I'm considering getting an M4 Pro Mini with the base CPU/GPU and SSD configs (12-core / 512GB), but upgrading the memory to 48GB and getting the 10Gb Ethernet upgrade.
My usage is mostly audio/video editing (Davinci Resolve & maybe Logic/Reaper later on), with media on a NAS over a 2.5Gb network.
I currently have an M1 Max laptop (32GB, 24-core GPU) and want a desktop system that is equivalent or better, and was initially going to wait for the next M4 Max Studio. However, the M4 Pro Mini seems to have exceeded expectations, and I think it would meet my requirements without having to wait several months for the no doubt more expensive Studio.
I do generally find that I am using a few GB of swap memory with the 32GB M1 Max, so like the idea of having 48GB. I suspect that the M4 Max Studio will start at 36GB and could have a big gap in the memory options like the current M3 Max, and not have a 48GB or 64GB option. This possibility makes the option of a 48GB Mini particularly attractive - a 36GB Max might be too little, and a 96GB option would be massive overkill.
I have been using a USB 2.5GbE adapter to connect to my NAS, but feel that having a 10Gb Ethernet option on a new Mini would just be less hassle than using an adaptor on one of the few TB5/USB ports, and gives me an easy upgrade path to a 10GbE network in the future.
I'm aware that the "value proposition" of the Mac Mini is for base configurations, and that this quickly erodes with upgrades, and some people might suggest that the future M4 Max Studio would be a better bet. However, this doesn't yet exist, and it may not be available with the specification that best fits my needs.
What do you think? Is my reasoning for this specification sound?
Thanks!
My usage is mostly audio/video editing (Davinci Resolve & maybe Logic/Reaper later on), with media on a NAS over a 2.5Gb network.
I currently have an M1 Max laptop (32GB, 24-core GPU) and want a desktop system that is equivalent or better, and was initially going to wait for the next M4 Max Studio. However, the M4 Pro Mini seems to have exceeded expectations, and I think it would meet my requirements without having to wait several months for the no doubt more expensive Studio.
I do generally find that I am using a few GB of swap memory with the 32GB M1 Max, so like the idea of having 48GB. I suspect that the M4 Max Studio will start at 36GB and could have a big gap in the memory options like the current M3 Max, and not have a 48GB or 64GB option. This possibility makes the option of a 48GB Mini particularly attractive - a 36GB Max might be too little, and a 96GB option would be massive overkill.
I have been using a USB 2.5GbE adapter to connect to my NAS, but feel that having a 10Gb Ethernet option on a new Mini would just be less hassle than using an adaptor on one of the few TB5/USB ports, and gives me an easy upgrade path to a 10GbE network in the future.
I'm aware that the "value proposition" of the Mac Mini is for base configurations, and that this quickly erodes with upgrades, and some people might suggest that the future M4 Max Studio would be a better bet. However, this doesn't yet exist, and it may not be available with the specification that best fits my needs.
What do you think? Is my reasoning for this specification sound?
Thanks!