Late 2012 Mac Mini - How to add more space?

[nemofish]

I wonder if anyone can help.

I have a late 2012 Mac Mini (i7, 16GB RAM) with 2 drives. I use my Mac for work.

1) An SSD that runs the OS & software
2) a 2TB SATA running my work files.

I have run out of space on my SATA so at a crossroads on how best to add space.

I brought a 1TB external TB HD but realised I have nowhere to plug this in as my monitor (2k) is plugged in via Displayport > MiniDisplayport. I can't go HDMI as I will lose resolution which I need.

Is there such thing as a TB splitter? Or am I better off just taking the Mini part and upgrading my SATA drive to something bigger?

Or am I better off buying a Mac with more ports?

Software I run is Adobe CS6 apps, though just upgraded to CC (yet to install until I can clear space).

 

[Boyd01]

I think you just bought the wrong kind of external disk. I have the same Mini and boot it from a 1TB USB 3.0 Samsung T3 SSD. Works great. Here's what I get with the external SSD

For comparison, this is the original Apple internal 256gb SSD on the Mini

 

[MBAir2010]

There is no penalty for deleting space, and in some cases your precious ultra-shiny Mac mini might run more smoothly!

 

[nemofish]

I think you just bought the wrong kind of external disk. I have the same Mini and boot it from a 1TB USB 3.0 Samsung T3 SSD. Works great. Here's what I get with the external SSD

For comparison, this is the original Apple internal 256gb SSD on the Mini

How do you plug your screen in if you are using the TB port for external disk?

There is no penalty for deleting space, and in some cases your precious ultra-shiny Mac mini might run more smoothly!

My files are all work related (images mainly) deleting is not really an option.

 

[Boyd01]

How do you plug your screen in if you are using the TB port for external disk?

You didn't really read what I posted. I have a USB 3.0 external SSD. It does not plug into the Thunderbolt port.

 

[HenryAZ]

I brought a 1TB external TB HD but realised I have nowhere to plug this in as my monitor (2k) is plugged in via Displayport > MiniDisplayport. I can't go HDMI as I will lose resolution which I need.

Get a USB 3.0 external drive instead of a TB one. A SATA SSD will achieve almost its full speed over USB 3.0. Even better, get an external enclosure and you can put in any SATA SSD you want. I recommend and use many of the Oyen Digital MiniPro enclosures. Though it is described as USB-C, it also comes with a cable to adapt it to regular USB-A.

If you are lacking USB ports, a Thunderbolt 2 dock is your best bet.

 

[Fishrrman]

<--- wondering how someone can fill up 2 terabytes of space?

But in any case... just plug in a USB3 external hard drive and be done with it.

 

[nemofish]

<--- wondering how someone can fill up 2 terabytes of space?

High res photos, artwork, multi-layered psd files and 4k video soon eats up space.

 

[Boyd01]

My 2012 quad is used primarily for video and audio editing, I use my MacBook Air for general stuff. In addition to the 1TB external SSD, I also have two 5tb hard drives plugged into the Mini. Then there's a 2tb hard drive and two more 5tb disks for backup.

For the kind of work you do... get used to it!

 

[DeltaMac]

There's another option on your 2012 mini: I have a 2TB drive plugged into the FW800 port.
The Firewire enclosures are getting a little hard to find, but it's another choice.

 

[Boyd01]

There's another option on your 2012 mini: I have a 2TB drive plugged into the FW800 port.

That is a possibility certainly. Personally, I use the firewire port for a Sony pro video deck. But firewire 800 in 2019 is pretty sorry IMO. That's only 100 MB/sec. I get that speed with filesharing over ethernet, and my cheap USB 3.0 drives give me about 180 MB/sec while the external SSD is 400 MB/sec. If you're working with lots of big files (like the OP apparently does), then firewire is not a very good choice IMO.