Mac Mini M2/M2 pro

[Jolaff]

For those interested... there is a new Mac Mini outside...

https://www.apple.com/ca/fr/mac-mini/

[PAK]

Finally a Mac Mini with M2 Pro. At least, that's what more people might say had they not priced the 12 core option higher than the base Mac Studio price, once you config the same 32GB ram / 10GB ethernet. I reckon many of those, inclined to go for higher specs, will now wait for the Studio refresh as a result.

The base Mac Mini price is hard to beat. But I wish they'd make 16GB ram the base spec. If they follow the Air's lead, and configure the 256GB storage down to one chip, some of those 8GB machines are going to see the storage hammered for virtual memory.

[AntonioB]

Finally a Mac Mini with M2 Pro. At least, that's what more people might say had they not priced the 12 core option higher than the base Mac Studio price, once you config the same 32GB ram / 10GB ethernet. I reckon many of those, inclined to go for higher specs, will now wait for the Studio refresh as a result.

The base Mac Mini price is hard to beat. But I wish they'd make 16GB ram the base spec. If they follow the Air's lead, and configure the 256GB storage down to one chip, some of those 8GB machines are going to see the storage hammered for virtual memory.

It would be your suggestion recommendation to wait for new mac studio version, yes?

[ghettosynth]

It's still an $800 premium to go from the base SSD to 2TB. That's four times the cost of a competing M.2 SSD today.

[Serhii Kot]

It's still an $800 premium to go from the base SSD to 2TB. That's four times the cost of a competing M.2 SSD today.

no need to upscale ssd in desktop Macs, just buy external thunderbolt case for ssd and a ssd of your choosing

[ghettosynth]

It's still an $800 premium to go from the base SSD to 2TB. That's four times the cost of a competing M.2 SSD today.

no need to upscale ssd in desktop Macs, just buy external thunderbolt case for ssd and a ssd of your choosing

I find this to be tedious and you cannot make your boot drive work this way, at least not without limitations. My current M1 is setup that way. I won't do it again. The smaller drives have a shorter life-span. I consider 2TB to the be base level size for any new machine in my studio. That should be about $200 for a reliable drive.

[Uncle E]

no need to upscale ssd in desktop Macs, just buy external thunderbolt case for ssd and a ssd of your choosing

Not necessarily. On the MacBooks, the M2's with 256GB perform a lot worse than the ones with with 512GB.

[PAK]

It would be your suggestion recommendation to wait for new mac studio version, yes?

If you need the smaller size, and 100% know 16GB ram will always be enough, then the Mini could still make sense and save some money. Otherwise, especially if going for the highest 12 core spec, IMO wait and see what happens with the Studio.

It's not just that we've still to learn how thermals will impact the Mini's smaller enclosure with an 8 performance core CPU (And M2 is known to run hotter than M1.. ) it's also that the Studio's M2 Max will give better GPU performance for around the same money as that top spec Mac Mini CPU. This is based on the expectation there won't be a significant price increase on the base Mac Studio config. Too much to hope? Maybe. But likely worth waiting "a short while" to find out Supposedly they'll launch, along with the new Mac Pro, in the next few months..

[ghettosynth]

It would be your suggestion recommendation to wait for new mac studio version, yes?

If you need the smaller size, and 100% know 16GB ram will always be enough, then the Mini could still make sense and save some money. Otherwise, especially if going for the highest 12 core spec, IMO wait and see what happens with the Studio.

It's not just that we've still to learn how thermals will impact the Mini's smaller enclosure with an 8 performance core CPU (And M2 is known to run hotter than M1.. ) it's also that the Studio's M2 Max will give better GPU performance for around the same money as that top spec Mac Mini CPU. This is based on the expectation there won't be a significant price increase on the base Mac Studio config. Too much to hope? Maybe. But likely worth waiting "a short while" to find out Supposedly they'll launch, along with the new Mac Pro, in the next few months..

Yes, and maybe, just maybe, Apple will come closer to earth with their SSD pricing. I'd pay 2x, but not 4x.

[PAK]

Yes, and maybe, just maybe, Apple will come closer to earth with their SSD pricing. I'd pay 2x, but not 4x.

Wouldn't get hopes up there - the overpriced ssd / ram is likely how they make a big chunk of their margins. But the next Mac Pro is "said" to offer two user upgradable M2 slots iirc, so maybe that might see some changes regarding storage devices and booting etc? Supposedly they've ditched user upgradable ram too.. Not sure how well that'll go down with Mac Pro customers if it's true.

[ghettosynth]

Yes, and maybe, just maybe, Apple will come closer to earth with their SSD pricing. I'd pay 2x, but not 4x.

Wouldn't get hopes up there - the overpriced ssd / ram is likely how they make a big chunk of their margins. But the next Mac Pro is "said" to offer two user upgradable M2 slots iirc, so maybe that might see some changes regarding storage devices and booting etc? Supposedly they've ditched user upgradable ram too.. Not sure how well that'll go down with Mac Pro customers if it's true.

Sure, but, they can't keep their prices up there forever because they do have to compete with PC sales. A 2TB SSD for $800 a decade ago would have been a bargain, so it's just a matter of time.

Well, if M.2 is coming to the Studio, then IMNSHO, it's a MUST wait and see.

[AntonioB]

their SSD pricing. I'd pay 2x, but not 4x.

the overpriced ssd / ram is likely how they make a big chunk of their margins.

I wonder if the SSD and RAM in those are different than consumer grade? I don't know.

[ghettosynth]

their SSD pricing. I'd pay 2x, but not 4x.

the overpriced ssd / ram is likely how they make a big chunk of their margins.

I wonder if the SSD and RAM in those are different than consumer grade? I don't know.

The RAM is integrated and so it might be harder to do a direct comparison. Further, it really is a part of the advantage of the Mx chips. The SSD, however, has been looked at and, at least in terms of storage chip quality, is nothing more than what you get in any other consumer grade SSD.

A built in M.2 slot will work for me. If I can get a 512GB or 1TB SSD built in for secure booting but can then put a 2TB or 4TB in the box, then that will work for me. I know that thunderbolt is fast, but it is a hassle to have drives hanging off of cables unless you're going to put it all in a rack, which I'm not going to do.

[Serhii Kot]

It's still an $800 premium to go from the base SSD to 2TB. That's four times the cost of a competing M.2 SSD today.

no need to upscale ssd in desktop Macs, just buy external thunderbolt case for ssd and a ssd of your choosing

I find this to be tedious and you cannot make your boot drive work this way, at least not without limitations. My current M1 is setup that way. I won't do it again. The smaller drives have a shorter life-span. I consider 2TB to the be base level size for any new machine in my studio. That should be about $200 for a reliable drive.

I had 512gb m1 Mac mini with 2tb external ssd for instrument library. What tedious about it? Connect and forget.

[Serhii Kot]

no need to upscale ssd in desktop Macs, just buy external thunderbolt case for ssd and a ssd of your choosing

Not necessarily. On the MacBooks, the M2's with 256GB perform a lot worse than the ones with with 512GB.

I should have say, that 512 is the minimum and optimal space that you should buy.