What problem did I encounter during file copying?

[hajime]

Hi, I spent some times doing some copying tests with a just opened brand new Mac mini M2 base model (8GB, 256GB SSD). No additional software was installed since I opened the box. When I copied a 40GB file from a PC to the Mini's internal SSD via SMB, it took about 150 seconds which was four times longer than normal. I had the Activity Monitor on the screen all the time time. If I recall correctly, in one trial MacOS showed a storage full error message and I saw some bars changing sizes by themselves. It looked like MacOS was trying to do some damage control. At the end, I emptied the trash and performed the copying again. The copying speed returned to normal (i.e. four times faster than when the trash was not emptied). What happened here? Memory Pressure was always green. The Mini never went out of memory. MacOS always used about 5.76GB RAM for copying regardless of file size and the number of files.

 

[Yebubbleman]

The base model M2 Macs (Mac mini, MacBook Air, 13-inch MacBook Pro) all have 1 single 256GB NAND chip rather than two 128GB NAND chips. Fewer NAND chips means slower running drives. The one area where you are going to feel it the most is with copying files. There are people debating up and down on this forum that getting the 256GB drive on an M2 Mac is going to be fine, yet this is why it might not be...

You'll have a similar issue with M2 Pro/Max Macs and 512GB drives as well. Basically, don't get the base storage capacity on any M2 model and you'll be fine!

 

[hajime]

How did the slower SSD cause the storage full issue? One strange thing is that although there were some large files in the trash (over 4x40GB files if I recall correctly), when I did a command+I on Macintosh HD, it gave me about 150GB empty space.

 

[Yebubbleman]

How did the slower SSD cause the storage full issue? One strange thing is that although there were some large files in the trash (over 4x40GB files if I recall correctly), when I did a command+I on Macintosh HD, it gave me about 150GB empty space.

I don't know about the storage full element. But the copy speeds being four times slower is definitely explained by the fewer NAND chips in that particular SSD.

 

[hajime]

I don't know about the storage full element. But the copy speeds being four times slower is definitely explained by the fewer NAND chips in that particular SSD.

Maybe there is a misunderstanding. After I emptied the trash, on the same machine (M2 mini base model 8GB RAM-256GB SSD), copy speed returned to normal which is four times faster.

 

[satcomer]

Well you're moving from Intel Windows PC so don't transfer Mac programs to new chip Silicon chips! So with big program save to keying information because you might get the upgrade prices with this keys! Also Macs are transition for Intel chips right now and most Macs are on the new chip! So there is Universal=on Intel or Simon Macs., Pure Silicon means for a M1-2 Macs! I try to use only silicon or Universal apps on my M1 Mac Book Air! Intel only programs tend to eat RAM!

 

[hajime]

I am not sure what you are talking about. I was transferring video files not programs.

 

[BrianBaughn]

Perhaps someone will chime in with their own testing or research of the latest versions of macOS and how SMB is working in them…but it seems that there are a lot of people noticing that it ain't great. A web search for "SMB Ventura" clearly indicates that.

In other words…there's probably nothing specifically wrong with your new Mac.

 

[hajime]

How emptying the trash solved the problem is a mystery.