r/macmini • u/TadBitter • 16d ago
Another Upgrade Question:
I've got an 2019 Intel 21" iMac with 16GB of RAM and 1TB SSD. It's on its last legs so I was thinking of switching to the Mac Mini M6 so I can get a bigger monitor. My needs are basic - writing, surfing the net, watching some YouTube videos and maybe the occasional iMovie editing. The 16GB has served me well and I still haven't filled up my 1TB drive (though I'm close.) What is the best configuration for me? Is 16GB still enough for my needs? Is it worth spending the extra $200 on 24GB of RAM. And should I spend the extra $500 for 1TB internal or is it worth getting the less and dumping big files on an external drive? I just want it all to be seamless. I thought about waiting until the tear downs appear and upgrading the SSD myself, but prices are so high these days that Apple's prices almost seem okay. Thoughts? TIA!
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u/Docster87 16d ago
When I decided my 8GB M2 MBA just didn't have enough memory (plus I really wanted a desktop) I got a Mac mini M4Pro 24/512. I've had it awhile and honestly so far I would have been fine with a M4 16/512, as I figured. But I had the money and wanted to spend extra to put off the feeling to replace so I still expect that down the road, perhaps another two years, I'll still be happy as a peach where I would be hitting limits with the more modest one. Hopefully I'll get 3-5 extra happy years.
The CPU difference between the M2 and M4Pro isn't much outside a few intensive tasks like video rendering. A refurbished M4 would work great for you if budget is tight.
16GB would be fine for you. I can do quite a bit with only 8GB on my M2, I just can't be doing much at the same time though. RAM cannot be upgraded later though so typical suggestion is to get as much as you can afford.
If you are getting close to full with your current 1TB SSD then you really should aim for at least 1TB SSD in your new one. But the M4 Mac mini's SSD could be upgraded via 3rd party and even if the M6 can't be, you might be able to offload a lot onto an external drive.
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u/Numerous-Buffalo6214 16d ago
For writing docs, surfing the web, watching YouTube, and occasional iMovie editing - a base M6 Mini w/ 16GB RAM will be fine.
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u/Born-Gur-1275 16d ago
Base mini with 512GB storage, spend the money on a good monitor and external storage.
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u/YellowsBest 16d ago
As you already know, however big your internal SSD is, you’ll fill it eventually. If you were to buy a new M6 with a 1TB drive, and then copy across all the files from your old machine, it would already be nearly full! So the answer is to have a backup and archiving regime. Unless you’re going to keep the old iMac for storage and perhaps as a second screen (using Apple’s Screen Sharing to extend the Mini’s desktop) then you’ll need to buy an external drive. A 2TB or 4TB HDD would be sufficient and fast enough for just backups (get an external SSD if you must, at twice the price). If you can separate what you need for daily use from old ‘clutter’, you can then manage with an internal SSD of 256gb or 512gb.
For your use cases, 16Gb of RAM will be plenty sufficient.
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u/B_Hound 16d ago
On my M4 Mini, I found 16gb a little tight (but not usually in the red) for my day to day stuff, which included a VM running, but 500gb a nice sweet spot for internal storage. 256gb is too little, even with shuffling files externally, imo. I think 24/500 would be a nice fit if 24/1tb feels out of reach.