M4 Mac mini

[longdi]

I understand that the M2 chip has a unified memory architecture, where the RAM and SSD are integrated on the same chip and optimized.

However, memory swapping is still basically just moving data between RAM and SSD, so generally the faster the drive, the faster the swap.

So far, no matter how many tabs/apps I open, I still can’t utilize more than the 16GB RAM I have to trigger a memory swap, so I can’t quite test that theory.

There are a few variables though. Obviously a slower ssd or enclosure interface will produce a slower result. For the case you mentioned, it seems pretty extreme that the memory swap was almost unusable.

Which external ssd was the YouTuber using? Was it a Gen 4 NVMe external SSD connected via Thunderbolt 4?

Maybe you could share that YouTube video? Thanks.

Since you have 16Gb ram, I think you will hardly get into memory swap so probably no need to worry about it. Lazy to find the video
I am using base M2 mini, using internal SSD for OS and apps, and a TB3 enclosure with 1TB SSD for extra storage. Works well for me, the external SSB can get about 2700MB/S read, 2400MB/S write but it is overkill for me actually.....

 

[kelvinsin]

Gotten my mini yesterday, tested with 10 chrome tabs opening without any video/audio playing, the memory usage already consumed up to 10gb. Although the memory pressure still very low but I think its a wise choice to choose 16gb instead of 8gb.

 

[longdi]

Gotten my 31.5" prism plus 4k display 2 days ago. Set it to 1440p and it is crisp without using better display.

 

[junk610]

Since you have 16Gb ram, I think you will hardly get into memory swap so probably no need to worry about it. Lazy to find the video
I am using base M2 mini, using internal SSD for OS and apps, and a TB3 enclosure with 1TB SSD for extra storage. Works well for me, the external SSB can get about 2700MB/S read, 2400MB/S write but it is overkill for me actually.....

Agree that at those speeds it’s already overkill. Like Parka said, 800MB/s is already fast enough to edit 4K 60FPS videos, let alone 2800MB/s.

YouTube videos also prove that real world speed differences for that plus exporting are minimal after a certain speed. Law of diminishing returns.

In retrospect, I could’ve just gotten something slower since real world differences are negligible.

But I gotta say vanity-wise it’s awesome to know that it “benchmarks” faster than the base Mac Mini haha. Plus I did get mine at a great price l, so no complaints there.

 

[junk610]

Gotten my mini yesterday, tested with 10 chrome tabs opening without any video/audio playing, the memory usage already consumed up to 10gb. Although the memory pressure still very low but I think it’s a wise choice to choose 16gb instead of 8gb.

Thanks for confirming this. Guess I’m not alone haha. Yeah mine hasn’t done any memory swaps either, and it comforting to know that it isn’t writing to disk unnecessarily the whole time.
The SSD will probably last longer haha.

 

[junk610]

Gotten my 31.5" prism plus 4k display 2 days ago. Set it to 1440p and it is crisp without using better display.

Very nice to know, thanks. Yes, it seems to do well at any resolution cuz the dot pitch is small enough. If you’re happy with how the UI looks (font size, size of bars, etc), you don’t need BetterDisplay.

But it’s a free download and fun to try out. If you do decide to try it, I recommend creating a dummy display and setting it to 3200x1800. That is right between 4k and 1440, and it’s a great balance. Then you can finetune it to whichever works better for you.

 

[anthonygreenisreal]

Gotten my mini yesterday, tested with 10 chrome tabs opening without any video/audio playing, the memory usage already consumed up to 10gb. Although the memory pressure still very low but I think it’s ooga wise choice to choose 16gb instead of 8gb.

Google Chrome is known to be resource hog for the macs.

 

[suchaloser]

Chrome in macOS is like using Safari in Windows if there's such a thing

 

[kelvinsin]

Google Chrome is known to be resource hog for the macs.

Its quite sarcastic fact because chrome was became popular compared IE because lean size and not resource eater. But today they repeating what they rival did.

 

[anthonygreenisreal]

Its quite sarcastic fact because chrome was became popular compared IE because lean size and not resource eater. But today they repeating what they rival did.

yeah it’s such a shame. It’s quite a good browser though

 

[VodkaPear]

I using with m1 Mac mini, yes sometimes will have delay if you are quick to switch your applications. And the response laggy abit.

Oo.. I jus tried with my m2 Mac mini, I think I have no noticeable delay for Netflix and YouTube. Haha. Maybe I can consider getting 1 more HomePod mini to use with Mac mini.

 

[suchaloser]

How many HomePods can it be connected to? All surround effects... hahaha

 

[WestGuy]

Just got myself a Mac Mini!

Any recommended resources to read up or watch for someone who has used Windows his entire life and never touched a Mac before?

Especially keyboard shortcuts

 

[kelvinsin]

Just got myself a Mac Mini!

Any recommended resources to read up or watch for someone who has used Windows his entire life and never touched a Mac before?

Especially keyboard shortcuts

Macrumors is a good website and forum

 

[junk610]

Gotten my mini yesterday, tested with 10 chrome tabs opening without any video/audio playing, the memory usage already consumed up to 10gb. Although the memory pressure still very low but I think its a wise choice to choose 16gb instead of 8gb.

Are you seeing better results with Safari?

 

[bryant_16]

Just got myself a Mac Mini!

Any recommended resources to read up or watch for someone who has used Windows his entire life and never touched a Mac before?

Especially keyboard shortcuts

Which configuration did you get?

 

[kelvinsin]

Are you seeing better results with Safari?

No, same. Some from macrumors said firefox taking much lesser mem with same amounts of tabs, probably you can try test it out.

 

[suchaloser]

I used Chrome on my Mac Mini and it’s only up to 7GB RAM usage out of 16GB

 

[junk610]

No, same. Some from macrumors said firefox taking much lesser mem with same amounts of tabs, probably you can try test it out.

Tested and it uses about 1GB less RAM than Safari and Chrome.

 

[junk610]

I used Chrome on my Mac Mini and it’s only up to 7GB RAM usage out of 16GB

Wow only 7GB? How many tabs do you have opened? And what else are you running in the background?