Big Sur on HDD

[iFan86]

Has anyone installed Big Sur on an HDD drive yet? I have a Mac Mini 2014 with a 1TB HDD drive. Obviously it is slower then with an SSD with Catalina. I can live with the speed I get with Catalina but if Big Sur would make it even slower then I don't think I would want to upgrade. So, is Big Sur about the same, slower, or faster on an HDD is my question for anyone that has installed it on a similar device.

 

[Lerten]

I've got a 2014 Mac mini at my office at work -- updated it last Friday to Big Sur. Works with about the same speed (that is to say -- slooow).

 

[IowaLynn]

I know you said No to upgrading but... really makes huge difference. Not a Fusion drive, which uses an SSD to cache I/Os. Take a look, video DIY How-to from OWC

DIY Upgrade Bundle - 480GB 6G SSD for Mac mini 2014

Get everything you need to upgrade or replace the 2.5-inch drive in your 2014 Mac mini and repurpose the original drive as an additional storage device.

eshop.macsales.com

 

[iFan86]

Finished my upgrade to the 2014 Mac mini with 1tb HDD this evening. For others considering, the speed seems the same to maybe just a tad quicker. Pleasantly surprised. Some day down the road I will install a SSD but just don't have time anytime soon. If you could live with the speed before then you'll be able to live with the speed after. Otherwise there isn't really a whole lot about Big Sur to excite.