Move from Mini M1 to Studio M1 / Mini M2 Pro?

Pulsedriver

Pulsedriver

Pulsedriver

Soldato
Joined
19 Dec 2003
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Hey folks, currently using a Mac Mini M1 - it is the 16GB / 1TB Version - bought it new in late 2020 - it's been absolutely brilliant, it's just on the desk at work, albeit occasionally I take it home (if I am going to be away from the desk for a week or so) but I leave all the cables in situ as it's easy to have spares at home etc.

Anyhow... I am fast running out of space, I use the Mac for Xcode/Android Studio/Unity as well as Logic Pro from time to time, I am currently at about 970GB used out of the 1TB :D and I have a Crucial X8 Portable SSD with my Dropbox library on it (250GB ish so far).
I only have 1 monitor.

The mac generally handles everything, obviously Logic will go crazy if Xcode or AS is open in the background and I try and run a project, but that's not really an issue is it, you just close everything else when using! Xcode can sometimes have small 'type' delays when typing, but again that could be to do with having loads of stuff open at once (I am a man of 40+ tabs in chrome permanently open for referencing :D)

I have some options;

1) Sell the Mac Mini and buy a refurbished Mac Studio M1 Max 32GB / 2TB (roughly £1700 ish)
2) Sell the Mac Mini and buy a new Mac Mini M2 2TB 16GB / 2TB (roughly £1520)
3) Sell the Mac Mini and buy a new Mac Mini M2 PRO 32GB/ 2TB (roughly £2480)
4) Keep this Mac Mini and buy a TB4 enclosure and a 2TB Nvme drive - move my projects onto that drive, along with my Dropbox library etc (so just one external drive plugged in). - This is about £250 ish.

I think we could probably rule the M2 Pro out especially at that price. So my main concern would be on option 4 - I have read up things about overheating drives/loud fans on the Acasis enclosure - bearing in mind I would be leaving it on 24/7 that may be a concern.

Just wondering if anyone has had a similar issue / upgraded from a similar spec?
 
Out of those options, I'd probably go with 4) for the time being as it's still a perfectly suitable computer. That way, when you actually do upgrade when you need to, you can still use the external storage.

I have an external drive hooked up to my Studio and yes, it got hot. It was still within spec but I didn't like that it got so warm so I literally cable tied a sodding great heatsink to the case!

It looks awful but it's completely out of sight under my desk and it's barely warm to the touch now, even under heavy use.

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If Apple really is going all in on AI this year I’d wait for something M4 based, at least that’s my plan.

I have an M1 mini. Will likely jump on a M4 Max studio of some sort.
 
I think option 1 or some variant of it is probably the best use of your funds for the time being. I certainly wouldn't be taking an m2 Pro at that value when the m3 and m3 Pro is likely around the corner for mini with the Max and Ultra probably coming to the Studio at a similar time.
 
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