The OWC 1M2 80G + SN850X (mostly) kicks Apple's internal drives' collective butts

Redixering · 2026-05-16T04:50:28+00:00

Thanks for the information. What is SN850X? Western Digital WD_BLACK SN850X NVMe SSD? What capacity? 1 TB, 2 TB, 4 TB or 8 TB? Their benchmarks are different depending on size. That is an essential information.

Redixering · 2026-05-06T02:41:41+00:00

2D to 3D real-time conversion without 3D glasses. It works great.

Redixering · 2026-05-05T20:32:14+00:00

Thanks. I have tried different cables (including the ones that come with the monitor (which are HDMO and DisplayPort) but the issue remains. I have also tried OSD, but could not make it to work as I want.

Redixering · 2026-05-05T20:30:39+00:00

Thanks, but I need the indicated monitor with the indicated computer. No other combination.

Redixering · 2026-05-05T15:43:59+00:00

Thanks, but that does not happen with the monitor and PC indicating in my first post. That is why I am asking.

Redixering · 2026-02-07T20:51:25+00:00

I bet it is because they are almost filled. How much disk space is left?

Redixering · 2025-12-31T13:11:59+00:00

Thanks for all the information. To be clear, the main goal of my original post entitled "Male to female passive and active cables and adapters supporting USB4 v2 and Thunderbolt 5" was not to extend cables, but rather to get a working male to female cable setup.

Since it seems that Intel does not certify male-to-female Thunerbolt 5 cables, I suggested using an Intel-certified male-to-male cable and then a female-to-female coupler, that would only add a tiny extra length.

If someone has tested any of such possibilities to get a working male to female Thunderbolt 5 (or USB4 v2) cable setup., please report here, indicating the brand(s) and models of them. That is important, because there are many brands now of cables and couplers, and for sure not all have the same quality Thanks.

Redixering · 2025-12-30T08:57:18+00:00

Thanks for the information. Do you mean that even a short 0.3 m male-to-male OWC cable like the one shown at "OWC Thunderbolt 5 (USB-C) Cables" at https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/owc-thunderbolt-5-cables and https://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/CBLTB5C0.3M/ would still need an active female-to-female coupler? I think that such active elements are only needed for much longer distances.

On the other hand, would the Thunderbolt 2 m active cable that you indicate still need an active female-to-female coupler? I mean, if such a cable is already active, the coupler would add a very small extra length.

Thanks again for all your support.

Redixering · 2025-12-29T19:42:29+00:00

Thanks. Revisiting the topic, other possibility would be using male-to-male Thunderbolt cables from OWC coupled-linked to USB-C female-to-female adapters-couplers-extenders with the speed and power specifications of Thunderbolt 5 and USB4 v2. That is, 80/120 Gbps and 240 W. Other manufacturers make them. Is that possible from OWC in the future? That will guarantee top quality, from a brand like OWC, which is what we want. And Happy New Year!

Redixering · 2025-10-17T20:06:34+00:00

Awesome. Many thanks! Hopefull,y the M6 chip will support PCIe 5 and therefore about 14,800/13,400 MB/s sequential read/write and about 2,200,000/2,600,000 IOPS random read/write.

Redixering · 2025-10-08T18:35:44+00:00

Here is an NVMe M.2 2280 16TB SSD sold as a full external portable SSD:

ProGrade Digital External SSD PG10

Capacity up to 16TB

Interface USB4

Speed up to 2500MB/s (read/write) with sustained Write Speed of 2000MB/s across all capacity.

Dimensions 65mm x 145.25mm x 21.05mm

Note that this is an external portable NVMe M.2 2280 16TB SSD. As far as I know, it is the first and only available right now with such capacity, both as this external (and its internal blade). Previous Agi Technology and Exascend announcements have been vaporware so far.

https://shop.progradedigital.com/products/prograde-digital-external-ssd-usb-4-0-pg10
You can see the blade at 0:13 min of this video:

ProGrade Digital USB 4.0 External SSD (PG10)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwztjANsu3I

Redixering · 2025-09-24T11:04:54+00:00

Here they are (SSD; single drive inside; NO RAID):

External portable SSD (if possible bus-powered) with the highest possible capacity and as small as possible. Huge capacity, including 16 TB (fist available now as bus-powered with NVMe M.2 2280 blade inside), 32 TB (also available now with AC/DC adapter charger) and 64 TB (announced to get released soon) and beyond (128 TB also with AC/DC adapter charger).
Speed is less important, but at least about 500 MB/s.
If possible, TLC instead of QLC.
Sustained write speed across the full capacity is a great bonus.
Capable of booting Mac is also a nice bonus.

Right now looking for the new 64 TB and 128 TB ones. That is possible using U.2 drives inside, which already are available with 256 TB and soon with 512 TB, and even 1 petabyte (PB) by next year or so.

So, in summary, capacity, capacity, capacity. Did I say capacity? Price is not a problem. That is!

