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Boil

macrumors 68040
Oct 23, 2018
3,473
3,160
Stargate Command
Regardless of what the M4/M4 Pro Mac mini brings to the table, Apple needs a lower price display to pair with it, and an in-built bracket that easily allows mounting of the Mac mini to the rear of said display...
 
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dugbug

macrumors 68000
Aug 23, 2008
1,928
2,146
Somewhere in Florida
My one fear with all this size shrink talk is that they go fanless leave out the opportunity for an m4 pro.

Here is my wishlist
M4 and m4 pro
16gb base
120hz hdmi
512gb storage
3 4k monitor support
1gb enet min
Front usb port
Front sd card slot
 

aibloop

macrumors 6502
Aug 5, 2020
261
262
I'll start.

16Gb RAM, 256Gb Storage, ethernet, line out audio and an HDMI port. I don't really worry about too many USB ports because a Hub will fix that.

Reckon that should be doable...
32gb is minimum for me, M4 Pro... 1tb ssd.

I think this machine is capable enough to do tasks like illustration/light 3d/4k editing and some gaming.

64gb would be neat and likely is the real amount you would want to do serious work... But I do unserious work soooo 32gb might be ok ;).... If you have experience on 32gb M2 or M3 pls share



I am considering M4 PRO because the single core is so high now. M3 PRO 48gb ram was VERY decent and I consider it good enough for me doing light 3d/editing and gaming. Blender was smooth and useable even for rendering.




Also, small form-factor is amazing for portability/travelling.
 
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iamthedudeman

macrumors 65816
Jul 7, 2007
1,448
297
The mac mini M4 is reported to have the same specs as the Macbook Pro. 16gb 512gb ssd. Same as when the M2 was released the M2 mac mini and m2 pro had the same specs. As for storage the best solution is the one where you can just add a thunderbolt 4 external ssd solution. Same speeds as the internal drive. You can then swap out a base mini each time there is a refresh and keep your storage each time.

Any credible source of these reports other than random twitter accounts?
As far as I know, Gurman hasn’t made any such claims about the Mini’s specs and pricing.

At $699, the 16/512 M4 mini could easily end up being Apple’s best selling desktop Mac.
No. Just the MBP M4 that was leaked. The mini has always had the same specs as the base MBP. And if 16gb is the base configuration for macs it is safe to say that will be the case.
I am hoping for a fanless mini but bigger than a Apple TV. No need for a fan in a base M4 mac. Performance should not be affected.
I have a Air M2 without a fan and have zero problems.
 

IvyKing

macrumors member
Aug 31, 2024
77
79
Cardiff, CA
I am hoping for a fanless mini but bigger than a Apple TV. No need for a fan in a base M4 mac. Performance should not be affected.
I have a Air M2 without a fan and have zero problems.
One problem with a fanless M4 Mini is that it would mean that either the M4 Pro Mini would be in a different case or there would be no M4 Pro Minis. Apple so far has been putting the Mx and Mx Pro in Minis, with the Studio getting Mx Max and Mx Ultra's. To top it off, the M1, M2 and M3 MBP's have fans.
 

iamthedudeman

macrumors 65816
Jul 7, 2007
1,448
297
One problem with a fanless M4 Mini is that it would mean that either the M4 Pro Mini would be in a different case or there would be no M4 Pro Minis. Apple so far has been putting the Mx and Mx Pro in Minis, with the Studio getting Mx Max and Mx Ultra's. To top it off, the M1, M2 and M3 MBP's have fans.
I realize that. But i dont think there is going to be a pro mini. I really dont care as i always buy the base and upgrade often. I have a thunderbolt 4 external ssd that i reuse with each new mac mini. Speeds are the same as internal. If it has a fan great. If not it really doesn't affect me. But i think it will have a fan.
The base M4 is faster than most people need. And the base chips are getting more cores like the M4. Its crazy to think that a base M4 Mini will out perform alot of M3 macs.
 

AAPLGeek

macrumors 6502a
Nov 12, 2009
720
2,255
I am hoping for a fanless mini but bigger than a Apple TV. No need for a fan in a base M4 mac. Performance should not be affected.
I have a Air M2 without a fan and have zero problems.

You're kidding right? Performance would absolutely take a massive hit during any kind of sustained activity.

I have both M1 MBA and a M1 Mini at work. I cannot use M1 Air for anything that pushes the CPU for even 10 minutes without it getting uncomfortably hot and battery temps going well over 104°F. Eventually, the CPU throttles to keep the temps within limits.

The Mini on the other hand can run 24x7 with CPU loads constantly over 50-70%.

A fanless M4 Mini would only be good for light workloads like the fanless MBA.
 
