{"id":94457,"date":"2024-07-31T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-07-31T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/?p=94457"},"modified":"2024-07-29T14:51:52","modified_gmt":"2024-07-29T19:51:52","slug":"getting-the-most-performance-out-of-spinning-hard-drives-part-1-how-to-guarantee-the-best-speeds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/94457-getting-the-most-performance-out-of-spinning-hard-drives-part-1-how-to-guarantee-the-best-speeds\/","title":{"rendered":"Getting the Most Performance out of Spinning Hard Drives, Part 1: How to Guarantee the Best Speeds"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/honing-hard-drive-performance-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-95536\" srcset=\"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/honing-hard-drive-performance-1.png 1920w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/honing-hard-drive-performance-1-213x120.png 213w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/honing-hard-drive-performance-1-284x160.png 284w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/honing-hard-drive-performance-1-190x107.png 190w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/honing-hard-drive-performance-1-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/honing-hard-drive-performance-1-1400x787.png 1400w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/honing-hard-drive-performance-1-750x421.png 750w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/honing-hard-drive-performance-1-548x308.png 548w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/honing-hard-drive-performance-1-364x204.png 364w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/honing-hard-drive-performance-1-230x129.png 230w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/honing-hard-drive-performance-1-100x56.png 100w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/honing-hard-drive-performance-1-213x120@2x.png 426w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/honing-hard-drive-performance-1-284x160@2x.png 568w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/honing-hard-drive-performance-1-190x107@2x.png 380w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>As discussed <a href=\"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/94164-everyone-needs-an-ssd-so-is-there-really-still-a-use-for-dinosaur-spinning-hard-drives\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"94164\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">in my previous article, SSDs are the best solution<\/a> until and unless the cost becomes unreasonable for the required capacity or purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re a videographer, or a photographer like me, then  sooner or later the need for a capacious hard drive will arise, if only for backups. This article discusses how to <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">guarantee<\/span> top speed from any hard drive using <strong>partitioning<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"284\" height=\"265\" src=\"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Mercury-elite-pro-usb3dot2-284x265.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-79374\" srcset=\"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Mercury-elite-pro-usb3dot2-284x265.jpg 284w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Mercury-elite-pro-usb3dot2-129x120.jpg 129w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Mercury-elite-pro-usb3dot2-190x177.jpg 190w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Mercury-elite-pro-usb3dot2.jpg 946w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Mercury-elite-pro-usb3dot2-284x265@2x.jpg 568w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Mercury-elite-pro-usb3dot2-129x120@2x.jpg 258w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Mercury-elite-pro-usb3dot2-190x177@2x.jpg 380w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 284px) 100vw, 284px\" \/><figcaption>OWC Mercury Elite Pro<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-myth-hard-drive-fragmentation\">Myth: Hard drive fragmentation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>First, let\u2019s dispel a misconception about hard drive speed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many people still think that drive fragmentation is a concern for hard drive speed. While historically a consideration, fragmentation is largely a non-issue today due to changing usage patterns. Fragmentation-generating file rewrites now occur mainly on the SSD in any well designed system. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Today, what most of us will <em>actually<\/em> do with hard drives is to continually add files, e.g. photos and video footage. These files are de facto WORM storage (write once, read many). <strong>Written once and only once<\/strong> so that <em>fragmentation will never be a consideration<\/em>. Whether it is overflow storage for big files or backups, hard drives used in this way will rarely if ever have fragmentation issue.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-dominant-factor-for-hard-drive-speed-capacity-utilization\">The dominant factor for hard drive speed: Capacity utilization<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A hard drive stores its data in a series of concentric tracks on its spinning platters (&#8220;rings&#8221; as used here). The <strong>outer<\/strong> rings have a much greater circumference than the <strong>inner<\/strong> rings, which translates directly to performance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That is, with each revolution of the platters, much more data passes under the drive heads with each revolution of the outer vs inner rings\u2014about 2X as much in the outer rings as for the inner rings. The outer rings are thus about 2X as fast as the inner, with varying speeds in between.