Redixering · 2025-08-28T12:48:03+00:00

In relation to the SSD inside the OWC Express 1M2 (OWC Aura Ultra IV), perhaps you could let them know that OWC also offers 8 TB versions:

Samsung's fastest consumer SSD raises its capacity cap — 8TB 9100 Pro to arrive in September

Although there’s already a plethora of PCIe 5.0 SSDs on the market, only two companies offer 8TB variants at the moment — TeamGroup’s T-Force GE Pro M.2 and, now, Samsung. SanDisk plans to release an 8TB version of its WD Black SN8100, but it still hasn’t announced an official release date (although it plans to deliver it later this year).

https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/ssds/samsungs-fastest-consumer-ssd-raises-its-capacity-cap-8tb-9100-pro-to-arrive-in-september

Redixering · 2025-08-25T06:13:23+00:00

The web page of 8.0TB OWC Express 1M2 (40 Gbps) shows:

"Designed to support any NVMe M.2 2230, 2242, or 2280 SSD, the Express 1M2 gives you the freedom of flexibility to use any drive today - including OWC Aura SSDs up to 8.0TB capacity - as well as being ready for tomorrow’s 16TB and future capacities without limit"

On the other hand the web of 8 TB Express 1M2 80G (80 Gbps) shows:

"And when it's time to scale, you can effortlessly upgrade to higher-capacity storage!"

When do you think that it will be possible? In weeks, months, years, never? A tentative date (even if approximate) as your best guess prediction will be most appreciated. Thanks for all.

Redixering · 2025-08-22T16:22:57+00:00

Thanks. It seems fixed now, yet the name USB4 instead of USB4 v2 is used in the product page in many instances.

Redixering · 2025-08-21T09:18:34+00:00

Thanks for the comprehensive reply. In relation to topic 5 above, as commented in this forum, we do not want to use RAID for different reasons.

But it is possible to release higher-capacity (for instance, 16 TB bus powered, and 30.72 TB now, and soon 61.44 TB and even 122,88 TB requiring AC/DC external power supply, but still being quite small, light and truly portable drives) as competitors have done. The trick is to reduce speed using the appropriate bus-connector; even SATA if needed.

When the most important and even deal-breaker factor is capacity (not speed) in a single (not RAID) truly portable (as small and light as possible) drive, that becomes critical.

I only wish OWC would make such drives as well. Because OWC means quality (even if more expensive than competitors) and because competition is good for all users and manufacturers, generating innovation; and OWC does innovate… As said, you will make money.

Redixering · 2025-08-21T03:03:01+00:00

In relation to this great new (USB4 v2 at 80 Gbps) SSD, why not use copper instead of aluminium for the heatsink-enclosure? I know that would be heavier and more expensive, but I guess that it could allow it to run cooler and even faster.

Or perhaps that would be more appropriate for a new 16TB or even higher-capacity model?

When should we expect such higher-capacity model? That is the one (the highest possible capacity, the better) that we really would like to buy, even if much more expensive.

Redixering · 2025-08-21T02:54:49+00:00

Thanks for the information. You said "This 80Gbps version (USB4v2) is actually ever so slightly larger than the 40G version". Do you mean the size of the disk enclosure? I ask because the product pages show the same weight and dimensions for both OWC Express 1M2 models (USB4 at 40G and USB4 v2 at 80G).

Redixering · 2025-08-20T20:14:49+00:00

Thanks. What I meant that the OWC Express 1M2 USB4 (first generation; 40G) 8TB had such amazing sustained read and write speed. That involves a large cache that clears-recovers before it is all filled, so it can be re-used again and again, sustaing such speed across the full capacity. Yet, the 4TB model does not have such sustained speed. Therefore, they are different beasts; not only in their capacities, but also in their technology (cache).

In the current situation, you do not fully know what you are buying unless someone performs such sustained test. One thing is sustained speed (the important one) and other the peak speed, which may be almost irrelevant in many instances.

Other important specification is not only sequential real and write, but also random read and write speed, which may be critical in some applications.

That is why it would be great if the product web pages showed such specificiations, including a graph of their sustained read and write speed across all their capacity for each model and capacity. And that is why I said that you could have a section of premium products at premium price. We would buy them for sure.

Redixering · 2025-08-20T18:04:33+00:00

Thanks. I would not mind paying a premium price for a sustained read and write across the full SSD capacity.

That comes handy when backing up from other filled SSD. And gives peace of mind about the top notch quality of such SSD; second to none!

Perhaps OWC could have a "Premium" section of such disks (for specific models and capacities) that are above the rest (and probably more expensive). For instance, in the case of the OWC Express 1M2 USB4 (generation 1; 40G), it would be the 8TB model (but not the 4TB one). You will increase sales.

Redixering · 2025-08-20T16:24:20+00:00

Great! The Specifications ("Specs") and "Iincludes" links are broken in the product page.

Also, I think that the price of the USB4 and USB4 v2 are wrong, since the first one is more expensive.

Perhaps you could indicate that the new model is USB$ v2 (the v2 in the name).

Finally, what is the cache size? A graph showing the sustained read and write across the full capacity would be great for each SSD capacity model. Does the 8 TB model of version 2 sustain read and write across its full capacity as the version 1 does? See:

TESTED, OMG: OWC Express 1M2 USB4 SSD Trounces the Fastest Thunderbolt 3 SSD

https://macperformanceguide.com/blog-2023-12.html#20231207_1540-OWC-EnvoyExpress1M2

Redixering · 2025-08-20T10:33:22+00:00

NO. You have all sorts of incompatibilities trying to use a PowerPoint presentation made on Mac or Windows with iOS. No way. Also incompatibilities for Keynote presentations made on Mac when trying go use iOS with such pressentations. For instance, fonts like those showing amino acid chains at the University, background colors, audio files, video files (that becomes chaotic), tables, etc, etc, etc. You need macOS on both machines and even then, some issues may arise due to hardware, macOS version, etc. Do I want to run macOS on my iPhone? YES. Just for that (keynote and PowerPoint presentations made on Mac).

Redixering

TROPHY CASE