OK, so I bought a new Mac Mini, base configuration.

Based on recommendations here, I bought an XPG SX8100 SSD, and an M2X+ external case.

I connected the drive directly to a USB-C port on the mini.

After a few days, the drive keeps disappearing. I thought it might be due to sleep, so I shut off the sleep function. Still disappearing.

Any thoughts? Ideas?

Cary,

It's likely the cable or the enclosure. Try changing the cable or a different enclosure. If you get a new enclosure, make sure it is USB 3.2, not USB 3.1 Gen 2. There have been issues with M1 Macs and USB 3.1 Gen 2 and USB 3.1 Gen 1 enclosures. Or, go for broke and get a Thunderbolt 3 enclosure like the one form our sponsor.

Robert

Several of the reviews of the M2X+ case on Amazon refer to a similar disconnecting problem. A new case is the easiest solution.

Any recommendation on 3.2 enclosures? There seem to be a large variety available...

Not really looking to buy a Thunderbolt case, at least, not yet...

Thanks for your advice.

Having the same problem. USB 3.1 Gen 2.
Will mount with USB A cable. Will mount on my wife's Intel using USB C. Gets kicked off my new mini using USB C. I've just been connecting it with USB A.

Return the M2X+. If you go non-TB, get the Sabrent USB 3.2
but I'd pony up and get a TB3/4 enclosure. $60-80 for single NVMe.
iirc, jdc has a dual setup using the SABRENT TB3 to Dual NVMe M.2 SSD
Enclosure EC-T3DN; but it's $150 @ bezosville.

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If its a single drive and you want TB, OWCs Envoy is the one Id get
[eshop.macsales.com]
or sabrent: [www.amazon.com]

Although in the grand scheme of things, a $20-30 USB C case gives about 2/3 of performance.

[www.amazon.com]

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Edited 999 time(s). Last edit at 12:08PM by jdc.

jdc,

Does that Sabrent Thunderbolt 3 enclosure still have a proprietary Thunderbolt connetiton and proprietary Thunderbolt cable? Reviews suggested that you could use a standard Thunderbolt cable with it but you had to modify it to fit into the connection of the enclosure.

And that's something that bugs me. The OWC enclosure has a short cable built into it. That's annoying. Cable goes bad? you have to replace the box, not just the cable. The Sabrent, if they've not updated the design, has a separate cable but it's proprietary and they don't offer it for sale separately in the event you need a replacement.

Argh!

Robert

RM

You are actually mistaken. The owc case has a replaceable cable, the connection is inside the enclosure. So if cable goes bad, not an issue.

I vaguely remember seeing the Sabrent cases with the notched TBolt cable, but mine doesn’t have one. I’m unsure if any of their other models do.

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Edited 999 time(s). Last edit at 12:08PM by jdc.

jdc,

Thank you for the info. Nice to hear the cable for the OWC box is replaceable. That isn't apparent on their web site. The feature should be since it could make the difference between someone buying the enclosure or choosing a model from OWC's competitors.

If your Sabrent enclosure doesn't have the notched Thunderbolt cable, then it sounds like Sabrent has switched to a standard connection and that the issue only affects older/obsolete versions of it. Good to know.

I'm planning on moving to a 2TB NVME stick and a Thunderbolt connection as the boot drive for my personal 2019 iMac. If it works out well, I'll move to a Thunderbolt connection at my office, too. Just move the sticks from the USB 3.1 Gen 2 boxes to Thunderbolt boxes.

So, now it's a question of which stick and box or which complete solution for my iMac...

Rob



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/06/2022 09:59AM by Robert M.

fwiw, my research led me to inland PRO drives + Sabrent case for my external NVMe. I factored in size vs $$ vs warranty vs reviews. However, as its not a boot drive but a working drive -- and since it backs up continuously -- I was less concerned with getting creme de la creme of drives.

For my older iMac boot drive, I went with an XPS8200 PRO, which wasn't the cheapest at the time, but the reliability numbers were more important, and it had them.

If I had to do it again today, Id prob go Samsung or one of the Rocket Qs.

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Edited 999 time(s). Last edit at 12:08PM by jdc.

jdc,

I'm booting off an Inland Premium 1TB NVME stick in a Sabrent USB 3.1 Gen 2 box at home. Rock solid for multiple years. At my office, I'm using an Adata SX 8200PNP 1TB in an USB 3.1 Gen 2 box as its boot drive. Rock solid, too. Based on this, I'd go with another Inland Premium or Adata SX 8200PNP. It's really a question of which box. Actually, sticks and boxes. I'd buy one set to use as the boot drive and a second set as a clone backup.

Robert