Top critical review
3.0 out of 5 starsNVME External Shuts down WiFi / SATA Unit works Perectly
Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2024
I have the SATA unit which runs a SSD external WD 2TB drive at about 450 MBPS as advertised. The SATA unit works perfectly with no interruption of WiFi what so ever. I always leave it on. It even makes the MacMini M2 Pro speaker resonate better through the Satechi unit. I love this device.
BUT I thought I would upgrade to the NVME model. The NVME model ran a Samsung Pro 980 NVME 2TB SSD at 990 MBPS as expected and as advertised. All the connections worked but on a Zoom call I was shut out 4 times in 10 minutes. I checked my internet speeds with the NVME enclosure and found it dropped from 340 MBPS to 0 - 25 or 75 MBPS repeatedly. The low speed is not consistent. I either had no speed or extremely low speeds. I left the device attached via the USB-C port but ejected the SSD Samsung Drive and the WiFi speeds went up to 170 MBPS. I then unplugged the unit and my speeds went back up to 340 MBPS, leaving the Satechi unit under the MacMini. I tried the SATA WD SSD drive in the device and it ran slower as expected but the WiFi was still problematic. Other than the WiFi issue the NVME unit works perfectly, but it will only run an SSD at less than 10 GB or 1000 MBPS, while the SATA only unit runs at 5 GB or 500 MBPS which is not a noticeable difference to me.
I think the issue is more about the power, but I don't know. I returned the NVME unit and am I happily using my SATA only unit. No issues and in reality the difference between 500 and 1000 MBPS isn't really noticeable. The SATA unit instantly pulls up 2 or 3 GB movies and plays them without lag and transfers files effortlessly. Also, the slower speeds in both units allow the unit to not overheat. Both the NVME and SATA drives never get hot. They are not even warm. The MacMini fan port is positioned above the placement of the SSD enclosure in both Satechi units and assists will cooling both units if necessary.