SAVE Your Mac And Your MONEY! External SSDs For Mac Explained
Kyle Erickson・14 minutes read
Mac storage on Apple devices is costly and not upgradeable, but using external SSDs can help expand storage affordably and potentially extend Mac longevity. Enclosures with internal NVMe drives like Intel JHL 7440 chipset and Western Digital Black SN770 offer high speeds at a good value, while formatting drives with APFS is recommended for efficiency and safety on Macs.
Insights
- Mac storage is costly to upgrade internally, with Apple charging significantly more per terabyte compared to external solid state drives, which are a more economical option.
- The fixed internal SSDs in Macs since 2016 can pose potential issues if they fail, highlighting the importance of using external SSDs to not only expand storage but also safeguard data and prolong the lifespan of the Mac by offloading work from the internal drive.
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Recent questions
How much does Apple charge for Mac storage?
Around $3-400 per terabyte.
Are Macs' internal SSDs upgradeable?
No, unlike PCs, Macs' internal SSDs are not upgradeable.
What are the benefits of using external solid state drives with Macs?
External solid state drives can help expand storage affordably and protect data in case of internal drive failure.
How can external SSDs potentially extend Mac longevity?
External SSDs can offload work from internal drives, reducing strain and potentially extending Mac longevity.
What is the recommended format for Mac drives?
APFS formatting is recommended for Mac drives due to its efficiency and safety features.
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Summary
00:00
"Maximize Mac Storage with External SSDs"
- Mac storage can be expensive, with Apple charging around $3-400 per terabyte, while internal SSDs are typically under $100.
- Mac storage is not upgradeable, unlike PCs, making external solid state drives a beneficial option.
- External drives can help expand storage affordably and offer other benefits, especially with Macs' non-upgradeable internal storage.
- Macs since 2016 have soldered SSDs onto logic boards, making internal storage fixed and potentially problematic if it fails.
- External SSDs can offload work from internal drives, potentially extending Mac longevity and protecting data in case of internal drive failure.
- Portable SSDs like SanDisk Extreme Pro and Samsung T7 offer speeds around 700-800 MB/s, suitable for most users.
- Thunderbolt 3 or USB 4 drives offer faster speeds at 40 GB/s, but can be expensive; using enclosures with internal NVMe drives can be a more affordable option.
- Enclosures like Acasis with Intel JHL 7440 chipset paired with drives like Western Digital Black SN770 offer high speeds at a good value.
- New enclosures like Ze Drive and Hyper Next Drive with different chipsets provide better performance and design options.
- Formatting drives with APFS is recommended for Mac use, offering efficiency and safety over X fat, which lacks journaling and efficiency.
12:35
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