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Leon1das

macrumors 6502
Dec 26, 2020
285
214
That would confirm what others have said. It could be an underlying issue with Big Sur that causes certain apps like Chrome to produce excessive writes.
This usual-suspects satanizing-Chrome approach has completely went out of control.

Chrome on M1 works just great - as does any other Chromium-based M1 optimized browser.

Lets just skip it - is really getting boring...

Once there is a single engineer-level proof that Chrome is doing "bad" to Mac I will be uninstalling it.. but everything I seen so far has been weak.
 
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Leon1das

macrumors 6502
Dec 26, 2020
285
214
How do you turn off spotlight and what are the recommended settings in spotlight for indexing?

Open Preferences - Spotlight.

Choose tab Privacy and using + button add any folder you want Spotlight to skip indexing.
In my case I selected all the Library folders - following logic to avoid indexing folders with a lot of smaller files.

I use Spotlight only for launching Applications, Google search or minor other things.
For actual file search I use program Find Any File - which works wonders.

P.S. My intolerance towards indexing comes from Windows days. On fresh install - I would first disable harddisk indexing. Having something to work constantly in the background - just to give me instantaneous search from some deep, hidden folder 1-2 times per week - is a waste of resources (for me). I am happy to have dedicated search app (like mentioned FAF) - which is inactive, but when I need it - will produce the same result in 2 seconds...
 

rui no onna

Contributor
Oct 25, 2013
14,916
13,260
Anyone else halting their purchase because of this?

Not at all. Besides, I'm treating the M1 Mac like an iPhone/iPad. If it fails, just have Apple repair/replace it. No DIY repairs like I do with the PC.

That said, I do wish you could get monthly AppleCare+ and that Apple brings their "deductibles" brought in-line with iOS devices. The $249 AC+ plus $99 screen/chassis repair and $299 other repair seems steep for the M1 MacBook Air.

By contrast, the 12.9" iPad Pros range from $999-1649 in price similar to the MBA. Indeed, the 7c/8GB/1TB M1 MBA even costs $100 less than the 1TB Wi-Fi 2020 iPad Pro 12.9". AC+ for iPad Pro is $129 for 2 years or $72 per year if one goes the monthly route. Apple only charges a $49 incident fee for all types of accidental damage.
 

flopticalcube

macrumors G4
This usual-suspects satanizing-Chrome approach has completely went out of control.

Chrome on M1 works just great - as does any other Chromium-based M1 optimized browser.

Lets just skip it - is really getting boring...

Once there is a single engineer-level proof that Chrome is doing "bad" to Mac I will be uninstalling it.. but everything I seen so far has been weak.
Well, that is the part of the problem, isn't it? We have yet to see definitive proof one way or another. Could be something as simple as a poorly written extension. Since this issue has also appeared on some Intel machines, I am beginning to think it's Big Sur related in some way so Chrome may be completely innocent or only guilty by association. It's still a bloated spyware pig. 😛
 

Leon1das

macrumors 6502
Dec 26, 2020
285
214
Well, that is the part of the problem, isn't it? We have yet to see definitive proof one way or another. Could be something as simple as a poorly written extension. Since this issue has also appeared on some Intel machines, I am beginning to think it's Big Sur related in some way so Chrome may be completely innocent or only guilty by association. It's still a bloated spyware pig. 😛
I am very attentive to this..
Also I am trimming at least language files from all my apps - to make them slimmer and without bloat.
On Chrome - I have disabled Keystone and GoogleSoftwareUpdate too.
I want to find something on Chrome...but cant...

Fact is - on M1 Mac - Chrome works equally good as other Chromium browsers
Between them - Chrome even has smaller install size than Edge.
Even in battery consumptions - using same pages on my M1 - Chrome is not behind Safari...

So lets keep searching...
 

flopticalcube

macrumors G4
I am very attentive to this..
Also I am trimming at least language files from all my apps - to make them slimmer and without bloat.
On Chrome - I have disabled Keystone and GoogleSoftwareUpdate too.
I want to find something on Chrome...but cant...

Fact is - on M1 Mac - Chrome works equally good as other Chromium browsers
Between them - Chrome even has smaller install size than Edge.
Even in battery consumptions - using same pages on my M1 - Chrome is not behind Safari...

