M4 Mac mini

[stanlawj]

16GB memory has limitations.

 

[reddevil0728]

16GB memory has limitations.

Can TL;DR?

 

[stanlawj]

Can TL;DR?

Basically, only one of the following:
1. web browsing + office productivity
2. Swift coding + emulation
3. Video editing
Cannot multitask with more than 1 of the above. Must minimise/eliminate the other two whenever pursuing any one.

24GB RAM is better. 256GB storage option need to have external SSD.

Basically M4 Mac Mini base model is your grandma's computer to use.

 

[xiaofan]

Basically, only one of the following:
1. web browsing + office productivity
2. Swift coding + emulation
3. Video editing
Cannot multitask with more than 1 of the above. Must minimise/eliminate the other two whenever pursuing any one.

24GB RAM is better. 256GB storage option need to have external SSD.

Basically M4 Mac Mini base model is your grandma's computer to use.

I do not think this is a fair statement.

I am using Mac Mini M1 8GB/256GB with the first two types of tasks running without issues. Sometimes even with a ARM Linux VM running. No video editing and I do not really use XCode (not a programmer but only a tester for Open Source projects).

Web browsing with multiple tabs
Visual Studio Code or other code editors with C/Python based Open Source projects building and testing
ARM Linux VM running on UTM

 

[stanlawj]

I do not think this is a fair statement.

I am using Mac Mini M1 8GB/256GB with the first two types of tasks running without issues. Sometimes even with a ARM Linux VM running. No video editing and I do not really use XCode (not a programmer but only a tester for Open Source projects).

Web browsing with multiple tabs
Visual Studio Code or other code editors with C/Python based Open Source projects building and testing
ARM Linux VM running on UTM

You didn't state how much swap file was being actively used. You can survive on 8GB, but if the swap file on SSD is being used all the time, eventually the 256GB SSD will die early.

 

[xiaofan]

You didn't state how much swap file was being actively used. You can survive on 8GB, but if the swap file on SSD is being used all the time, eventually the 256GB SSD will die early.

It has been running for 4 years...

 

[stanlawj]

It has been running for 4 years...

I don't have a Mac yet. If divide my Windows RAM usage by half where I'm mostly just using Edge browser and web apps (Tidal, Tradingview, IBKR): Currently 12GB for apps, a few GB for system, and a few GB for cache = 16GB limit is exceeded. (Windows report 25GB used).

16GB divide by 2 = 8GB for Mac.
25GB divide by 2 = 12.5GB for Mac.

If I try to launch video editor on top of what I have, I'll definitely exceed the 16GB for Mac. This is how I am inferring that basically, not possible to multitask different domains. Have to close some programs, i.e. in my case, I have to close some of the browser windows to reduce the number of tabs to single digit only, and don't use any irrelevant web apps (irrelevant to the main task).

I won't know until I buy a Mac, so I'll keep in view what you said. Leaning towards M4 Pro CPU now and not thinking of combining M4 base CPU + windows PC.

 

[Tukatuz]

You didn't state how much swap file was being actively used. You can survive on 8GB, but if the swap file on SSD is being used all the time, eventually the 256GB SSD will die early.

been doing web browsing, watching videos, Video (4K) & photo editing on my base M1 Mac Mini for near to 4 years. No issue editing 4K video while having safari with less than 10 tabs opened.

Don't think the SSD will died after couple years.. think you would have upgrade new machine by that time.

 

[twosix]

Basically, only one of the following:
1. web browsing + office productivity
2. Swift coding + emulation
3. Video editing
Cannot multitask with more than 1 of the above. Must minimise/eliminate the other two whenever pursuing any one.

24GB RAM is better. 256GB storage option need to have external SSD.

Basically M4 Mac Mini base model is your grandma's computer to use.

haha... if 8gb can works in the past 3 to 4 yrs, i dunno why now suddenly 16gb cannot. the yt is just a click bait. i will not even bother wasting my time if i see such titles.

 

[twosix]

I don't have a Mac yet. If divide my Windows RAM usage by half where I'm mostly just using Edge browser and web apps (Tidal, Tradingview, IBKR): Currently 12GB for apps, a few GB for system, and a few GB for cache = 16GB limit is exceeded. (Windows report 25GB used).

16GB divide by 2 = 8GB for Mac.
25GB divide by 2 = 12.5GB for Mac.

If I try to launch video editor on top of what I have, I'll definitely exceed the 16GB for Mac. This is how I am inferring that basically, not possible to multitask different domains. Have to close some programs, i.e. in my case, I have to close some of the browser windows to reduce the number of tabs to single digit only, and don't use any irrelevant web apps (irrelevant to the main task).

I won't know until I buy a Mac, so I'll keep in view what you said. Leaning towards M4 Pro CPU now and not thinking of combining M4 base CPU + windows PC.

how can u compare windows to mac? mac is very optimized with the memory usage, while windows is a memory hog. even 32gb is barely enough if u want to do serious work like video editing.

 

[reddevil0728]

Basically, only one of the following:
1. web browsing + office productivity
2. Swift coding + emulation
3. Video editing
Cannot multitask with more than 1 of the above. Must minimise/eliminate the other two whenever pursuing any one.

