*** The official 2023 and 2024 Mac mini thread (it has the M2 chip, the M4 chip and everything!) ***

[Valo]

Woke up this morning to a shipment notification from Apple! My mini should be with me on the 11th, so much for 20th-22nd delivery estimate

My Studio Display and other accessories are due over the weekend, so it's perfect timing!

 

[dav3evans]

@Raymond Lin

5GB Stress:

 

[Raymond Lin]

@Raymond Lin

5GB Stress:

This is on 16g ram/256 SSD, so same as the iMac then.

It'll be fast enough, but FOMO lol

 

[dav3evans]

This is on 16g ram /256 SSD?

Yeah.

Interesting I did note quite a bit of fluctuation in the results too, I left it for a few minutes and found it would go from something like that ^ to results around half of what you're seeing. Not sure if that's to be expected with how the test runs, but seemed odd to me.

Just checked my 512GB M1 Pro MBP and that's coming out arround 3000W/5000R. Not a great comparison. Interested to see what other people have on theirs!

 

[pcfarrar]

Got this on my M4 Mini 16GB/512GB:

 

[Raymond Lin]

Interesting...

So 512G SSD alone has an impact on write speed.

Then you need the Pro to get 6000mb/s.

 

[dav3evans]

I guess it'll be the difference between 1 and 2 chips and how they run alongside each other? Some kinda RAID 0-esque speed benefit with them running in parallel maybe? Not sure how they're built/interact.

As this is serving as the OS drive, and I'll be attaching storage to it I expect it'll be absolutely fine, but yes... fomo

 

[ElliorR]

Had to look up what FOMO meant, it's been a long time since I understood youngsters lingo, but that speed is good enough for me and I'll buy an nvme drive with an enclosure.

 

[eldergeek]

anyone got any good ideas for enclosures? I actually have a 2tb 980 pro, but I'm having trouble figuring out if any of the decent enclosures will accomodate its heatsink.

 

[Raymond Lin]

anyone got any good ideas for enclosures? I actually have a 2tb 980 pro, but I'm having trouble figuring out if any of the decent enclosures will accomodate its heatsink.

Most SSD enclosures require you to have a bare unit, without a built in heatsink. As there is a thermal pad which then goes onto the lid and the lid itself is a heatsink.

I went with the OWC, where the entire top is a heatsink by design.

OWC Express 1M2: Portable USB4 NVMe M.2 SSD Solution

Offers incredible speeds of up to 3151 MB/s, DIY flexibility with NVMe M.2 SSDs, and compatible with USB4, Thunderbolt, and USB-C computers and devices.

www.owc.com

Recommendation for usbc nvme enclosure

Hi, I just ordered myself a base model M4 Mac Mini. All I need now is an external nvme drive. Can anyone recommend me a decent enclosure please that I can leave permanently plugged into one of the usbc ports. Thanks.

forums.overclockers.co.uk

 

[Raymond Lin]

Or get the Acasis which @Feek recommends.

Acasis 40Gbps Tool-free M.2 NVMe Thunderbolt 3/4 USB 4 SSD Enclosure

TBU405 VS TBU405ProM1TBU405 is base version (Tool-free Installation), while TBU405ProM1 (Tool-free Installation + Built-in Silent Fan) is an upgraded version of TBU405. The main difference is that TBU405ProM1 is additionally equipped with a built-in silent cooling fan. According to tests...

www.acasis.com

 

[eldergeek]

I have to be honest, the OWC looks more attractive as it looks much like the caldigit hub I bought.

 

[pcfarrar]

Can't do HDR at 4K 240Hz over HDMI with my M4 Mini. There's also a VRR mode 48-120Hz, don't recall seeing that on my old M2 Mini.

 

[eldergeek]

Can't do HDR at 4K 240Hz over HDMI with my M4 Mini. There's also a VRR mode 48-120Hz, don't recall seeing that on my old M2 Mini.

I have VRR and up to 144hz on my M2, But that's only through displayport.

 

[ElliorR]

Ordered for pick up in Milton Keynes. It said Pick Up Today but it'll be first thing, when they open, tomorrow morning. It's too easy to spend money.

 

[Raymond Lin]

I have to be honest, the OWC looks more attractive as it looks much like the caldigit hub I bought.

The OWC is also 10% faster, not that I will be able to tell the difference. Price wise though, the Acasis can be found half the price from the far east. Whereas OWC is only sold in Europe and the US.

 

[eldergeek]

Ordered for pick up in Milton Keynes. It said Pick Up Today but it'll be first thing, when they open, tomorrow morning. It's too easy to spend money.

The problem is that I'm trying to exert some discipline for black friday.

 

[Stu999]

This is on 16g ram/256 SSD, so same as the iMac then.

It'll be fast enough, but FOMO lol

I wonder if people would even notice the difference unless they’re running big file transfers all the time?

 

[Raymond Lin]

I wonder if people would even notice the difference unless they’re running big file transfers all the time?

I doubt it, and since I am used to USB-2 and USB-3 speeds...I know I won't.

 

[vail3r]

I wonder if people would even notice the difference unless they’re running big file transfers all the time?

This is the problem with benchmarks a lot of the time it’s always tempting to think you’ll need more but a lot of the time it is just FOMO.

I’ve just picked up the base model so will have a play later and see how it performs with what I’ll actually be using it for.