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What are people using as external drives with their Mac Studio?
- Thread starter sparkie7
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Awesome, thanks. Are you using one, and what SSD's would be best for this setup?
If you scroll down the page, you'll learn that there are already two detailed threads about what you're asking.
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Yes, I am currently using this item. I'm using a 2TB Samsung 860 QVO and 1TB 970 EVO PLUS. The first for storage and the latter as Time Machine. NVME via Thunderbolt speed below. Thunderbolt is pretty much limited to 2800MB according to other threads.
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Are using Two of these units? My understanding is it can only fir one SSD inside?
Presumbaly this is faster than say a Samsung T7 Portable SSD?
No. One unit holds a 2.5" SSD (or HDD) AND a M.2 NVME.....
Unlike the OWC Ministack STX using PCI-E x1, this unit is x4 so you get the maximum thunderbolt speed depending on your NVME brand.
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Ok thanks.
This sounds ideal. Where did you get your 2TB Samsung 860 QVO and 1TB 970 EVO PLUS from?
I did a lot of checking and ended up choosing a Crucial CT1000X8SSD9 X8 1TB for my work files, and a Crucial CT2000X8SSD9 X8 2TB for my sounds and samples. Totally plug and play. Working a dream 
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Coming from a MacPro 5,1 and a high end hackintosh, I had a pre-existing NVME interface and SSDs as well as HDDs to accomodate for the mac studio with external enclosures. Since external enclosures generally introduce noise to the environment, I was able to mitigate 90% of the the Thunderbay's fan noise and 100% of the SSD7101A's fan noise with the creative use of larger, lower RPM fans. I can follow up with pics of the modifications of there is interest.
I'd be interested in your fan mods. I have the Thunderbay 4, which is the only thing I hear with my Studio setup.
1st attempt: I removed the rear fan panel and used double sided foam tape to attach a 120MM fan rated at 21.5 DB. to the back of the Thunderbay 4. The fan was silent but Airflow through the chassis was excessive.
2nd attempt: I ordered a Noctua NA-SRC7 low noise adapter cable and after several tries, some good light and my reading glasses, I managed to attach it inline to the Thunderbay 4s internal mount. With that, noise dropped off the radar. Of note, temps of the hard disk increased be several degrees.
Lessons learned, Thunderbay 4 noise is not just the fan, it's airflow through the chassis. While the existing 92mm fan, when reduced in speed, may eliminate the noise, I'll go for the bigger the fan, with lower RPM's every time. I'll post a pic when I can.
I did a lot of checking and ended up choosing a Crucial CT1000X8SSD9 X8 1TB for my work files, and a Crucial CT2000X8SSD9 X8 2TB for my sounds and samples. Totally plug and play. Working a dream
Thanks, so these are better than say the Samsung T7's ?
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Is there any units that look like the studio or mac mini that holds ssd's that I could put the studio on top of?
I did read it but was hoping for something with less ports and more SSD slots/holders.
Actually I could just use a SSD holder with a big heat sink to cool them in the shape of the studio or mini.
I invested in a Thunderbay 4 and found, like so many others, that it's very noisy. I've seen that people are swapping out the fans for quieter Noctua fans. Did you only get the adapter cable or the fan as well? Thanks.
I recently replaced the fan on my Thunderbay 4 (Thunderbolt 3) and it is much quieter now. I ordered from Amazon the fan kit (Noctual NF-A9 FLX) and also the long, silicone anti-vibration mounts (NA-SAV4).
Using the long mounts allowed me to mount the inside AND the outside metal screen along with the fan to the plate that unscrews from the back of the Thunderbay 4. Put a small drop of dish soap onto a wet sponge and roll the long mounts on the sponge to make them slippery so they will pull through everything necessary.
I experimented with the fan running normally, running with the faster of the two attachment cables and with the slower version of same. Ended up keeping the slower version installed.
I’m waiting for OWC to release their Ministack Studio, thunderbolt enclosure with 6 nvme drives
I think it’s going to be a perfect match for Mac Studio.
You can see it showcased in the video below (min 5:35 aprox)
I think it’s going to be a perfect match for Mac Studio.
You can see it showcased in the video below (min 5:35 aprox)
I’m waiting for OWC to release their Ministack Studio, thunderbolt enclosure with 6 nvme drives
I think it’s going to be a perfect match for Mac Studio.
You can see it showcased in the video below (min 5:35 aprox)
Any ideas on pricing?
Not a clue
. I hope it will be in the 200-300$ range similar to their ministack STX Thunderbolt 3 hub.
They charge 2 and high change for the current mini stack STX. The NVME connection is 1x. Very slow. That new box will cost much more if the PCI-E is upped to 6 connections at 4x. At least the aluminum chassis matches now. It will be expensive if they look away from the STX internals.Not a clue