24GB RAM is better. 256GB storage option need to have external SSD.

Basically M4 Mac Mini base model is your grandma's computer to use.

256gb storage option don’t need to have external ssd. Is not a requirement

 

[Singrish]

Basically, only one of the following:
1. web browsing + office productivity
2. Swift coding + emulation
3. Video editing
Cannot multitask with more than 1 of the above. Must minimise/eliminate the other two whenever pursuing any one.

24GB RAM is better. 256GB storage option need to have external SSD.

Basically M4 Mac Mini base model is your grandma's computer to use.

No offence but bold assumptions coming from someone who has never used a Mac before.

 

[Singrish]

haha... if 8gb can works in the past 3 to 4 yrs, i dunno why now suddenly 16gb cannot. the yt is just a click bait. i will not even bother wasting my time if i see such titles.

Fake news many many in that post and in that video

 

[stanlawj]

No offence but bold assumptions coming from someone who has never used a Mac before.

Sorry, that answer was the summary of the video. It is not my personal experience or measurement. If you all want to refute, please show hard evidence. I think 16GB RAM + 256GB SSD is good enough for casual user including office work. Most of you all seem to be quoting casual use experience too. It's also good enough for my wife to surf web, do Zoom meetings and Office work. Even her Iphone cloud storage doesn't exceed 200GB after so many years.

 

[twosix]

Sorry, that answer was the summary of the video. It is not my personal experience or measurement. If you all want to refute, please show hard evidence. I think 16GB RAM + 256GB SSD is good enough for casual user including office work. Most of you all seem to be quoting casual use experience too. It's also good enough for my wife to surf web, do Zoom meetings and Office work. Even her Iphone cloud storage doesn't exceed 200GB after so many years.

Show what evidence? There r 1001 yt for that. Why dun u watch those yt instead? U r here to stir trouble imo.

 

[stanlawj]

Show what evidence? There r 1001 yt for that. Why dun u watch those yt instead? U r here to stir trouble imo.

I appreciate any help you can give. But your statement seems unhelpful to me, no evidence, no data, just opinions, and irrelevant as well.

Due to the nature of integrated Apple Silicon SoC, the RAM and SSD are limited hence care must be taken to ensure current and future app usage will fit into the RAM and SSD bought today.
The debate now is what RAM and SSD is needed since the $$$ charges for upgrading RAM and SSD are disproportionate to the increase in sizes.

Software engineers are now churning out more functionality for web apps. So the performance demands placed on web apps will continue to increase with each successive generation of CPU. Web apps are taking over native apps because web apps work across different OS platforms.

 

[Tukatuz]

There’s no point in arguing since everyone’s needs and usage are different—what works for one person might not work for another. Buyers should do their own research and choose what suits their requirements best.

As a casual user who works with videos, base M1 Mac mini handles large video files (17GB) efficiently, even when working with multiple files. While more RAM and storage would be ideal, spending an extra $600 on both upgrades doesn’t seem justifiable, especially since I’ve managed with 8GB for nearly four years without any issues. Bought SAMSUNG T7 Shield 4TB @ $255 from amazon during sale.

If budget isn’t a concern, feel free to go for the best option available.

The base model now comes with 16GB and is priced at $699 (Education pricing)—I couldn’t be happier!

 

[Singrish]

There’s no point in arguing since everyone’s needs and usage are different—what works for one person might not work for another. Buyers should do their own research and choose what suits their requirements best.

As a casual user who works with videos, base M1 Mac mini handles large video files (17GB) efficiently, even when working with multiple files. While more RAM and storage would be ideal, spending an extra $600 on both upgrades doesn’t seem justifiable, especially since I’ve managed with 8GB for nearly four years without any issues. Bought SAMSUNG T7 Shield 4TB @ $255 from amazon during sale.

If budget isn’t a concern, feel free to go for the best option available.

The base model now comes with 16GB and is priced at $699 (Education pricing)—I couldn’t be happier!

Yes buy what you can afford. Can afford a maxed out M4 Ultra Mac Studio lagi best. But i still say its fake news that 16gb cannot do more than one of:

1. web browsing + office productivity
2. Swift coding + emulation
3. Video editing

I am using an Intel based MBP with 16gb and have had video encoding running in background while web browsing and creating powerpoint presentation simultaneously.

Fair enough if a user was sharing experience but someone who has never used a mac before making sweeping statements & expects to be taken seriously by quoting Youtube videos is

 

[twosix]

Yes buy what you can afford. Can afford a maxed out M4 Ultra Mac Studio lagi best. But i still say its fake news that 16gb cannot do more than one of:

1. web browsing + office productivity
2. Swift coding + emulation
3. Video editing

I am using an Intel based MBP with 16gb and have had video encoding running in background while web browsing and creating powerpoint presentation simultaneously.

Fair enough if a user was sharing experience but someone who has never used a mac before making sweeping statements & expects to be taken seriously by quoting Youtube videos is

Just ignore the troll. He said want to buy with 10gbe port somemore. Haha.

 

[Tukatuz]

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