Performance of SSD disks on Mac Mini M1 per USB 3.2 gen 2

After weeks of trying to find a solution to my performance problem with my Samsung SSD disks (T5 and T7 Touch), it seems that the explanation is the following:

There are two different USB 3.2 gen 2 standard, one is "1x2" the other "2x1".

The Samsung devices require "2x1" which means that they need 2 USB lanes to reach full perfomance.

But the Mac Mini, esp. when the disks are connected to a Thunderbold Dock, only gives ONE lane instead.

This results in the maximum of about 500 MB/s for such disks!

If this is a bug in Big Sur, I strongly urge Apple to fix this and give 2 USB lanes to such SSD drives, or in general USB-C devices!

If this is NOT a bug in Bug Sur, but a hardware problem of the M1, we have a serious problem!

Apple should be more open in explaining the standard used and supported!

The constant habit of just trying to support only their own stuff is annoying!

This will never ever happen, better learn to support standard and work together with other companies!

So, can I get the answer to my above question in this very forum?

Can macOS be fixed to support USB 3.2 gen 1x2 and not only 2x1?

Or is this a hardware problem?

Many thanks

Mac mini, macOS 11.5

Posted on Aug 27, 2021 9:39 AM

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69 replies

hcsitas

Level 6

13,964 points

Aug 30, 2021 8:39 AM in response to Forced_to_use_a_username

Don’t agree, sorry. The M1 is USB4 for which drives don’t exist yet. It’s up to Samsung to explain/correct whatever anomalies you perceive. Could take a while. I would ignore the dodgy, hearsay information on the internet and return the drives to whoever sold them to you, until Samsung gets its act together. Good luck!

Aug 30, 2021 12:49 PM in response to Forced_to_use_a_username

FWIW, the USB consortium turned USB into a nebulous mess with USB3 and vendors often leave the fine details of the spec out on their specific products. Just USB 3.2 has 4 different flavors. Here is a score card to keep things straight:

They could have specified one 5 Gbps configuration and on 10e Gbps configuration. But nooooo.

Aug 31, 2021 4:58 AM in response to hcsitas

As some support of a manufacturer spec spurred on the USB 3 specification mess, direct from the Samsung T7 page:

No mention what so ever as to whether it requires one lane or two lane to achieve its claimed speed or if it supports both.

Aug 31, 2021 1:28 PM in response to Halliday

Sorry, but this is not true.

As long as you have no other of technical details, the following is the official statement from Apple, as I posted above:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201163

Up to 10 Gb/s without any details about which connector is meant.

But:

https://www.apple.com/mac-mini/specs/

Here it get's clear that this meant only for the USB-C connectors, not USB-A (which are 5 Gb/s)

tbirdvet

Level 6

17,048 points

Aug 31, 2021 4:47 PM in response to Forced_to_use_a_username

I think it is difficult to convince certain people that this issue exists no matter what data is presented. I hope in the future Apple makes an OS or hardware change to address. Until then I guess we live with this or just use TB drives to achieve max speeds if that is important.

Halliday

Level 4

2,677 points

Sep 4, 2021 1:09 PM in response to Forced_to_use_a_username

Forced_to_use_a_username wrote:

If the USB4 port are just USB4 and not fully and really capable of the existing USB3 standard, Apple should state that.

Exactly this is, what I am constantly repeating.

But Apple did not make that public, for whatever reasons.

…

If that is your issue, then this is not the correct place to “air” such.

Instead, you need to take such up with Apple, directly.

Use Apple Support (such as via Get Support), or provide Apple direct feedback via their designated Feedback Mechanisms: Product Feedback - Apple.

hcsitas

Level 6

13,964 points

Aug 31, 2021 12:51 PM in response to Forced_to_use_a_username

Not an Apple problem, sorry. Try Samsung, maybe they can fix in firmware? All the best!

Aug 28, 2021 7:53 AM in response to tbirdvet

Thanks.

I also have the OWC Thunderbolt 4 Dock and was initially suspecting it the source of the problems.

I even bought a CalDigit Element Hub to compare performance.

I only a short time ago learned about the general M1 performance problems - but in this very forum, I did not yet read any explanantion from Apple about this!

Aug 28, 2021 5:41 PM in response to den.thed

There is no point in contacting Apple Support.

I tried this some times and finally learned, that Apple Support can and will only help with using Apple stuff as this Apple stuff currently is.

For basic questions. Very basic questions.

They even cannot help with the "pmset" command or similar things.

I seek some way to open something like a ticket or case at Apple and thought this forum to be something like this.

Any idea how I could contact Apple for this?

Aug 28, 2021 5:44 PM in response to tbirdvet

I just need to know, if the M1 only have a macOS problem that can be fixed, and if it will be fixed.

Or if this is a hardware problem that cannot be fixed.

In this case, I will change my plans for buying more Apple stuff ... maybe jump on the next generation, if that problem will be fixed then.

Apple needs to open their mouth to deliver proper support for their products!

Aug 30, 2021 8:14 AM in response to tbirdvet

Yes, so far, this only happens on M1, which also os Big Sur.

Still, it could be something that can be fixed in Big Sur, which I hope.

The alternative is, that it is simple a lack of support on the hardware level.

I still have lots of such disks and would like to continue to use them, without halving their performance.

hcsitas

Level 6

13,964 points

Aug 30, 2021 8:24 AM in response to tbirdvet

This part on their website was “All information is provided to the best of our knowledge and belief, however we can accept no guarantee or responsibility for the correctness, completeness, accuracy or timeliness”. In other words, rumor-mongering, speculation etc., all goes.

Aug 30, 2021 9:11 AM in response to tbirdvet

Yes, this is a massive problem with a whole class of disks from most or all of vendors!

P.S. And now I got limited to reply to posting to my own topic?

I need to wait to reply at all.

Another joke :-D

Of course I need to reply often and fast, where there are more than one posting I want to reply to!

tbirdvet

Level 6

17,048 points

Aug 30, 2021 4:19 PM in response to hcsitas

These drives were tested last week. This is an old issue that I only mentioned to respond to the person posting this. I have long moved on from this issue and will not spend anymore time discussing. Have a nice day!

hcsitas

Level 6

13,964 points

Aug 30, 2021 9:27 PM in response to tbirdvet

Well, if you do, please post specifics on your particular issue instead of making broad statements of perceived problems, quoting dodgy internet links and offering sweeping conclusions on M1 design, architecture etc. As of now, the problem seems to be with assorted drives with hyped specs, not the M1. Have a nice day too!

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Performance of SSD disks on Mac Mini M1 per USB 3.2 gen 2