Acasis External SSD enclosures ?

Mac4EveryPerson · Aug 4, 2023

anyone using with mac studio M2?ACASIS 40Gbps M.2 NVMe SSD Enclosure Compatible with Thunderbolt 3/4, USB 4.0/3.2/3.1/3.0/2.0, TBU405

Looking to use for additional storage.

not sure when their support team will get back to me.

Randy B. Singer · Aug 4, 2023

Mac4EveryPerson said:
anyone using with mac studio M2?ACASIS 40Gbps M.2 NVMe SSD Enclosure Compatible with Thunderbolt 3/4, USB 4.0/3.2/3.1/3.0/2.0, TBU405

There are a bunch of reviews on Amazon, here:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C8CZB5S7/ref=twister_B0CCNZPCQD?_encoding=UTF8&th=1

Don't get the Acasis TBU405Pro M1 confused with the TBU405. The "Pro" version includes a cooling fan, which I think is a highly valuable addition. NVMe's get really hot, and a metal heat sink isn't always adequate in itself to keep one cool. When an NVMe get's too hot, there will be thermal throttling:

How fast SSDs slow to a crawl: thermal throttling
https://eclecticlight.co/2021/02/26/how-fast-ssds-slow-to-a-crawl-thermal-throttling/

The Acasis TBU405, at $115 from your link, is a good deal for an enclosure that supports Thunderbolt 3 or 4. The PRO version, at $130 is easily worth the slight extra cost, IMHO. Either would be a speed demon (with a Mac that supports TB3 or 4)!

https://www.acasis.com/products/aca...-3-0-2-0-type-c-tbu405?variant=44171224285413

I do want to point out that the speed and price of the above SSD enclosure might be overkill for your needs. I often recommend this enclosure, which is not as fast, but it is plenty fast, and quite a bit cheaper:

ineo M.2 NVMe (PCIe) SSD Enclosure Built-in Cooling Fan and Write Protection Switch [C2605-NVMe]
$37
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08FT44FL1/ref=ask_ql_qh_dp_hza

Randy B. Singer · Aug 4, 2023

A good middle ground case (faster than the Ineo case that I suggested, but slower than the Acasis case, and much cheaper), might be:

ORICO 20Gbps M.2 NVMe SSD Enclosure Adapter, USB3.2 Gen2 X2 Type-C to NVMe PCI-E M-Key Solid State Drive Built-in Fan
$50
https://www.amazon.com/ORICO-Enclos...B08P1B5FQ9/ref=psdc_172456_t2_B0BGWTZDL3?th=1

Randy B. Singer · Aug 4, 2023

I should also point out that this turn-key 1TB external SSD is extremely popular right now, and it's a steal:

SAMSUNG T7 1TB, Portable SSD, up to 1050MB/s, USB 3.2 Gen2 + 2mo Adobe CC Photography, Gaming, Students & Professionals, External Solid State Drive (MU-PC1T0H/AM)
$80
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0874YJP92/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

Mac4EveryPerson · Aug 4, 2023

Randy B. Singer said:
There are a bunch of reviews on Amazon, here:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C8CZB5S7/?tag=macforums0e4-20

Don't get the Acasis TBU405Pro M1 confused with the TBU405. The "Pro" version includes a cooling fan, which I think is a highly valuable addition. NVMe's get really hot, and a metal heat sink isn't always adequate in itself to keep one cool. When an NVMe get's too hot, there will be thermal throttling:

How fast SSDs slow to a crawl: thermal throttling
How fast SSDs slow to a crawl: thermal throttling

The Acasis TBU405, at $115 from your link, is a good deal for an enclosure that supports Thunderbolt 3 or 4. The PRO version, at $130 is easily worth the slight extra cost, IMHO. Either would be a speed demon (with a Mac that supports TB3 or 4)!

ACASIS 40Gbps M.2 NVMe SSD Enclosure Compatible with Thunderbolt 3/4, USB 4.0/3.2/3.1/3.0/2.0, TBU405

I do want to point out that the speed and price of the above SSD enclosure might be overkill for your needs. I often recommend this enclosure, which is not as fast, but it is plenty fast, and quite a bit cheaper:

ineo M.2 NVMe (PCIe) SSD Enclosure Built-in Cooling Fan and Write Protection Switch [C2605-NVMe]
$37
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08FT44FL1/?tag=macforums0e4-20

Wiw thats crazy built in fan

Randy B. Singer said:
There are a bunch of reviews on Amazon, here:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C8CZB5S7/?tag=macforums0e4-20

Don't get the Acasis TBU405Pro M1 confused with the TBU405. The "Pro" version includes a cooling fan, which I think is a highly valuable addition. NVMe's get really hot, and a metal heat sink isn't always adequate in itself to keep one cool. When an NVMe get's too hot, there will be thermal throttling:

How fast SSDs slow to a crawl: thermal throttling
How fast SSDs slow to a crawl: thermal throttling

The Acasis TBU405, at $115 from your link, is a good deal for an enclosure that supports Thunderbolt 3 or 4. The PRO version, at $130 is easily worth the slight extra cost, IMHO. Either would be a speed demon (with a Mac that supports TB3 or 4)!