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gusping

macrumors 68020
Mar 12, 2012
2,019
2,305
One problem with a fanless M4 Mini is that it would mean that either the M4 Pro Mini would be in a different case or there would be no M4 Pro Minis. Apple so far has been putting the Mx and Mx Pro in Minis, with the Studio getting Mx Max and Mx Ultra's. To top it off, the M1, M2 and M3 MBP's have fans.
I wonder if the M4 Pro will use the current chassis if the new one is too small to cool the M4 Pro chip.
 

azentropy

macrumors 601
Jul 19, 2002
4,136
5,664
Surprise
It isn't going to happen, but still kinda hoping we are going to see two new Mac "minis" and and don't mean the M4 and the M4 Pro. Keep the old form factor (it is great) and upgrade the specs but add a new even smaller form factor that is smaller, M4 only, fanless, maybe only has TB/USBC ports including for power etc. at even a lower price point.
 

Macalway

macrumors 601
Aug 7, 2013
4,172
2,916
I wonder if they'e going to go with fanless for base and actively cooled for Pro, which would make sense, with 16gb/256gb minimum.
 
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Orionfox

macrumors member
Apr 20, 2020
88
74
I've gotten the distinct impression that many of the iMac buyers would love a Mac Micro/Nano that could be mounted on the back of the monitor. This could be powered by the supply in the monitor, thus saving space. Updating to a new processor would not involve replacing the monitor as in the case of the current iMacs.

What I want from a Mac Mini is the ability to use just about any monitor, that is the monitor doesn't need to supply power, USB connectivity or Ether connectivity. Another selling point for the Mini is that I can use the keyboard that I like - my preference is for one with a numeric keypad as all but one of my previous desktop computers had a separate keyboard with numeric keypad. After using a mouse with my Mini for a few months, I decided that the trackpad was much easier to use with MacOS and purchased one.
Used that setup with my 2014 & 2018 minis using a cheap vesa mount from amazon.even bought a power cable splitter so only needed 1 cable for power.

problem today is only the cheapest monitors use a stand with a separate vesa mount. All the better monitors stands use that vesa mount & the new solutions that go between the arm & monitor or offset the vesa mount I just don’t like

fyi my biggest with would be a single cable setup for power & video
 

aibloop

macrumors 6502
Aug 5, 2020
261
262
Fanless = Passive
Fan = Active

So a fanless cooling system cannot actively cool...
true that. Just saying that unless Apple pulls an active cooling solution for the smaller package, I am not interested... A Macbook Air equivalent for a stationary is just somewhat annoying to contemplate.
 
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iamthedudeman

macrumors 65816
Jul 7, 2007
1,448
297
You're kidding right? Performance would absolutely take a massive hit during any kind of sustained activity.

I have both M1 MBA and a M1 Mini at work. I cannot use M1 Air for anything that pushes the CPU for even 10 minutes without it getting uncomfortably hot and battery temps going well over 104°F. Eventually, the CPU throttles to keep the temps within limits.

The Mini on the other hand can run 24x7 with CPU loads constantly over 50-70%.

A fanless M4 Mini would only be good for light workloads like the fanless MBA.
I have a 15 Air M2 and have zero issues. The M1 ran pretty hot. The M2 much less so. CPU hardly never throttles.

A M4 with a smaller process node will run cool as a cucumber, like the M4 ipad pro. No issues or throttling to speak of.

Equating a M1 to a M4 isn't the same thing. I had a M1 air and it did run hot. My M2 simply doesnt. So no i sm not kidding.
 

Subarctic5216

macrumors newbie
Mar 27, 2024
20
16
My preferred new Mac musts:
36gb Ram or more
2TB ssd
10Gb Ethernet
HDMI 2.1
Audio Out jack
3-4 Thunderbolt 4
*2-3 USB-C/USB-3
*A hub will accomplish any other peripheral needs

I have been holding out for a new Studio for over a year now but if the G4 Mini (Pro-Max whatever) covers these needs...
Tim Apple take my money now *)
(Tim) Apple pleased me this week. I have just preordered a Mac Mini Pro M4.
This will be replacing my 9+ year old iMac 27"-17,1 that has served me very well. Running Sonoma via OCLP.
1st new mac since 2015. It's definitely time to move on to Apple Silicon.
 

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Boil

macrumors 68040
Oct 23, 2018
3,473
3,160
Stargate Command
(Tim) Apple pleased me this week. I have just preordered a Mac Mini Pro M4.
This will be replacing my 9+ year old iMac 27"-17,1 that has served me very well. Running Sonoma via OCLP.
1st new mac since 2015. It's definitely time to move on to Apple Silicon.

Very nice, that configuration should last you quite some time...!
 
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