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familychoice

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Mar 5, 2015
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I’m currently using an old 2012 MacBook Pro for making music on - and booting from an external USB SSD drive. The drive has the OS, and music software, and I also have a second SSD connected for file storage. The original internal spinning drive is too slow now, and rather than replace it I just plug in the two external drives.

Is this possible with the M1 Mini’s? I’ve read conflicting statements either way.

I also have a 16” MacBook Pro. Apparently it’s possible to do it with that one, but a bit of a faff with the T2 chip.

If I get an M1 Mini I’ll be cutting back on internal storage, so really need the option to boot from an external drive.

thanks.
 
It’s ok, I’ve just found the general thread for M1 desktops - seems you can, sometimes, boot from an external thunderbolt drive, but almost never via a USB drive - at least since the last OS update.

I think I’ll still be able to install and run apps on an external drive though (correct me if I’m wrong), which would do the job in saving a bit of disk space (NI Komplete is huge) just as well.
 
Booting from external SSD is something Apple is not probably considering high priority. For number of reasons, it is not smart. And sure, you could do it up to now (and I did in critical cases). But it is asking for troubles if disk gets disconnected and will be typically slower.
Running external disks is great to save space. If you really want to run applications located on external drives, get fastest drive you can (which will work with your hardware). If you just need to deposit data there, slower disk may be as useful and save some money.
Either way, my choice would be to have system and most Applications on internal drive (= speed and reliability) and data on external drive (=cheaper upgradeable storage). Actually, that IS my current setup ;-)
 
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Booting from external SSD is something Apple is not probably considering high priority. For number of reasons, it is not smart. And sure, you could do it up to now (and I did in critical cases). But it is asking for troubles if disk gets disconnected and will be typically slower.
Running external disks is great to save space. If you really want to run applications located on external drives, get fastest drive you can (which will work with your hardware). If you just need to deposit data there, slower disk may be as useful and save some money.
Either way, my choice would be to have system and most Applications on internal drive (= speed and reliability) and data on external drive (=cheaper upgradeable storage). Actually, that IS my current setup ;-)
Thanks for the reply :)

That’s what I’m hoping to do - ‘work’ apps and system on the main drive, file storage on an external SSD.

The benefits of a bootable external drive for me are I that can plug in my existing ‘music’ drive, as everything is already nicely setup, and it takes up a lot of storage (NI Komplete can fill 800gb, for example), and it keeps work and hobby stuff separate. I like to keep my work drives clean and simple and minimise the risk of messing anything up with the crazy music stuff.

I’ve since learned though that I wouldn’t be able to run the external drive on an M1 anyway, as it’s on High Sierra (kept on that OS so I can still run abandoned apps), so it’s a no-go anyway.

I think what you’ve suggested is the best option - work apps on main drive, cheaper SSD for files, and if my budget can cope faster external drive for additional apps, or take the plunge for a bigger internal drive.
 
OP wrote:
"The benefits of a bootable external drive for me are I that can plug in my existing ‘music’ drive, as everything is already nicely setup, and it takes up a lot of storage (NI Komplete can fill 800gb, for example), and it keeps work and hobby stuff separate."

You had better be very VERY careful before you commit yourself to an m-series Mac.

By that, I mean that you must determine that your audio software and HARDWARE (assuming you use an audio interface) will work with an m-series CPU.

This is often a point of contention with audio production users, as new hardware and OS versions can easily "break" the hardware/software setups that were previously working for them.

Just something to be aware of.

Also, unless you intend to boot from a thunderbolt drive, an external drive will probably not offer performance close to what you get from the internal drive...
 
OP wrote:
"The benefits of a bootable external drive for me are I that can plug in my existing ‘music’ drive, as everything is already nicely setup, and it takes up a lot of storage (NI Komplete can fill 800gb, for example), and it keeps work and hobby stuff separate."

You had better be very VERY careful before you commit yourself to an m-series Mac.

By that, I mean that you must determine that your audio software and HARDWARE (assuming you use an audio interface) will work with an m-series CPU.

This is often a point of contention with audio production users, as new hardware and OS versions can easily "break" the hardware/software setups that were previously working for them.

Just something to be aware of.

