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You are here: MacNN Forums > Hardware - Troubleshooting and Discussion > Consumer Hardware & Components > Thunderbolt drive that supports a display

Thunderbolt drive that supports a display
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driven
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Nov 14, 2013, 01:51 PM
 
I hook up my late 2011 Macbook Pro to an external display using the Thunderbolt to DVI adapter.

I want to add a *portable* Thunderbolt drive to this machine. (I need faster IO and more storage than the internal SSD has.)

Here is the problem: Does anyone know of such a drive that has a passthrough port so I can support my external display with the Thunderbolt drive? I only have one Thunderbolt port and no other ways to hook up an external monitor.

Thus far, I haven't been able to find a viable solution.

Thoughts?
- MacBook Air M2 16GB / 512GB
- MacBook Pro 16" i9 2.4Ghz 32GB / 1TB
- MacBook Pro 15" i7 2.9Ghz 16GB / 512GB
- iMac i5 3.2Ghz 1TB
- G4 Cube 500Mhz / Shelf display unit / Museum display
     
driven  (op)
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Nov 17, 2013, 04:27 AM
 
I guess I'm not the only one who couldn't find a solution to this. Was *really* hoping someone had figured something out.
- MacBook Air M2 16GB / 512GB
- MacBook Pro 16" i9 2.4Ghz 32GB / 1TB
- MacBook Pro 15" i7 2.9Ghz 16GB / 512GB
- iMac i5 3.2Ghz 1TB
- G4 Cube 500Mhz / Shelf display unit / Museum display
     
Spheric Harlot
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Nov 17, 2013, 04:45 AM
 
     
driven  (op)
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Nov 17, 2013, 04:49 AM
 
Wow. You rock!
(I just wish the SSD was a bit cheaper, but that looks like what the doctor ordered!)

THANK YOU!
- MacBook Air M2 16GB / 512GB
- MacBook Pro 16" i9 2.4Ghz 32GB / 1TB
- MacBook Pro 15" i7 2.9Ghz 16GB / 512GB
- iMac i5 3.2Ghz 1TB
- G4 Cube 500Mhz / Shelf display unit / Museum display
     
Spheric Harlot
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Nov 17, 2013, 05:56 AM
 
Sadly, it does not appear to be bus-powered, but comes with an external power supply.
     
driven  (op)
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Nov 17, 2013, 12:15 PM
 
Originally Posted by Spheric Harlot View Post
Sadly, it does not appear to be bus-powered, but comes with an external power supply.
You know, at this point, beggars can't be choosers. They seem to be the only one with a drive that fits this criteria.

All of the bus-powered Thunderbolt drives seem to NOT have a passthrough port. Unless you have two Thunderbolt ports (which eliminates an entire two product years of macs), these devices seem useless if you need an external display. (Or want more than one drive, ever.)

Since I already need an external PS, I'm also looking at the LaCie 2Big. Seems a bit more cost effective, but might be awkward big to set up at a client's office, and certainly a pain to toss into my bag. But maybe …


For home office use, both of these drives seem significantly faster than any SAN that's < $1,000.
- MacBook Air M2 16GB / 512GB
- MacBook Pro 16" i9 2.4Ghz 32GB / 1TB
- MacBook Pro 15" i7 2.9Ghz 16GB / 512GB
- iMac i5 3.2Ghz 1TB
- G4 Cube 500Mhz / Shelf display unit / Museum display
     
subego
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Nov 19, 2013, 05:50 PM
 
I'm required by law to do the backup PSA. Sorry if it's annoying.

If you go RAID-1, backup becomes extremely important. If you lose one drive, you lose everything on both.
     
driven  (op)
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Nov 19, 2013, 05:57 PM
 
Originally Posted by subego View Post
I'm required by law to do the backup PSA. Sorry if it's annoying.

If you go RAID-1, backup becomes extremely important. If you lose one drive, you lose everything on both.
Actually, that's RAID-0.
RAID-1 is mirroring.
RAID-5 is striping

But thank you! Always good to be safe and put the warning out there. Much appreciated.
( Last edited by driven; Nov 19, 2013 at 05:57 PM. Reason: forgot to add thanks)
- MacBook Air M2 16GB / 512GB
- MacBook Pro 16" i9 2.4Ghz 32GB / 1TB
- MacBook Pro 15" i7 2.9Ghz 16GB / 512GB
- iMac i5 3.2Ghz 1TB
- G4 Cube 500Mhz / Shelf display unit / Museum display
     
subego
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Nov 19, 2013, 06:07 PM
 
Yup. Total brain fart.

Thanks for the correction.
     
driven  (op)
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Nov 19, 2013, 06:12 PM
 
It happens. I e-mailed the wrong person yesterday. Worse, it took me an hour to realize it.
- MacBook Air M2 16GB / 512GB
- MacBook Pro 16" i9 2.4Ghz 32GB / 1TB
- MacBook Pro 15" i7 2.9Ghz 16GB / 512GB
- iMac i5 3.2Ghz 1TB
- G4 Cube 500Mhz / Shelf display unit / Museum display
     
   
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