SSD in late Mac Mini 2014 w/o Fusion Drive - Questions?

[oharag]

Hi - come here for expert help.

I have a late 2014 Mac Mini (MM) with standard SATA 1 TB HD. It's slow. So I started researching upgrading to SSD to speed things up. I have a few thoughts/questions:

1) What's up with Fusion Drives? I understand it's the mating of traditional HD and SSD to speed things up. So during the SSD upgrade does it only make a traditional HD faster? Are they not a unified system as designed?
2) Somewhere on the webs there is a procedure to "trim" SSD from MM HD. What does this mean? Does this mean separate HD from SSD to create two separate volumes?
3) Can my non-Fusion MM be upgraded? If yes how (links to web pages/products appreciated).
4) I did see an install instruction to remove old traditional HD and replace it with an SSD HD using the SATA connection. Shouldn't this be the way to go for my MM? Is this just as fast? If yes why would adding an additional blade SSD using Apple's propreietary connector be helpful? Is this just a way to add two separate storage options (one SSD HD coupled with SSD Blade?
5) Please recommend SSD SATA drives or Blades that will give me best buck per performance. I realize the bus speeds on my Mini are probably slow - so no overkill. This is what I installed in my Macbook 2014 -

ADATA XPG SX8200 Pro 1TB.​

6) Can I add an traditional SSD Sata Drive along with SSD Blade? Most installs just showing a SSD Blade being installed.

I am clueless. All of the info I read on the webs does not help at all. I went to iFixit (as recommended) and there was no "SSD Instal Kit" for my 2014. There are links to a bunch of Chinese cables to supposedly help with install, but I still don't know if my MM can even have it installed.

Please help with clear answrrs/instructions

Thanks

Jerry

 

[Boyd01]

There's a long thread here with some recommendations

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

Or, if you just want a simple solution from a well-known source, see OWC's site

OWC SSD Flash Storage Upgrade for Mac mini 2014

Upgrade your 2014 Mac mini flash storage up to 2.0TB with speeds up to 92x faster than the original drive. Kit includes all tools for DIY installation.

eshop.macsales.com

installation video

The idea of a fusion drive is to put the most frequently used, smaller files on the SSD to improve performance. IMO, with the current price of SSD's, it's not worth it. I have a 2014 2.8ghz Mini with a fusion drive. I separated the 128gb original SSD from the hard drive and boot from it. I don't really use the hard drive for anything, this machine is a media server and all files are on an external 4tb SSD.

I believe the SATA disk is only capable of ~500MB/sec while the PCIE disk can approach 800MB/sec. Should also be a considerably easier install.

"Trim" is a system for evenly distributing wear across the SSD, it has nothing to do with fusion drives. Sounds like you're talking about "splitting" the SSD from the hard drive, as mentioned above. This is done with some simple terminal commands. However, you don't have a Fusion drive so it's not relevant.

 

[oharag]

So by separating or "trim"ing the HD you make two distinct storage solutions?

Can you have the SATA SSD solution you presented along with a blade SSD using a custom cable from Chinese supplier? My only thought would be there isn't a wide enough path to allow both SSDs spinning away and cause a bottle neck. I say this since most solutions that I see for installing the SSD Blade (along with custom Chinese Cable) doesn't say anything about the SATA HD replacement.

Thanks

 

[ignatius345]

1) What's up with Fusion Drives? I understand it's the mating of traditional HD and SSD to speed things up. So during the SSD upgrade does it only make a traditional HD faster? Are they not a unified system as designed?

Years ago when SSDs were still quite pricey, I opened up my Mac Mini (a 2011 I believe) and added an SSD into the case in addition to the existing HDD. I bought a drive cable and caddy kit from OWC or somewhere -- it was a tight fit but it worked. I then used Terminal commands to join the two drives into one Fusion Drive. It worked incredibly well and gave the machine many more years of practical use.

The deal with the Fusion Drive is that the OS sees both drives as one logical volume. Files you're using most often get automatically shuffled over to the SSD, and things that aren't touched as often stay on the HDD. It's all invisible to the user -- all you see is that the machine runs a hell of a lot faster than it did with an HDD because in practice you're more often working off the SSD. It's a compromise, to be sure, but it really was at the time a clever workaround for getting much of the speed of an SSD and the storage capacity of a cheaper HDD.

However, SSD prices are now so much cheaper that there's just no reason to do this anymore. Just buy a 1 or 2TB SSD and call it a day.

2) Somewhere on the webs there is a procedure to "trim" SSD from MM HD. What does this mean? Does this mean separate HD from SSD to create two separate volumes?

