What performance should you get from different types of storage?

The article discusses the performance expectations for various types of storage when used with Macs, particularly focusing on external storage options. It highlights that advertised performance figures often do not reflect real-world speeds, especially during prolonged tasks like Time Machine backups. Testing was conducted primarily on a Mac Studio M1 Max, with results applicable to recent Intel models. Key findings include that Time Machine's write speeds are consistently around 200-225 MB/s for single files and 20-23 MB/s for multiple concurrent writes, regardless of the storage type. The performance of hard disks varies significantly based on the sectors accessed, while SATA SSDs, although cheaper, are slower and lack important support features. NVMe SSDs offer better performance and support for features like Trim. The article also compares the real-world speeds of USB 3.2 Gen 2, Thunderbolt 3, and USB4, noting that performance can be limited by the type of Mac used. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of keeping NAS software updated for optimal performance and suggests tools for checking Time Machine and general storage performance.

- External storage performance often falls short of advertised speeds.

- Time Machine backups show consistent write speeds across different storage types.

- SATA SSDs are slower and lack support features compared to NVMe SSDs.

- Real-world speeds for USB protocols vary significantly based on the Mac model.

- Keeping NAS software updated is crucial for maintaining performance.