SSD in Mac Studio: is it upgradable?

[mi7chy]

Yes, interesting. I don't know how these numbers were obtained, and what was happening on each machine when the speed tests were run, but I find it interesting that what appears to be the same machine would have such disparate speed test values: for instance, two of the 4TB numbers listed are Write 6626MB/s as well as Write 7398MB/s (significantly different values). I think this is the reason why I always run these SSD tests on new machines without any data or extra programs loaded and freshly booted. Repeated runs (after the new machines had finished their indexing/optimization) then yielded much closer numbers in my hands...and I got nearly identical R/W numbers on both 2TB and 8TB Apple SSDs.

Probably variations in second source components for different storage controllers and NAND.

 

[solouki]

Hi mi7chy,

I decided to rerun my disk speed tests just now, without rebooting or closing other apps, and after partially filling the SSD with data, and I still find roughly 7.6GB/s R/W speeds on the 8TB SSD. I guess I just must have been lucky. Thanks for all of the information.

Solouki

 

[dandeco]

Also Apple have had 1 pass, multipass and 7 pass wipes as an option for a long time now.
I literally did a 7 pass wipe on this iMac I bought from ebay before I internet restored the OS to it. I did not want to take any risk that there might be a few undesirables left on the HDD.
[Note well] This iMac is a 2012.

So you saying there is no multipass options via MacOS, be it via external or via internet recovery is just not true.
Maybe your Killdisk program can not do it (I've never used it) but via Apple, the option is there.

There was when the Mac would have an actual mechanical hard drive as a storage option, or even an Apple Fusion Drive. You just can't do multipass wipes on Mac SSDs with the Mac OS installer. There were a few times where KillDisk would not work properly on an iMac with an actual hard drive, so I'd have to securely wipe said drive with a Mac OS installer, and the three-pass wipe would be just as effective as it is on KillDisk.
Heck, when I got that 4 TB G-Technology Thunderbolt 3 hard drive from work, I had to do such a secure multipass wipe with Disk Utility before using it as my external video editing drive on my M1 MacBook Air. (At work they say stuff like this is fine, as long as you do a secure multipass wipe on the HDD like I did.)

 

[jdb8167]

Hi jdb8167, leman, et al.,

Have any of you had an Apple internal SSD fail on any of your Macs? ... just curious.

I have a very small sample size. Since 2011 I’ve had 5 Macs with SSDs. None have failed. But that is an average of just over 2 years per computer. But my 2013 Mac Pro is still fine. Probably the best indication that normal use isn’t worrying.

 

[leman]

Do you have an official source/reference for this? And what is SoC ? System on Chip?

SoC is system on a chip, yes. Unfortunately, I can’t provide an official reference, I have these things from WWDC videos and information release by security researchers, and I am not able to track these sources down. But the WWDC videos on boot and se unity of Apple Silicon Macs should be a good start.

 

[januarydrive7]

There's a thread here regarding this topic -- possibly upgradable, but definitely unsupported. I'd wait for an iFixit teardown for confirmation either way.

 

[ADGrant]

There's a thread here regarding this topic -- possibly upgradable, but definitely unsupported. I'd wait for an iFixit teardown for confirmation either way.

If it is not supported by Apple, you won't be able to do it. The M1 Macs SSDs are paired to the SoC just like the T2 Macs. The Mac Pro supports a pairing process to upgrade SSDs but no other T2 Mac does and when you do upgrade your Mac Pro you need to use Apple provided parts.

 

[crazy dave]

I have quit my IT manager position so I dint have access to that data anymore.

Are you full time on your game or a different job now?

 

[januarydrive7]

If it is not supported by Apple, you won't be able to do it. The M1 Macs SSDs are paired to the SoC just like the T2 Macs. The Mac Pro supports a pairing process to upgrade SSDs but no other T2 Mac does and when you do upgrade your Mac Pro you need to use Apple provided parts.

If SSDs are in fact socketable, it would simply be a matter of time before the Mac Pro's pairing process is reverse-engineered for Mac Studio's to be upgraded, if that's even a real limitation.

Again, I'd wait for iFixit teardown and tinkering.

 

[leman]

Are you full time on your game

I wish 😢

or a different job now?

Na, same job, I just relinquished responsibilities that made it too much.

 

[Fishrrman]

I feel confident in stating that the internal SSD of the Mac Studio WILL NOT be "user upgradeable".

Heck, they don't even want you to have easy access to the bottom cover.
No screws!
Although I sense that small "slot" we see on the bottom is "the key" to taking the cover off and getting inside. Perhaps there's some kind of "internal latch" that can be tripped, after which the bottom plate pops off.

Wasn't one of the key designs of the earlier "m1" Macs the "integrated memory" design, with CPU, RAM and SSD all "connected together"?

Probably the same with the Studio.

We'll find out when ifixit tears one apart...

 

[leman]

Wasn't one of the key designs of the earlier "m1" Macs the "integrated memory" design, with CPU, RAM and SSD all "connected together"?

