{"id":27286,"date":"2017-11-15T12:10:48","date_gmt":"2017-11-15T17:10:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/?p=27286"},"modified":"2017-11-13T10:16:05","modified_gmt":"2017-11-13T15:16:05","slug":"what-is-a-fusion-drive-and-why-should-you-care","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/what-is-a-fusion-drive-and-why-should-you-care\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is a Fusion Drive, and Why Should You Care?"},"content":{"rendered":"

There are two basic types of storage devices available today: hard disk drives and solid-state drives. For the lowest cost per gigabyte, you can\u2019t go wrong with a hard drive, and they come in truly massive sizes\u2014up to a whopping 8 terabytes. However, they\u2019re relatively slow.<\/p>\n

For speed, you want a solid-state drive, also known as an SSD. Because SSDs rely on flash storage, a type of non-volatile memory whose chips retain data without power, they\u2019re lightning fast. But chips are more expensive than hard disk platters and read\/write heads, so the $250\u2013$300 that will get you an 8 TB hard drive is enough for only a 1 TB SSD.<\/p>\n

In 2012, Apple came up with a compromise: the Fusion Drive. As its name suggests, a Fusion Drive melds a hard disk drive with flash storage to provide the best of both worlds. The user sees just a single volume, but behind the scenes, macOS automatically and dynamically moves frequently used files\u2014notably those used by the operating system\u2014to the flash storage portion of the Fusion Drive for faster access while keeping infrequently used files on the hard drive.<\/p>\n

In essence, the Fusion Drive provides much of the speed of an SSD along with the capacity of a hard drive. What\u2019s not to like?<\/p>\n

There are some caveats. Good as a Fusion Drive is, it will never be as fast as a pure SSD, and you\u2019ll probably notice that most when working with older files. Try editing some photos from last year in Photos and you\u2019ll likely be working entirely on the slow hard drive.<\/p>\n

Also, Apple provides the Fusion Drive as an option only for the iMac and Mac mini; there\u2019s no room it in a modern MacBook. But not all Fusion Drives are created equal. They come in 1 TB, 2 TB, and 3 TB sizes, although not all iMac and Mac mini models can accept the larger Fusion Drives.<\/p>\n

Originally, all Fusion Drives had 128 GB of speedy flash storage alongside the hard drive, but in 2015, Apple reduced the amount of flash storage in the iMac\u2019s 1 TB Fusion Drive to a paltry 24 GB (the Mac mini\u2019s 1 TB Fusion Drive still has 128 GB). The company subsequently increased it to 32 GB, but if you\u2019re buying a new iMac and want better performance from a Fusion Drive, go for either 2 TB or 3 TB, both of which have 128 GB of flash storage.<\/p>\n

One final note. As of this writing, macOS 10.13 High Sierra will not convert a Fusion Drive to Apple\u2019s new APFS file system. We anticipate that will change at some point in the next year, and APFS might make Fusion Drives even a bit faster.<\/p>\n

All that said, if you want the best performance and can afford the cost, get an SSD. If you need more space than an SSD can provide, consider using the SSD internally and adding an external hard drive connected via USB 3 or Thunderbolt 3. Barring that, a Fusion Drive\u2014particularly one with 128 GB of flash storage\u2014remains a good compromise. Honestly, we can\u2019t currently recommend a hard disk drive as the primary storage for a Mac unless low cost is paramount. Hard drive performance just isn\u2019t good enough.<\/p>\n

Check out this video we did back in 2013 (when the Fusion Drive first became popular).<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

Twitter:<\/b> Looking for the best compromise between speed and capacity for an iMac or Mac mini? Consider a Fusion Drive.<\/p>\n

Facebook:<\/b> Although there\u2019s no question that an SSD will provide the best performance on an iMac or Mac mini, if you need more space, consider a Fusion Drive.<\/p>\n

