Best Mac mini setup for the photographer

[bigbadneil]

Guys since 2012 I have owned and still use my MacPro 5.1. I am a semi professional photographer that shoots mainly in Medium format and Large format meaning i usually end up with very large image files. My Mac Pro has served me well but I fancy something new and smaller. I will need to have lots of storage like 5+ TB..........how does the Mac Mini perform when having to access files from an external drive and then process those files in Photoshop.
Because the Mac Mini doesn't come in a 5+ TB model, would it still be necessary to buy the 2TB version or just stick with a 256GB machine big enough to hold the operating system and keep all files offline in external hard drives.............Thanks in advance

Neil

 

[EugW]

I'd say the best Mac mini for your needs is probably the M1 Pro/Max, but that hasn't been released yet.

You could get say a 512 GB model, and then hold the images on external SSDs. eg. Samsung T7.

 

[skyhawkmatthew]

I currently use an M1 iMac, and prior to that a 2018 i7 mini, and with both machines use a T5 to store my photo library. I’ve never seen a performance impact with this setup vs. storing the files internally, working with RAW files. If your files are super heavy duty, you can always keep the files you’re working with on the internal storage and offload to the external SSD as space demands.

 

[bigbadneil]

I'd say the best Mac mini for your needs is probably the M1 Pro/Max, but that hasn't been released yet.

Is it due to be released soon?

 

[bigbadneil]

I also noticed that the maximum ram for a M1 is 16GB Where as the other one currently for sale can go up to 64 GB……. I wonder why that is?

 

[EugW]

I also noticed that the maximum ram for a M1 is 16GB Where as the other one currently for sale can go up to 64 GB……. I wonder why that is?

M1's design maxes out at 16 GB. M1 Pro maxes out at 32 GB. M1 Max maxes out at 64 GB.

I dunno what you need, but I'm guessing M1 Pro with 32 GB.

BTW, even the M1 has lots of performance, but not only is it limited to 16 GB (which truthfully is fine for a lot of people even with heavier needs), it also is quite lacking in ports. Personally I have zero need for even M1 performance in a Mac mini, but I'm less than impressed in the number of ports in the M1 Mac mini. Plus I'm guessing the M1 Pro will get not just more ports, but also a new form factor.

You can get hubs to increase the number ports, but there are way too many issues with third party hubs. It's usually best to connect your important peripherals directly to the Mac, for maximum stability and reliability.

Is it due to be released soon?

We're all guessing, but most of us think some time in 2022, perhaps spring/summer 2022.

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www.macrumors.com

 

[macdogpro]

If you can wait, wait for the M1 Pro/Max Mac mini with minimum 32gb of RAM for your needs.
As for internal storage, I'd say you go for a minimum of 512gb/1T. 256gb just doesn't cut it anymore for internal data processing. The internal SSD speed on the latest Macs are speedier than most external SSDs, and you're going to want to rely on it.

 

[Fishrrman]

"I am a semi professional photographer that shoots mainly in Medium format and Large format meaning i usually end up with very large image files. My Mac Pro has served me well but I fancy something new and smaller."

I'll reckon that the m1 Mini IS NOT for you.
It doesn't have the RAM necessary to suit your needs, nor perhaps the CPU power.

Wait for either the m1pro Mini (probably due in the next 3-4 months),
or
Consider the soon-to-be-released iMac Pro (with m1pro/m1max), also coming within 3-4 months.

You'll probably want 32gb of RAM. Can't get that with the m1 CPU.

 

[brofkand]

It is a waste to use the Mac's expensive SSD as deep storage. Unless you need incredibly fast SSD storage for every image you capture at all times. I reckon you'd be fine with a 256GB model, storing your recent files onboard and external storage (a Synology, Thunderbolt attached disk array, etc) for past projects.

A base model Mac mini with 16GB of RAM should suffice. Feel free to add storage if you wish, and 10G networking if you plan to accommodate it.

 

[StoneJack]

It is a waste to use the Mac's expensive SSD as deep storage. Unless you need incredibly fast SSD storage for every image you capture at all times. I reckon you'd be fine with a 256GB model, storing your recent files onboard and external storage (a Synology, Thunderbolt attached disk array, etc) for past projects.

A base model Mac mini with 16GB of RAM should suffice. Feel free to add storage if you wish, and 10G networking if you plan to accommodate it.

Yes, this is the only way. Get external storage backup for your 5TB of photos. Moreover, it will be stupid to keep that in a mac, because any hard drive or SSD is guaranteed to fail sooner or later.

 

[weaztek]

Working photographer here. Slinging RAW 30mp, 16-bit retouch files every day on a Mini with external GPU.

As has been mentioned, wait for the M1 Pro or Max. It benchmarks about double what my Intel machine does. I think 16 GB of RAM will be fine (I currently have 40GB). Testing has shown the 16GB variety to be nearly as fast as the 32GB in the M1 Pro.

I'd recommend at least the 512GB internal SSD on a Mini as the larger SSDs make the whole machine run faster. I don't think you'll want to edit images from an ext. HDD. I have 2 ext. HDDs (storage) and an ext. NVMe SSD for times when I need to work off it when my int. drive isn't large enough.