What's the SSD speed of the NON BASE model M2 MBA?

[Feek]

All I keep seeing is that the base model M2 MBA (and MBP) are not as fast as the M1 models. Note, I say "not as fast" as opposed to slower because none of them are actually slow.

Can anyone who's got a non base model M2 MBA please post the results of the Blackmagic Disk Speed Test please along with your SSD size, whether it's 512Gb, 1Tb or 2Tb. I'd like to see the relative performance of the non base models.

Thanks.

 

[jav6454]

The SSD speed of the base (256GB) M2 MBA is half of the higher storage options.

 

[Feek]

The SSD speed of the base (256GB) M2 MBA is half of the higher storage options.

Speculation is a great thing, I want actual figures from owners.

 

[unrigestered]

such tests usually don't tell you anything about real world performance, unless all you do is pushing file sizes of 20GB and more around.
the difference in real world performance is often pretty small though, sometimes basically non existent, but if you are interested in benchmark results: the base model is capable of pretty much exactly half the speed of the 512GB models in situations, when you are actually trying to move around files of several GB each.

 

[jav6454]

Speculation is a great thing, I want actual figures from owners.

It's not speculation. Several reviews have come forth with the actual figure being that. As per actual numbers, no two NAND chips are alike and you'll get subtle variations.

 

[Feek]

such tests usually don't tell you anything about real world performance, unless all you do is pushing file sizes of 20GB and more around.

Yes, yes I'm fully aware of that, thanks.

subtle variations.

That's absolutely fine.

I'd like to see actual real-world figures from owners please.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Here is the 1TB test I did the day I got the M2 (launch day). I returned it and am waiting on the 2TB model to arrive.

*Note: I had done several tests back to back. Some were higher than shown but, not by a lot.

*Note: At the time of testing, I didn't realize I had bought the 10 core model from the Apple Store. As such, I didn't mention that fact.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/base-model-macbook-air-with-m2-chip-has-slower-ssd-speeds-in-benchmarks.2351010/page-27?post=31259419#post-31259419

 

[Feek]

Here is the 1TB test I did the day I got the M2

Thank you so much, that's really useful

I'll just reproduce it here so it's contained within the thread.

1Tb

 

[MauiPa]

I get so perplexed why everyone is whining about this. Yes, it would have been no no chip shortages and have had 2 128s. But even slower than a 2 chip Ssd, they are still way faster than a Dell (LOL) and no one is calling that out. you have to go way higher than the Dell class 50 storage to even come close, and as far as I can tell, you can't even get that on a consumer laptop from Dell

 

[Feek]

I get so perplexed why everyone is whining about this.

I’m not whining. I’m just trying to collate some information from owners.

But even slower than a 2 chip Ssd, they are still way faster than a Dell

I even made a point in the first post of saying that they’re not slow.

 

[jdb8167]

M2 24 GB/1 TB.

 

[SRQrws]

Just ran the Blackmagic test on 8-core CPU/10-core GPU/8GB RAM/512GB SSD. The higher readings are with the 1GB stress test; the slower are with the 5GB stress test.

​

 

[Realityck]

Thank you so much, that's really useful

I'll just reproduce it here so it's contained within the thread.

1Tb

So to give a little more comparison. This is from a M1 iMac using 1 TB SSD. So the M2 gets marginally faster SSD results.

 

[Cooled666]

Another m2 24gb/1 tb the one is a 1gb test other 5gb

 

[Feek]

Thanks all,

It's the 5Gb test I'm most interested in, for consistency.

 

[Feek]

512GB SSD.

That's intriguing, your 512Gb seems slightly less quick than the 1Tb version.

 

[Macalway]

Great, now I have a change to brag! I have the new Air. 10/16/1TB, and get those numbers poster above, hallelujah!!!

Note: My Galaxy Book2 Pro gets 5k SSD reads, as it allows you to easily upgrade to gen4 d.i.y.

So compare that to the base Air. Then again, these are just big file numbers that don't mean to much in everyday use, I don't think.

 

[davekro]

Well good to know my new M2 MBA 8-c/24GB/1TB/67W will be a bit faster than the Late-2012 Mac Mini (2.6 GHz i7/16GB/512SSD/1TBHDD-Mojave) [Black Magic: Write 22MBps, Read 335 MBps. The 2022 M2 is 10+ times faster?] -and- Mid-3013 13" MBA (1.3GHz i5/4GB/128GB SSD- I "just" upgraded to Catalina recently) it is replacing. I REALLY wring the life out of my Macs! 😆 For years, I internally ranted and resisted paying Apple's soldered Ram pricing. But now that my two machines are stretched as far past their useful life to get current MS Office (mainly). I let go of my soapbox rants and accept life 'as it is'. I may be slow... but I do poor work. This used to be one of my favorite jokingly self defamatory lines. Sadly, whether from covid culture PTSD or aging (68) my short term memory challenges make the second part actually less 'joke like'. Oye! ;o)

 

[bronksy]

I have a fully loaded 2tb air. Everything maxed out and the SSD speeds are pretty consistent with the 1tb ones posted here.

What are people worrying about - I’m pushing 6k video files through it fine in

Never realised so many people are needing such insanely fast SSD drives for their work.

I’m very keen to know why people are so upset about the SSD speeds and what they’re doing that actually would use them at these massive read / write numbers.

 

[Feek]

What are people worrying about - I’m pushing 6k video files through it fine in

Thanks for the reply and the info. It’s useful to know that the 2Tb and the 1Tb are around the same speed.

Please note, I’m not worried. As per my original post, I never said the SSDs are slow, I made a point of saying ‘not as fast’ because I don’t think for a second that they’re slow.

 

[bronksy]

Thanks for the reply and the info. It’s useful to know that the 2Tb and the 1Tb are around the same speed.

Please note, I’m not worried. As per my original post, I never said the SSDs are slow, I made a point of saying ‘not as fast’ because I don’t think for a second that they’re slow.

Oh I was making a general statement about the discontent about the new air and SSD speeds. I’m just fascinated with who is ever going to be running them at such speeds.

- wasn’t aiming at you, sorry about that.

 

[jdb8167]

Thanks all,

It's the 5Gb test I'm most interested in, for consistency.

AmorphousDisk does 1 GB and 4 GB but not 5 GB. Here is 4 GB on my M2 MacBook Air 1 TB.

 

[Vanarak19]

I don't understand all the focus on this topic, but here is mine (8/16/512GB)