Mac mini M4 Buying Advice Needed

[SuperDuperCool]

Hi everyone!

I’ve been waiting for the release of the M4 Mac mini. I’ve been wanting a Mac desktop to use with my MacBook, which I’ll still use for on-the-go use. My journey began when I fell in love with the base model MacBook Air M1. In anticipation of a new Mac mini, I even purchased an Apple Studio Display. However, I held off on getting a desktop because I wasn’t certain if a new Mac desktop would be released. Now, finally, the time has come.

Although my current base model MacBook Air M1 is enough for most tasks, I could definitely use more power, Especially when using it with the Studio Display. I often have multiple documents, Safari tabs, and heavier apps open simultaneously. While I’m not a professional user, I want specs that will give me a smooth and perfect experience, without any slowdowns. I aim for a perfect match with the Studio Display and hope it could last me 5 years or more.

I would really appreciate recommendations on the right amount of RAM, storage, and CPU. I’ve considered the base M4 chip with 24 GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD. I’m open to any advice you may have!

 

[weaztek]

The consideration you listed is appropriate IMO. Although you could get by with less storage if you use external drives. 1TB SSDs are ~$100 and HDDs work fine for Time Machine backup disks.

 

[richmlow]

Hi everyone!

I’ve been waiting for the release of the M4 Mac mini. I’ve been wanting a Mac desktop to use with my MacBook, which I’ll still use for on-the-go use. My journey began when I fell in love with the base model MacBook Air M1. In anticipation of a new Mac mini, I even purchased an Apple Studio Display. However, I held off on getting a desktop because I wasn’t certain if a new Mac desktop would be released. Now, finally, the time has come.

Although my current base model MacBook Air M1 is enough for most tasks, I could definitely use more power, Especially when using it with the Studio Display. I often have multiple documents, Safari tabs, and heavier apps open simultaneously. While I’m not a professional user, I want specs that will give me a smooth and perfect experience, without any slowdowns. I aim for a perfect match with the Studio Display and hope it could last me 5 years or more.

I would really appreciate recommendations on the right amount of RAM, storage, and CPU. I’ve considered the base M4 chip with 24 GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD. I’m open to any advice you may have!

I think that the base M4 Mac mini with 24GB RAM and a 1TB SSD would be a great choice for you. The specs for this system should last you 5+ years.

richmlow

 

[Macwalker66]

Why do you need 1TB of storage? Not saying 1TB is right or wrong, but you don’t really say how you use your Mac so it’s an impossible questions to answer. External storage maybe a good solution thats significantly cheaper

24GB is what I have gone for, feel it will future proof for some time

 

[KenAFSPC]

Very few users require 1TB. If doing email, web browsing, taxes, and MS Office, even 256GB is sufficient and 512GB provides plenty of room for thr future.

 

[richmlow]

I think that the base M4 Mac mini with 24GB RAM and a 1TB SSD would be a great choice for you. The specs for this system should last you 5+ years.

richmlow

Others on this thread are right.

I amend my original response and recommend 512GB SSD storage for your purposes.


richmlow

 

[SuperDuperCool]

Why do you need 1TB of storage? Not saying 1TB is right or wrong, but you don’t really say how you use your Mac so it’s an impossible questions to answer. External storage maybe a good solution thats significantly cheaper

24GB is what I have gone for, feel it will future proof for some time

I think a 512GB Mac mini would probably be enough for me. Even 256GB is enough for me now, but I’m careful about what apps I download and what I store on my computer. I’d love to have 512GB, but I’m also thinking about getting 1TB because I plan to keep the computer for a long time and I want it to be a hassle-free experience. I don’t want to have to compromise anything while staying within a reasonable price.

I'm planning on using the M4 Pro Mac mini more heavily than my base MacBook Air. For example for virtual machines, installing more games, and using creative programs.

 

[picpicmac]

I don’t want to have to compromise anything while staying within a reasonable price.

External SSDs with TB4 connections will be plenty fast for you and will likely be available until you get tired of the Mini some decades in the future.

I will not consider getting a Mac desktop with more than 512GB internal storage as I have used external SSDs, even as boot drives, for a decade now.

And you should have a Time Machine hard drive too, or whatever back-up system you use.

 

[yukari]

External SSDs with TB4 connections will be plenty fast for you and will likely be available until you get tired of the Mini some decades in the future.

I will not consider getting a Mac desktop with more than 512GB internal storage as I have used external SSDs, even as boot drives, for a decade now.

And you should have a Time Machine hard drive too, or whatever back-up system you use.

This!

I have 2018 Mac Mini with 256 GB. It served me well until 2023. I then added 4TB TB4 SSD as the startup disk and use 256 internal as data storage.

It is plenty fast.

As I kept adding applications, looking at my Apps and system files, it takes up about 280 GB. That's the reason for going with 4TB TB4 SSD as data takes about 1.5 TB. Before, I used 4 TB HDD, but decided to go with faster data transfer with TB4 SSD enclosure.

I just ordered M4 Mini with 16 GB/512 GB. This internal storage should be able to handle all the Apps I need. I plan on using TB4 SSD enclosure for all my data.

 

[dcpmark]

One reason to go with 1TB over 512GB is that your current 2019 iMac has 928GB used out of 1TB already, you want to restore from your Time Machine backup to your new Mac Mini, and you don’t wanna spend the next few months to try and pair down your current drive to fit on a 512GB. And in case any of you are wondering, I ALSO have 3 more external 1TB external SSD drives filled AND a 4TB HD for Time Machine. Yes, I’m a hoarder. 😆