\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

There are two basic types of storage devices available today: hard disk drives and solid-state drives. For the lowest cost per gigabyte, you can\u2019t go wrong with a hard drive, and they come in truly massive sizes\u2014up to a whopping 8 terabytes. However, they\u2019re relatively slow. For speed, you want a solid-state drive, also known […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"wds_primary_category":0,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[299,157,193,66,56,194,39,71,324,265,5,325,86,167,196,169],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27286","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-apfs","category-apple-pros","category-apros-archive","category-article","category-asmc","category-asmc-archive","category-blog","category-explainer","category-fusion-drive","category-imac","category-mac","category-mac-mini","category-macos","category-performance","category-restricted-content","category-storage"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6YLEm-766","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":27024,"url":"http:\/\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/what-is-apfs-and-why-should-you-care\/","url_meta":{"origin":27286,"position":0},"title":"What Is APFS (and Why Should You Care)?","author":"computeradv","date":"September 11, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"A major change in macOS 10.13 High Sierra is the switch to Apple\u2019s new Apple File System, or APFS. With any luck, you\u2019ll barely notice the change, just as almost no one did earlier this year when Apple updated millions of iOS devices to APFS with iOS 10.3. But let\u2019s\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "APFS"","block_context":{"text":"APFS","link":"http:\/\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/category\/apfs\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/APFS-dialog.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/APFS-dialog.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/APFS-dialog.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/APFS-dialog.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":30990,"url":"https:\/\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/apple-significantly-enhances-the-27-inch-imac\/","url_meta":{"origin":27286,"position":1},"title":"Apple Enhances the 27-inch iMac","author":"computeradv","date":"August 19, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Looking for a powerful desktop Mac? At long last, Apple has updated the 27-inch iMac with Retina 5K display, outfitting it with 10th-generation Intel processors, increasing its RAM and storage capacities, and improving audio and video quality.","rel":"","context":"In "Blog"","block_context":{"text":"Blog","link":"http:\/\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/category\/blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/apple-significantly-enhances-the-27-inch-imac.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/apple-significantly-enhances-the-27-inch-imac.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/apple-significantly-enhances-the-27-inch-imac.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/apple-significantly-enhances-the-27-inch-imac.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/apple-significantly-enhances-the-27-inch-imac.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":27291,"url":"http:\/\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/stop-paying-too-much-for-a-familys-icloud-drive-storage\/","url_meta":{"origin":27286,"position":2},"title":"Stop Paying Too Much for a Family\u2019s iCloud Drive Storage","author":"computeradv","date":"November 12, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Apple gives iCloud users 5 GB of free storage, but that fills up fast with iCloud Photo Library, iOS backups, iBooks, and more. Until iOS 11 and macOS 10.13 High Sierra, each person in a family had to buy extra iCloud space separately. Happily, Apple has now made it so\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Apple Pros"","block_context":{"text":"Apple Pros","link":"http:\/\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/category\/apple-pros\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Family-Sharing-iCloud-Drive.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Family-Sharing-iCloud-Drive.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Family-Sharing-iCloud-Drive.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Family-Sharing-iCloud-Drive.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Family-Sharing-iCloud-Drive.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":27806,"url":"http:\/\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/what-is-the-best-hard-drive-to-use-for-your-backups\/","url_meta":{"origin":27286,"position":3},"title":"What Is The Best Hard Drive to Use for Your Backups?","author":"computeradv","date":"May 22, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Backing up your Mac is like flossing your teeth: everyone knows they should do it every night, but too many people never get around to it. Unlike flossing, once you set up backups, they don\u2019t require daily attention. And turning on Apple\u2019s Time Machine backup feature is easy\u2014simply open System\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Apple Pros"","block_context":{"text":"Apple Pros","link":"http:\/\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/category\/apple-pros\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/backup-drive-Time-Machine.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/backup-drive-Time-Machine.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/backup-drive-Time-Machine.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":29652,"url":"https:\/\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/what-does-having-a-t2-chip-in-your-mac-mean-to-you\/","url_meta":{"origin":27286,"position":4},"title":"What Does Having a T2 Chip in Your Mac Mean to You?","author":"computeradv","date":"October 16, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"If you own an iMac Pro, or a Mac mini, MacBook Air, or MacBook Pro model introduced in 2018 or later, your Mac has one of Apple\u2019s T2 security chips inside. On the whole, having a T2 chip in your Mac is a good thing, thanks to significantly increased security\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"http:\/\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/bank-vault-T2-photo-1080x675.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/bank-vault-T2-photo-1080x675.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/bank-vault-T2-photo-1080x675.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/bank-vault-T2-photo-1080x675.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/bank-vault-T2-photo-1080x675.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":31325,"url":"https:\/\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/apple-unveils-new-m1-powered-macbook-air-macbook-pro-and-mac-mini\/","url_meta":{"origin":27286,"position":5},"title":"Apple Unveils New M1-Powered MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and Mac mini","author":"computeradv","date":"November 11, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Continuing its pandemic-driven approach of short, focused announcements, Apple once again took to the Internet to stream its \u201cOne More Thing\u201d event. On center stage, this time was the Mac, or specifically, three Macs, all of which replace the longstanding Intel chip with Apple\u2019s new M1 chip. What Is the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"http:\/\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/apple-unveils-new-m1-powered-macbook-air-macbook-pro-and-mac-mini.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/apple-unveils-new-m1-powered-macbook-air-macbook-pro-and-mac-mini.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/apple-unveils-new-m1-powered-macbook-air-macbook-pro-and-mac-mini.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/apple-unveils-new-m1-powered-macbook-air-macbook-pro-and-mac-mini.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/apple-unveils-new-m1-powered-macbook-air-macbook-pro-and-mac-mini.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27286","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27286"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27286\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27286"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27286"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27286"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}