When the very first Mac Studio was unveiled in 2022, a teardown discovered a surprisingly detachable SSD module. Nonetheless, there’s no approach to formally improve the drive, since Apple doesn’t supply any kind of service or do-it-yourself choice to swap it out. Neither has any third-party firm, till now.
Polysoft launched a Kickstarter marketing campaign for its Studio Drive, an SSD improve that “lovers and restore professionals” can use to improve the Mac Studio SSD. The marketing campaign was profitable and based on the Studio Drive web site, the corporate is “very busy producing the boards offered on Kickstarter” they usually’re going to be taking new orders for “naked PCB board to 8TB fashions” quickly. In the event you’re , Polysoft has a web based type to request extra info.
In case you’re questioning if this can be a reputable product, the corporate reached out to YouTube PC fanatic Luke Miani, who posted a hands-on with the Studio Drive. Miani exhibits how the Studio Drive is put in, factors out how Apple’s SSD implementation is totally different from typical PCs, and the way you want one other Mac to hook up with, run the Apple Configurator app, and reformat the Mac Studio. The set up might sound slightly daunting–it’s not so simple as swapping out the SSDs and rebooting, nevertheless it’s not terribly sophisticated for the kind of consumer who would purchase the Mac Studio within the first place. You’ll be able to see Miani’s demo beneath.
The Studio Drive is assured for 140,00TB written and consists of one thing Apple’s SSDs don’t have: overvoltage safety to forestall the SSD modules from being zapped useless.
In response to Miani, Polysoft plans to supply an 8TB Studio Drive for €799 (about $845/£660), although the official costs aren’t posted on the Studio Drive web site. Whereas Apple doesn’t promote Mac Studio SSD upgrades, an 8TB Mac Professional SSD improve for the Mac Professional is $2,800/£2,800. So, that’s a massive value distinction.
Polysoft additionally has M4 Mac mini SSD upgrades within the works. For extra info because it’s out there, take a look at the Studio Drive web site.