External SSD or hub for M1 mac mini

[patriotaki]

Hi,

I am looking for an external ssd drive that will be able to read/write at maximum supported speeds.
Currently my nvme (970 evo plus) with an icy box enclosure only does 300-400mb/s although on my windows pc it does 900mb/s

Is there any other accessory hub that will allow me to run at higher speeds with the current nvme? or is it better if i purchase a thunderbolt external ssd?

 

[Fishrrman]

If you want "external + fast", get a thunderbolt drive such as the Samsung X5.

Or... put the nvme blade drive you have into a thunderbolt3 enclosure.

But... be aware that both the thunderbolt enclosures and the X5 are on the pricey side.

 

[patriotaki]

If you want "external + fast", get a thunderbolt drive such as the Samsung X5.

Or... put the nvme blade drive you have into a thunderbolt3 enclosure.

But... be aware that both the thunderbolt enclosures and the X5 are on the pricey side.

any recommendations that i can buy from amazon.de?

 

[Soondae]

I went with the Seagate FastSSD 500Gb model connected via my MacMini's USB C / Thunderbolt port. It has been great and is relatively inexpensive about $200 for 540 Mbps transfer rates.

Seagate Barracuda Fast SSD 1TB External Solid State Drive Portable – USB-C USB 3.0 for PC, Mac, Xbox & PS4-3-Year Rescue Service (STJM1000400)

Boot games faster, transfer files seamlessly, and stream stored videos to your computer without lag with BarraCuda Fast SSD, a portable USB-C drive dishing out speeds of up to 540MB/s, space for an ever-growing content library, reversible USB-C connectivity, and special file syncing software to h...

www.amazon.com

 

[HDFan]

I have an

OWC 1.0TB Envoy Pro SX Thunderbolt (40Gb/s)... at MacSales.com

TB3ENVPSX01 1.0TB OWC Envoy Pro SX Thunderbolt (40Gb/s) Bus-Powered Portable NVMe SSD. Super-fast Xtremely portable Thunderbolt/USB4 SSD for daily storage and backup to production-level audio, design, and photography.

eshop.macsales.com

(revised invalid link)

 

[Soondae]

I have an

OWC Envoy Pro Elektron: Rugged Portable Thunderbolt SSD

Experience the OWC Envoy Pro Elektron: a compact, waterproof, and crushproof portable SSD with up to 1011MB/s speeds for all your storage needs.

www.owcdigital.com

Looks like that model is discontinued but the Envoy Pro FX looks great at a reasonable price for the 480Gb model. Those transfer rates are crazy fast, unfortunately the OP is in Germany so was looking for something reasonable in his available resources.

 

[gilby101]

I am looking for an external ssd drive that will be able to read/write at maximum supported speeds.
...
or is it better if i purchase a thunderbolt external ssd?

"Better" is not the word I would use. For maximum performance , Thunderbolt is "essential".

If you need sustained high performance you will need to do more research as to which enclosure and drive is good enough. For example the Samsung X5 (easy, fast, but not cheap) has a reputation for getting hot and slowing when put under pressure. The Envoy Pro EX/FX (see above) is probably better.

 

[HDFan]

Looks like that model is discontinued

Fixed link.

There are multiple things that can affect the transfer rate. The connection, enclosure electronics, the speed of the SSD, the controller on the SSD, the cache on the SSD. Buying an all-in-one from a reputable vendor is one way to avoid dealing at all of these issues.

 

[TightLines]

There are multiple things that can affect the transfer rate. The connection, enclosure electronics, the speed of the SSD, the controller on the SSD, the cache on the SSD. Buying an all-in-one from a reputable vendor is one way to avoid dealing at all of these issues.

You ain’t kidding… and don’t forget even the cable being used can influence the transfer rates… its got beyond ridiculous what someone has to learn about and understand just to try and get an advertised transfer rate for a device… \

Know this - marketing dept’s for anyone of the manufactures out there selling these things will promote and tell you the maximum their device can achieve under the most perfect of circumstances, and omit the fact that those speeds can only be obtained by using x,y,z, products, in addition to their own, and under these conditions, using this specific computer with such and such bus speeds, etc…

In other words, your mileage is going to vary, and vary wildly depending on all the other variables.