Can I boot my M1 mini with this NVME drive + enclosure?

[VitoBotta]

My mini only has 256MB of internal storage so I've been using an external Samsung T5 so far. I'm looking to switch to something faster and would prefer using the new drive as boot drive. I've read that M1 can boot from an external drive only if connected via Thunderbolt, not USB. Is this correct?

At the moment I am thinking to buy the Crucial P5 Plus (https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B098WL46RS/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A3JWKAKR8XB7XF&psc=1) together with this enclosure https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B0823X93SS/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?smid=ASSHQ707XVKY3&psc=1

Can you confirm that these are compatible with each other and my M1 mini will boot from that drive? Thanks!

 

[ryukk]

I'm curious why you want to do this? Keeping data and OS separated seems like a good idea, I have the same machine and it is what I'm planning to do.

 

[LuisN]

My mini only has 256MB of internal storage so I've been using an external Samsung T5 so far. I'm looking to switch to something faster and would prefer using the new drive as boot drive. I've read that M1 can boot from an external drive only if connected via Thunderbolt, not USB. Is this correct?

At the moment I am thinking to buy the Crucial P5 Plus (https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B098WL46RS/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A3JWKAKR8XB7XF&psc=1) together with this enclosure https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B0823X93SS/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?smid=ASSHQ707XVKY3&psc=1

Can you confirm that these are compatible with each other and my M1 mini will boot from that drive? Thanks!

This one worked for me with M1 MBAir:

OWC External Storage, Envoy Express - OWCshop

Envoy Express - Enclosures,Accessories,iPhone / iPad / iPod,Batteries & Chargers,Cables / Adapters,Mounts,OWC Internal SSD,Expansion Cards,HD / SSD Mo

www.owcshop.eu

 

[VitoBotta]

That's what I am doing now. The Samsung T5 seems to start having some problems, where sometimes the performance drops significantly. So if I am going to replace it I would probably prefer to change the boot drive with a bigger one. But I see your point about keeping data separate.

 

[VitoBotta]

This one worked for me with M1 MBAir:

OWC External Storage, Envoy Express - OWCshop

Envoy Express - Enclosures,Accessories,iPhone / iPad / iPod,Batteries & Chargers,Cables / Adapters,Mounts,OWC Internal SSD,Expansion Cards,HD / SSD Mo

www.owcshop.eu

With which drive?

 

[LuisN]

With which drive?

 

[VitoBotta]

View attachment 1922657

Thanks

 

[bobcomer]

That's what I am doing now. The Samsung T5 seems to start having some problems, where sometimes the performance drops significantly. So if I am going to replace it I would probably prefer to change the boot drive with a bigger one. But I see your point about keeping data separate.

And what happens when you start having problems with your now external boot drive? I really, really, wouldn't recommend that, it'll slow your machine down and probably make it less stable. Anytime you increase the complexity of the connection to a hard drive you're just asking for more trouble. I only boot off of external drives for special tasks, never for normal operation.

 

[VitoBotta]

My T5 is basically dying so I am forced to change it now. I will probably keep the new one as second drive still as suggested by some of you before. Can you please recommend some thurderbolt enclosure and nvme drive that for sure will work with the M1 mini? Thanks

 

[colinsky]

My T5 is basically dying so I am forced to change it now. I will probably keep the new one as second drive still as suggested by some of you before. Can you please recommend some thurderbolt enclosure and nvme drive that for sure will work with the M1 mini? Thanks

You don't need a Thunderbolt enclosure. I'm using an Addlink S70 NVMe 1TB SSD in an Inateck SA01004 USB 3.1 enclosure to boot my m1 Mini. I have Monterey on the NVMe for testing purposes--when Monterey gets a few more updates I'll put it on the Mini's internal SSD.

Sure, it would run twice as fast in a Thunderbolt enclosure, but I don't notice much of any speed difference when booting from the external.

 

[VitoBotta]

You don't need a Thunderbolt enclosure. I'm using an Addlink S70 NVMe 1TB SSD in an Inateck SA01004 USB 3.1 enclosure to boot my m1 Mini. I have Monterey on the NVMe for testing purposes--when Monterey gets a few more updates I'll put it on the Mini's internal SSD.

Sure, it would run twice as fast in a Thunderbolt enclosure, but I don't notice much of any speed difference when booting from the external.

My T5 died already and I couldn't wait because of work, so I picked the Samsung X5 from a local dealer. It may not be as fast as other options but it was readily available while for enclosures etc I couldn't find good options that I could receive super quickly. The drive is pretty fast anyway so I'm happy regardless.