I keep getting comments/ questions about the peripherals I'm using - so I've thrown links in the video description to help you out! Please note, these are Amazon affiliate links, I make a small (very small) commission off of sales, at no expense to you. It's a way to support the channel indirectly, and I appreciate everyone who does view/ purchase using the links. If you do not want to support me, or use Amazon - I've listed the names of the items as well, so you can purchase direct from any retailer. THANK YOU!
There’s an image missing in the first 40 seconds, just shows a report of the Mac mini SSD being user replaceable I DONT know why the image just magically disappeared
I’ve had my base M4 MacMini a week, using it for graphic design every day and I’ve not made it sweat yet, I upgraded the internal SSD as I know how Adobe programs use swap memory and added an external SSD for my files. It’s lightning fast compared to my old work MacBook Pro M1 Max with all the RAM. I’m super happy with it and it’s transformed my desk, with so much space now. I can’t recommend it enough!
@@IPTVBALKAN when I bought it, I doubled the ssd size, you can’t do this once it’s purchased. It was £799 instead of £599. It’s not a great deal for storage, but it’s still a great price for a fantastic Mac computer..
yet another review and all it talks about is video editing.... Not to diss on this particular review, but I wish reviews would cover more than just video editing. How about gaming, how about software development, how about regular daily driving tasks, how about music composition, dunno... people use computers for so much more than just editing youtube clips.
Hey I get it - but this is what I use it for, I am not going to pretend to be a software developer, or a 3D artist to get views, there are plenty of people who do those things & share their experience with the M4 mini! :) appreciate the comment though
I’ve been hunting down videos for someone who’s into digital illustration/animation as well as Blender. There’s only one channel I found so far named “Krishna Draws” who’s a professional comic artist/illustrator
This is an issue with all TH-cam reviews, as video editing is a major part of what the authors do with their computers. My key use is business finance so I spend hours looking at spreadsheets. Such use does not really stretch computers, as the files are small and make low demands on computing power, storage and memory. But there are other things to watch out for, like backup which is very important for business use and rarely covered by TH-camrs. And OLED monitors have the risk of burn-in which is a real issue as spreadsheets are pretty static things. My gripe with these minis is the reduced connectivity, I have multiple external drives, printers, scanners, speakers which need to be directly connected. But nothing is perfect.
I got a Mac Mini M4 to replace my M2 Mac Mini as my daily driver, and I've found out that getting an NVMe to Thunderbolt 4 enclosure did it for me. You can move libraries over to that disk, let the App Store download larger than 1GB apps to it, and move over the system photo library. I almost have 115GB free at all times. So it's not the end of the world - though 512 is always nicer!
@@moem5637 It's the Acasis TBU405 and the NVME I used is a Samsung 990 EVO SSD 2TB M.2. You can do way better cost-wise by getting a cheaper NVME, since you won't get the entire speed through Thunderbolt 4, but you know. It's still amazingly fast.
@@moem5637 I purchased the Satechi Thunderbolt enclosure (Amazon and certified Apple stores) This enclosure has Apple official certification and works flawless. Make sure you buy an SSD that can handle 40 Gbps. OWC is also a certified brand, the enclosure costs around $100 to $120 usd and the NVMe drive that i bought cost me $123 usd WD Block SN850X Thunderbolt drives get very hot, some drives will lose performance so i purchased a Thermalake heatsink ($9) and keep the drive enclosure open because it has no active fan for cooling. Buying non certified enclosures such as the brands like UGreen, Orico are problematic and may disconnect frequently when they reach max speeds. (they don't use a certified Thunderbolt controller and their included cables are not up to the speed or specs either)
When I bought my M1 Mac mini ….i hooked it up to a 10TB external hard drive…never had any storage issues again…the external hard drive was like $168 🤓😊
RAM means "Random Access Memory". It is a type of device that holds data for random, fast temporary access. That is all. It has nothing to do with being used by the CPU or GPU or whatever. GPU memory is sometimes called VRAM, but it is still RAM. You don't even have to use RAM with a GPU or CPU. Modules can be used with FPGAs or ASICs, and they are not CPUs or GPUs. NPUs and various other accelerators can use RAM just as well. The same exact type of modules. As an example, the RTX4090 has 24GB of RAM. It is perfectly correct to call it that, and some news sites do. Nvidia calls it "memory", which is the "M" in "RAM". Heck, the M4 uses LPDDR5X, which is even closed to the good old RAM sticks than GPU RAM which is GDDR. RAM is RAM is RAM is RAM. Shared, not shared, on-dye, separate, DDR, GDDR, HBM, it is all RAM. Please don't take this too deeply. It just happens to be in my field. Your video is nice and informative, and has the quality of larger channels. 😁
Super informative, thanks! How is the RAM in the GPU utilized differently than the general RAM? Also, have you considered sharing detailed information like this in videos as a TH-camr? You’re a great teacher. I’d subscribe.
