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Mac mini M4 (2024): docks, stands and other accessories
- Thread starter MiniApple
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This looks really good, he’s getting nearly 7000mbs read and 5100mbs write WD 2TB SN850x write which is double that I’m getting with my ACASIS 40gbps enclosure with Lexar NM790 4TB SSD. Anyone know if I’d get similar speeds with my Lexar?.
I found this on Beelinks Reddit, there support stated the Mate Mini would only give just over 3000mbs read and write. I feel I’m missing something here because a dock which should do 80gbps they are stating no better than 40gbps?
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@NickRno77 “I feel I’m missing something here because a dock which should do 80gbps they are stating no better than 40gbps?”
Their advertising is economical with the truth. This dock is not Thunderbolt 5, but is USB4 Gen 2.
To use USB4 Gen 2 (80Gbps) you need a TB 5 Mac - M4 Pro or better.
With an M4 mini (TB 4) you will only get the same performance as USB4, nominally 40Gbps.
That is what their support is saying.
Their advertising is economical with the truth. This dock is not Thunderbolt 5, but is USB4 Gen 2.
To use USB4 Gen 2 (80Gbps) you need a TB 5 Mac - M4 Pro or better.
With an M4 mini (TB 4) you will only get the same performance as USB4, nominally 40Gbps.
That is what their support is saying.
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Thanks for explaining that Paul, I have a Mini M4 Pro so I’m guessing I’ll get roughly the same speed as the YouTube Review ?
There's no practical difference (but congrats to the USB-IF for confusing naming)
Intel licensed the TB3 40Gbps protocol to the USB-IF.
USB4 isn't a souped-up version of USB 3, it is TB3 with some extra USB-related goodies (such as proper hubs, and tunneling of the old USB2/3 protocols over added.
TB4 is just an Intel certification & branding scheme for USB4 devices that requires some optional USB4 features to be implemented as standard.
USB4v2 added PCIe4 and the 80Gbps mode (but made the latter optional)
TB5 is, likewise, just an Intel certification & branding scheme for USB4v2 with some of the optional features (like the 80Gbos mode) made compulsory.
First, that test was for a Samsung 980, which is a PCIe 3.0 SSD and caps out at 3500 MB/s anyway.
Second, there are two models of the dock - one with two M.2 slots with 2 lanes each and another with a single 4-lane slot. They don't say which model that test was from, but the 2-slot version is only going to give half the bandwidth of each drive.
Yes with a fast PCIe4x4 SSD stick (like the WD Black SN850X on the video) & the single-slot version of the dock.
...but not if your SSD stick is only 3500MBps (28 Gbps) like the one on Reddit! And not if you're using the dual x2 slot version of the dock
The Reddit test was using a Samsung 980 Pro, possibly they testing with the A version, I’m looking at the 80gbps B version. I have a Lexar NM790 4TB SSD, I’m guessing that won’t cap out at 3500 mbs .
The Beelink Mate mini is using JHL9480, the same chip that is on the other TB5 NVMe enclosures that are giving 6-7000MB/s with a SN850X / 990PRO. So unless they wire the chip with some bottlenecking the PCIe lanes to the NVMe slot(s), we can expect that kind of speed.
It still is running at the negotiated 80Gbps, as show below in the list and more importantly verified by the video testing the actual SSD speed to be sub-6000MB/s?
Negotiated USB4 v2 is already the 80Gbps (64Gbps) PCIe gen4 with 4 lanes bandwidth that you should expect, out of TB5 / this JHL9480 chip. 120Gbps mode is reserved for single direction like display, only. When a TB5 port is vacant, system profiler would then show its potential 120Gbps max speed, but whenever plugging in a device that needs bi-directional, best you can see is 80.
For instance, on Wero's official bilibili video channel, connecting a M4 Pro mini to their TB5 enclosure even when paired with gen5 SSD, macOS system profiler display a similar list (1 minute mark in the video):
西数SN8100与WERO雷电5全模式硬盘盒性能展示_哔哩哔哩_bilibili
本视频展示 PCIe5.0 新盘西数 SN8100 在外接雷电 5 硬盘盒内的速度表现与兼容性测试。视频中展示的硬盘盒是 WERO 雷电 5 硬盘盒新品，它是我们研发的一款体积小巧的向下兼容雷电4、雷电 3 的硬盘盒（Windows PC 因自身问题可能不兼容或需要升级），体积小巧的同时具备非常优秀的散热效果，25度室温待机低至36度。, 视频播放量 257、弹幕量 0、点赞数 10、投硬币枚数 2、收藏人数 1、转发人数 3, 视频作者 WERO雷翎官方服务号, 作者简介...
