Mac Mini 2TB vs Mac Studio w Thunderbolt Drive

[mdelaney123]

I use my Mac to edit and organize my Apple Photo library of 70k photos. I make edits, apply keywords, etc.

Trying to decide between an M1 Mac Mini 16gb with internal 2TB or a base Mac Studio with external Thunderbolt 2TB.

I would have to keep my library on the external Thunderbolt with the studio.

I have always thought externals were too slow for a photo library.

Any suggestions on what I should do?

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Apples internal storage is VERY fast, however external Thunderbolt should be fast enough for photo management. You will likely get much better value by going small (storage) from Apple and fast Thunderbolt external. I use slower USB externals for video-editing scratch drives, so even newer USB can be fast enough for much more complex files. You should be more than fine with a Thunderbolt external for photos.

I presume you already know that 16GB RAM is enough for your purposes, which seems probable for that particular use.

And I presume the library is important to you. If so, be sure you work out a solid backup solution too just in case whichever option you choose loses its storage for whatever reason. Especially something like photos is sometimes irreplaceable. Be sure you have at least 1 backup, ideally off site and keep it up to date regularly. Maybe buy your fast Thunderbolt for photo storage and a regular (cheaper than Thunderbolt) USB-based drive for Time Machine or to simply double as a backup copy for your photo library. Personally, I have a Time Machine backup local and a big hard drive I keep offsite for what amounts to TWO backup drives.

 

[MarkC426]

I use my Mac to edit and organize my Apple Photo library of 70k photos. I make edits, apply keywords, etc.

Trying to decide between an M1 Mac Mini 16gb with internal 2TB or a base Mac Studio with external Thunderbolt 2TB.

I would have to keep my library on the external Thunderbolt with the studio.

I have always thought externals were too slow for a photo library.

Any suggestions on what I should do?

Maybe worth waiting a few more weeks and see what comes up at WWDC, good chance of the higher end mini.
Also Mac Studio's are on very long order times (2-3 months in some cases), unless your lucky enough to find one in a store.

 

[mdelaney123]

Maybe worth waiting a few more weeks and see what comes up at WWDC, good chance of the higher end mini.
Also Mac Studio's are on very long order times (2-3 months in some cases), unless your lucky enough to find one in a store.

Yep. That is my quandary. I can get a base Studio now from local Apple stores and add a Thunderbolt drive, or save some money and get the mini with internal 2TB.

 

[mdelaney123]

Apples internal storage is VERY fast, however external Thunderbolt should be fast enough for photo management. You will likely get much better value by going small (storage) from Apple and fast Thunderbolt external. I use slower USB externals for video-editing scratch drives, so even newer USB can be fast enough for much more complex files. You should be more than fine with a Thunderbolt external for photos.

I presume you already know that 16GB RAM is enough for your purposes, which seems probable for that particular use.

And I presume the library is important to you. If so, be sure you work out a solid backup solution too just in case whichever option you choose loses its storage for whatever reason. Especially something like photos is sometimes irreplaceable. Be sure you have at least 1 backup, ideally off site and keep it up to date regularly. Maybe buy your fast Thunderbolt for photo storage and a regular (cheaper than Thunderbolt) USB-based drive for Time Machine or to simply double as a backup copy for your photo library. Personally, I have a Time Machine backup local and a big hard drive I keep offsite for what amounts to TWO backup drives.

Yes, I sync with iCloud, and run Time Machine. Also take an offline backup every 6 months.

So, knowing my main use is my large photo library… Editing and organizing With Apple photos, do you think I am good with current M1 mini with 16gb and 2 TB internal?

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

I agree with MarkC426 in terms of waiting for a potential new Mini rollout at or around WWDC. That will be only a short amount of time and may get you a M2 Mini with the potential for more than 16GB RAM.

However, if you feel you must buy now, if you have perhaps been using a current computer with less than or equal to 16GB RAM and that has worked fine, AND the 70,000 photos wouldn't eat up more than about 65% of 2TB, I'd say yes.

BUT, what I would do with the same assumptions is buy minimal storage inside and buy big storage outside for that photo library. The premium you pay for Apple's storage would buy you MORE external storage and/or a better Mini.

Since I can't know the particulars of your situation, note that you have about 2 weeks to simply TRY the Mini out and see how well it works for you. If it seems to be struggling with how you use a computer, you can return it and buy that MAX Studio (or vice versa). If it is "sluggish," I'd suspect RAM needs more than internal vs. external storage speed. A thunderbolt external is going to be very fast for photo collection storage.

 

[phrehdd]

I have this on my M1 Mini - Sabrent SSD drive Thunderbolt - do you think you really need faster than this 2 terabyte external drive? I agree with others to wait for the later coming Mini and the option for more RAM. Affinity Photo and Photoshop both worked well with this drive. Only challenges were more M1 related than speed/drive related.

 

[bigfatipod]

I am curious, what machine are you currently using and how do you have your storage set up?
I am on a 2012 mini and I have to assume that an M1 of any sort with an external drive would be faster than my current access to my Photo library!

 

[MacCheetah3]

So, knowing my main use is my large photo library… Editing and organizing With Apple photos, do you think I am good with current M1 mini with 16gb and 2 TB internal?

This is my vote.

While I think even a USB 3.2 SSD drive (e.g. Crucial X8) would have satisfactory performance, the M1 (non-Pro/Max/Ultra) has plenty of capability for photo editing/management and having everything on a single (very fast) internal drive simplifies things.

 

[mdelaney123]

OK, I tried both machines.... M1 Mac mini w/16GB Ram and a base Mac Studio, both using Thunderbolt 2TB external for Photo library. It wasn't even close, the Mac Studio out performed the Mini using Apple Photos. I would go so far as to say the Mac mini was not acceptable. Two very noticeable differences. Just downloading the photo library from iCloud was 3 to 4x faster on the Mac Studio. Then, when working with the library, the Studio was able to add keywords with no beach ball. The Mac mini would give a beach ball and take 10 to 20 seconds to add the keyword after I selected it from the list.

I am guessing that my Photo library is so big, that the 32GB of ram along with the faster processor really made the difference, especially the extra RAM.

 

[MacCheetah3]

I am a little surprised — though I had/have nothing to properly reference (i.e. size of photo library).

Nevertheless, happy to read you found the best tool for the job.

 

[QuietOC]

I have this on my M1 Mini - Sabrent SSD drive Thunderbolt - do you think you really need faster than this 2 terabyte external drive?

View attachment 1993989

Is that an unmodified Sabrent device? I am surprised it has such slow writes.

 

[phrehdd]

Is that an unmodified Sabrent device? I am surprised it has such slow writes.

Yes, unmodified and using the the cable that came with the unit.

 

[QuietOC]

Is that an unmodified Sabrent device? I am surprised it has such slow writes.

Yes, unmodified and using the the cable that came with the unit.

Interesting. Some 2TB M.2 drives have that slow write problem when connected to Thunderbolt.

 

[StudioMacs]

I use my Mac to edit and organize my Apple Photo library of 70k photos. I make edits, apply keywords, etc.

Trying to decide between an M1 Mac Mini 16gb with internal 2TB or a base Mac Studio with external Thunderbolt 2TB.

I would have to keep my library on the external Thunderbolt with the studio.

I have always thought externals were too slow for a photo library.

Any suggestions on what I should do?