Thinking of moving over to Mx Pro Mac Mini. Use case mostly music production and general use (web, docs, video). I understand some/most use an external HD to supplement the internal. How does one judge how large their internal drive should be ? How much is left after OS, ect ? When installing software such as say Studio One or Logic Pro what has to be on the internal and what can go to the external ? Obviously samples, midi files, audio files and such can be installed on the external, but what 'has to be' on the internal drive to function properly ?
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How to judge internal ssd size
- Thread starter ProgRocker
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I have the base M4 Max Studio, which comes with 512GB of storage, I found that size to be adaquate, where the OS and apps can be hosted on the internal drive.
there are ways to move the home drive and have some of your apps on an external drive. I didn't want to go that route, and so 512 is good for me now and the future.
I think the 256GB may be ok for now, but I don't think there's enough head room for future needs.
The problem with the Mini, is that its a fantastic price at 500 (edu pricing), but once you start increasing storage, ram, or cores, the costs increase dramatically and its a slippery slope.
I went from a M4 Mini, to the M4 Mini Pro for that very reason, and then I found the core count and cooling of the M4 Pro Mini was such that I would be better off with the M4 Max Studio - so I went from a $500 dollar computer to a $1,800 dollar computer in less then a week's time.
there are ways to move the home drive and have some of your apps on an external drive. I didn't want to go that route, and so 512 is good for me now and the future.
I think the 256GB may be ok for now, but I don't think there's enough head room for future needs.
The problem with the Mini, is that its a fantastic price at 500 (edu pricing), but once you start increasing storage, ram, or cores, the costs increase dramatically and its a slippery slope.
I went from a M4 Mini, to the M4 Mini Pro for that very reason, and then I found the core count and cooling of the M4 Pro Mini was such that I would be better off with the M4 Max Studio - so I went from a $500 dollar computer to a $1,800 dollar computer in less then a week's time.
My experience (mainly Final Cut Pro) has been that Apple’s own programs are coded to work better for cache and transient data storage if it is on the internal SSD.
Everything ‘can’ be stored externally, but the programs will function more fluently if you are letting them do their own ‘scratch disk’ thing with the internal drive.
All long term projects data assets work fine on external Thunderbolt 3 storage, and everything is moved onto the external drives as soon as it’s not immediate ‘work in progress’, so as to leave the internal storage relatively clear.
I upgraded to a 1TB internal SSD when I bought a M4 Pro mini, and that has been worth it.
I’ve had no problems with fan noise, because media production is mainly an intensive database operation, which needs to be ’instantaneous’ but isn’t maxing the system.
Everything ‘can’ be stored externally, but the programs will function more fluently if you are letting them do their own ‘scratch disk’ thing with the internal drive.
All long term projects data assets work fine on external Thunderbolt 3 storage, and everything is moved onto the external drives as soon as it’s not immediate ‘work in progress’, so as to leave the internal storage relatively clear.
I upgraded to a 1TB internal SSD when I bought a M4 Pro mini, and that has been worth it.
I’ve had no problems with fan noise, because media production is mainly an intensive database operation, which needs to be ’instantaneous’ but isn’t maxing the system.
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