SSD being “connected” is more the question of interfacing, it’s basically raw flash connected directly to the chip data bus. But it doesn’t have to be in close physical proximity unlike RAM.

 

[mi7chy]

Although I sense that small "slot" we see on the bottom is "the key" to taking the cover off and getting inside. Perhaps there's some kind of "internal latch" that can be tripped, after which the bottom plate pops off.

Isn't that the Kensington lock slot (show below right above and right of power button)?

 

[dugbug]

I gotta believe storage is configured and installed just like in the mac mini. I would love to have the bottom pop off or rotate open to allow user updated storage but if you are buying the studio now presume this is not a feature.

 

[TiggrToo]

I don't understand why Apple does this with SSDs. Memory is one thing, but SSDs should be user replaceable/upgradeable.

Are iPhones and iPads upgradable? Nope. Welcome to the new world of SoC.

People wanted speed and better battery life. This is the result.

 

[TiggrToo]

Isn't that the Kensington lock slot (show below right above and right of power button)?

Don't believe so. Seem to remember reading that the Studio doesn't have one.

I know they're not Fort Knox level security, but would it kill Apple to provide them these days?

 

[turbineseaplane]

I would love to have the bottom pop off or rotate open to allow user updated storage

We all would -- but they prefer to lock it all down charge outrageous markup prices on Storage/RAM upgrades.

 

[44267547]

I gotta believe storage is configured and installed just like in the mac mini. I would love to have the bottom pop off or rotate open to allow user updated storage but if you are buying the studio now presume this is not a feature.

That’s the one gripe I have with Apple, they don’t want you to use external third-party sources to upgrade or disassemble their products. As you can see, they’re making that less user-friendly with every iteration of a new product, all the way from the iPhone that’s using more adhesive to the Mac mini.

 

[Boil]

If it is not supported by Apple, you won't be able to do it. The M1 Macs SSDs are paired to the SoC just like the T2 Macs. The Mac Pro supports a pairing process to upgrade SSDs but no other T2 Mac does and when you do upgrade your Mac Pro you need to use Apple provided parts.

I guess that would explain why OWC doesn't offer a more reasonably priced SSD blade alternative...!

 

[dugbug]

I never thought of this but since the studio is the same exact footprint as the mini those external aluminum storage stacks designed for the mini would look pretty decent.

-d

 

[mr_roboto]

That’s the one gripe I have with Apple, they don’t want you to use external third-party sources to upgrade or disassemble their products. As you can see, they’re making that less user-friendly with every iteration of a new product, all the way from the iPhone that’s using more adhesive to the Mac mini.

With every iteration? Nah. There's steps forward and back all the time. Like, the last time I know of iPhones gaining adhesive was when Apple decided to start making them watertight, which required it, but once you get inside the batteries are now held in by pull-tab adhesive strips that make it much easier to get the battery out than the original way they glued batteries in.

Same thing happened with the M1 MacBook Pro, where they finally adopted pull tab adhesives for the battery.

They also announced this program last fall, though I have yet to see any execution on it (can't find where you can download the promised manuals and order the promised repair parts):

Apple announces Self Service Repair

Apple parts, tools, and manuals — starting with iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 — available to individual consumers.

www.apple.com

 

[LuisN]

Any indications that the SSD in the Mac Studio could be user upgradable? I intend to buy the base M1 Max version with the 512GB SSD, but will I be able to change it in the future? Or could we add a second SSD in there?

Maybe. Just not user upgradable. At least until someone comes with a compatible SSD

 

[ian87w]

Eeew! This is cheap, Apple! Come on!! Tabarnakpourrie†‡•±$#@ı≈˜† !!!

And what about a dead SSD in the future? I guess we couldn't even change it to save the whole machine, and that we'll have to buy a whole new one, just because the SSD failed!? Damn you Apple!

What is the failure rate of current SSD that Apple uses in their computers? Are they prone to fail more frequently than HDs?

SSD tends to last much longer than traditional hard-drives since there's no moving parts. However, longevity is still a valid concern, especially if you plan to keep your machine for 5+ years. The enemies of SSDs are data writes and heat. I would double whatever amount of storage you currently have on your computer. Eg. if you currently have 512GB, then I would get 1TB. The free space will give longer longevity on the SSD.

Regardless, best way is to have proper backup. That way, even if the SSD failed, you can just have Apple replaced your machine and you can restore your data. Do not rely on the internal drive to last forever, regardless if it's user accessible or not.

 

[Pressure]

Maybe. Just not user upgradable. At least until someone comes with a compatible SSD

It's just a PCB with NAND flash on them. No controller as that is integrated in the M1. The same with the Mac Pro 7,1, although it uses the T2 as controller.

 

[dugbug]

It looks like the Mac studio is highly serviceable at least by an authorized dealer

Not sure about at home sdd upgrades what with secure boot and all that. Would love to see it