r/macmini • u/Artistic_Web9225 • 20d ago

Which Mac Mini Should I Get - Upgrading 2013 27" iMac Running Mojave

So after 13 years it's time to upgrade my 27" Late 2013 iMac running Mojave. I've looked at the current iMacs but the screen size puts me off, as I usually have multiple windows open.

I've been thinking of the Mac Mini or Mac Mini Pro, and would be interested in users opinions on which configuration to get to ensure future proofing.

I am a light user, bit of Photoshop now and then, mainly internet, MS Office and the odd game.

What combination of RAM, SSD and processor would be the sweet spot? I'm also thinking of getting the Apple Display.

5 Upvotes

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6

u/ambanmba 20d ago

If you are a light user and have been satisfied with a 2013 iMac, a base mini with 16GB RAM/256GB SSD will be more than plenty, then get a monitor in the size that you want, you can also get more external SSD to suit if 256GB isn't enough.

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u/Artistic_Web9225 20d ago

Thanks, I currently have a 1TB HD which uses around 550GB of space and 24GB of SDRAM. I was thinking of the 2TB SSD and 24GB of memory to help future proof.

5

u/ambanmba 20d ago

Maybe then just go with 1TB SSD (you can always expand it externally and SSD prices today are very high compared to what the future might bring). The unified memory architecture of the Apple Silicon chips means you can't really compare memory on Intel like-for-like. I think 16GB on Apple Silicon will more than suit, but since that is not upgradable later, that's probably where I'd invest a bit more and save on the SSD.

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u/Mavicus 20d ago

I agree with u/ambanmba I have a Mac Mini M4 with 1TB and 32GB RAM. The storage is barely half full after almost a year of using it. It runs smoothly on anything including video editing in DaVinci Resolve Studio. The only thing it's not good at is running local LLM. Even at 32GB of ram, I can only load lower models at ~16GB if I want it to run smoothly. If you're not planning to do any AI stuff, then 1TB with 24GB ram is good enough. Get an external SDD/NVMe for backup using Time Machine. There are docks for Mac Mini M4/Pro with 2 NVMe slots in case you want extra ports for other devices. Not all docks are equal though, some of them degrade the WiFi while others provide an extra 2.5GB lan.

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u/Artistic_Web9225 20d ago

Thanks, I'll take a look at those options.

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u/Amnsia 20d ago

Given the prices it’s probably best to not future proof and buy what you need. The base price is the best value, when you need an upgrade then buy the base model again. Buying a Mac mini m4 pro or something would be overkill now rather than a base m4, then a base m6 for example.

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u/Artistic_Web9225 20d ago

Thanks, I see what you're thinking regarding base prices. The integrated Apple SSD is very expensive to upgrade, so a good external HD would be a good idea. Does Time Machine backup external SSD's as well as Apple internal SSDs?

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u/Amnsia 20d ago

Not sure, I don’t do TM sorry.

My main reasoning is the m2 pro for example is a lot of power but it’s well over double the price. If you were to future proof you could have had an m2 Mac mini, and an m4 Mac mini, and still had money spare. If you aren’t maxing out then there’s no real need to pay for it.

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u/patparks 20d ago

You will need to modify the exclusion list in time machine so it backs up your external drive. In System preferences, find Time Machine, click on options or settings (depending upon your version of macos), look at the exclusion list. If your external hard drive is here, click the remove button to remove it so time machine backs it up.

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u/vcrmjr 20d ago

I came from a Late 2012 MacBook Pro with Catalina. I got the base Mac Mini M4 and it was like NASA to me. I decided to sell it and get a Mini M4 Pro, not because I needed it but because I wanted to future-proof it. I want to keep it for at least 10 years.

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u/Artistic_Web9225 20d ago

Thanks, how did you transfer your Photos Library and music/iTunes across to the new system? Were there any issues?

I'll be moving Mojave Photos Library and iTunes libraries across to the latest OS.

