Hey all — looking at a Mac mini paired with a Studio Display for everyday use. Trying to dial in the right config — curious what memory (16GB/24GB/32GB) and storage (256GB/512GB/1TB) you’d recommend for a setup that won’t feel underpowered down the line.
I currently have a 2019 iMac with 32G and 1TB SSD using a little under 600. Also open to any port/dongles.
Appreciate any input!
Always buy the best you can afford. Prices will always increase in the future. The longer you keep the machine, the more of a bargain it becomes.
What’s your current memory pressure. I suspect anything that you downgrade risks becoming a noticeable future irritation for you. If you can afford the same specs, go for it.
Storage can be off-loaded using (reasonably fast) external SSDs, now and for ever. Memory can never be expanded at all ever.
=> reasonable storage capacity + highest possible RAM capacity fitting budget
=> allow compromise on storage, never compromise on RAM
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JJW
have done exactly the same thing. I had a 2018 iMac, one of the last Intel ones, and have changed it to a Studio Display and Mac Mini.
I chose the Mac Mini with 24 gigabytes and 1 terabyte. More by luck than any skill, I managed to buy it about two months ago, which was before the price rise. I’m more than happy with it and this configuration.
You don’t say what you want to do with the computer, or your current intent on how long you’d expect to keep using it.
If you want to run memory dependent processes and/or many different applications at the same time. I’d suggest memory.
If you want to run something where you need more, and fast, local storage like you want all of your photo library to be on the installed storage, or you want to process a lot of video locally as quickly as possible then go for Storage more than memory.
As others have said, you can add external storage more easily, so if it’s a tie between the two, go with memory.
If you’re intending to keep it for as long as your last model, Memory can’t be upgraded so I’d lean that way,
But I’d rarely get either in smaller quantities than my current computer.
So my advice is to sit on the fence
Thanks everyone. Well, Geoff, that’s exactly what I’m going to do. Your usage point is well taken. I am not a power user by any means, but I do use a large variety of apps and get lazy about quitting them. At my age of 82, I’m guessing this will be my last machine (but I hope I’m wrong). My budget is not a particular problem, so I think I’ve settled on 1TB with 32 GB but since the new chip is supposed to be coming in the fall, I think I’ll hang on until then.
That’s what my father said, but he went through two more laptops and an iPad before he died at 96. He never relinquished his flip phone, however. I’m pretty sure he was the entire installed base for whatever model it was that he had. The phone company was begging him to let them ship him a free replacement.