Which external drive faster? Raw or catalog one?

[hulk2012]

I'm buying two external drives - a main one for to store referenced raw images and another mini one to store catalog file (used across devices for editing) I've got a dilemma - which one should be faster - a main external drive with raw images (possibly thunderbolt) or mini external drive with a catalog file (used across devices)?

 

[KmH]

What cataloging application are you using?

Most catalogs just keep track of the path to an image, not the images themselves.
Consequently, catalog files are way smaller than image files.

 

[hulk2012]

What cataloging application are you using?

Most catalogs just keep track of the path to an image, not the images themselves.
Consequently, catalog files are way smaller than image files.

I use aperture 3 catalog file on mini external drive (on the go editing or later plug to iMac). Raw files I store on another external drive which always stays connected to iMac (and stays at home).