Yeah, that’s true in general, but there’s still a difference between unified (shared) RAM and dedicated RAM, like he mentioned. It’s all technically RAM-even stuff like CPU caches or the DRAM in SSDs-but it is still important to differentiate between types for clarity. Things like bandwidth, latency, size, and how it’s used (shared vs. dedicated) make a big difference. So while calling everything RAM isn’t wrong either, differentiate is also useful. Sorry, happens to be my field too. PS: @ValisMind Maybe think about to disable this horrible auto translation, it's just annoying if put something on my playlist and this shitty translation starts. It was lucky that I was on my PC and were able to change the language. On autoplay or the TV I just skip.
Every good programmer should also know that its not random accessable for a long time now, because the cost of a L2 cache miss is almost 400 instructions now. The RAM access time since the good old C64 home computer (120ns in 1985) has not gone down a lot. it's around 10ns now. Just an order of magnitude.
I have no complaints about my M4 Mac mini choice: 1TB storage, 24GB memory and 10 Gigabit Ethernet. I did indeed upgrade from another Mac mini, an M1 with 16GB memory and 512GB storage. I have a VESA-mount Apple Studio Display, Magic Mouse with an adapter that converts it for wireless charging as well as raising the base of the mouse by 1 cm at the front and nearly 2 cm at the back, so it fits my hand much better. I use a short (no numeric pad) Touch ID Magic keyboard, a condenser mic on a folding boom and an Insta360 Link 4k webcam. The display's speakers are perfectly fine for my use. Once the Mac and display are connected, there are two unused Thunderbolt 4 ports on the Mac, two 10 GBps USB-C ports on the Mac and three more on the display itself. The microphone and webcam use up two of those USC-C ports on the display. I still have five free ports, four on the Mac and one on the display. I also have a USB-C SD/micro SD card reader that is sometimes used, it gets connected to one of the Mac's front ports. The speaker on the M4 version is surprisingly capable and clear compared to the tinny one on the M1 Mac mini.
I have an M1 Max Studio hooked up to three Dell Ultrasharp 4k 27 inch monitors next to an iMac Pro and I'm happy with my setup. I could use more RAM, say 40-48 GB of RAM instead of the 32 that I have and I wouldn't mind 1 TB storage instead of 512 GB. So I'll have a look when the M4 Studio comes out. I think that the M4 mini is a fantastic Mac and an incredible value, but the Studio has lots of RAM available, has a fantastic cooling system, and I love all of the ports. I use the three monitor port hubs to expand USB-A and USB-C ports though they are not all filled. The Studio is a solid option if you need more CPU, GPU, RAM, ports or cooling.
I just purchased the Mac mini m4 on sale for $559 will receive later this month. My first time to watch your videos and I appreciate the insight and info. I’m wanting to possibly start a business in photos. I found your comments regarding video and photo shop use with the m4 very interesting. This is all pretty much new for me tho I work with multiple apps on my work phone all day for a BIG retail company so I’m up for the challenge of learning what the Mac mini is all about. Thanks for the video!!
I use the base model Mac Mini for mostly running Security Spy and saving video/photo from home PoE security cameras. With my old Mac Mini I was about to install a fan in my entertainment cabinet due to running so hot. This baby stays cool! So far really impressed with how I use it.
