with out a controller board. And you are right about the physical drive speed thus why i was thinking an ssd and and moving the project over might be a better option.

Quote from mrbobhcrhs : I was thinking the esata route you might be able to do it with out a controller board. And you are right about the physical drive speed thus why i was thinking an ssd and and moving the project over might be a better option.

Except he said he wanted at least 1 TB, even though I suggested 750GB. SSD prices at that size are kinda expensive, but he does make phat beats with a Mac so he might be loaded? No offense, OP.

Quote from Jabbit : Except he said he wanted at least 1 TB, even though I suggested 750GB. SSD prices at that size are kinda expensive, but he does make phat beats with a Mac so he might be loaded? No offense, OP.

well yea you would still need to have the ext for stuff, but moving the project file and a few other things over to the ssd for the compile would help out. And I agree the Mac has the same effects as racing stripes... It makes all the difference.

OP on a sidenote what software are you using to mix?

lol, no phat beats nor loaded (I am posting on slickdeals after all!) but if you're curious as to the type of music I'm doing here is a link to some of our demos: http://www.facebook.com/AeonSator...8091127385 (I recommend the 2nd track titled Rise)

I think you guys are right, I probably am over thinking it a bit; I tend to do that! The Momentus does look like an interesting option though (thanks Jabbit!) but like was said a 7200rpm drive should do fine as well. I guess its time to start deal hunting but that Momentus is very interesting indeed! Anyone give one a go?

Quote from MacDude : lol, not phat beats nor loaded (I am posting on slickdeals after all!) but if you're curious as to the type of music I'm doing here is a link to some of our demos: http://www.facebook.com/AeonSator...8091127385 (I recommend the 2nd track titled Rise) I think you guys are right, I probably am over thinking it a bit; I tend to do that! The Momentus does look like an interesting option though (thanks Jabbit!) but like was said a 7200rpm drive should do fine as well. I guess its time to start deal hunting.

I would make sure you do a backup of what ever drive you get, last thing you want is to drp it and loose your crap.

OP on a sidenote what software are you using to mix?