No. TRIM is a separate thing that has something to do with how the SSD manages wear. Each little cell in an SSD can only be written and erased a certain number of times before it stops working. I think TRIM has to do with spreading out the usage among all the cells. Anyway, it definitely doesn't have anything to do with separate volumes. It's more of a background process that you'd never notice, but helps maintain the lifespan of the drive.

 

[Boyd01]

Once again, "trim" has nothing to do with Fusion drives, you are mis-using that term. There is nothing magical about a fusion drive, it's just a small SSD installed in the PCIE connector and the rest is accomplished with software to "fuse" it with the hard drive.

SSD's do not "spin", they are solid state with no moving parts. It's possible to remove your hard drive and install a SATA SSD plus a PCIE SSD, there have been posts from people who have done that here. I don't know what kind of cables are needed.

 

[oharag]

Guys thanks for responses.

So I guess I still don't understand the big deal about adding SSD Blade to a Fusion Drive, and whether it's even possible. I agree I will look into replacing my existing standard HD with a SATA SSD Drive - that I will definitely do. Though if I can also purchase a SSD cable for my Non-Fusion Mini - and add an additional Blade SSD for additional storage - AWESOME. Again is this possible for my Mini? I understand the SATA SSD - I just need clarity for blade SSD.

Thanks

BTW I will continue to read up on this from suggested forums.

 

[Boyd01]

IMO: forget the SATA SSD. It requires major disassembly of the computer which carries the risk of damaging something and it will also be much slower than the PCIE option. Also, forget fusion drives, they no longer make any sense in today's world.

Just install a PCIE SSD and be happy. It will be fast, installation is easy and minimally invasive.

 

[oharag]

Okay - further research - TRIM uncouples the existing Apple supplied SSD with their Fusion Drive. This allows for adding 3rd party SSD Blades.

I just opened my Mini to check PCB. I do have the SSD flex connection on my board. I will give it a shot - order 3rd party ssd cable - SSD Blade and SATA SSD. I'll give this a try and get back to you.


Thanks

 

[pmiles]

Take a look at this, it covers all the various potential configurations your Mini model could have internally.

https://eshop.macsales.com/tech_center/manuals/OWCMAN2014MINI.pdf

 

[Fishrrman]

The links above provide "the path" for adding an SSD without touching the internal HDD.

Having said that, YOU DO NOT WANT a fusion drive.

If you put an SSD into the Mini, just leave the HDD alone, and let it continue on as "a standalone 1tb platter-based hard drive". You will want to BOOT FROM the SSD, of course.

You'll see 2 drive icons on the desktop.
Just "get used to it".
In 2-3 days, it will seem normal.

 

[oharag]

The links above provide "the path" for adding an SSD without touching the internal HDD.

Having said that, YOU DO NOT WANT a fusion drive.

If you put an SSD into the Mini, just leave the HDD alone, and let it continue on as "a standalone 1tb platter-based hard drive". You will want to BOOT FROM the SSD, of course.

You'll see 2 drive icons on the desktop.
Just "get used to it".
In 2-3 days, it will seem normal.

Wow - thanks. So clear and concise! Love it - looked everyone, and found different sites for both installs - but not in the same place.

Still - any thoughts on doing SSD Sata Drive couples with SSD Blade?

Some dude/dudette posted this solution for Blade:

XT-XINTE PCI-E x4 x2 M.2 NGFF M-Key NVME AHCI SSD Converter Card Adapter for 2014 Macbook Mini A1347 MEGEN2 MEGEM2 MEGEQ2

XT-XINTE PCI-E x4 x2 M.2 NGFF M-Key NVME AHCI SSD Converter Card Adapter for 2014 Macbook Mini A1347 MEGEN2 MEGEM2 MEGEQ2

www.xt-xinte.com

Of course questionable Chinese origin, but for $8.95 it's cheap.

This replaces the need for a custom Apple Cable + M2e Adapter for 3rd party.

I also read that Mini 2014 only has two lanes for SSD - so anything above this is overkill. Though any SSD purchased today can be repurposed for future upgrades (or pull for external case use).

I went with this for my 2014 MMP:

ADATA XPG SX8200 Pro 1TB 3D NAND NVMe Gen3x4 PCIe M.2 2280 Solid State Drive R/W 3500/3000MB/s SSD (ASX8200PNP-1TT-C)

Faster and Better - Flawless Editing. Operating Temperature 0 Degrees Celsius to 70 Degrees Celsius .

www.amazon.com

I got speeds, I believe, in the 1400 range on 2 lane MMP. The late 2015 MMP has 4 lanes - and people got over 3000+.