Also, unless you intend to boot from a thunderbolt drive, an external drive will probably not offer performance close to what you get from the internal drive...
Thanks for the reply.

Good point - just checked and apart from a couple of VST’s, everything seems to be compatible, including hardware.

I’ve abandoned the idea of booting from an external drive when I get an M1 (Mini or iMac, still undecided), but I will still need to use one for installing apps - I’d need a 2tb+ hard drive otherwise, and the £600 upgrade cost is way out of my budget!

Preference for a new Mac is to wait for the event next month to see if a bigger iMac is on the cards this year, if not it’s a toss-up between a 16/512 24” iMac or the same spec Mini. Then I’ll plug in a drive for file storage, and another, occasionally, with additional apps installed for noise making.
 
A. Based upon the assumption when you mean Drive = SSD
B. M1 will only Run Big Sur

#1. Yes, you can boot from an external drive. That is the way I use my Mac Mini M1, no problems whatsoever using a TB3 enclosure. I don't use the internal SSD at all.
#2. You need to plug into a Mini a Monitor, mouse, and keyboard anyway, plugging in a TB3 drive is simply one more device.
#3 As far as speed goes it is roughly comparable on TB3 to the internal one, and that is dependent upon how fast an SSD you use.
#4 You could worry about accidentally disconnecting the drive. If you have that same issue with other stuff plugged in, I never had that issue, YMMV.
 
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A. Based upon the assumption when you mean Drive = SSD
B. M1 will only Run Big Sur

#1. Yes, you can boot from an external drive. That is the way I use my Mac Mini M1, no problems whatsoever using a TB3 enclosure. I don't use the internal SSD at all.
#2. You need to plug into a Mini a Monitor, mouse, and keyboard anyway, plugging in a TB3 drive is simply one more device.
#3 As far as speed goes it is roughly comparable on TB3 to the internal one, and that is dependent upon how fast an SSD you use.
#4 You could worry about accidentally disconnecting the drive. If you have that same issue with other stuff plugged in, I never had that issue, YMMV.
Thanks for the reply.

Yes from what I've read so far, TB3 seems the most reliable way to go for an external bootable drive. What enclosure/drive are you using?

I think need to do a bit more research on those, as I've only used USB SSD's. The initial TB3 costs could be offset by saving on the internal drive upgrade, but also as a flexible way for future upgrades and a useful way for data sharing across my other devices.
 
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Thanks for the reply.

Yes from what I've read so far, TB3 seems the most reliable way to go for an external bootable drive. What enclosure/drive are you using?

I think need to do a bit more research on those, as I've only used USB SSD's. The initial TB3 costs could be offset by saving on the internal drive upgrade, but also as a flexible way for future upgrades and a useful way for data sharing across my other devices.
I have used a $80 Wavlink from Amazon, works great. I suspect it will work to transfer OS between Mac Mini M1, I have not tried, not sure about other devices?

Since the Apple SSD cannot be replaced, I would rather leave it alone, as with a fast enough as SSD there is perceptively no different in speed. Down the road, if I need to sell the M1, having an unused internal SSD might be helpful.
 
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I have used a $80 Wavlink from Amazon, works great. I suspect it will work to transfer OS between Mac Mini M1, I have not tried, not sure about other devices?

Since the Apple SSD cannot be replaced, I would rather leave it alone, as with a fast enough as SSD there is perceptively no different in speed. Down the road, if I need to sell the M1, having an unused internal SSD might be helpful.
Thanks for that, I'll take a look and do a bit of research.

For my purposes, as well as cutting down on the initial internal storage costs, I'd like to keep my work and free time stuff separate, so an external bootable drive keeps the clutter down when I'm in work mode. Not a deal-breaker, if not then installing free time music apps on a spearate external drive will still help keep storage costs down.

Waiting to see if anything interesting is announced in June, if not, then it's a toss-up between a 16/512 Mini and a 16/512 24" iMac.

The Mini is currently favourite - as there's an initial saving of £750. A new 27" monitor will set me back another £300-£400 and won't be as good as the iMac's, but it'll be bigger, can be used with my other devices, and I'll still be at least £350 better off. Also looking at delivery times, the iMac would take a month longer to arrive.
 
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