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Storage in a Mac mini M4 Pro
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I’m pondering replacing my aging, but still very reliable pretty much fully loaded ?2012 Mac Pro 5,1 (96GB RAM, 4TB SSD, RX580 video card, USB 3 card) with one of those new Mac mini M4 Pro computers. The Mac Pro?
The base storage is 512 GB, with the following increments available
1TB +$200 2TB +$600 4TB +$1,200 8TB +$2,400
The 4TB in my Mac Pro is currently showing about 600GB free.
My Pictures folder is 2TB
My Documents folder is 500GB
So I’m wondering with say a base 512GB Mac mini, how much free space would there be as it comes from Apple - i.e. space for applications at least, even if the Pictures and Documents were offloaded to an external drive.
I certainly can’t spring for 4TB in the Mac mini, but could easily do the 1TB, and probably the 2TB.
I’m aware of the Raycue Dock
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for them, and have seen another one recently but now can’t find it so that would probably be a good option for fast connected external storage, or a Thunderbolt 5 drive from OWC.
As you can tell when I spend this much on a computer I keep it a while, so I am prepared to pay for some degree of future proofing by getting more RAM than I perhaps need (it tops out at 64GB and I’m pretty sure I’ll be getting that) but the storage prices from Apple are certainly up there!
Thanks
Roger
I’m planning to get a new Mac mini as soon as I can afford to. Have you considered… instead of paying apple’s high prices for SSD, get aa 512GB mini and then get a fast external SSD (or as many as you need)? Instead of paying $1200 for 4TB from Apple you can get a fast 4TB external for around $600 and save some money.
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On Jan 25, 2025, at 2:57 PM, Roger Moffat via < rogerkiwi@...> wrote:
I’m pondering replacing my aging, but still very reliable pretty much fully loaded ?2012 Mac Pro 5,1 (96GB RAM, 4TB SSD, RX580 video card, USB 3 card) with one of those new Mac mini M4 Pro computers. The Mac Pro
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Yes this was kind of the point of my enquiry - if I get the 512GB Mac mini, how much free space does it have before installing any other apps?
I’m hoping someone has recently bought one, and can remember how much of the 512GB (or any other size) was taken up when the machine was first started up?
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On Jan 26, 2025, at 1:35?AM, Dave Kelly via groups.io <drkelly@...> wrote:
I’m planning to get a new Mac mini as soon as I can afford to. Have you considered… instead of paying apple’s high prices for SSD, get aa 512GB mini and then get a fast external SSD (or as many as you need)? Instead of paying $1200 for 4TB from Apple you can get a fast 4TB external for around $600 and save some money.
Dave On Jan 25, 2025, at 2:57 PM, Roger Moffat via < rogerkiwi@...> wrote:
I’m pondering replacing my aging, but still very reliable pretty much fully loaded ?2012 Mac Pro 5,1 (96GB RAM, 4TB SSD, RX580 video card, USB 3 card) with one of those new Mac mini M4 Pro computers. The Mac Pro
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No replies yet from any with more knowledge, so wild guess: around 480 GB.
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On 26 Jan 2025, at 13:40, Roger Moffat via < rogerkiwi@...> wrote:
Yes this was kind of the point of my enquiry - if I get the 512GB Mac mini, how much free space does it have before installing any other apps?
I’m hoping someone has recently bought one, and can remember how much of the 512GB (or any other size) was taken up when the machine was first started up?
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And if it’s more like 400, how much might that change your plans?
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No replies yet from any with more knowledge, so wild guess: around 480 GB.
Otto On 26 Jan 2025, at 13:40, Roger Moffat via < rogerkiwi@...> wrote:
Yes this was kind of the point of my enquiry - if I get the 512GB Mac mini, how much free space does it have before installing any other apps?
I’m hoping someone has recently bought one, and can remember how much of the 512GB (or any other size) was taken up when the machine was first started up?
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I’m still trying to figure out if it’s a problem free to off-load the Applications folder as well as the Documents and?Photos to an external drive.
Although my Application folder is “only” 45GB, so wont’ make much dent in 1TB, or even 512GB, but the fact that it’s impossible to increase?the internal storage for something that I hope will last me many years gives me pause.
And I’m a born worrier it seems LOL.
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On Jan 26, 2025, at 6:11?PM, Otto Nikolaus via groups.io <otto.nikolaus@...> wrote:
And if it’s more like 400, how much might that change your plans?
