Moving apps to external drive to save storage Mac mini M1 base model

On getting my M2 mini I almost immediately plugged in a cheap USB 3.0 1 TB Crucial SSD costing around £60 and have been booting from that for the past year.

I use the mini mainly for video editing in FCP/Resolve and general web surfing etc.

Nothing has ever got hot and there have been no crashes and the whole thing works just as fast (rendering and exporting etc.) as using the internal SSD.

There is no point in using Thunderbolt SSDs when the computer runs at maximum speed on a cheap USB 3.0 SSD.

There is just one thing that is slower . . . copying huge files - that can take 2 to 4 times as long but as it is something I rarely ever do, it is of no significance.

So I can't understand why you are having the crashes etc. Perhaps something else is to blame.

I note that you used Migration Assistant.

That is not recommended if you want trouble-free operation. I have never used it. Many do and some have problems because it can copy a load of crud across.

Having installed Sequoia on your Thunderbolt SSD you should have manually copied your files across and preferably downloaded fresh copies of your apps. Done on a "as needed" basis rather than all at once.

You could erase your SSD, reinstall Sequoia and then copy and download as mentioned above.

Hardware problems are pretty rare.

On the FCP forum we come across numerous people who believe they have them but almost invariably it turns out to be user error in the way they are working with the computer or the apps.

You need to check what you are doing and if necessary do a clean install as I suggested.

Just out of interest how is your external SSD formatted?

Boot into Restore mode,CMD+r keys...

Look at top of screen for Utilities menu...

In Disk Utility>View, select Show all Devices, highlight the top left entry.

Run Disk First Aid on all items in the left panel, from top down.

Are you running any VPN, Anti-Virus, or Cleaning apps?

We need to see what all is running, a report from this will not display any personal info...

Using EtreCheck - Apple Community

EtreCheck is a FREE simple little diagnostic tool to display the important details of your system configuration and allow you to copy that information to the Clipboard. It is meant to be used with Apple Support Communities to help people help you with your Mac. It will not display any personal info. Give it Full Disk Access.

https://www.etrecheck.com/

Give etrecheck Full Disk Access before running.

Thanks for Old Toad’s etrecheck instructions…

Slow iMac 2017 - Apple Community

IMHO keeping everything together on one large drive is easier to manage in the long run.

What 2T Thunderbolt SSD are you currently using...?

Perhaps you just need a drive enclosure and/or external drive that provides better cooling.

for example > https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/owc-express-1m2

From what I have seen is that Kingston SSDs in most any enclosure when used with a Mac tend to be problematic.

The ones that tend to work without issues are Samsung and Western Digital SSDs. Samsung Pros and Western Digital Black series are generally the most reliable.

Just one more thing (I sound like Columbo!)

If you are booting from the Thunderbolt SSD you need to have the apps installed on it.

If you are using the apps on the internal mini SSD you are more likely to have the problems you are experiencing.

WaxerUK wrote:

Hi there, it’s a Kingston KC3000 and it’s in an Acasis Thunderbolt 3 hub.

https://amzn.eu/d/fK2YGVZ

speed seems fine, it’s these freezes, glitches and random restarts that bother me.

I concur with woodmeister50 and would change out the Kingston SSD for a Samsung or WD SSD.

Another option for reliability is the 2T OWC Express that I suggested above.

https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/owc-express-1m2

I use an app for work that is open all day and can be corrupted that I’m worried about!

All the more reasons to replace the Kingston M2 with a more reliable M2 SSD.

Thanks for the reply.

You're welcome.