SSD Speed comparison for cache

Question

Hello,I'm normally using my Mac's internal ssd for after effects disk cache. But because of the storage shortage, I purchased an external enclosure and a Samsung 980 Pro NVMe.My internal ssd speeds are 6000write-6000readThe new enclosure is with thunderbolt 4 and speeds are 2800write-2800read.Would switching the cache to the external SSD lower the performance of the cache prior to the numbers above??Thank you.

Rick Gerard · Answer

Internal storage is always faster than external. Make sure you have the highest quality cables. A cheap cable can throttle the transfer speed from the theoretical 40 Gbps for Thunderbolt 4 to less than 10, even if the label says it's a Thunderbolt 4 cable. These are the tests from 4 different new Thunderbolt 4 cables on the same external drive.

There is also a huge difference between the speed of an NVmE drive in an external enclosure and installing one on the motherboard.

These speed tests were run on my M2 MacBook Pro using my Samsung T7 goto 2TB SSD. I also have a couple of external NVmE enclosures I use for backup storage in the field, but they can run very hot when using them for a cache drive. I've never felt the need for anything faster for my laptop.

Regarding performance, External NVmE, even External SSDs, are plenty fast for working with 4K footage. I use them all the time. Just make sure you baby the cables and make sure you test them as soon as you get them. Send them back if they don't come close to the advertised speed.

By the way, the fastest cable above is the oldest one. The slowest one is going back to Amazon on Monday.

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