Best way to run external storage for media files w/ Mac Mini M1?

[NikoBeaR]

I ordered the 8GB/512GB Mac Mini M1 since Costco doesn't carry the 16GB version. I've got about 800GB of media (books, movies, music, etc) on a 2.5" SanDisk SSD.

What are my options?
1. External USB 3 2.5" HDD Enclosure --> Would this slow my accessing of the media I have on this drive down significantly?
2. External TB3 2.5" HDD Enclosure --> *) Do these even exist? cheaply? *) Would they be & feel significantly faster than the USB3 versions?

There's got to be legions of Mac users here who picked up the 256GB version who plan to use prior-owned 2.5" SSD drives. What are you guys planning to do?

The goal is to make everything load as wickedly fast as possible.

 

[matrix07]

The goal is to make everything load as wickedly fast as possible.

You won’t get “wicked fast” with 2.5” HDD, period.
But it’s cheap though. So what’s your goal? Cheap

Seagate Backup Plus Hub 4TB External Hard Drive Desktop HDD – USB 3.0, for Computer Desktop Workstation PC Laptop Mac, 2 USB Ports, 2 Months Adobe CC Photography (STEL4000100), Model:STEL4000100

Get solid USB storage and 4TB capacity in an external desktop hard drive for Mac and Windows. Featuring dual front-facing, high-speed USB 3.0 ports, Backup Plus Hub makes it easy to charge mobile devices and transfer files from cameras, USB keys, and more. Even charge USB game controllers Enjoy s...

www.amazon.com

or fast?

SAMSUNG T5 Portable SSD 2TB - Up to 540MB/s - USB 3.1 External Solid State Drive, Black (MU-PA2T0B/AM)

The Samsung T5 Portable SSD has the latest in Samsung V-NAND flash memory technology. Its portable design, blazing fast transfer speeds of up to 540 MB/s, shock resistance, and secure encryption make it the best portable SSD on the market.

www.amazon.com

 

[Anonymous Freak]

From the way you're describing it as a 2.5" drive, I'm guessing it's SATA.

SATA tops out at 6 Gb/s. Very few SATA SSDs could do that.

USB 3.0 tops out at 5 Gb/s. USB 3.0 is almost certainly fast enough for your SSD.

If you want to make absolutely certain you get every ounce of performance out of it, get a "USB 3.1 Gen 2" enclosure.

Two examples found in seconds via Google search; I cannot vouch for their quality:

https://www.newegg.com/p/1W8-00RT-00084

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00WT99FE2

 

[Selfie]

I'm using three Samsung T-type SSDs via USB hub. Works just fine, but none are speed demons. They are still WAY faster than a spinning drive!

OWC sells an array of Thunderbolt 3 storage solutions. I recently pre-ordered a new "dock" which adds 3 Thunderbolt ports (only works on M1 Macs.)

 

[IowaLynn]

The T7 on my Intel mini 900MB/sec

 

[NikoBeaR]

You won’t get “wicked fast” with 2.5” HDD, period.
But it’s cheap though. So what’s your goal? Cheap

Seagate Backup Plus Hub 4TB External Hard Drive Desktop HDD – USB 3.0, for Computer Desktop Workstation PC Laptop Mac, 2 USB Ports, 2 Months Adobe CC Photography (STEL4000100), Model:STEL4000100

Get solid USB storage and 4TB capacity in an external desktop hard drive for Mac and Windows. Featuring dual front-facing, high-speed USB 3.0 ports, Backup Plus Hub makes it easy to charge mobile devices and transfer files from cameras, USB keys, and more. Even charge USB game controllers Enjoy s...

www.amazon.com

or fast?

SAMSUNG T5 Portable SSD 2TB - Up to 540MB/s - USB 3.1 External Solid State Drive, Black (MU-PA2T0B/AM)

The Samsung T5 Portable SSD has the latest in Samsung V-NAND flash memory technology. Its portable design, blazing fast transfer speeds of up to 540 MB/s, shock resistance, and secure encryption make it the best portable SSD on the market.

www.amazon.com

I think you made a good point that I should have mentioned my use case. When I meant fast, I meant fast enough to play 1080p/4K movies, play music, scroll through thousands of pics without stuttering.

I am glad you guys mentioned about the SATA limit.

 

[NikoBeaR]

From the way you're describing it as a 2.5" drive, I'm guessing it's SATA.

SATA tops out at 6 Gb/s. Very few SATA SSDs could do that.

USB 3.0 tops out at 5 Gb/s. USB 3.0 is almost certainly fast enough for your SSD.

If you want to make absolutely certain you get every ounce of performance out of it, get a "USB 3.1 Gen 2" enclosure.

Two examples found in seconds via Google search; I cannot vouch for their quality:

https://www.newegg.com/p/1W8-00RT-00084

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00WT99FE2

Yes, you're right, it's a Crucial MX50 1TB 3D NAND SATA 2.5 Inch Internal SSD (Up to 560MB/s)

CT1000MX500SSD1(Z)​

(this one: https://smile.amazon.com/Crucial-MX500-NAND-SATA-Internal/dp/B077SF8KMG)


And the USB 3 enclosure is a WAVLINK USB 3.0 to SATA External Hard Drive Enclosure for 2.5 inch 5mm/7mm/9.5mm SATA I/II/III HDD SSD Support UASP Function, Max 4TB Tool-Free Design
(this one: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B082PFJLJG?psc=1)




So what I'm hearing is that there's no point in buying a TB3 enclosure as I won't even get close to saturating the bandwidth limits.

I'll be using a 1TB Crucial MX500 w/ aWAVLINK USB 3 enclosure which sounds like a max of 500Mb/sec. I assume that would feel fast enough for playing movies & stuff.