Keep 2015 iMac (with external SSD) or new M1 mini

[bocktacular]

I currently have a Late 2015 27" iMac, in which its internal Fusion Drive sadly just died. I am trying to make a decision between buying a new M1 Mac mini or buying and creating a bootable external SSD to keep my iMac going just a bit longer until a potential updated (M2?) Mac mini. I would be happy to buy a new computer, but I am concerned that the current M1 Mac mini is two years old at this point and an update might be around the corner...

More specifically, here are the choices I am thinking about (with some context):
1) Buy an external 2TB SSD and create a bootable drive via USB3 on my iMac. I have been reading that this is a viable solution that might keep my current machine going for just a bit longer - perhaps what I would need to get to Apple announcing an updated Mac mini. My current machine is in good working condition other than the dead Fusion Drive, which was 2TB - other than this, the machine has 32GB RAM and the screen works perfectly fine. Great computer that has served me well.

2) Thank my iMac for its service, and move on to an M1 Mac mini anyway. I am looking at a specced out model with 16GB RAM and a 2TB storage. I have a second 27" 4K monitor that I use with my current iMac that would become the primary monitor with a new machine for awhile (I would likely - eventually - buy a better monitor).

3) Wildcard option - buy a base Mac Studio with 2TB, as they are still relatively new. I don't know how much I really need this, but I was considering this in order to "future proof."

I am not a professional artist/photographer/videographer, but I use my computer regularly in these areas. I am a high school art/media arts teacher, so I work with images and video, and I use Adobe Creative Cloud apps like Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, and After Effects often. However, not deeply enough - I believe - to warrant the power of a Mac Studio (i.e., not 3D computer animation, 8K video, etc.).

A higher end Mac mini seems like it would suit my needs moving forward, but I am not sure if it would make sense to buy a two year old model or to try to wait, if I can.

Thank you for reading - I appreciate any advice!

 

[Juicy Box]

In my opinion, go with the external SSD, and stick with your current iMac.

You said yourself that your current Mac suits your needs with the exception of the fusion drive dying, no need to spend thousands to replace something that is still working for you.
Solid-state drives are getting really, really cheap. During one of the holiday sales, I got a 4 TB SATA SSD for the same price that I spent for a 2 TB SATA SSD a year ago.

Spend less than $200 now and have a good working, decent performing Mac, with a beautiful display, then when the next iMacs come out, hopefully a 27 inch, you can consider purchasing one of them, or maybe hold off even longer.

Another thing that you might want to consider is the size of the current iMac, while it’s only a few inches smaller in my experience if you’re used to a 27 inch iMac screen downsizing could be a problem.

Imo, the M1 Mac mini is a really good deal, you can find them for less than $500, but I personally wouldn’t bother with one with I had a perfectly working 2015 27 inch iMac.

You didn’t mention the specs on your current Mac, but for some workflows, the M1 may not be that much better than your current Mac. For example, the 4th Gen i7 in my late 2013 iMac is just about on par for software encoding on Handbrake as my M1 MM.

 

[leifp]

I am not a professional artist/photographer/videographer, but I use my computer regularly in these areas. I am a high school art/media arts teacher, so I work with images and video, and I use Adobe Creative Cloud apps like Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, and After Effects often. However, not deeply enough - I believe - to warrant the power of a Mac Studio (i.e., not 3D computer animation, 8K video, etc.).

A higher end Mac mini seems like it would suit my needs moving forward, but I am not sure if it would make sense to buy a two year old model or to try to wait, if I can.

That sounds very similar to my own use case. If you’re the kind of person who likes to keep a piece of tech until it can no longer function as required, definitely hold out for the next Mac mini. Although I have no reason for my belief, I think Apple will add the Pro chip to the next gen and that is likely the sweet spot for yourself. However, if your creative app use really is very light, then the base M2 chip, with its media extensions and 24GB RAM, ought to be plenty. Either way, those chips beat the snot out of the M1 for video editing.

Anecdote: I had a fully loaded M1 Mac mini that I attempted to use as my main machine but it was definitely not up to my requirements. I got the M1Max MBPro out of an irrational fear that the M1Pro would not suffice. As I monitor my systems closely, I can tell that the M1Pro would have been the sweet spot for me…

 

[Fishrrman]

You can buy an external USB3 SSD, and boot and run that way.
I did it for years with a 2012 Mini -- worked well.

But... do you really need 2tb?

How much of the fusion drive was being "used"?
Do you have a backup?

