storage now for future

[flang]

Have a 2018 3.2 GHz 6-Core Intel Core i7 mini w/64G & 500G. I've run out of int storage due to Pro Tools & Logic Pro X install packages.
I'm hoping to go M4 or M5 mini this year, depending on work.
I'd like to get an external powered, or isn't this necessary? Tbolt 3 or 4 NVme enclosure with 1 or 2 TB.
Form factor isn't that important, but I do like the OWC ministack STX, ever though it (obviously) wouldn't match up with an Apple silicon mini.
The SABRENT USB4 NVMe SSD Enclosure is also interesting, but with less capability and buss powered. Acasis makes some possibilities.
Any other suggestions?

 

[maflynn]

I use the OWC Envoy Ultra Thunderbolt 5 Portable, as I have a studio and the Envoy Ultra is TB5. For the mini, the Ministack would definitely be on the short list.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

Generally speaking, Thunderbolt NVMe enclosures draw little enough power than they can be bus powered.

I'm sure there are exceptions; if it has multiple NVMe drives or additional downstream ports, or if you have a lot of other stuff plugged into the Mac. But on my Mac mini, I'm using a TB NVMe 4TB drive bus-powered with no difficulty; everything else that's plugged in does have its own power source though.

 

[flang]

Generally speaking, Thunderbolt NVMe enclosures draw little enough power than they can be bus powered.
I'm using a TB NVMe 4TB drive bus-powered with no difficulty; everything else that's plugged in does have its own power source though.

which TB NVMe 4TB enclosure are you using?

 

[FreakinEurekan]

Mine was originally on my M1 Mac mini so it's TB3. I would not recommend that specific one for a new use case today, but functionally, a TB4/TB5 should work the same way.