So lets keep searching...
Why do I feel Apple is letting the user community work on this issue for them?
 

tab0reqq

macrumors newbie
Feb 25, 2021
25
36
Warszawa, Polska
Hmm.. downloaded latest Big Sur update and so far it looks, that problem might be solved.

I will definitely report You guys back in 2 days. Still using it exactly the same. Nothing changed. All services running as they were running before patch.

Fingers crossed that they fixed it. It's seems so far that Apple Silicon seems to be great switch.
 

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flopticalcube

macrumors G4
Hmm.. downloaded latest Big Sur update and so far it looks, that problem might be solved.

I will definitely report You guys back in 2 days. Still using it exactly the same. Nothing changed. All services running as they were running before patch.

Fingers crossed that they fixed it. It's seems so far that Apple Silicon seems to be great switch.
You still have Spotlight running?
 

rasputin666

macrumors regular
Mar 1, 2009
167
28
M1 Mini DriveDX stats since Jan 20th

Background: I'm lucky b/c i knew going in that I would only use the Gen1 M1 for 1 maybe 2 yrs tops. My 8 yr old 6,1 was having issues & I needed a Mac fast. I could only use my iPadPro for about 60% of my job. Parents have an intel Mini since 2015 & this has their name on it when a Gen 2/Gen 3 version comes out for me :)


1614448144357.png
 

wirtandi

macrumors regular
Feb 3, 2021
179
179
Hmm.. downloaded latest Big Sur update and so far it looks, that problem might be solved.

I will definitely report You guys back in 2 days. Still using it exactly the same. Nothing changed. All services running as they were running before patch.

Fingers crossed that they fixed it. It's seems so far that Apple Silicon seems to be great switch.
I have seen people updating to the latest Big Sur and the problem going away. Looking good, hopefully more people update to the latest to see if it does fix the problem or not

EDIT: If I only use my MBA for basic and simple stuff like web browsing, MS word, MS excel, should I be concerned about this? My understanding is that this is an issue only for those who use heavy programs/professional users
 
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reeney

macrumors member
Oct 6, 2014
76
23
Tucson
Hi,

I have Mac mini m1 256/16 for almost 8 days. After those 8 days I can see 0.9 TB written.

From what I found on the web this ssd should last for ~~150 TBW. After 8 days I have 0.9 TBW :)

I checked on my MacBook Pro 13" from 2018, 256/16 as well. I used both machines for the same task (99% of time it's coding, swift, javascript etc).

Macbook 2018 - 47.5 TBW (after over 2years and 3-4 months)
Mac mini m1 - 0.9 TBW (after 8 days).

On both machines I used the DriveDx tool to check it.

To be honest I'm a bit surprised and scared at the same time. With this I should be near the 150TBW limit in next ~~2 years. Normally I would be like "ee ok, I will just replace it" - but here, with Mac mini I can't :)

Any thoughs on this?
I wonder/hope about AppLe finding a solution to this real and serious problem, or giving all the purchasers a credit towards a replacement.
 

chouseworth

macrumors 6502
Dec 3, 2012
299
833
Wake Forest, NC
You literally have no idea (no one does) whether it is an overreaction or not.
Okay, in my opinion, based on having worked closely with PC and Apple hardware and software for over forty years as a professional, I think that so much of this thread is an overreaction. If you are looking for certainty in this business you will be paralyzed from doing much of anything except worrying.
 
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wirtandi

macrumors regular
Feb 3, 2021
179
179
If I only use my MBA for basic and simple stuff like web browsing, MS word, MS excel, should I be concerned about this? My understanding is that this is an issue only for those who use heavy programs/professional users
 

robjulo

Suspended
Jul 16, 2010
1,623
3,159
Okay, in my opinion, based on having worked closely with PC and Apple hardware and software for over forty years as a professional, I think that so much of this thread is an overreaction. If you are looking for certainty in this business you will be paralyzed from doing much of anything except worrying.
That's all nice. But the M1 chip is revolutionary and is clearly exhibiting very odd behaviors in testing, so whether it is truly an issue or testing error, remains to be seen. Since none of your experience has likely been with M1, you have basically the same expertise as everyone else. No one knows if it it is an overreaction. A thousand dollar computer crapping the bed, after two years, is 100% an issue. Whether that is the case, remains to be seen.
 

