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How well do USB 3 SSDs work on a Thunderbolt hub?
It has been a little while since I last looked at SSD performance on Thunderbolt 4 hubs. One question that I had left unanswered is whether mixing the devices connected to the same hub across...
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COW and clones: how they save space and SSD wear
APFS was primarily developed for solid-state storage in Macs and Apple’s devices down to the 8 GB on the earliest series of Watch. As a modern file system it has features that cater for SSDs rather...
View ArticleIt’s all about reliability and contingency
As ever, the moment that I point out that a traditional procedure is either unavailable or outmoded on Apple silicon Macs, I’m besieged by cries of “but that’s how I’ve always done it”. So did I for...
View ArticleShopping for a faster external SSD
By now, we should all be thoroughly confused with USB 3.1 Gen 2, 3.2 Gen 2×2, USB4, Thunderbolt 3 and 4. The fact that they can all be connected using a Thunderbolt 4 cable to a USB-C port on your Mac...
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How to evaluate an external SSD
When you’ve finally chosen your new external SSD, whether it comes already assembled or as an enclosure into which you install your own storage, you should evaluate it to check that it does what you...
View ArticleApple silicon: 5 Memory and internal storage
So far in this series explaining how Apple silicon Macs differ from their predecessors, I have concentrated on processors built into their chip. This article looks at how they store data in memory and...
View ArticleKeeping cool: physics
With the Spring here in the northern hemisphere, and the threat of another long hot summer drawing ever closer, now is the time to think about how to ensure your Mac and its peripherals keep cool. In...
View ArticleLast Week on My Mac: Why good external SSDs are faster with Apple silicon
Two two-letter words can cover a multitude of performance sins. Up to almost invariably sets a target that can never be achieved, and one spec’s up to may be very different from another. I’m thinking...
View ArticleShould power affect the speed of external SSDs?
One of the great advantages of using fast external SSDs is that you don’t need a large and expensive enclosure with its own power supply, as they can draw the power they need over the Thunderbolt or...
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Was the Fusion Drive a good idea?
When Apple introduced Fusion Drives back in late 2012, they were an attractive option for many iMacs and Mac minis. At a time when SSDs of 1 TB and greater size were expensive, the Fusion Drive seemed...
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