I need another [external] hard drive is 5200RPM sufficient

[plum]

Seems I always remember 7200RPM being suggested but am unsure at this point if that is necessary?
These days it seems one within reason can record straight to their system drive and get results, albeit maybe limited at some point...

And my signature indicates my current equipment.
Thanks very much for your time I would like to order one today probably a 2TB for around $75...

IS this the right forum for this post. Thanks again!

[mikehalloran]

No – except for Time Machine where the answer is Yes.

What do you have in there, a 320g hard drive? (I upgraded my daughter's 2008 iMac a couple of months ago).

You can get a 1T SSD for around $300. A 500G is $159. It will make a world of difference. Takes me about a half hour to install it one-handed (no joke; my left arm is crippled). It is easy once you know which steps to ignore in the OWC video and the IFixIt web site – and difficult if you try to follow all the steps. I can tell you how to do it easily.

You need a few tools that you would need anyway, no matter what you installed plus an $11 adapter that makes the job easier. Since you have the bezel off, the CR2032 battery is right there – might as well replace that, too.

[plum]

I'm sorry I meant an external drive: I need a another external drive.
Actually I need an internal drive also because the one in there is shot I have been running my OS on an external drive for quite some time.

I just haven't got around to getting the tool kit: Mainly the Screen Suction Cup Plunger...

[mikehalloran]

A pair of cheap suction cups from the hardware store will do. The glass is held on by magnets.

You also need magnetized Torx T6 and T8 drivers. The ones that fit into magnetic sockets will not work, however, as the magnets that hold the glass will cause the tips to leave the sockets. A magnet can be used to magnetize steel drivers well enough for the use.

A thin blade of any kind or small flat blade screwdriver will come in handy. You also need a #1 tip Phillips driver for the RAM cover. Some iMacs also require a #0 tip but I forget which.

Although all of these are contained in the OWC kit, you don't need the kit.

[plum]

Wow I must be sleeping as I seem to have missed the SSD bandwagon...

With on of these installed can I just record to my Internal hard drive or is it still recommended to have an External for Data and or Virtual Instruments.

Any chance you might elucidate the ideal upgrade for me and my Early 2008 iMac...

Or rather an ideal configuration for VI's Internal Drive and External Drive specs.

Thanks a lot...

3 sentences would do ha ha....

[mikehalloran]

Recording internally to an SSD will be better on this iMac than any scheme involving an external drive.

You are limited to 6G RAM max and SATA II (3G transfer speed) so it will not match the potential of, say, a 2011 27" iMac i7 with Thunderbolt but the performance increase over your current setup will be quite noticeable.

[plum]

IT is starting to look like -- save a new computer -- that an internal ssd and 2 external ssd one each for recording and VI"S might be my best set up?