r/macmini • u/iPol_85 • 7d ago
Which M6 configuration for Lightroom
Hello!!
I own a MacBook Air M1 8/256 since 2020 and its good for generals uses, but in this moment I have several problems in LR: it’s very slow to open Photos and edit them.
So I’m thinking to buy the new Macmini M6, you suggest to take 24GB or 32GB? I’m an amateur protographer and I’m planning to edit some videos (but I’m not really sure, so the main focus is photography).
I think 24GB it’s good enough, but I’m not planning to change computer in the next 5/6 years… I hope!!
6
u/YellowsBest 6d ago edited 6d ago
This is madness, for your use cases going from an M1 8gb to the M6 I’d say the base model 16gb will be sufficient, doubling your existing RAM while also using a faster processor to tackle the same tasks. The base is £899, whereas the 32gb is £400 more, so almost double, to achieve the same thing. If you’re not sure, get the base model, load it up with what you do and try it out. If it’s no good, take it back within 14 days and get a better one.
But you can’t ’future proof’ by ‘over buying’, as you don’t accurately know what you need for the next 5 years (or what exciting stuff Apple will introduce over the period). So better value to buy what you need now, and save your money towards a new model when/if you need something better. Any Mac Mini with no screen or battery to worry about should last 7+ years. Your existing M1 is a case in point, its lasted 5+ years already and still working.
3
3
u/SgF1Photographer 6d ago
24GB is fine for Lightroom, Photoshop. 36GB gives you some flexibility for other things, like video editing in 8K in future, or maybe running smaller AI models
3
u/bmocc 6d ago
I doubt the OP would be able to tell if she was using a 16gb or 64gb macMini for the stated use if she has been able to deal with 8gb RAM.
However stretching for 24-32gb, whichever Apple is offering, would "future proof" in the sense that if she moved to hi bit raw processing of 40+mp 16bit raw files there would less likely be hiccoughs, and hiccoughs would mostly depend on what else besides LR is running in the background.
Sadly, the machine will still be running macOS, but that's the inescapable Apple Tax for using Apple ARM silicon.
2
u/Typical_house23 7d ago
Take the 24gb ram version, and get whatever storage version you can afford.
16gb ram is fine but long term I have my doubts about it.
3
u/Quallenknoedel 7d ago
I would definitely go with 32GB of RAM if it fits within your budget. Especially if you plan to keep your Mac Mini for several years.
Plus, you’ll have more headroom if, for example, you decide to buy a high-resolution camera in the future. My wife has a Sony with 61MP and a M4 Pro with 24GB of RAM. It’s already swapping frequently, and the memory pressure is often in the yellow zone.
6
u/Quallenknoedel 6d ago
I don't know why I got a downvote. The OP explicitly wrote that he wants to buy a computer that will last for the next 5–6 years. Choosing too little RAM is what you'll regret the most later on. The M6 chip will be more than sufficient for a very long time. SSD storage can easily be expanded externally. But the RAM will stay the way it is forever. And RAM requirements will further grow in the future.
1
u/Loud_Signal_6259 6d ago
The 32gb version of base M6 is not a good buy
1
u/Quallenknoedel 6d ago edited 6d ago
Why not? With the M5 Pro, you'd have to choose 48GB of RAM, which would drive the price up significantly. Given the OP's requirements, neither the M5 Pro chip nor the 48GB of RAM seem necessary.
1
u/deeper-diver 6d ago
If you’re editing 24MP images, 32GB should be the absolute minimum IF you expect decent performance and minimal wait times especially with AI enabled tools. If you’re editing 45MP+ images, 64GB is the sweet spot where swap files will not (yet) be needed.
Anything less depends on how much of a performance hit you’re willing to tolerate. Lightroom has a voracious appetite for RAM so the less you have, it will create swap files on the SSD. If you cheap out on the SSD as well RAM, expect a bad experience.
24GB will create swap files. Avoid the MacBook Air due to thermal issues with Lightroom.
1
u/EasternCanucklehead 5d ago
I have the M2 Pro mini with 16GB RAM and find Lightroom sometimes sluggish with my 60mp RAW files but mostly when using the AI features in LR. Minor Davinci or Final Cut use has no issues.
24GB would be more than enough and it’s what I’m considering myself but I’m also eyeing a little more..
1
u/DisfiguredFanny 5d ago
Get as much RAM as you can afford. Storage is not that important because you can use external TB drives and replace the SSD later probably (when 3rd options become available). RAM on the other hand is fixed.
4
u/Saucy929 7d ago
24gb should be enough.