Question 1

Which would be best for backing up a mac with time machine function?

Accepted Answer

This question cannot be answered with a single simple solution.   First, all hard drives deteriorate over time, even SSDs.  In selecting a backup drive start with the size of the drive in your Mac.  I like to double the backup drive size, so if you have 2GB drive then at least 4GB backup drive.  Secondly, it is important to know the expected life of the backup drive and build it into your computing solution to be replaced before that happens.  So if the expected life say of an HD is 3-5yrs, plan to replace it in that time.  Yes it could last longer, but how valuable is your data?  These days, cloud backup services are inexpensive and reliable, and provide an excellent retrieval system should your computer fail.  I have purchased a massive 18TB drive, but it is for video archival and it does not run 24/7 as a backup so I expect it to last a very long time.   Hope this helps.

Question 2

How many Thunderbolt cables does it come with?  Does it come with other cables?

Accepted Answer

I was pleasantly surprised it came with a thunderbolt 3 to 3 AND a thunderbolt 3 to USB! Excellent product. I own 3.

Question 3

Does it have a power..?   Fan?

Accepted Answer

This is A 6 gig G-Drive Pro.  There is no mention of a fan in the tech specs, but it does have an external 117 VAC power adapter/transformer.
This unit is used under a heavy load all the time.  It gets warm but not hot

Question 4

Why does my search for G-Drive suddenly come up with "Sandisk" - and is there anything different with these drives from the version from 2020?

Accepted Answer

Gtech was rebranded as Sandisk professional earlier this year
The actual drive and housing is the same
The part number and packaging has changed
Gtech and Sandisk are both part of WD

ASIN	B098SBSKNG
Additional Features	Portable
Best Sellers Rank	#632 in External Hard Drives
Brand	SanDisk Professional
Cache Memory Installed Size	4
Color	Space Grey
Compatible Devices	Desktop, Laptop
Connectivity Technology	USB
Customer Reviews	4.4 out of 5 stars 275 Reviews
Data Transfer Rate	200 megabits_per_second
Digital Storage Capacity	4 TB
Enclosure Material	Aluminum
Form Factor	3.5-inch
Hard Disk Description	Enterprise-class 7200RPM Ultrastar drive
Hard Disk Form Factor	3.5 inches
Hard Disk Interface	USB-C
Hard Disk Rotational Speed	7200 rpm
Hard-Drive Size	4 TB
Hardware Connectivity	Thunderbolt
Hardware Platform	Mac, PC
Installation Type	Plug In
Item Dimensions L x W x Thickness	8.27"L x 5.12"W x 1.81"Th
Item Weight	2.7 pounds
Manufacturer	Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
Media Speed	200 megabytes_per_second
Mfr Part Number	SDPH51J-004T-NBAAD
Model Name	G-DRIVE Pro
Model Number	SDPH51J-004T-NBAAD
Number of Items	1
Read Speed	200 megabytes_per_second
Special Feature	Portable
Specific Uses For Product	Business, Multimedia, Personal
UPC	718037891668
Unit Count	1 Count
Warranty Description	5-year limited warranty

SanDisk Professional 4TB G-DRIVE PRO - Enterprise-Class Desktop Hard Drive, Thunderbolt 3, USB-C, 7200RPM Ultrastar Drive Inside - SDPH51J-004T-NBAAD

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