ACASIS 40Gbps M.2 NVMe SSD Enclosure Compatible with Thunderbolt 3/4, USB 4.0/3.2/3.1/3.0/2.0, TBU405

I do want to point out that the speed and price of the above SSD enclosure might be overkill for your needs. I often recommend this enclosure, which is not as fast, but it is plenty fast, and quite a bit cheaper:

ineo M.2 NVMe (PCIe) SSD Enclosure Built-in Cooling Fan and Write Protection Switch [C2605-NVMe]
$37
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08FT44FL1/?tag=macforums0e4-20

wow built in fan for the $$
Thankx for the info

Mac4EveryPerson · Aug 4, 2023

Randy B. Singer said:
I should also point out that this turn-key 1TB external SSD is extremely popular right now, and it's a steal:

SAMSUNG T7 1TB, Portable SSD, up to 1050MB/s, USB 3.2 Gen2 + 2mo Adobe CC Photography, Gaming, Students & Professionals, External Solid State Drive (MU-PC1T0H/AM)
$80
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0874YJP92/?tag=macforums0e4-20

Wow is a great deal even the 2tb. Do i need to worry about overheating ?

By the time buying an enclosure and the ssd definitely more expensive.

Randy B. Singer · Aug 4, 2023

Mac4EveryPerson said:
Wow is a great deal even the 2tb. Do i need to worry about overheating ?

You can read the over 20,000 user reviews on the Amazon page for the Samsung T7. Even gamers aren't complaining about overheating and thermal throttling. Though, given the lack of either a fan, or a heavy heat sink with finning, I strongly suspect that under heavy use this drive will get very hot.

Also note that this drive has a theoretical transfer rate of 10Gbps. That's quite a bit slower than the Acasis case's rating of 40Gbps. Of course, you pay for the higher speeds.

Mac4EveryPerson · Aug 4, 2023

Randy B. Singer said:
A good middle ground case (faster than the Ineo case that I suggested, but slower than the Acasis case, and much cheaper), might be:

ORICO 20Gbps M.2 NVMe SSD Enclosure Adapter, USB3.2 Gen2 X2 Type-C to NVMe PCI-E M-Key Solid State Drive Built-in Fan
$50
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08P1B5FQ9/?tag=macforums0e4-20

Nice price point also.

now I’m confused

. Do i go with an enclosure and ssd which raises the cost over the SAmsung . But can swap out ssds when needed using 1 enclosure.

Mac4EveryPerson · Aug 4, 2023

Randy B. Singer said:
You can read the over 20,000 user reviews on the Amazon page for the Samsung T7. Even gamers aren't complaining about overheating and thermal throttling. Though, given the lack of either a fan, or a heavy heat sink with finning, I strongly suspect that under heavy use this drive will get very hot.

Also note that this drive has a theoretical transfer rate of 10Gbps. That's quite a bit slower than the Acasis case's rating of 40Gbps. Of course, you pay for the higher speeds.

As you said, for what i need, paying for higher speeds is overkill. Shoot, i been using old usb drives for storage. The T7 would be a delightful experience lol
Thankx again

Randy B. Singer · Aug 4, 2023

Mac4EveryPerson said:
Nice price point also.

now I’m confused . Do i go with an enclosure and ssd which raises the cost over the SAmsung . But can swap out ssds when needed using 1 enclosure.

The Samsung T7 is cheap and easy to implement, it's hard to resist.

Mac4EveryPerson · Aug 5, 2023

Randy B. Singer said:
The Samsung T7 is cheap and easy to implement, it's hard to resist.

Sold

thankx for guiding me to a simple solution

Mac4EveryPerson · Aug 7, 2023

Definitely run hot but they claim advanced thermal control so ahould not be an issue. Typical of ssds running hot.

time machine worked flawlessly

pm-r · Aug 7, 2023

Mac4EveryPerson said:
Definitely run hot

How hot is hot in your case???

Is that heat build-up happening only while doing your Time Machine backup or continuously hot while running your other normal Mac work???

Just curious actually...

- Patrick
=======

Mac4EveryPerson · Aug 7, 2023

pm-r said:
How hot is hot in your case???

Is that heat build-up happening only while doing your Time Machine backup or continuously hot while running your other normal Mac work???

Just curious actually...

- Patrick
=======

Oh should have mentioned that. Only during Time Machine.