Making sense of the SMART indicators for NVMe SSDs, including all recent models fitted by Apple to Macs.
S.M.A.R.T.
The life of an SSD should be more predictable than a hard disk. All you need is its TBW, and the total amount of data written to it so far.
Creating the external bootable SSD, downgrading security and allowing kexts, then trying to install a kext on an external drive which must be ejected.
M1 Macs don’t support SMART monitoring over USB-C, forcing us to choose between Full Security without SMART, or Reduced Security with SMART support.
Apple wants us to run our Macs at Full Security and not use third-party kernel extensions, but refuses to build S.M.A.R.T. access into USB in macOS.
Want to keep an eye on your hard drive(s) and SSD? Worried that your SSD might need replacing? Here are some tools to put your mind at rest.
Could a £15 case really let my bargain 750 GB SSD perform at its best?
Two free tools to check how long your SSD, including those in Fusion Drives, is likely to last.
How long will the SSD in your Mac last before it fails? Some seem to be going to an early grave. Is yours?
How much is the data stored on your Mac’s drives worth? DriveDx is a utility which could save you from that loss.
The Eclectic Light Company 