Shut off and Overheating Mac Mini 2014 after OWC SSD Aura Pro X2 upgrade

[uzapucax1]

Hi people!
After upgrading a Mac Mini 2014 with a OWC SSD Aura Pro X2 i did notice it restart by itself and also an overheating warning from DriveDx application. I read that it seems it not an isolated issue.

Should i reset PRAM? can i do i memory or Hardware check?

Any help or ideas please?
Thanks! ;-)

 

[uzapucax1]

anybody out there?

 

[WilliApple]

Sounds like a defective hardware issue.

Might want to get it swapped out.

 

[BanjoDudeAhoy]

If you can test it in another device or in an external case, I would do that and do some kind of hardware check.
If you don’t have that option, I would probably assume it’s defective - especially since you already say it seems to not be an isolated issue. In that case, I’d have it replaced.

 

[uzapucax1]

Thanks for the good ideas!
I might try to get some external case to try it too.
Mac Mini restarting on their own it kind of worries me.

 

[EugW]

Why did you get an OWC drive anyway? Where are you located? Why not just get an adapter and NVMe drive?

I personally went with an adapter and low end Western Digital SN550. Works great and runs very cool.* (However, in my case I didn't have an existing Apple SSD in the Mac mini, so I didn't have the existing 12+16 Apple connector. Instead of getting one of those OEM style 12+16 drive connectors + short M.2 adapter, I just went with a full length M.2 adapter instead that only works with 3rd party NVMe drives.)

If I were in your shoes I'd just return the OWC drive and get a $10 adapter plus third party NVMe drive for better quality and less money.

*P.S. I decided to check out my drive's stats, and apparently it's never gone above 42C. If reporting correctly, that's even cooler than I would have ever imagined.

BTW, there isn't much point in putting a fast and hot drive in these Mac minis, since their interface can't support very fast speeds anyway. I believe their interface tops out around 800 MB/s.

If you can test it in another device or in an external case, I would do that and do some kind of hardware check.
If you don’t have that option, I would probably assume it’s defective - especially since you already say it seems to not be an isolated issue. In that case, I’d have it replaced.

You can't test it in an external case, as those OWC drives use the Apple 12+16 connector (and are longer than standard NVMe drives too). Well, I suppose you could buy the very expensive OWC case, but other than that, there are no cases for it AFAIK.

 

[BanjoDudeAhoy]

You can't test it in an external case, as those OWC drives use the Apple 12+16 connector (and are longer than standard NVMe drives too). Well, I suppose you could buy the very expensive OWC case, but other than that, there are no cases for it AFAIK.

Oh. I wasn’t aware of that. Thanks for pointing that out. You live and learn

 

[uzapucax1]

Why did you get an OWC drive anyway? Where are you located? Why not just get an adapter and NVMe drive?

I personally went with an adapter and low end Western Digital SN550. Works great and runs very cool.* (However, in my case I didn't have an existing Apple SSD in the Mac mini, so I didn't have the existing 12+16 Apple connector. Instead of getting one of those OEM style 12+16 drive connectors + short M.2 adapter, I just went with a full length M.2 adapter instead that only works with 3rd party NVMe drives.)

If I were in your shoes I'd just return the OWC drive and get a $10 adapter plus third party NVMe drive for better quality and less money.

*P.S. I decided to check out my drive's stats, and apparently it's never gone above 42C. If reporting correctly, that's even cooler than I would have ever imagined.

BTW, there isn't much point in putting a fast and hot drive in these Mac minis, since their interface can't support very fast speeds anyway. I believe their interface tops out around 800 MB/s.


You can't test it in an external case, as those OWC drives use the Apple 12+16 connector (and are longer than standard NVMe drives too). Well, I suppose you could buy the very expensive OWC case, but other than that, there are no cases for it AFAIK.

Hi EugW,
Thanks for the good and detailed reply! Good info indeed

I got the OWC NVMe drive blade because i read in an iFixit forum that was the easiest and fasted way to upgrade a Mac Mini 2014. Changing the HDD to a regular SSD was more complicated in time and dissasembly procedure. I am located in Argentina, a friend of mine brought the SSD to me so to returned i have to have another friend travelling to the US. It is a bit complicated but an option too.

I didn't know about using an adapters to an NVMe drive. Isn't that way slower? because the other is connected directly to the motherboard. Can you post a link of a good adapter?

I have an Orico adapter for an external, i don't think it will fit Apple connector but i can try

ORICO M.2 NVMe SSD Enclosure to USB-C PCIe Adapter 10 Gbps USB3.2 Gen2 for NVMe M-Key/M+B Key SSD 2230/2242/2260/2280, Upgraded M2 SSD Enclosure Aluminum (Cooling Vest, UASP, Trim, Smart, 4TB)

M.2 NVMe SSD Enclosure Adopts aluminum alloy shell, Slim design durable and excellent heat dissipation be portable and easy to carry. It will be the best choice for trip and business travel. M.2 SSD Enclosure NVMe Made of advanced materials the surface of the product is not easy to scra...

www.amazon.com

Your alternative sound very good. I check online an OWC NVMe drive over heating or not working fast seems to be recuring issue. Unfortunately.