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The two rules that follow apply all the same to both single drives and RAID setups of all kinds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/HardDiskSchematic.gif\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-95527\"\/><figcaption>Rough schematic of a hard drive platter showing inner vs outer areas (arbitrary sectioning)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-rule-1-empty-drives-start-out-as-fast-as-they-can-go-as-capacity-is-used-speed-continuously-declines\"><strong>Rule #1: <em>Em<\/em><\/strong><em><strong>pty drives start out as fast as they can go; as capacity is used, speed continuously declines<\/strong><\/em>.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>On macOS at least<strong>, files are first stored in the faster outer rings of the hard drive<\/strong>. In other words, first-come-first-served in terms of the fast areas of the drive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As more capacity is used, the speed slows because those additional files are now laid down within the inner and increasingly slower tracks. The graph below demonstrates that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-rule-2-for-the-same-amount-of-data-higher-capacity-drives-of-the-same-technology-are-always-faster\"><strong>Rule #2: <em>For the same amount of data, higher-capacity drives of the same technology are always faster<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, a <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/macperformanceguide.com\/images\/22TB-hard-drives\/graph-disktester_fillVolume,std.png\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/macperformanceguide.com\/images\/22TB-hard-drives\/graph-disktester_fillVolume,std.png\" target=\"_blank\">22TB hard drive speed for the outer rings will be in the 270MB\/sec range<\/a>, but on the inner rings this will drop as low as ~125 MB\/sec, less than half its peak speed, as shown below. This behavior varies minimally among different brands and models of hard drives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Similarly, 10TB stored on a 22TB hard drive will on average be much faster than 10TB on a 12TB drive because on a 12TB drive, that 10th terabyte is seeing only 160 MB\/sec, whereas on a 22TB hard drive the speed will still be about 220MB\/sec.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>More importantly the marginal rate\/speed for additional files is increasingly in favor of the larger drive. As the 12TB mark is approached, speeds will be about eg about 210MB\/sec for the 22TB drive vs 125MB\/sec\u2014a huge speed difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2556\" height=\"1752\" src=\"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/graph-disktester_fillVolumestd.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-95528\" srcset=\"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/graph-disktester_fillVolumestd.png 2556w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/graph-disktester_fillVolumestd-175x120.png 175w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/graph-disktester_fillVolumestd-284x195.png 284w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/graph-disktester_fillVolumestd-190x130.png 190w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/graph-disktester_fillVolumestd-1536x1053.png 1536w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/graph-disktester_fillVolumestd-2048x1404.png 2048w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/graph-disktester_fillVolumestd-175x120@2x.png 350w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/graph-disktester_fillVolumestd-284x195@2x.png 568w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/graph-disktester_fillVolumestd-190x130@2x.png 380w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2556px) 100vw, 2556px\" \/><figcaption><em>22T<strong>B hard drives: speed across 22TB volume capacity<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">You can use a tool like <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/macperformanceguide.com\/DiskTester\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/macperformanceguide.com\/DiskTester\" target=\"_blank\">diglloydTools DiskTester<\/a> to create a graph like the one above.  This gives terrific insight into  how fast a hard drive is as its capacity is utilized.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-to-guarantee-fast-hard-drive-speed\">How to Guarantee Fast Hard Drive Speed<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The hard drive\u2019s speed is fastest when it is empty, because new files are laid down in the faster outer tracks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is possible to guarantee that only the fastest area of the hard drive is used for storage:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Use a hard drive having <strong>at least 50% more capacity than anticipated storage needs 3 years out<\/strong> from today.<\/li><li>Partition the drive for your needs, e.g. a 14TB volume on a 22TB hard drive (leaves the slowest 1\/3 or so unused).<\/li><li>Later, if more capacity is needed, expand that partition to a larger size up to the full capacity.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, if 14TB is anticipated as the future capacity need, choose a 20TB or 22TB hard drive. That\u2019s the smart move for speed, and it might keep you from having to replace the drive should you underestimate your needs. Sometimes there is a sweet spot for capacity vs price, so don\u2019t get hung up on exact sizes eg an 18TB will be almost as good as 20TB drive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/diglloyd.com\/_wishlist-owc-owc_hdd.html\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/diglloyd.com\/_wishlist-owc-owc_hdd.