Great review! I bought my first Mac (MBP) in 2015 and it has lasted me over 9yrs. That was the 15" Retina, Intel i7, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD and it's still going strong. Had to replace the battery once and it needs another, but I keep it plugged in almost all the time so I don't really notice. But it can no longer take the latest macOS so I decided to finally buy a new system and chose a Mac Mini which I just ordered on XMAS and can't wait to get it. I ordered the M4 Pro, 14 Core CPU, 20 Core GPU, 64GB Memory, 1TB SSD. Why so much? Future proofing. I expect it to last at least 8 years. At the end of the day, the extra $1000 on upgrades effectively is buying me extra years of use with the system so barring some other massive advancement in computers, I shouldn't need to upgrade again for quite some time. Also having 2TB of iCloud storage has been a big help as well and allows me to not need any external storage.
That's the biggest problem with my Mac stuff--it lasts forever. No real reason to upgrade. I have a MacBook Air from 2015 I still use for small tasks and writing then my M1 Mini that has run flawlessly since I bought it 4 years ago. I just had to add disk space because I do a lot of graphics and video work. But my Macs from the 90s are still running old games.
I am very happy with mine. It is the 24GB / 512 GB and I did get it with Edu discount and with Applecare and Tax the grand total was around $1000 USD. Love it so far.
Doubting now what to get, the M4 Mini 16 or 24 with 256 or 512GB. Damn. Don't do much graphical work like video editing, max use would be something like photo editing or 3D design. Guess the best choice would be to go for the 24GB RAM with 256GB SSD and then expand to an fast external SSD for my data.
The M4/24GB/512GB discount (EDU, Veterans, etc.) price is $879. Costco had it on sale for just $10 more, and in 2025 you can expect Best Buy to match that price. That's the config to get for those who are afraid of feeling cramped with the base specs. You get a lot for that money and the computer will last for years doing duty.
I think that's the one I'll ultimately plump for to pair as a portable option with my Mac Studio M1 Max. I'd prefer the 32Gb variant in reality as it sounds more in keeping with general computer memory sizing standards, but I'm not paying another £200 to reach 32Gb (I can get 64Gb in a new PC build for that money). Pushing to 32Gb would bring the final cost to within £200 of the Mac Mini M4 Pro. Would rather spend £200 on the Final Cut/Logic Studio package from the Education store to use on both machines.
Im thinking of getting the mac mini m4 with 512gb storage and im wondering if i should get 24gb of unified memory or 32gb, it will mostly be used for video editing while using effects like stabilizers and speed ramps
I'm failing to see why it's that much. My mini pc has almost triple the ram and 4 times the storage for far less. Storage prices and lack of options have always made macs a no go for me.
@@nishanksathe9897 Thanks for reminding me - I don't usually put product links, because I am not here to sell, more-so just a conversation. But I have applied for Amazon affiliate long ago, to help support the channel indirectly, and I understand loads of people have been asking about the peripherlas haha.
7:18 Mention is made of the M1 and M1 Pro having been very capable setups compared to the base model M4. The inference here is that the Mac mini was available in the M1 Pro format: not so. The Pro fit-out first came with the M2 version.
I never said an M1 Pro Mac Mini existed. I was talking about the M1 Pro SoC. All I said was that the M1 Pro and M1 were very capable, so it’s no surprise the M4 is as well. It’s 3 generations newer. There was no comparison to M1 from M4 either
@ Thank you for the clarification. Any inference is derived from the viewer’s/readers perception of the author’s intent, however misguided that inference turns out to be.
If you use an external ssd, get a powered dock , ssds take a lot power when under load you dont want the mini to have to supply it. They already get warm
Very little Apple experience, iPod 4 oh so long ago then more recently a mini then they released a new version half a year later.. creeps. Anyways, I think this seems to be my next purchase but I have been looking around for a performance of a thunderbolt nvme enclosure rather than a massive cost price to just up the storage. The other main thing I have yet to find is a intake air filter for it.. think 11 year old cat named Tarot that loves to shed even after brushing. Tumble weeds of cat hair rolling about. Any suggestions?
I have NO idea where I got it, it’s a thunderbolt 4 cable - that’s all I know. I’ve had it for a year now, I want to get another because I love it too. I’ll look and see if I can link.
