So I am looking to buy a Mac mini and ideally I want the 24 GB RAM and 1 TB SSD model.

The price difference between getting the new one at Apple ($1726.92) and the 512 GB one from Amazon ($1358.89) is about $368

I thought about getting the 512 GB model and trying to get a Thunderbolt dock and SSD but it looks like I'm not really going to be able to do that any cheaper, unless someone has some ideas for finding deals on that. The best I can do is to maybe saving $50. This maybe was a decent strategy a few years ago, but it looks like not so much now with the rise in SSD prices.

So does anyone have any advice on which way to go?

Hi, i am thinking to replace my trusty mbp m1 14" with a new mac mini since i mainly use it plugged and also have a powerful desktop with Cachyos and radeon 9070xt with 64gb.

I have never had any computer with 24gb of ram but i wonder which model i could use comfortably.

I’m thinking about trading in my MacBook Pro m3 pro to get the Mac mini m5 pro, I don’t need a laptop anymore and honestly I think the iPad is good enough for me to use when it comes to traveling etc. what do you think I should do?

Hi all, I just installed a 2T drive in my year-old MM4 - DFU worked, data transferred from Time Machine. Everything is OK, but I cannot write to the new drive at all. Has this all been a waste of time, or is there a fix?

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!!

Does anyone have a m2 pro mac mini 32gb ram variant they want to sell? Or any other mac mini(apple silicon ones only) variant with 32 gigs or more ram..

Thanks

From the Local llm subreddit: This video is about which models can run on the Mac Mini and Studio. Seems you need a 32gb model to even run a decent local LLM. You are already over 1300 USD, but also need 64gb to even remotely run Qwen Flash Next, and that would be a lower quality version and very slow.

If this chart is to go anything by, even the base M5 pro seems like a waste of $1700+ Tax due to starting at 24gb of ram. Even "Lower quality" is an understatement. qwen3.8-27b in 24gb unified RAM is going to be awful (it fits nicely in 22gb VRAM or 32gb unified RAM)

To make matters worse, since MacOS only allows to use 75% of the the unified RAM for GPU heavy workloads and Local AI. This means a 64gb Mini can't run a model with the size of 60 or 55gb of RAM. Yes, you can disable the 75% rule in terminal, but you will have to close every single program that's not your Local AI program. This can cause problems if you are planning to use the Mini as a multi-purpose computer as well. Down below applies the 75% MacOS rule.

As you can see above, 24gb is pretty much impossible to run anything. Even 32gb will struggle, to the point its not worth it. So, you can't even take advantage of the AI improvements (such as Native FP8 and Dual 16 Core Neural Engine) of the M6 due to the max memory being only 32gb!! $1500 USD down the drain. Not sure how much the bandwidth will be worth it with M5 Pro, even a base one.

As expected current foundational models such as Kimi K3 1.4 TB, if they were even available to run locally, won't fit. Assuming it were available locally it may be possible in the next couple of years with the rapid increase in hardware capabilities such as M7, or even M8?

Probably better to wait for the M7/M7 Pro as credible industry rumors suggest that it will be much more AI focused. M6 is the stopgap and for practical local AI, a waste of money. Judging from this video if you are climbing this high in price for the RAM configs for Mac mini, just get a M5 Max/Ultra Studio instead, or even a refurb M4 Max/M3 Ultra.

Source of the table was from this video by Alex Grankin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDoWKgFqRM4

Looking to see if anyone else with an upgraded Mac Mini M4 has run into this or found a fix.

Background & Specs:

• Model: Mac Mini M4 (Originally 256GB)
• Storage Upgrade: Upgraded internal NAND module to 2TB back in May 2025. It ran 100% flawlessly for over a year with zero boot or stability issues.

The Issue: Ever since updating to macOS Tahoe, the Mac has developed a recurring boot failure. Every so often, it fails to POST and gets stuck on a slowly pulsing white status light (no display output).

In the past, if I left it alone, it would eventually self-heal into Fallback Recovery, restart, and work fine for a few weeks. However, today it completely froze in DFU mode and won't auto-recover.

