Level 1

16 points

External SDD for Mac mini Pro

I have decided to go for Mac mini Pro, and a external SDD. After some research, I get that I can't just choose a random SDD that fit my speed criteria. It's also about connectivity. Thunderbolt 3 and above or USB-C 4.0. Apple doesn't support USB-C 3.2 2x2, so this narrow the available SDDs out there.

I'm not into speed for hard drives. What do I actually need? I edit in both Photoshop, Final Cut Pro and After Effects. I also make music in Logic Pro. What speed is for the SDD is a minimum? I guess there is no point having a fast machine if the SDD slows me down?

And, should I keep all my apps installed internally in the mini or should this be stored in the external SDD?

Posted on Feb 2, 2025 10:51 PM

Similar questions

39 replies

Feb 3, 2025 12:09 PM in response to Neguah

Re: “Since you say enclosures, you recommend me going for internal SSD, not external?”

When you get an external SSD, you can either buy a pre-assembled unit, or buy an internal drive and a separate enclosure and put them together yourself. The end result, either way, is an external SSD as far as your computer is concerned.

Neguah Author

Level 1

16 points

Feb 3, 2025 12:23 PM in response to Servant of Cats

Servant of Cats wrote:

Re: "When you get an external SSD, you can either buy a pre-assembled unit, or buy an internal drive and a separate enclosure and put them together yourself. The end result, either way, is an external SSD as far as your computer is concerned."

It's all about the cost, then.

Feb 3, 2025 12:37 PM in response to Neguah

About the cost, or about having more choice as to the mechanism.

With desktop hard drives, buying the mechanism separately from the enclosure can make it easier to get drives that use CMR. Many drives now use SMR, which can increase data density, but imposes rewrite performance disadvantages not unlike those associated with flash memory.

Neguah Author

Level 1

16 points

Feb 3, 2025 12:58 PM in response to Servant of Cats

Servant of Cats wrote:

About the cost, or about having more choice as to the mechanism.

With desktop hard drives, buying the mechanism separately from the enclosure can make it easier to get drives that use CMR. Many drives now use SMR, which can increase data density, but imposes rewrite performance disadvantages not unlike those associated with flash memory.

As long as I can find a good enclosure which allow me to travel with it. Also, I need a way to store the internal SSD when not in the enclosure.

Do you have a recommendation for a SSD + enclosure? So much to choose from.

Feb 4, 2025 12:54 AM in response to Neguah

The enclosure is just the cover or container of the SSD.

You know what an external HDD looks like? It's a smallish rectangular box with a USB etc. type cable attached.

The box or part you can see is the enclosure and the actual SSD/HDD mechanism is inside.

Once you have slotted the SSD inside and clipped on the cover you would not normally remove it.

I have several external SSDs. 4 of them are SATA types like those below and one is an NVMe which is a longer, thinner shape.

CRUCIAL 1TB SATA SSD

BENFEI SATA SSD ENCLOSURE

The advantage of the Benefei enclosure is that it comes with both USB 3.0 and USB-C connectors so you don't have to purchase any additional adapter.

You just push the SSD into the enclosure and clip on the lid.

Neguah Author

Level 1

16 points

Feb 4, 2025 01:40 AM in response to Ian R. Brown

Ian R. Brown wrote:

The enclosure is just the cover or container of the SSD.

You know what an external HDD looks like? It's a smallish rectangular box with a USB etc. type cable attached.

Are you kidding me?! I know what an enclosure is, and I know what and internal and external drive is. Having an internal SSD you put in an enclosure is not as protected as a external SSD ready to go.

Also, if the price of an external and internal + enclosure (making it an external) is the same, I’m not sure what to choose. It’s so much to choose from. I only have experience with HDDs, and I haven’t been buying from specs. So all this is new to me. SSD, enclosure, SATA, USB-C, TB, CMR, SMR etc. I do know the basics, but I can’t decide what I need for a Mac Mini M4 Pro (12, 16, 24GB, 512 GB).

Zurarczurx

Level 4

2,568 points

Feb 4, 2025 01:49 AM in response to Neguah

"are you kidding me"

I've been following this thread and from your responses it's not been clear at all that you've understood very much about what you need or what you've been told and have just been looking for someone to hold your hand all the way and tell you exactly what to buy and where to buy it. People here have given you good advice and have been very patient with you and I think your response to Ian Brown is very unfair.

Neguah Author

Level 1

16 points

Feb 4, 2025 02:02 AM in response to Zurarczurx

Zurarczurx wrote:

"are you kidding me"

I've been following this thread and from your responses it's not been clear at all that you've understood very much about what you need or what you've been told and have just been looking for someone to hold your hand all the way and tell you exactly what to buy and where to buy it. People here have given you good advice and have been very patient with you and I think your response to Ian Brown is very unfair.

