How is the speed difference between M2 Pro Mini with 512GB and 1TB SSD?

[hajime]

Is it true that the 512GB base model has two SSD chips? How about the 1TB model? How is the performance of the 1TB SSD compared with the 512GB in real use? Have not decided whether to get 16GB or 32GB.

 

[acorntoy]

Only the 256GB has a single chip.

I would've LOVED to see this forums reaction if the 1TB did only have vs two on the 512GB.

 

[poorcody]

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/hands-on-with-the-new-m2-pro-mac-mini.2378191/?post=31906823#post-31906823

 

[hajime]

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/hands-on-with-the-new-m2-pro-mac-mini.2378191/?post=31906823#post-31906823

Thanks

 

[foo2]

I suggest you treat the breathless "MaxTech" YouTube videos and the folks posting them with a big grain of salt. Random IO is vastly more important than maximum bandwidth (which is the only thing that BlackMagic app they use reports on), and at that:
1. Newer machines tend to be a bit faster than the previous M1 machines
2. The entire M2 lineup is pretty close when compared amongst themselves in performance.

For things highly IO driven, like compiling (https://github.com/devMEremenko/XcodeBenchmark) we see essentially zero performance difference between 256GB ('only' 1500MB/s) and 512GB ('only' 3000MB/s) SSDs. You can look yourself - jump down on the list (at that URL) to the comparison of Mac Mini M2 8/256 vs. Mac Mini M2 16/512. Under 1% performance difference for _compiling_, which is part and parcel of high disk IO. Also note that the M2 models wipe the floors of the M1 models of similar core characteristics.

So - take all of YouTube with a big, big grain of salt. Maximum IO is just one of many attributes of an SSD, and random IO, in normal and the vast majority of not-normal use, is vastly more important.

Also realize YouTube publishers are rewarded for views (clickbait), and saying "Well, the SSD is about the same as the last generation" won't generate near the clicks.

 

[fisherking]

i dropped both (a 512GB mini & a 1TB mini) out the window, and they both hit the ground at the exact same time... 🤔

 

[spatlese44]

I suggest you treat the breathless "MaxTech" YouTube videos and the folks posting them with a big grain of salt. Random IO is vastly more important than maximum bandwidth (which is the only thing that BlackMagic app they use reports on), and at that:
1. Newer machines tend to be a bit faster than the previous M1 machines
2. The entire M2 lineup is pretty close when compared amongst themselves in performance.

For things highly IO driven, like compiling (https://github.com/devMEremenko/XcodeBenchmark) we see essentially zero performance difference between 256GB ('only' 1500MB/s) and 512GB ('only' 3000MB/s) SSDs. You can look yourself - jump down on the list (at that URL) to the comparison of Mac Mini M2 8/256 vs. Mac Mini M2 16/512. Under 1% performance difference for _compiling_, which is part and parcel of high disk IO. Also note that the M2 models wipe the floors of the M1 models of similar core characteristics.

So - take all of YouTube with a big, big grain of salt. Maximum IO is just one of many attributes of an SSD, and random IO, in normal and the vast majority of not-normal use, is vastly more important.

Also realize YouTube publishers are rewarded for views (clickbait), and saying "Well, the SSD is about the same as the last generation" won't generate near the clicks.

That may have been one of the most useful posts I’ve read ever. I’m leaning toward a Mac mini pro, but your comments really put focus on what my money is going towards.

 

[George Dawes]

I can't understand what the MaxTech guys are on about most of the time as they always sound like the've been on a marathon sprint , as you mentioned 'out of breath' !!

 

[foo2]

I can't understand what the MaxTech guys are on about most of the time as they always sound like the've been on a marathon sprint , as you mentioned 'out of breath' !!

Straining for clicks…