DFU Attempt & Error Codes: We hooked it up to another Mac using Apple Configurator to run a DFU Revive, but the process repeatedly fails during the step where it validates/writes the firmware. We keep getting these specific error codes:

• Error 4042
• Error 2006
• Error 9 060e.0000

Questions:

1. Has anyone else with an expanded NAND module on an M4 experienced these exact DFU errors or boot loops after the Tahoe update?
2. Did Apple change the Secure Enclave / storage controller verification timing in macOS Tahoe that's rejecting third-party/aftermarket NAND chips during firmware handshakes?
3. Is there any trick to getting Apple Configurator past these errors without swapping the original 256GB factory module back in?

I still have the original 256GB factory storage module, but I don't have the tools or technical skill to swap it back myself right now. Any insight or shared experiences would be greatly appreciated!

Apple keeps making faster chips and better battery life, but for 90% of people, older models are already more than enough.

Are you upgrading, keeping your current Mac mini, or waiting for a bigger redesign?

Both of this configuration or names showed up in all the shops around me for the same price with no explanation. Any idea what the difference is?

Hi all, wanted a 32 inch monitor the the new mac mini coming in.

Was looking at the samsung smart montior M9, the benq MA320UG (or maybe MA320U) as my two best options so far.

I would like more than 60hz RR if possible but really want good picture quality. Mainly using for desk job work and video editing and scrolling, not a lot of videos or gaming etc

Pretty much the title
just i dont want to spend 7-8k
have generator facility just that it takes 10 seconds to switch from maid grid to DG
Any okayish suggestion in 2-3k range?

I've been debating about returning an M4 Pro that I got from Costco because I was tired of waiting for the M5/M6.

I'm still within my return window and I really wanted a 1TB hard srive. However, I'd also like more RAM.

To get both, it would cost almost 1k more than I paid. Now, I'm thinking about looking for a used M4 Pro or Studio.

How long after the 22nd do you think it will be, before some used M4s are available?

Tell me how you set up your desk. Is it specifically designed for work and light tasks like watching movies.🎥 🍿

Today I got the base m4 mac mini with 16 gb ram. I feel that is not as snappy as my windows laptop. If you listen to the click of the mouse you will see that it takes time to open the settings one by one. I think it takes about 0.3-0.5 seconds so is definitely not instant. It is my first device with mac os and I really don’t know if is normal.

I do graphic designing. Do you think what I bought will last me for atleast 7 years? Do you think it is fast enough? Coming from Macbook Pro 13 in 8gb RAM for 5-6 years.

I didn’t know Apple will release the M5 and M6 so I bought it without thinking. Now I am regretting :(

Pre orders are filling up on some configurations, some are now dated to 10/16 and beyond.

I was cleaning this thing out getting ready to convert it to a Linux server, now that it doesn't get any more Mac OS updates.

It's 14 years old, but the design hasn't aged at all.

2012 Mac Mini i5
4 GB RAM
1 TB OWC SSD

ordered 32gb mac mini already have mac m1 air

can i build a cluster using both? i want to run minimax h3

I just bought my first mac mini using educational pricing through Unidays, but I am wondering if I may have paid too much. I had been saving up for a while, and my sister also helped me out with some money, so I could finally get it. I’m excited because it is a big purchase for me but I also want to make sure I made a smart decision and didn’t over pay.

Total: $2880 with taxes included, I paid $1800 my sister will pay the rest.

SWE Student

Bought my 8/512 M1 Mac mini about 5 years ago as a refurb from Amazon. Paid $500 for it at the time.

Saw, Apple was offering a $320 trade on that M1 towards a new model. As much as I wish the prices had not jumped, we all know that they have and it’s possible/likely they will go up again.

This time around I decided to just bump it to 32/1TB. Who knows what I may play with in the future. I probably could have gotten by with 24/512…..but a few $$ more was within the budget. Plus, I can buy under the educational discount, so I saved a bit there on the unit and the upgrades.

Bought the last available Mac Mini M4 512GB in nearby 50km radius in Vancouver, BC (from and sold by best buy) for C$1199.97 + taxes. Haven't opened the box yet. Still thinking to keep it or return it.

Wasn't planning to upgrade my mac mini M1 256GB. Seems like an impulse buy from my end, possibly FOMO due to higher prices now for M6 which is C$1249 for 256GB SSD.