Another what Mac mini for me post /Now with Metrics!

Howdy,

There I was, already to get a Mac mini 2018, when I discovered I could afford a M2 or even a M4.

However, I have never owned a Mac with as little as 16GB RAM, which the M2 or M4 would have.
If I got the 2018 I know I can add as much as it can take.

My question being, is more ram on a 2018 with an i7 "better" than a M2 or M4 with only 16GB RAM?

Main use would be Resolve and Lightroom.

Thanks for any advice

My question being, is more ram on a 2018 with an i7 "better" than a M2 or M4 with only 16GB RAM?

Main use would be Resolve and Lightroom.

Thanks for any advice

Absolutely not. Any Silicon Mac would be way faster than a now ancient 2018 Intel Mac Mini. That would be a terrible move. It is only a matter of time before Apple stop supporting Intel Macs anyway. Try to increase your budget to 24GB if possible. 16GB is the current recommended minimum for Lightroom and it will soon be the required minimum. Resolve would always like more memory.

Thank you.

Hehe, perhaps I should add I am currently getting by on a 2011 iMac

As I can only afford to get used the problem seems to be finding one with 24GB, there appears to be only 16GB.

A quick check shows that I can afford a M2 with 24GB, its just that there is not one for sale at the mo.

In that case, I guess its best to wait to see if one comes up.

Wow, cannot even find one with a 512GB SSD.

M2 with 16GB are £400
M4 with 16GB are £500

As I can afford the M4, I guess that will be the one to go for, as 24GB seem to come up very rarely for sale, used.

OK. I didn't realise you were looking at used. You would probably be fine with the M4 16GB for quite some time to come. Prioritise memory over storage as you can use an external SSD (ITB < £100) for data which would be fine in terms of speed.

Wicked, thank you.

I know I can get one of those blade SSD that plug directly into one of the TB ports.

Whoot! New, used Mac for me tomorrow


Edit:

- you can upgrade the internal storage on a M4
- you cannot upgrade the memory
- M4 only comes with 3x TB ports

Great. You will be blown away by the speed compare to a 2011 Mac. Fasten your seat belt.

Yep, I have owned faster Macs, life decided to make things a bit difficult for a while.

Thank gosh for Open Core Legacy Patcher that lets me use Sequoia on it - this one is actually a late 2012 with a, wait for it, whopping 1GB GPU!

I understand the logic of saving what I have and adding to it next month.
However, I have to allow for my screaming ADHD which makes saving impossible.

Hmm, I suppose I could list this iMac and see if it sells in a couple of days.
Na, whom am I kidding.
Ive had the two 30" screens since last month, there's no way I can wait.

Best to use the sale of my old Macs to fund a "proper" screen to grade on.

(and yes, I know this is the best of the best s/w I am using and it must make people cringe at yet another person trying to get by on the most basic tin - I'm just glad that BMD don't think that way and allow people like me to play with their toys)