Reason I'm asking:
Currently, a good deal on the Samsung t7 "Shield" (1tb in size):

SAMSUNG T7 Shield 1TB, Portable SSD, up to 1050MB/s, USB 3.2 Gen2, Rugged, IP65 Rated, for Photographers, Content Creators and Gaming, External Solid State Drive (MU-PE1T0R/AM, 2022), Blue

Samsung T7 Shield Portable SSD delivers high performance on-the-go, not matter the terrain. It has an IP65 rating for water** and dust* resistance, with Dynamic Thermal Guard to manage heat control. Transfer huge files instantly. USB 3.2 Gen 2 and PCIe® NVMe™ achieve soaring sequential read/write...

www.amazon.com

This could keep you going another year (or more).

I would not particularly recommend the m1 Mini.
Not because I don't care for Mini's (I'm on my second a 2018), but I didn't think the m1 release was "enough".

Now, the base model Studio... now we're talking!

Before going further...
What "died" with the fusion drive?
Can you boot to INTERNET recovery?
Command-OPTION-R
at boot.

And then... open disk utility?

 

[Beefbowl]

The external drive gets you back up and running with a very capable iMac, and is extra storage or a dead-silent Time Machine volume when the perfect Mini finally hits. Feels like a win.

 

[fandangoguy]

That sounds very similar to my own use case. If you’re the kind of person who likes to keep a piece of tech until it can no longer function as required, definitely hold out for the next Mac mini. Although I have no reason for my belief, I think Apple will add the Pro chip to the next gen and that is likely the sweet spot for yourself. However, if your creative app use really is very light, then the base M2 chip, with its media extensions and 24GB RAM, ought to be plenty. Either way, those chips beat the snot out of the M1 for video editing.

Anecdote: I had a fully loaded M1 Mac mini that I attempted to use as my main machine but it was definitely not up to my requirements. I got the M1Max MBPro out of an irrational fear that the M1Pro would not suffice. As I monitor my systems closely, I can tell that the M1Pro would have been the sweet spot for me…

Hi there...I posted my message in another thread but I think this one may be more suitable.
I haven't posted in a long time. I need an editing machine and my budget is limited. I could get a Mac Mini M1 with 16GB ram and 521SSD for a good price, but I wish I could afford a M2pro or a studio! for a lot more...
I use Premiere pro. I intend to edit 4k30 and sometimes 4k60-one or two layers coming from a Sony FX30 in XAVC S at 200Mbps max or less...1080p 30/60 too. My projects range from 5min to 90 min max. No heavy grading at all..some lumetri colour. Am I delusional thinking that this Mac Mini M1 can edit this and export it in a reasonable time? I don't need it to be superfast for export but I care more about the editing experience. Has Premiere finally been optimized for the M1 chips? I just can't edit with FCPX...too old to re-learn! You say that your Mac Mini wasnt up to your requirements. Pls share your experience if you can. I need an honest and brutal opinion based on first hand experience! I would appreciate it very much. Thanks

 

[leifp]

Am I delusional thinking that this Mac Mini M1 can edit this and export it in a reasonable time? I don't need it to be superfast for export but I care more about the editing experience. Has Premiere finally been optimized for the M1 chips? I just can't edit with FCPX...too old to re-learn! You say that your Mac Mini wasnt up to your requirements. Pls share your experience if you can. I need an honest and brutal opinion based on first hand experience! I would appreciate it very much. Thanks

What’s “a reasonable time”? This is really important. Your idea of reasonable and mine are likely not very similar. For export you want a faster SSD, so you are one of the relatively rare cases where the base SSD in the M2 mini will be a bottleneck (although enough to bother you? No idea…). Export speed doesn’t bother me in general (I can walk away or do something else). I get frustrated waiting for things to load or any time there’s the “spinning beach ball” of slowdown systemwide. RAM matters here.

Premiere Pro has been optimized for Apple Silicon. It will absolutely benefit from the media encode/decode engines in the M2 (since they were already part of M1Pro/Max/Ultra chips).

For your use the M2 ought to be way more functional than the M1. The fact it’s $100 USD less expensive for the base model than the M1 mini means you need a really sweet deal on an M1 mini to make that worth your while. 24GB RAM and those media engines make the M2 way more capable for video editing than the M1.

That said, looking at your present kit, the M1 will obliterate what you’re used to from a performance spec.

Regardless which you get, RAM matters more than SSD: you can always add super fast external storage later. You can never add RAM.

I hope that helps.