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">View hard drive wishlist for suggested drives<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-to-partition-a-hard-drive-for-top-speed-performance\">How to partition a hard drive for top speed performance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Partitioning can be done with <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/macperformanceguide.com\/autoTopic.html?dglyTP=SoftRAID\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/macperformanceguide.com\/autoTopic.html?dglyTP=SoftRAID\" target=\"_blank\">SoftRAID<\/a>  or <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/macperformanceguide.com\/Disk Utility\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/macperformanceguide.com\/Disk Utility\" target=\"_blank\">Apple Disk Utility<\/a>. SoftRAID is a single-step process, but  the resulting partition will function the same if created with Disk Utility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Start by deciding how large a partition\/volume you need. For example, if you have 8TB of data today, you might figure on 12TB by three years out.  With the remaining space, you can create a 2nd partition\/volume (&#8220;SlowSpare&#8221;), or simply not create it at all, letting it go unused.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>TIP<\/strong>: This  partitioning-for-speed idea <strong>applies whether or not using RAID<\/strong>. For video editors, this might be a crucial tool to guaranteeing that the drive can deliver some minimum performance for its entire capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:11px\">NOTE: for the screen shots below,  I did not want to whack a large hard drive backup for these screen grabs. Thus they are shown with a small SSD, not a large hard drive. The approach is identical; only the sizes change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-partitioning-in-softraid\">Partitioning in SoftRAID<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Select the drive on the left side (Initialize it first), then choose <strong>New Volume\u2026<\/strong>. Enter the desired size, then click <strong>Create..<\/strong>.. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Optionally, repeat the process to use the remaining space for a 2nd, slower volume.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">Note: always choose <strong>File System: HFS+<\/strong> for hard drives (not APFS).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/2024-0723-SoftRAID-NewVolume.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-95530\" width=\"838\" height=\"545\" srcset=\"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/2024-0723-SoftRAID-NewVolume.jpg 1676w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/2024-0723-SoftRAID-NewVolume-185x120.jpg 185w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/2024-0723-SoftRAID-NewVolume-284x185.jpg 284w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/2024-0723-SoftRAID-NewVolume-190x124.jpg 190w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/2024-0723-SoftRAID-NewVolume-1536x999.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/2024-0723-SoftRAID-NewVolume-185x120@2x.jpg 370w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/2024-0723-SoftRAID-NewVolume-284x185@2x.jpg 568w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/2024-0723-SoftRAID-NewVolume-190x124@2x.jpg 380w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 838px) 100vw, 838px\" \/><figcaption>Creating a new volume in SoftRAID<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-partitioning-in-disk-utility\">Partitioning in Disk Utility<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>First, erase the drive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Note: always choose <strong>Format: Mac OS Extended (Journaled)<\/strong> when formatting spinning hard drives (not APFS).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/2024-0723-DiskUtility-Initialize_HFS.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-95531\" width=\"498\" height=\"257\" srcset=\"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/2024-0723-DiskUtility-Initialize_HFS.jpg 996w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/2024-0723-DiskUtility-Initialize_HFS-233x120.jpg 233w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/2024-0723-DiskUtility-Initialize_HFS-284x147.jpg 284w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/2024-0723-DiskUtility-Initialize_HFS-190x98.jpg 190w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/2024-0723-DiskUtility-Initialize_HFS-233x120@2x.jpg 466w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/2024-0723-DiskUtility-Initialize_HFS-284x147@2x.jpg 568w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/2024-0723-DiskUtility-Initialize_HFS-190x98@2x.jpg 380w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 498px) 100vw, 498px\" \/><figcaption><strong>Initializing a drive in Apple Disk Utility<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Next, <strong>Partition<\/strong> to create two partitions, one the primary fast one. Disk Utility forces you to create that 2nd partition (shown here as &#8220;Spare&#8221;). You can ignore it, or delete it later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/2024-0723-DiskUtility-Initialize_HFS-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-95532\" width=\"498\" height=\"257\" srcset=\"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/2024-0723-DiskUtility-Initialize_HFS-1.jpg 996w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/2024-0723-DiskUtility-Initialize_HFS-1-233x120.jpg 233w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/2024-0723-DiskUtility-Initialize_HFS-1-284x147.jpg 284w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/2024-0723-DiskUtility-Initialize_HFS-1-190x98.jpg 190w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/2024-0723-DiskUtility-Initialize_HFS-1-233x120@2x.jpg 466w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/2024-0723-DiskUtility-Initialize_HFS-1-284x147@2x.jpg 568w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/2024-0723-DiskUtility-Initialize_HFS-1-190x98@2x.jpg 380w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 498px) 100vw, 498px\" \/><figcaption><strong>Partitioning in Disk Utility: Work and Spare<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-conclusions\">Conclusions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>For physical reasons, hard drives have highly variable performance that depends on capacity utilization.  