2:05 the ram isnt soldered on it's in the SOC I've been running the base config mac mini for the past week , nobody should even configure a mac mini; base mac mini is good for most literally everything. byo ssd, its the best $500 pc you can buy
What is exactly your screen ? i am french and u speak too fast for me to understand its reference... it's a samsung it's the only thing i got... thanks in advance ! i love it !
@@valismind thanks but what size . i mean how many inches ? (and don't excuse yourself, you're perfect, it's just my english practice which is not perfect !) Is it this one : Samsung screen PC Odyssey OLED G8 34’’ 175Hz , 0.1ms, Dalle OLED curved 1800R, UWQHD: 3440 x 1440 ????????????
@@valismindcan you talk about it more? Do you think it’s worth it to buy this right now? Or wait for a Mac mini upgrade. Sorry if it’s a dumb question I’m new to Mac’s, only ever used a pC but might need one of these for work. It seems cheap and like it would work
Great review, but I think this model would not be for me because I want to do music production or write orchestrations. So, I think the Mac mini Pro would be better. You agree? I love your monitor but what model is it and screen size. Looking for one when I get my Mac mini. Right note I have an iMac 2015 and need a new one. Thank you, again.
It’s a Samsung Odyssey G8 OLED, 34” Ultra-wide. It’s the 1440p model. The Alienware QD OLED is the same display as well, and cheaper but doesn’t look as nice. I think the M4 would be nice for you. But the M4 Pro would def be a better configuration, even the base model if you plan to keep it for the next many years to come. It’s def worth the investment. Honestly though, the M4 base model with an external SSD, or dock that has an SSD would be a nice solution for music production. Do you plan on using Logic, or FL? And thanks for the mind words!
I bought the M1 Mac mini when it came out but wasn’t able to get the spec I wanted without a massive wait time so had to make do with the 8Gb version if I had got the spec I wanted I wouldn’t even be looking to upgrade. Anyway as no YT’er has done any comparisons on various memory configurations so I thought F it I’ve got the money so ordered a maxed out memory version was more restrained on the internal storage as its easy to add external storage.
Isn’t it a contradiction that you splurged on the $1600 Apple monitor and the $900 Samsung monitor, but you were not willing to spend $1000 for a Mac Mini with 512 GB storage and 24 GB memory? The 256 GB SSD is also slower. Although you can always install the Mac OS on an external thunderbolt Nmve SSD. What is that Thunderbolt dock?
it's funny they decided to put the button on the bottom indeed... but that said, as a desktop computer, if you're a daily user, it's not a problem, as you can just put it into sleep, just by leaving the computer unattended for some minutes, which I have been doing for years, or clicking in the menu to go to sleep if you absolutely want it "off" immediately. I'd like if Apple had put an app on the iPhone to turn it on and off, for the few possible times you might need to do that, and don't want to push the button at the bottom of the machine, or in Apple style, make a dock with on/off button!.. or something.
I have turned mine off then had to turn it on once in three weeks of use and it took about three seconds to lift that corner up and press the button. Admittedly I do not keep it in a tight enclosure but given all the positive aspects, I do not know why people are hung up about this!
Of course the storage is user-replaceable. You just need to get a fitting module which will be produced by 3rd party. So there will be no difference to a "normal" SSD, which you also need to buy.
The good thing about thunderbolt is the bandwidth, you can use a type c dongle, that has multiple USB ports for your keyboard, mouse and other peripherals and not have an issue.
You lost me when you recommended the 1tb model. External storage is so good these days, there is absolutely no need. Just take 5mins to learn about hard links, soft links, etc..
When we have the base being 8GB, TH-camrs be like" 8GB is not enough get 16". When 16GB is the base, TH-camrs be like: "16GB is not enough,, get more". Convince me this thing is not a cult.
LOL, 16GB is more than plenty for 90% of people using this thing. Including me. I dive into this later into the video, upgrading would only be to future proof. But it's not needed. Storage is more-so the concern with the base model, but that's it.