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I hated how my speaker cord poked out so far so I got this right angle extension adapter:
Much better:
Much better:
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Since I'm using a Thunderbolt 4 / USB 4 hub anyway, for audio I am using an Apple USB-C stereo adapter plugged into the hub.
I had tried the built-in stereo jack in my USB-C monitor, but the DAC in the monitor is terrible.
That's definitely the cleaner way to go if you have a spare USB port. I don't unfortunately, but also I have a weird thing where I don't want to waste the headphone port lol. I wish a company or someone would have made a custom solution for the Mini to route the headphone port to the back of the device in some slick invisible design. The adapter I have is fine, but I think a custom design could be even cleaner--maybe even built into a stand or dock for those who want that.
That does look to be the best so far, particularly if the wifi signal is really that fast.
I got the updated model with a double jack to go into the back of the Mini. Supposedly, it is slightly better on the WiFi front but I use ethernet so that's not a biggie for me. I am getting an SSD tomorrow to put into it, so will see how the thermals go. As of now, they are fine.
I thought this one was the old one because it uses 2 Thunderbolt portsI got the updated model with a double jack to go into the back of the Mini. Supposedly, it is slightly better on the WiFi front but I use ethernet so that's not a biggie for me. I am getting an SSD tomorrow to put into it, so will see how the thermals go. As of now, they are fine.
The new one uses one but has no DisplayPort which is fine by me
Just checked and Amazon started selling both on Jan 8th this year, so it seems that they are variants rather than new/old. I think having everything going through just one TB4/USB4 port is asking for trouble, especially if you are going to load another display as well as the NVMe via the dock. The version I bought was a no brainer in comparison and doesn't require another wall wart to keep everything powered.
There are complaints with other docks that the SSD gets ejected or stops being recognised intermittently, requiring you to uncouple/reattach the dock to kick start it again. It hasn't happened so far with mine, touch wood.
The dock only using one thunderbolt port and having to use external power is a plus to me
I’ll only be using the nvme for Time Machine backups anyway
Fair enough. It is discounted on Amazon Prime Day more than the two port variant, so today would not be a bad day to pick it up if you are reasonably sure you are going to get it.
Using this beast and it's a real star.
UGREEN Revodok Max 213
I require full size DP (using mostly LCDs without HDMI). Works with Mac & Windows with no issues (including connecting & reading NTFS volumes on M.2/U.2/U.3 drives under MacOS 15.5).
It has only one dim, green power LED which doesn't pierce your eyes when sitting next to it. Have constantly 4 NVMe drives connected (via Acasis EC-3901 enclosure, with my own fan cooling mod, because default was thrown out after 30 seconds of use LOL). It hasn't choked yet on anything I threw at it. Running also Time Machine off it.
UGREEN Revodok Max 213
I require full size DP (using mostly LCDs without HDMI). Works with Mac & Windows with no issues (including connecting & reading NTFS volumes on M.2/U.2/U.3 drives under MacOS 15.5).
It has only one dim, green power LED which doesn't pierce your eyes when sitting next to it. Have constantly 4 NVMe drives connected (via Acasis EC-3901 enclosure, with my own fan cooling mod, because default was thrown out after 30 seconds of use LOL). It hasn't choked yet on anything I threw at it. Running also Time Machine off it.
The original fan in the EC-3901 is insufferable!
What does your mod look like, how loud is it and what temperatures do you get with which SSDs?
The placement of the port on the orico bugs the he’ll out of me
They know where the Thunderbolt ports on the mini are and still they put theirs way over
They know where the Thunderbolt ports on the mini are and still they put theirs way over
Something new...
www.razer.com
Razer Thunderbolt™ 5 Dock Chroma | Razer United States
Find the new docking station for laptops and desktops that provides lightning-fast transfer speeds,10 ports, ample storage, and triple 4K display support.
www.razer.com