chouseworth

macrumors 6502
Dec 3, 2012
299
833
Wake Forest, NC
That's all nice. But the M1 chip is revolutionary and is clearly exhibiting very odd behaviors in testing, so whether it is truly an issue or testing error, remains to be seen. Since none of your experience has likely been with M1, you have basically the same expertise as everyone else. No one knows if it it is an overreaction. A thousand dollar computer crapping the bed, after two years, is 100% an issue. Whether that is the case, remains to be seen.
Well, worst-worst case it’s going to result in the likelihood of significantly premature SSD failure, but it will be pretty apparent before the end of anybody’s one year initial warranty period. And then Tim and Apple will make it right. I am sure about that. In the meantime, enjoy your M1. It’s terrific technology.
 

gank41

macrumors 601
Mar 25, 2008
4,350
5,022
Anyone else halting their purchase because of this?
No. I’ve got an M1 MBP 16GB/2TB with AppleCare coverage thru late Nov 2023. Earlier in the week I was at about 28 TBW. Seems like a lot for 3 months. But now not much change this week. Whatever “this” issue is, it seems software related. And if it’s not, I’m sure there’s others with higher TBW numbers that will be impacted long before my AppleCare is up.
 

robjulo

Suspended
Jul 16, 2010
1,623
3,159
Well, worst-worst case it’s going to result in the likelihood of significantly premature SSD failure, but it will be pretty apparent before the end of anybody’s one year initial warranty period. And then Tim and Apple will make it right. I am sure about that. In the meantime, enjoy your M1. It’s terrific technology.
Which is why I'm still on the fence. And "make right" how? It's soldered in. Best case is you lose your computer for several days. I may still get it to be honest.

Curious (genuinely) what model do you have, what are your use cases and are you happy with it?
 

osplo

macrumors 6502
Nov 1, 2008
351
196
Hmm.. downloaded latest Big Sur update and so far it looks, that problem might be solved.

I will definitely report You guys back in 2 days. Still using it exactly the same. Nothing changed. All services running as they were running before patch.

Fingers crossed that they fixed it. It's seems so far that Apple Silicon seems to be great switch.

Please keep us posted!

It is not rare for Apple to group several fixes together and announce just one or none. If this thing goes away (along with the bricking using third party hubs, which is apparently fixed too) we can conclude that the M1 machines are absolutely awesome. I do believe that already.
 

chouseworth

macrumors 6502
Dec 3, 2012
299
833
Wake Forest, NC
Which is why I'm still on the fence. And "make right" how? It's soldered in. Best case is you lose your computer for several days. I may still get it to be honest.

Curious (genuinely) what model do you have, what are your use cases and are you happy with it?
I have the M1 Mini 8Gb/512GB but just upgraded to the 16GB/1TB that should arrive in a few days. After three months of usage I was impressed enough with the 8GB/512GB to sell it at a fair price and upgrade the memory and the SSD size in order to future proof a bit more. Yes, I have been thrilled with the M1 Mini. I am retired from IBM and now an avid photographer with a library of 45K photos and am a heavy user of Lightroom Classic and Photoshop. I am also starting to dabble more in video and have just purchased a FCP license. Don’t get me wrong. I am not completely ignoring the TBW issue. My existing M1 machine has 30 TBW in only three months of usage, and I know that is excessive. It’s just that I don’t have my hair on fire about it and trust that the issue will be resolved fairly soon. My gut tells me that we will soon see a software fix. Should this entire issue be more prolonged, I look for Apple to provide a replacement or a credit if the SSD life is going to be significantly affected. Apple has bet its desktop and laptop businesses on these new ARM processors. It is not going to screw this up over an issue with excessive SSD writes and possibly premature SSD failure. Are we helping them debug this new technology? I suppose so. It is first generation. But I also trust that we won’t be left in the lurch if the problem turns out to be bigger than my gut tells me that it really is. And oh yeah. I am spending $99 for AppleCare+ for the new machine just in case. :)
 
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