Using higher-capacity hard drives guarantees higher average speed for the same amount of data, and a minimum speed can be guaranteed by partitioning the fast part of the hard drive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/diglloyd.com\/_wishlist-owc-owc_hdd.html\" target=\"_blank\">View hard drive wishlist for suggested drives<\/a>.  A great choice for example is the <a href=\"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/item\/OWC\/ME3NH7T20\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/item\/OWC\/ME3NH7T20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">20TB OWC Mercury Elite Pro<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>See also:<\/strong><br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/macperformanceguide.com\/blog\/2024\/20240120_1300-OWCBlog-SeparateDataVolumeForImportantData.html\"><em>Storing Important Data on the Boot Drive is Asking For Trouble \u2014 Always Make a Separate Volume<\/em><\/a><br \/> <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/diglloyd.com\/blog\/2023\/20231120_1200-ProPhotographersGuideToBackupInTheField.html\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/diglloyd.com\/blog\/2023\/20231120_1200-ProPhotographersGuideToBackupInTheField.html\" target=\"_blank\"><em>A Pro Photographer\u2019s Guide to Fast Data Backup in the Field<\/em><\/a><br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/macperformanceguide.com\/blog-2024-05.html#20240522_1436-OWCBlog-BestDrivesForBackup\"><em>The Best Drives and Smart Strategy for Safe, Secure and Consistent Mac Backups<\/em><\/a><br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/macperformanceguide.com\/blog\/2024\/20240215_0900-OWCBlog-FastCloneBackups.html\"><em>Backup Best Practices: How to Make Fast Clone Backups on a Mac<\/em><\/a><br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/macperformanceguide.com\/blog\/2024\/20240110_1049-OWCBlog-TimeMachine-WhatToDoWhenYourTimeMachineIsFull.html\"><em>What to Do Your When Mac\u2019s Time Machine Says Its Backup Drive Is Full<\/em><\/a><br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/macperformanceguide.com\/blog\/2023\/20231219_1200-OWCBlog-BackupBestPractices-HowToUseTimeMachineOptimallyWithOtherMacOSBackups.html\"><em>Backup Best Practices: How to Use Time Machine Optimally With Other macOS Backups<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Need help working through your computing or photography system design?  <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/macperformanceguide.com\/consulting.html\" target=\"_blank\">Consult with Lloyd<\/a> before you potentially buy too much or too little, and see <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/diglloyd.com\/_wishlist-bh-bh_mac.html\" target=\"_blank\">my Mac wishlist of current models<\/a>, first pondering <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/90191-the-ultimate-mac-buyers-guide-part-2-the-huge-value-of-refurbished-and-used-macs\/?utm_source=diglloyd&amp;utm_content=_a_%7Ediglloyd%40index\" target=\"_blank\">whether refurbished or used Macs might do the job for you<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-default\"><figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/diglloyd.com\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/diglloyd.com\/gfx\/flag.diglloyd.png?dglyOWCB=PureViewingPleasure6K\" alt=\"\" width=\"125\" height=\"70\"\/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/macperformanceguide.com\/OWC articles by Lloyd\" target=\"_blank\">View all posts by Lloyd Chambers\u2026<\/a> Lloyd\u2019s photo web site is <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/diglloyd.com\" target=\"_blank\">diglloyd.com<\/a>, computers is <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/macperformanceguide.com\" target=\"_blank\">MacPerformanceGuide.<\/a>com, cycling and health are found at <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/windinmyface.com\" target=\"_blank\">WindInMyFace.com<\/a>, software tools including disk testing and <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/macperformanceguide.com\/autoTopic.html?dglyTP=data+integrity\" target=\"_blank\">data integrity validation<\/a> at <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/diglloydtools.com\" target=\"_blank\">diglloydTools.com<\/a>. <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.patreon.com\/diglloyd\/collections\" target=\"_blank\">Patreon page<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/diglloyd.com\/blog\/2024\/20240716_0948-ReaderCommen-AdobeCameraRaw-AIDenoise-procedure.html\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/diglloyd.com\/blog\/2024\/images\/2024-0715-_DGL0466-VernalPoolAtDuskGreenstoneLake-f9,2592x1944.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/a><figcaption><em>Vernal Pond near Greenstone Lake<\/em><br \/>f9 @ 1\/20 sec EFC shutter, ISO 80; 2024-06-26 20:08:47<br \/>Fujifilm GFX100 II + GF20-35mmF4 R WR @ 28.8mm equiv (35mm)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Did you know that the first things you save to a spinning hard drive take advantage of faster read speeds? 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