I have a 2019 MacBook Pro, i9, 32 GB Ram with a 1Tb SSD drive........ I also purchased a OWC ENVOY EXPRESS which is a THUNDERBOLT™ CERTIFIED
BUS-POWERED ‘ADD YOUR OWN DRIVE’ ENCLOSURE. I intend to purchase a 2 Tb M.2 SSD

My plans are to buy parallels, install Win 10 Pro (I have purchased) and install Windows BIAB to the external Drive. The logic is, anytime I need to use BIAB, all that I need to do, is to plug in Thunderbolt SSD.

First question : Is this doable ?

I did that on my new Windows laptop. Very similar specs to your MacBook Pro (mine's a Lenovo ThinkPad P17 with a 4k display). I bought a Samsung X5 2TB Thunderbolt 3 SSD (a little under $600) for my sample libraries. I also did a full install of BiaB to it. Works great. I also bought two 2TB Samsung T7 USB 3.2 SSDs (under $300 each), one for work files (like the BiaB and Studio One 'Songs' folders) and the other for backup and installers (stuff I can afford to disconnect if I need the port).

Their “Thunderblt certified” is not a Thunderbolt drive. It’s marketing nonsense for a USB 3,1 drive. Is it twice as fast as a USB 3 drive? Yes. Is it 1/3 the speed of their actual TB3 drive or a Samsung X5? also yes.

To answer your question, yes, it will do what you want but, being a USB 3.1 drive, it won’t be as fast as your Mac.

This
OWC TB3 drive
or a Samsung X5 is a true Thunderbolt 3 drive. The one you bought is not—it is less expensive.

The OWC Envoy Pro 2TB drive is $100 cheaper than the Samsung X5, but I really don't like two things: 1) the cable is not detachable, and 2) the cable is too short, limiting its placement.

The 2TB version is only $60 cheaper than the X5 these days.
Samsung X5 on Amazon

The short, non detachable cable on the Envoy Pro may not be an issue for most users. The reason I like it is that there’s a 4TB version available, unlike the X5.

Bummer, I kinda wished OWC had a better and more detailed description something along the lines of your post...

I have read the specs before buying but my expertise in understanding it , is well below par

If I would have read your post first, I would not of purchased it....

You gave good advice.

Any chance you can return it and purchase the actual TB3 drive?

OWC has a pretty good reputation. I'd give them the chance to earn it.

Thanks Mike

I shall pursue the option of returning ......Again Great advice !

Stay Safe
Ron from Canada

Mike Halloran

I am hoping that I can take advantage of your expertise/wisdom. You do have a wealth of information that you are happy and willing to share with others.

My goal is to run "Win 10" on my MacBook Pro. I do believe that I am specked out enough to have many options available.(i9, 32 gigs, 1 Terabyte SSD,) I have went back and forth with the thoughts of Parallels or Boot Camp.

The idea of a separate Drive with windows is very appealing to me especially if all I need to do is just connect the Drive (OWC TB3 drive) and I would be up and running. I think I would be correct in saying that this would be just as fast as my MacBook ?

Would it be too much of an "Ask" if you can give an old man the procedure needed to get this done ?

I can order the OWC TB3 drive today but would need a little help completing the total task.

I would appreciate any help given

Ron from Canada

I am using Windows on a Mac running Parallels. I run Parallels off an external 1TB SSD. It is fast enough that you don't have to run it on a more expensive Thunderbolt drive. I would look at a 1TB drive with an external enclosure that offer you the right price/value. I use both 3.5" drives as well as NVMe storage and both work well.

I have Windows on this Samsung 870 for $99

OWC ENVOY EXPRESS is not reliable for all drives... I had two and they destroyed two SSDs for me. There is a lot of discussions online about this. I had to return the devices which was too bad considering that I really liked the design.

The online discussions talk about the type of SSD that has chips on both sides are failing in the Envoy and only the expensive OWC drives are working consistently. I ended up going with the Sabrent 4TB Sabrent Rocket XTRM was on sale at Amazon for $699 and includes an external enclosure with a removable rubber protecter. I use TB for my Logic and other sound libraries which is great speed and a 3" SSD for Windows and other project stuff

Thanks ChicagoBob

Great advice given

For external libraries etc. the Sabrent Rocket Extreme Q isn't a bad choice at all. It's certainly priced well, even at 4TB. I would never use it as a system drive, however, as its performance is all over the map. This review compares it to a number of TB3 and USB 3.2 (as the Mac does not support USB 3.2, it would be 3.1 on an Apple)including the two OWC Envoy EX Pro lines.

https://www.anandtech.com/show/16307/sabrent-rocket-xtrmq-usb-thunderbolt-3-dual-mode-external-ssd-review

Like the review speculates, a TLC version should be better — but that does not exist in the Sabrent Rocket line.

SAMSUNG 970 EVO PLUS M.2 2280 2TB PCIe Gen 3.0 x4, NVMe 1.3 V-NAND 3-bit MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) MZ-V7S2T0B/AM

Did you hear anything about this drive? I can pick this up from Newegg for $300