Transferring from 2015 iMac to M2 mac mini

[rtjstevens]

I have a late 2015 iMac with a 2 tb fusion drive. So far I only use about 780gb with some iCloud storage. It has a bootcamp partition.

If I buy a M2 macmini pro with the 500gb drive would 'migration assistant' and/or bootcamp be intelligent enough to shift the extra 280gb onto iCloud (doubtful I think) OR if I had an external SSD connected to the macmini would it shift the excess 280gb onto the SSD?(More likely perhaps?)

I realise the bootcamp partition wouldn't copy on either scenario.

Many thanks.

 

[satcomer]

You best thing to transfer are only documents, music/audioo and saved email boxes! Then write down the keys for big software so you could use them to get updates for Unreal versions at reduce rate!

 

[pshufd]

I've never used Migration Assistant. I always move everything over manually so I can see what I am using and not using actively. This also tends to result in a cleaner new system.

If you need to run Windows x86, then I recommend keeping the iMac around as you can't natively run Windows x86 on Apple Silicon. I need to use a few Windows programs so what I do is run a Windows 11 ARM virtual machine under UTM on Apple Silicon. You should get at least 16 GB of RAM if you want to do this; preferably at least 24.

I have a Mac Studio and I hang a 2 TB external SSD and 2 500 GB external SSDs off of it. My goal is to replace these 3 SSDs with a 4 TB SSD when prices come down a little more.

You may have to manage your space going from a larger drive to a smaller drive. There are many ways to do this. One would be to put your user account space on the external drive. Others would be to store your user files directly on the external drive or on iCloud.

 

[ADGrant]

I have a late 2015 iMac with a 2 tb fusion drive. So far I only use about 780gb with some iCloud storage. It has a bootcamp partition.

If I buy a M2 macmini pro with the 500gb drive would 'migration assistant' and/or bootcamp be intelligent enough to shift the extra 280gb onto iCloud (doubtful I think) OR if I had an external SSD connected to the macmini would it shift the excess 280gb onto the SSD?(More likely perhaps?)

I realise the bootcamp partition wouldn't copy on either scenario.

Many thanks.

There is no bootcamp on Apple Silicon Macs. Also, if the non-bootcamp partition of your current Mac exceeds 512GB, I would recommend buying a Mac mini with a 1TB SSD. The internal SSD will be faster than the internal 512GB SSD and faster than the external SSD. It will also be easier to manage.

 

[rtjstevens]

Thanks, everyone. With the rumour that the Studio may not be replaced this coming year the MacMini Pro seems an (even more) enticing proposition. I agree that the 1tb version would make transfer easier; I was trying to save £200 by buying a 500gb version and use a 'spare' 1tb SSD. I use Parallels on the iMac for Windows (10) apps and bootcamp on my laptop. I've heard good things about 'Crossover' for Win 11 apps - although not all apps work and no doubt there is a bit of a speed penalty.

It's a difficult one as if I were to buy the 500gb version I'd be tempted to buy a mini doc and an internal SSD to fit - and, guess what (depending on the size of the SSD) - the cost would be near enough £200, and thus it would match the cost of the 1tb drive, and, as ADGrant has said, it (the 1tb SSD) would be faster (read/write). Ho-Hum.

Again, Many thanks.

 

[Fishrrman]

OP:

DON'T get a smaller drive than you use now.

PAY the extra $200 for 1tb.

You're gonna NEED it.

 

[rtjstevens]

Hi, you're (Fisherman) right of course...but...here in the Brexit-shambles of the UK I can get a 5% discount for the 500gb version - and buy it interest-free over 12 months. I could do this for the 1tb version -but would need to wait for 4-6 weeks (!). The Apple shop states in about 2 weeks (full price of course although the guy I spoke to in the Bath store (UK) says that Apple can match within 10% - never heard of that before).

So can I use iCloud to shoe-horn (offload) some/all of my extra data?

My iMac states:
Photos - 228gb
Music - 175 gb
Docs 104gb
(abt.400 gb)

obviously System and apps take up some as well.


My iCloud states:
Photos - 165gb
Docs - 112 gb
Backups - 13gb
Mail 10 gb


Yet my intel Macbook pro (500 -ish gb) has a 63gb parallels/Win 10 partition and still has room (130 gb) despite the docs/photos/music etc, (obviously, it must be using iCloud - the same account as on my aforementioned late 2015 iMac with a 2 tb fusion drive).

I'm digging a (rabbit) hole here I know, but can anyone offer some advice?

I know speed vs capacity is an expensive dilemma for Apple consumers. Speed isn't THAT important to me (although I'd like to play a RailSim from the Steam catalogue (mostly single-core intensive I'm led to believe).

I do have a 'spare' external Samsung T5 1 tb SSD drive.

Thanks.