Upgrade from 2020 iMac? Mac Mini help

[ddublu]

I have a 2020 iMac running 64gb RAM, 1TB storage with external Thunderbays (16TB and 20TB). I am not doing much video editing anymore but do spend a lot of time in Lightroom and Photoshop. That's probably the extent of the "hardcore work" on my machines. I also have two external monitors connected to it by daisy chaining through the Thunderbays.

I'd like to upgrade to a Mac Mini and grab a 32" monitor and move my iMac downstairs to replace my 2015 iMac.

Other than actual specs, are there configs to stay away from vs. configs that are more future-proof than others? Anything I should be aware of? I have about 100gb free on my iMac so will have to do something with old Final Cut Pro libraries and LR catalogs and would likely grab a SanDisk SSD for external work...I can pic up most 512gb configs today at the apple store.

For MacMini and my uses above, would it be better to grab a M4 10-core, 10-core, 16-core with 32GB memory and 1TB or a 12-core, 16-core w/24GB storage and 1TB?

Suggestions? Guidance?

 

[Fishrrman]

I'd suggest m4, 32gb, 1tb SSD.
I wouldn't worry much about 10 v 12 cores.
More RAM will prove more important in the years to come.

I'd suggest running a cloned backup (created by either CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDuper) just before you boot the Mini the very first time.

Have the backup connected the very first time you power up, and migration should be easy.

For an external "secondary storage" SSD, I'd recommend the Crucial x9 series.
Pretty fast (USB3.1 gen2), small, affordable -- a little gem.

Thunderbolt will be faster, but you'll pay more. And from what I've read here, a number of folks have found that some t-bolt drives can be wonky and inconsistent at times.

For a display, remember that with 32", you get either 4k or 6k.
4k (with the Mac "default" resolution of "looks like 1080p") may produce an image not to your liking. WIth the "BetterDisplay" app (runs in free mode), you can scale that to "looks like 1440p" for more room.

6k displays are quite expensive, limited choices.

I believe Acer will introduce a new 32" 5k display at the end of this year or early next year. Waiting for that one, myself.

You can save a little money with the Mini by buying from Apple's online refurbished store (if they have that where you are). That's how I bought my last two Minis (2018 and 2024). Good deals both times.

 

[wilberforce]

Being also a heavy user of LR and PS, and having moved from a 2020 iMac to an M4 iMac, I suggest get the M4 Pro chip. The M4 has been a disappointment for me. My M1 Pro machine is faster for some LR tasks.

Also suggest get minimum 32GB ram. LR and PS are hogs of unified memory, and use far more unified memory on the M chips than the ram on Intel machines. Reason is memory needed for Adobe graphical acceleration is taken from the shared unified memory rather than from separate VRAM.

As for which is more important, a Pro chip or more memory? This depends on your usage. I suggest be guided by how much memory you are currently actually using (not have) on your intel machine.

 

[ddublu]

I'd suggest m4, 32gb, 1tb SSD.
I wouldn't worry much about 10 v 12 cores.
More RAM will prove more important in the years to come.

I'd suggest running a cloned backup (created by either CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDuper) just before you boot the Mini the very first time.

Have the backup connected the very first time you power up, and migration should be easy.

For an external "secondary storage" SSD, I'd recommend the Crucial x9 series.
Pretty fast (USB3.1 gen2), small, affordable -- a little gem.

Thunderbolt will be faster, but you'll pay more. And from what I've read here, a number of folks have found that some t-bolt drives can be wonky and inconsistent at times.

For a display, remember that with 32", you get either 4k or 6k.
4k (with the Mac "default" resolution of "looks like 1080p") may produce an image not to your liking. WIth the "BetterDisplay" app (runs in free mode), you can scale that to "looks like 1440p" for more room.

6k displays are quite expensive, limited choices.

I believe Acer will introduce a new 32" 5k display at the end of this year or early next year. Waiting for that one, myself.

You can save a little money with the Mini by buying from Apple's online refurbished store (if they have that where you are). That's how I bought my last two Minis (2018 and 2024). Good deals both times.

Thanks! I use CCC so will do exactly that. I really need to get my Final Cut things straightened out. I really dont do much there anymore, so I assume I can move them from my iMac to my 20TB (which is a backup for my 16TB - not Time Machine). Picked up the M4 Pro but only 512GB. I have 2TB Dropbox storage so I really dont need 1TB.

I also picked up a 32" LG OLED but as soon as I got home, I realized there's no camera/audio so I ordered the Apple Display which will be here in an hour. Thoughts on one vs. the other?

 

[ddublu]

Being also a heavy user of LR and PS, and having moved from a 2020 iMac to an M4 iMac, I suggest get the M4 Pro chip. The M4 has been a disappointment for me. My M1 Pro machine is faster for some LR tasks.

Also suggest get minimum 32GB ram. LR and PS are hogs of unified memory, and use far more unified memory on the M chips than the ram on Intel machines. Reason is memory needed for Adobe graphical acceleration is taken from the shared unified memory rather than from separate VRAM.

As for which is more important, a Pro chip or more memory? This depends on your usage. I suggest be guided by how much memory you are currently actually using (not have) on your intel machine.

Thanks! I picked up the 512GB M4 Pro today. Will set it up and see how it performs.

 

[Dan From Canada]

If you can, try and buy a refurbished Mac.
Same warranty. A few percent off and when I bought there was plenty of variety.
Oops. Too late. I see you already bought.

 

[ignatius345]

For an external "secondary storage" SSD, I'd recommend the Crucial x9 series.
Pretty fast (USB3.1 gen2), small, affordable -- a little gem.

I'm using one to house my media libraries (Photos, Music, TV) and it's totally fast enough for this use. Also tiny enough to tuck behind your machine somewhere and not notice it's there.

 

[EugW]

For permanently attached drives, I much prefer Thunderbolt 4 / USB 4 drives over USB 3.

macOS treats USB 4 / TB 4 completely differently than USB 3. USB 4 / TB 4 is higher performance with TRIM support and in many setups is also more reliable, while the cost doesn't have to be significantly more.

I think the Samsung and Crucial USB 3 SSDs are better suited as mobile devices, but this is a Mac mini, not a MacBook Pro. I say this as someone who owns a Samsung T5, Samsung T7, and Samsung T7 Shield, as well as some other USB 3 drives. There have been some reports of flaky TB 4 drives, but a lot of those have to do with cheap enclosures with improper cooling, since typically TB 4 / USB 4 drives run hotter than USB 3 drives.

 

[ddublu]

I ended up returning the 512gb and picking up the M4 Pro 1TB. All setup and does seem a little faster but not a ton. Thanks!