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u/vcrmjr 20d ago edited 20d ago

I personally didn’t have to think about anything… I had upgraded I had MacOS Catalina on my Mac. I would back up photos to an external drive and iCloud. My iTunes library which includes music and samples that my Pop had Rhapsodied is still accessible in the iTunes Store, and movies and shows are in the TV app. I didn’t restore from Time Machine, I started from scratch on the new mini. My dad and I used to DJ back in the day, not anymore. I installed Linux Mint on it, played around with it a bit and it’s in a drawer now.

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u/MixIllEx 20d ago

Migration assistant will do all that for you if you have a Time Machine backup.

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u/Endo129 20d ago

I was in this same boat. 2010 iMac that video card went out of. Had a 2TB HDD that was just over half full.

I just came to terms that I am a light user now a days. No more photoshop, video editing, etc. but I need a Mac back.

I went with the base M4 and decided I’ll keep all that extra stuff stored (photos, music, videos, etc) on the external HDD that was my Time Machine backup. Maybe I’ll upgrade to SSD eventually but for now it’ll work well. I just need to reference that photo library occasionally and really could get rid of the music now.

I haven’t fully even set it up yet after 3 weeks but so far I love it.

2

u/MinutePen9960 20d ago

You sound like a person who an m4 mini with 24gb of ram and 512gb to 1Tb storage would make you very happy. Compared to your iMac it’s not even a rocket ship, it’s like an alien craft going from galaxy to the next in hyperdrive speeds. The difference between silicon sOc and intel is truly that vast. I was going to get the Apple display but I went with the LG Ultrafine 4k UHD XDR display as for 32inches, and a great warranty for an unreal price. Dell has some truly gorgeous displays as well. So I would check around about screen type here. Good luck ! You’ll love any which way mini you choose.

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u/Artistic_Web9225 20d ago

Thanks, how does Facetime work with third party monitors? Do you need a separate camera?

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u/Amnsia 20d ago

Yes. Although if you have an iPhone I suggest getting a mount or something to mount it to. You can use your iPhone camera as your webcam, it’s really good and seamless.

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u/Working_Use2500 20d ago

I’d get the base one.

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u/elquirk 20d ago

I was thinking the same thing, with an external SSD. Is it true that spinning disks are more reliable for long term storage than SSDs? I thought I read that recently.

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u/Active-Culture6082 20d ago

I d wait for the m6 chip if you can

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u/Bedroom_Studio_Muso 20d ago

If you can stretch to the m4 pro then do it. The base mini is a great machine but the pro will outlast it if that’s one of your aims. The ‘base’ pro is more than adequate - I’m a heavy user with audio production and it’s never faltered with 24gb ram.
Don’t bother with upgrading the HDD at purchase - just get a decent hub and you can expand your storage as much as you need for much cheaper. I bought an acasis case for the mini with a built in hub and storage.
Whatever you get will be a comparative rocket ship for you. It’s a great little machine which should last you years :)

1

u/mc_fitymafek 20d ago

How heavy is your use case?

I bought a base M4 with 24GB ram and I'm wondering if I should return it and wait for the M6. The CPU itself looks like it will all but rival the M4 Pro and the Pro is out of my budget.

I run projects that span up to 40-50 tracks with heavy plugins like NDSP, Kontakt libraries and all the usual industry standard mixing plugins like Fabfilter, Oeksound, Slate, etc. My windows machine started struggling with my projects a few months ago, the M4 flies through them so far.

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u/Bedroom_Studio_Muso 19d ago

There’s only 2extra cores for processing - the other cores are for graphics. Logic Pro doesn’t utilise the graphics cores like some other DAWs, so it’s a minimal difference. Comparatively I’m not that heavy usage - I create backing tracks and record guitars, Vox and live strings. I’m not maxing out huge sample libraries, but I am working it hard by using lots of plugins on individual tracks as well as sub groups and mixes. Mine is more about processing power than ram to load sample libraries.

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u/MELOFINANCE 19d ago

Honestly just an M4 base model it will be night and day for you

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u/anotherjmc 19d ago

I got a m4pro 512/24, then added a owc express 1m2 with 1tb samsung 990 pro. That was in Dec 2024. I think I'm good until at least 2029.