Mac Mini is a go-to desk for Macos users .P, and is a good reason for it. It is powerful, thanks to the M4 processor (and before that M1 and M2), it is also calm and efficient due to the same silicone and its clever S. Software Optim Optim Ptimization. But most often, it is because it is the cheapest computer of Apple Pal, which only starts at 9699/£ 599/INR 59,900.
It comes with a huge warning, however, on -board storage is 256 GB by a means. And unlike other computers, you just can’t upgrade it yourself. Your cost to buy a 512GB version from Apple Pal will be $ 200/€ 250 more, which is only 256 GB more increase for more storage.
Here is where a storage dock comes for a Mac mini – it not only expands ports on the Mac mini, but allows you to add SSD storage to the system, and in the process, it also looks good.
Today, we have a similar dock Hypocrisy For the test – that’s the right name, Fellow mini. So what does it make to stand stand in the sea of Mac Mini D KS?
Fellow mini dock
Well, for the beginning, the Belink to the Matt Mini is a Thunderbolt 5, which means it has 80 Gbps of bandwidth, which enhances it over your dime-a-dazz 10 Gbps DKS on Amazon. The added bandwidth opens the probability of dock peripherals for your Mac Mini – essentially, you have more bandwidths to operate more things on it – external monitor, external collection, etc.
The Belink Mat Mini comes in two configurations – Matt Mini A, with two M2 2280 PCI slots with two lanes (X2) for a total of 16 TBs, or a Matt Mini B, with a single M.2 2280 PCI slot with four lanes (X4) up to 8TB.
The fellow mini reads and writes the promises of up to 3,600 MB/s and 3,400 MB/s, and mini bs up to 7,000 MB/s and 5,000 MB/s respectively.
We have a model with two M2 slots (a). At this time of this article, it costs $ 139 (without SSD), 2 TB with 9 279 with critical SSD and 60 460 with a 4 TB critical unit on the Belink website.
Ports-SD, 2x USB-A, Ethernet, 3.5 mm, 2x USB-C
Let me talk to/s. You have a SD 4.0 (UHS-II) card slot on the right with a maximum reading speed of 312mb/s. The front is the power indicator light. In the rear, there is a USB-A 3.0 port (5 GBPS), 2.5 Gbps Ethernet port, second USB-A 3.0 port, 3.5mm Audio Dio Jack, Thunderbolt 5 USB-C port (80 Gbps), and other USB-C used for power supply. This is last used when you connect peripherals that are more than 15W power.
There is an active cooling fan in the mat mini and heat sink. During our test, we cannot say that we have ever heard of the fan – it’s quiet.
A perfect match for Mac Mini
The Belink Bay Thunderbolt is designed to connect the Mat Mini to the Met Mini, especially for the USB-C cables from 5-composed USB-C cables. One is to connect the dock when placed under the Mac Mini, and the other when you have a desk .p. There are simple instructions on the cables to avoid confusion.
Can go to the bottom or at the top
You need to open the Mat Mini Dock to install the M2 SSD. You will need some basic electronic tools for that, but will do any 10 toolkit tricks on Amazon.
First, remove the rubber leg on the stick. Below are two Philips head screws; Remove it and you are inside.
After that, there are four other screws that you need to undo the gain cess of two SSD slots. Each SSD slot has its own small screw to fix the SSD.
Belink opened the Matt mini
We have this 500GB Samsung 970 EVO PCI General 3.0 X4 SSD for a while and is using it as an external drive for the Mac Mini in the USB-C encl its. But now we have a Billink Mat Mini Dock, we felt that we could install it and see if it was faster.
PCI General 3.0 X4 SSD is capable of reading/writing speeds 3,400/2,500 MB/s, but was blocked by USB 3.2 enclosure, which was only 5 Gbps. Putting SSD in an 80 Gbps dock should be made a little faster.
And indeed, if you take a look at us before and after the test, the 970 Evo has a significant reading pace when tested inside the dock. It’s about 40% fast. H.265 4K Video Writing and reading, which is mostly used by this SSD, is about 40% faster.
You can probably get even more pace with Matt Mini B, with a single M.2 2280 PCI slot with four lanes (X4). However, instead of just adding any storage upgrade to any storage upgrade, SSD will need to be replaced with a new one. So you lose a little practicality for a potential high -rise storage speed.
Left – SSD in USB enclosure; Right – SSD inside a dock
Another benefit of using SSD actively in a cold dock instead of USB-C enclosure is a continuous operation. SSDs inside the enclosure under long load can be really heated. Here, we will find peace of mind by knowing that it is cooling properly.
Judgment
The Belink Mat Mini Mini looks like a nice match according to the mini design. It not only allows you to flexible the available storage, but it also adds to the system and many ports on the card reader.
Apple Pal will charge you $ 200/€ 250 for the 512GB version of Mac Mini, it looks like the smart move is just to get a base version and upgrade storage by a dock like this, so it is recommended.
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