Best!

 

[Nguyen Duc Hieu]

Hi EugW,
Thanks for the good and detailed reply! Good info indeed

I got the OWC NVMe drive blade because i read in an iFixit forum that was the easiest and fasted way to upgrade a Mac Mini 2014. Changing the HDD to a regular SSD was more complicated in time and dissasembly procedure. I am located in Argentina, a friend of mine brought the SSD to me so to returned i have to have another friend travelling to the US. It is a bit complicated but an option too.

I didn't know about using an adapters to an NVMe drive. Isn't that way slower? because the other is connected directly to the motherboard. Can you post a link of a good adapter?

I have an Orico adapter for an external, i don't think it will fit Apple connector but i can try

ORICO M.2 NVMe SSD Enclosure to USB-C PCIe Adapter 10 Gbps USB3.2 Gen2 for NVMe M-Key/M+B Key SSD 2230/2242/2260/2280, Upgraded M2 SSD Enclosure Aluminum (Cooling Vest, UASP, Trim, Smart, 4TB)

M.2 NVMe SSD Enclosure Adopts aluminum alloy shell, Slim design durable and excellent heat dissipation be portable and easy to carry. It will be the best choice for trip and business travel. M.2 SSD Enclosure NVMe Made of advanced materials the surface of the product is not easy to scra...

www.amazon.com

Your alternative sound very good. I check online an OWC NVMe drive over heating or not working fast seems to be recuring issue. Unfortunately.

Best!

Something like this

ALIKSO NVMe PCIe M.2 NGFF SSD Adapter Card for Late 2014 Apple/MacBook Mini A1347

1.Apple's M.2 NGFF SSD that does not support the SATA protocol for the time being is converted to the 2013 version and later versions of the Apple laptop. Please understand clearly! 2.The working principle of the adapter card is extremely simple. To put it bluntly, it is to take a few wires from...

www.amazon.com

Sintech M.2 NGFF NVMe SSD Card for Upgrade Mac Mini Late 2014 Year A1347 MEG Series

Sintech M.2 NGFF NVMe SSD Card for Upgrade Mac Mini Late 2014 Year A1347 MEG Series

www.amazon.com

And there is a lengthy thread about this already in this forum

Using a Standard M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD in the 2014 Mini

In searching the web a month ago, I wasn't able to find articles on using a standard M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD in the 2014 Mini. I was going to order a Toshiba/OCZ RD400 for some yet-to-be-defined future use NOT in the 2014 Mini (it's a good PCIe SSD that Toshiba will be discontinuing and the 256GB...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[EugW]

@Nguyen Duc Hieu, the OP already has the Apple OEM 12+16 connector, and if so, what would be needed is not the long L-shaped adapter. What would be needed is something like this:

Sintech NGFF M.2 nVME SSD Adapter Card for Upgrade MacBook Air(2013-2016 Year) and MacBook PRO(Late 2013-2015 Year)

NOTICE:because too many customers can use it,I suggest you to try it again if your MAC can't detect nVME SSD. Pls notice to insert card fully into SSD slot and you must prepare bootable USB disk(see third point) with High Sierra to format M.2 SSD first, it can't support recover from internet. mai...

www.amazon.com

 

[pyramidic.shallot]

seconding not buying anything from owc, just wasting money imo

 

[uzapucax1]

seconding not buying anything from owc, just wasting money imo

why is that?
Do they have a bad reputation? I did search the web and the seems to have an even comments rating as OK, not bad either good, just OK.

 

[pyramidic.shallot]

why is that?
Do they have a bad reputation? I did search the web and the seems to have an even comments rating as OK, not bad either good, just OK.

Just insanely overpriced. 99 times out of 100 you can do what they're selling for a fraction of the price with a much cheaper adaptor or something similar. One of the most egregious things they do that I've seen is sell a "special" cable for a 2011 iMac for $50 that's completely unnecessary, and plenty of people feed into the fud.

 

[uzapucax1]

Just insanely overpriced. 99 times out of 100 you can do what they're selling for a fraction of the price with a much cheaper adaptor or something similar. One of the most egregious things they do that I've seen is sell a "special" cable for a 2011 iMac for $50 that's completely unnecessary, and plenty of people feed into the fud.

Thanks for the good info!
I have no clue they are overpriced, so it is great to know.
Could you suggest similar websites or brands were to get cables, accesories and SSD enclosures that are good quality but not overpriced?

I recently bought an Orico enclosure for a SSD. Nice quality but it came missing the tighten screw to the board and the thermal pad, so...

thanks again