Dock vs NVMe Enclosure

[Allen_Wentz]

Regar

No I'm only using one 1080p monitor.

Just the printer, external hard drive, mouse, keyboard, and an SD card reader of some sort. I might also connect a headset sometimes but that's not always on.

No max speed isn't a huge deal but I'd still like something decently fast. This is going to be storage, I'd be running the OS and apps from the internal hard drive.

I don't need many extra ports, I think all the ones on the Mini will be enough. I mostly need the NVMe, a USB A port or two, and SD card reader.

Oh and I use an ethernet cable so Wifi issues aren't a big deal for me. I'm also in the US so I don't have to worry about the tariff prices (yet).

Regarding the comment that "...in the US so I don't have to worry about the tariff prices (yet)." Yes, you do have to worry about the tariff prices.
• USA tariffs are paid by USA consumers.
• Some moronic POTUS just talking about tariffs immediately incentivizes manufacturers to hoard critical components instead of efficiently buying using "just in time" methodology. That causes worldwide inefficiencies and price increases.

 

[Tempest2084]

I was kind of shocked that the prices of NVMes have gone up so quickly in the past few months. I knew RAM was skyrocketing due to all the data centers, but it never occured to me that storage would go up as well. I briefly thought about going SATA even though it's much slower (this is just for bulk file storage, nothing vital), but even those are getting a bit expensive. Bad time to be buying a new computer but as mine is pushing 18 years, I don't really have much of a choice.

 

[Ifti]

I was kind of shocked that the prices of NVMes have gone up so quickly in the past few months. I knew RAM was skyrocketing due to all the data centers, but it never occured to me that storage would go up as well. I briefly thought about going SATA even though it's much slower (this is just for bulk file storage, nothing vital), but even those are getting a bit expensive. Bad time to be buying a new computer but as mine is pushing 18 years, I don't really have much of a choice.

A WD SN850x 8TB that I purchased for under £500 last year is currently showing on the SanDisk website at £1900!!
SSD prices are now insane, and it doesn't look like they will fall again well into 2027......

 

[OWC_TAL]

I will be looking forward to your review.

I can't see any internal pics. I guess the large horizontal black area above the TB ports is the exhaust port. The specs list a 40mm fan. Maybe orient a thermometer next to that so you can see how hot it gets.

There is a lame unboxing video, but no inside shots. There is a shot of the bottom showing 2 different rows of vent holes.

I am assuming they aren't just venting down for the exhaust, but maybe there are pulling in from above the TB ports and pushing out of the bottom.

The bottom cover of the StudioStack contains a copper heatsink plus a thermal pad. When you install the SSD, it makes direct contact with the thermal pad -> copper heat sink/spreader -> bottom case. Essentially, the enclosure becomes one giant heatsink for the SSD. When you look at the manual, there is a photo of the bottom of the StudioStack and you'll note an orange color where the SSD is. This is NOT the label on the SSD being shown but rather the underside of the copper heatsink.

When the enclosure reaches a higher temp (as measured by a thermal sensor on the main PCBA, I am not sure where), the blower fan will begin to exhaust air. This fan is variable speed and ramps up depending on temps (section 3.3 of the manual). Air is fed through the vents on the bottom, through the entire enclosure and vented out the rear.