Sorry about that. I have been reading my *** of trying to understand what all the terms mean to me. You have all been very helpful, giving me deeper insight, but I’m confused.

You all know a lot more than me, and even if I understand somewhat, you can point me in the right direction. Choosing a drive is not just about size. It’s so much more. And since you have the knowledge and sharing it, there will be more questions along with the answers.

I didn’t know I gave out the impression that I didn’t know what the basics was, and wasn’t ready to be talked to as a kid. But I might deserved it. So sorry avout that, Ian.

Feb 4, 2025 02:05 AM in response to Neguah

All drives are the same whether internal or external.

When you buy a ready made external it is usually just an enclosure with an "internal" drive fitted.

Buying the parts separately gives you more choice and can be a bit cheaper.

However, if you want something off the shelf try this . . .

CRUCIAL 1TB SSD

It has the advantage of being even smaller than a normal SATA SSD.

Feb 4, 2025 05:59 AM in response to Neguah

FWIW, these are the external drives I have in my setup:

Samsung T7 500 GB

SanDisk Extreme Pro 1 TB (note this is USB 3.2 Gen 2 X 2, i.e. dual lane)

Sabrent EC-SNVE enclosure (USB 3.2, 10 Gb/s) + Samsung 980 Pro 1 TB

I also have a couple SATA SSDs in USB3.0 enclosures and are slower than the above but faster than a HDD.

In real world transfers, these will give me transfer speeds of ~600-630 MB/s for the T7 and 650-700MB/s for the SanDisk and the Sabrent/Samsung combo.

While the Samsung 980 Pro is overkill for a 10 Gb/s enclosure I bought it for its high durability rating (TBW - Terrabytes Written) and it was on sale for a really good price and also perhaps in the future putting in a USB4 or TB4 enclosure.

Neguah Author

Level 1

16 points

Feb 4, 2025 06:37 AM in response to Ian R. Brown

Ian R. Brown wrote:

All drives are the same whether internal or external.

When you buy a ready made external it is usually just an enclosure with an "internal" drive fitted.

Buying the parts separately gives you more choice and can be a bit cheaper.

However, if you want something off the shelf try this . . .

CRUCIAL 1TB SSD

It has the advantage of being even smaller than a normal SATA SSD.

The reason why I was thinking of having the internal SSD stacked away when not using, is because I was thinking of having one good enclosure and several internal SSD I can put in the enclosure when I need to use the drive.

I now have a lot of info to go on. Thank you!

Feb 4, 2025 07:21 AM in response to Neguah

That changes matters.

It's not a good idea to keep swapping drives using one enclosure as frequent handling could lead to problems.

As the USB enclosures are cheap and very reliable it would be much better to keep every SSD in its own enclosure . . . protected at all times.

Of course it would get quite expensive if you bought Thunderbolt enclosures but you don't need those speeds.

Regarding part of your original post, all your apps should be kept on the internal SSD unless you are booting from an external but that's another story.

Anyway you need to decide which type of SSD to get, either the traditional SATA type or the newer NVMe.

Neguah Author

Level 1

16 points

Feb 4, 2025 08:24 AM in response to Ian R. Brown

Ian R. Brown wrote:

That changes matters.

It's not a good idea to keep swapping drives using one enclosure as frequent handling could lead to problems.

As the USB enclosures are cheap and very reliable it would be much better to keep every SSD in its own enclosure . . . protected at all times.

Of course it would get quite expensive if you bought Thunderbolt enclosures but you don't need those speeds.

I got it. Not swapping. Both thunderbolt and USB4 is expensive. At least those I have found here in Norway. But I’ll keep looking. If USB-C 3.2 2x2 is more than good enough, I can go with those enclosures, even though Apple doesn’t support it. Max speed is 1000 MB/s for that format, as I understand. It’s still a lot faster than regular HDD.

Feb 4, 2025 08:43 AM in response to Neguah

I don't know why you keep fixating on 2x2 as a normal USB 3.0 enclosure should be plenty fast enough and a lot cheaper.

Give it a try.

I use them to edit 4K video in FCP and DaVinci Resolve . . . I even use some old USB 3.0 HDDs and they too have no problems.

Neguah Author

Level 1

16 points

Feb 4, 2025 10:43 PM in response to Ian R. Brown

Ian R. Brown wrote:

I don't know why you keep fixating on 2x2 as a normal USB 3.0 enclosure should be plenty fast enough and a lot cheaper.

Honestly don't know. Lack of knowledge, I guess. And wanting to have the best... But going for USB 3.

RaidSonic ICY BOX IB-1817M-C31 and Crucial P3 Plus 1TB. SSD on a good deal.

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External SDD for Mac mini Pro