Looking to replace my 2018 (i7 / 32 GB / 1 TB) Mac Mini server. It runs Plex, manages a 24 TB DAS RAID 5 array, handles stuff I’d like to keep off my laptop (video transcoding, etc.) and acts as the “source of truth” for my files.
Considering getting a base M4 (M4 / 16 GB / 256 GB) Mac Mini to replace it. In particular, considering getting one NOW so I have the choice about whether/when to upgrade to Golden Gate. Ship date for a Mini ordered TODAY is mid-August. So I still have some time, but not much.
I’m thinking that if I treat this purchase as a “pure server” Mac, and keep all non-essential files on the DAS, I could get by with the base M4 Mini. Basically the Mac would primarily be a place to put software that operates on the files stored on the DAS.
I’ve done an aggressive clean of the files on my 2018 Mini. Basically, I tried to configure it like the M4 I’m looking to get. Uninstalled apps I don’t need, adjusted my Dropbox selective sync settings, etc. At this point, I have 177 GB used. So on a 250 GB Mac, that would be about 70% utilization, which seems like enough of a cushion.
Is there any reason any of you can think of that I’d need to bump up the RAM or the SSD? Like something coming down the pike that I’m not considering? I know AI will get more ubiquitous, but to me that’s what my 36 GB / M4 Max laptop is for.
At this point the Mini is still relatively cheap ($800), and I’m thinking that saving the extra for the next upgrade (hopefully 5 or 6 years out) would be the better choice.
You might want to look into how much Apple Intelligence is going to take up in space for the models in Golden Gate. I have heard on MacRumors forum it could take up to 50 gigs of space. you are using 177 GB right now. you might want to think bumping up to 512 GB for storage.
My home server is an M4/16/256GB MacBook Air that runs Arqbackup and Google Drive for Desktop and is 95% idle most of the time. My internal drive is rarely more than 50% full because I keep most files on an external SSD.
I used to dream of a Mac Mini in my four door pickup, a display mounted on the back of one of the seats, my truck a rolling data center.
Unfortunately, I became a victim of practicality. Laptops, as it turns out, are pretty handy in a variety of settings.
So now I dream of mounting a second display for my Macbook in my truck, which I’m sad to say breathed its last and was involuntarily replaced through cruel tangled fate with a minivan.
I want to hate minivans. On a remote riverbank, sitting in a third row seat with the second row stowed, I have to admit. It’s a pretty cool roving office.
I’m not saying this is a good solution but it might be a solution that you haven’t considered that might work for you so I’ll mention it:
You could try setting your Mac laptop to always remain on when it’s plugged into power. I actually had a fancy setup where my laptop always remained turned on if it was plugged in on a high wattage charger (even with lid closed). E.g. >30W, >20W, lower. At the lower values it would go to sleep below certain battery percentages thereby meaning that it will always have some battery when I come to use it but if it’s on a sufficiently high wattage charger it will just stay alive 24/7. This meant that I got 90% of ‘always on’ without having to actually have a dedicated device.
I’ve since moved to a server + laptop. If you’re mainly wanting better cpu/gpu for batch processing tasks, then ‘launchd’ plus the above power management idea could be a solution.
The laptop goes with me when I go places, and other people expect the server to be available - so that’s not a solution, unfortunately. There are other things happening as well that need to be available 24/7, not just when my laptop is home.