No replies yet from any with more knowledge, so wild guess: around 480 GB.
Otto On 26 Jan 2025, at 13:40, Roger Moffat via < rogerkiwi@...> wrote:
Yes this was kind of the point of my enquiry - if I get the 512GB Mac mini, how much free space does it have before installing any other apps?
I’m hoping someone has recently bought one, and can remember how much of the 512GB (or any other size) was taken up when the machine was first started up?
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There are kits to upgrade M4iMac memory module. It does require a second Mac to help restore the operating system and some knowledge that you may be able to acquire from YouTube.?
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On Jan 26, 2025, at 18:37, Roger Moffat via groups.io <rogerkiwi@...> wrote:
? I’m still trying to figure out if it’s a problem free to off-load the Applications folder as well as the Documents and?Photos to an external drive.
Although my Application folder is “only” 45GB, so wont’ make much dent in 1TB, or even 512GB, but the fact that it’s impossible to increase?the internal storage for something that I hope will last me many years gives me pause.
And I’m a born worrier it seems LOL.
Roger On Jan 26, 2025, at 6:11?PM, Otto Nikolaus via groups.io <otto.nikolaus@...> wrote:
And if it’s more like 400, how much might that change your plans?
No replies yet from any with more knowledge, so wild guess: around 480 GB.
Otto On 26 Jan 2025, at 13:40, Roger Moffat via < rogerkiwi@...> wrote:
Yes this was kind of the point of my enquiry - if I get the 512GB Mac mini, how much free space does it have before installing any other apps?
I’m hoping someone has recently bought one, and can remember how much of the 512GB (or any other size) was taken up when the machine was first started up?
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Do you have a link to a legitimate kit of this type?
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On Jan 26, 2025, at 17:44, Robert Durnford via groups.io <rxd@...> wrote:
?There are kits to upgrade M4iMac memory module. It does require a second Mac to help restore the operating system and some knowledge that you may be able to acquire from YouTube.
Robert Durnford
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On Jan 26, 2025, at 5:47 PM, Ben Rosenthal via groups.io <ben@...> wrote:
Do you have a link to a legitimate kit of this type? I was just about to post about this! You can now get a third-party internal storage (SSD) upgrade kit for the new M4 Mac mini! (The M4 Mac mini has a slotted and upgradeable internal SSD.) How to upgrade the SSD in your M4 Mac mini When purchasing an M4 Mac mini, a 2TB SSD adds a $800 premium to the total when purchased from Apple. This upgrade is far less than that, at $259 shipped to your door! However, the upgrade requires some skill, and the ability to see extremely small screws. __________________________________________________ Randy B. Singer Co-author of The Macintosh Bible (4th, 5th, and 6th editions) Essential But Hard To Find Macintosh Software and Advice __________________________________________________
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Do you need all your files to be on either the internal drive or a TB-connected one? Have you considered a NAS?
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On 26 Jan 2025, at 23:37, Roger Moffat via < rogerkiwi@...> wrote:
I’m still trying to figure out if it’s a problem free to off-load the Applications folder as well as the Documents and?Photos to an external drive.
Although my Application folder is “only” 45GB, so wont’ make much dent in 1TB, or even 512GB, but the fact that it’s impossible to increase?the internal storage for something that I hope will last me many years gives me pause.
And I’m a born worrier it seems LOL.
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The files don’t all need to be in the same place - but spread between internal and external drive.
The external could be a ThunderBolt connected device - eg OWC have a ThunderBolt 5 drive just out, or one of the docks that are already out, or coming that sit under the Mac mini M4 Pro.
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On Jan 27, 2025, at 6:40?AM, Otto Nikolaus via groups.io <otto.nikolaus@...> wrote:
Do you need all your files to be on either the internal drive or a TB-connected one? Have you considered a NAS?
Otto On 26 Jan 2025, at 23:37, Roger Moffat via < rogerkiwi@...> wrote:
I’m still trying to figure out if it’s a problem free to off-load the Applications folder as well as the Documents and?Photos to an external drive.
Although my Application folder is “only” 45GB, so wont’ make much dent in 1TB, or even 512GB, but the fact that it’s impossible to increase?the internal storage for something that I hope will last me many years gives me pause.
And I’m a born worrier it seems LOL.
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Dave Kelly
Ben Rosenthal