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 31, 2021 5:05 AM in response to woodmeister50

Good point. Samsung is a known culprit, specs are mostly fairy tales. Lots of takers, unfortunately, frequently left with no recourse (other than blame Apple).

Aug 31, 2021 12:10 PM in response to tbirdvet

Yes. And?

My XTRM-Q delivers 2700 MB/s

But the T7 Touch should be around 900 MB/s

And this is, what the topic is about.

hcsitas

Level 6

13,964 points

Aug 31, 2021 12:35 PM in response to Forced_to_use_a_username

They are n/a. Not one of the reviews had the test drive connected to an Apple mini or even a USB4 port. Samsung has nothing on it either. All silent. ‘nuf said.

Aug 31, 2021 5:26 PM in response to tbirdvet

Yes, thanks ;-)

Sep 3, 2021 9:06 AM in response to Forced_to_use_a_username

"while BOTH" not " which", of course ... cannot edit posts, sadly

hcsitas

Level 6

13,964 points

Sep 5, 2021 6:56 AM in response to woodmeister50

Very true. Lots of takers, obviously!

samtenor

Level 4

2,074 points

Aug 27, 2021 10:26 AM in response to Forced_to_use_a_username

I am still in the cloud in terms of the naming USB 3.1 vs USB 3.2... (Thanks to USB-IF)

According to Apple website, M1 Mac Mini USBs are categorized 3.1 Gen 2.

I would take the "up to" speed with a grain of salt.

Additional thoughts - for external disks read/write speed, I think Thunderbolt drives might be more suitable in terms of performance. Again, I can only achieve 1200 mb/s read/write in TB, nothing close to TB3's claim.

Halliday

Level 4

2,677 points

Aug 30, 2021 10:13 AM in response to Forced_to_use_a_username

Welcome, Forced_to_use_a_username, to Apple Support Communities!

What are or are not «standard devices using standard protocols» depends, entirely, upon what «standard» one is referring to.

USB4 is a new standard, and it doesn’t even try to promise full backward compatibility with all previous USB standards (let alone their variations).

The only USB4 standard variation that Apple’s USB4 doesn’t support, on the M1, is dual monitor support. (Otherwise, it could qualify for Intel’s Marketing designation of “Thunderbolt4”.)

Going through non-USB4 hubs will, in many cases, decrease compatibilities.

Cables, likewise, can cause compatibility issues. Note: the most universally compatible cables are Intel’s “Thunderbolt4” cables. (More expensive than many others, but can be worthwhile to not have to worry about cable compatibility.)

It may help you to look up the USB4 standard, and see what variations and compatibility modes are claimed to be supported.

den.thed

Level 10

90,796 points

Aug 27, 2021 10:51 AM in response to Forced_to_use_a_username

What TB Dock are you using?

Does the T7 speed improve if it is connected directly to the Mac Mini using the supplied 3.2 cable?

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