2018 Mac Mini - Complete NIGHTMARE - Please advise..

[Boyd01]

Have been hammering my 2018 Mini's 2tb internal SSD for over 4 years. Have used GIS software to create maps consisting of about 100 million files in a Windows 10 VM on the Mini. The Mini gets a real workout, often rendering and exporting 24/7 for extended periods.

I guess the internal SSD could die at any time. But honestly, it's not something I worry about. If I needed a quick replacement, MacSales/OWC has the i7 2018 Mini with 8gb/512gb SSD for $469 and I could swap my existing 64gb Apple RAM into it and use external SSDs for storage.

 

[Patrice Brousseau]

It was manufactured in 2020 according to the serial number so, it’s not that bad. I have older SATA SSD’s in some machines from 2016 at 98-99% life remaining according to DriveDX.

I will install DriveDX and check the life remaining and proceed to return or keep it depending on the result. I know an SSD could fail abruptly without warning but knowing it worked for more than four years, I expect it to survive a few more years, ideally 4-5…

 

[Fishrrman]

The OP never came back to tell us about the final resolution of the problem.

But it was probably bad RAM, and "too much of it" at that.

 

[Patrice Brousseau]

Have been hammering my 2018 Mini's 2tb internal SSD for over 4 years. Have used GIS software to create maps consisting of about 100 million files in a Windows 10 VM on the Mini. The Mini gets a real workout, often rendering and exporting 24/7 for extended periods.

I guess the internal SSD could die at any time. But honestly, it's not something I worry about. If I needed a quick replacement, MacSales/OWC has the i7 2018 Mini with 8gb/512gb SSD for $469 and I could swap my existing 64gb Apple RAM into it and use external SSDs for storage.

A bit late but the 2TB SSD is at 98% life remaining and 100% healthy according to DriveDX. Really fast too!