I want to build an external box that I can connect to my Mac Mini by USB or Firewire 400. It should be able to house at least 6 internal 3.5" SATA drives, along with at least one optical drive.

One tiny external SSD to rule them all.

So, you want to build an DIY external SSD, and you want it to be fast? Sadly, your only option is NVMe. While NVMe blows the pants off USB transfer rates, it’s still the best option if you want more ...