Best to avoid the 256gb model and get the 512gb - the 256gb has dual 128gb NAND memory chips and the 512gb has dual 256gb NAND chips which are faster - this makes the 512gb internal storage about 50% faster (which helps a lot when the memory runs out and it starts using the SSD as memory cache - and then as others have said, get an external thunderbolt enclosure and stick a large fast nvme SSD in it for a fraction of the cost apple charge for internal storage. fyi don't bother with 1tb internal storage as its no faster than the 512gb option and its cheaper to buy much larger (and maybe faster) external storage.
Does anybody else think this is Apple's way of keeping you in their ecosystem or adding you to it? I mean that's cheaper than their phones with the same storage.
I’ve was a fantastic designer. He did pull a lot of inspiration from BRAUN, but the products were outstanding in terms of looks. But form is never supposed to be over function, and I’m happy with the direction Apple has taken as of late at least on a hardware front.
"What happened to Apple? This is actually a good value. "Said NOBODY EVER that abandoned shitty PCs and horrible DOS and Windows OS's crashing all day long since what? 1984? the last 40 years I could care less about a Windows PC since buying a Mac back in the day. LMFAO. There has NEVER been a time when a Mac wasn't a good value. LOL wut?
I think it’s definitely subjective, and also more of a joke. I think Macs have been a GREAT value since the switch to Apple silicon, it’s why I’ve been using them - and have abandoned my windows build entirely for editing as of late
@@valismind I suppose it's subjective but I've been computing since the late 70s and I have only ever had to turn off a Mac and turn it back on because the OS froze up a handful of times a year. Compared to a handful of times a day with DOS and Windows. The fact is that Apple makes the hardware AND the software. It's an intimate relationship that Windows will NEVER be able to match, Windows must run on 10 billion different configurations, Mac OS has to run on like 5. Checkmate. Yeah, you pay a price but it's ALWAYS been worth it to people that want reliability. Reliability has been with Macs since day 1. still waiting for Windows.
LOL, thanking Apple for an HDMI port. That sounds sad coming from the PC after the macbook pro 2015 that broke and has overheating problems after repair. The M4 looks like a good deal but the deal breaker is the 256Gb storage. Looking at the windows side I can buy a mini PC 200+ euro less because the mac mini price in europe is 700 Euro. But the mini PC has 2x the ram 32Gb and 4 x the storage 2Tb and CPU and GPU is performance is very close to the M2 mac. I'm talking about the Beelink Ser8. And best thing is you can still upgrade the ram and storage on that machine. I still prefer MacOS but the way Apple screws you with the low storage and ram is just unacceptable to me.
They Keychron & the lofree are neither cheap or ugly & I also don’t spend a penny on them 😂 the blue Logitech, sure. Not even mine though and I’d never actually use it. Was for a racing sim setup I had at one point.
Some people seem to like to whine about Apple's $200/step upgrade price, but for those who haven't looked, Lenovo and Microsoft charges the same (or thereabouts) for some of their systems with step upgrades. *This pricing is a good thing.* It forces you to buy only what you need. And if you still think the prices are too high then tell me, please, separately price out the following you get from Apple: 1) MacOS, including many applications that are sufficient for many people; 1b) Updates to MacOS for the next 7 years or so; 2) Customer support you can actually receive by calling (on a phone), or walking into your local Apple Store; 3) Spare parts and information on your computer for the next 10 years. When you can figure out the prices for those things, then complain about the upgrade steps.
I think the most uniform criticism Apple have received within the M-series line up from the outset is that upgrade prices are obscene when it comes to both memory and storage. Not one sane person on the planet can justify what they charge for memory and storage compared to the PC world. Considering they produce all the chips in their machines, and how skin flint they are towards towards their suppliers, the profit margins have always been obscene too. A third party is producing SSD's for the M1/M2 Mac Studios for $800 per 8Tb compared to over $2000 from Apple, and with better onboard power protection. That goes to show how much they are raking in for upgrades when a third party can still turn a profit after all the R&D work they did to reverse engineer Apples product to make their own. As to your points, I'd give you 1a/b, a partial for 2 as some people in the stores aren't totally clued up anecdotally, and as to 3, yes they have spare parts, but they won't sell them to end users to upgrade where it's possible, and unless you take out Applecare, repair costs also cost an arm & a leg, making it sometimes more economic to scrap what you have and buy a new machine. Don't get me wrong, I love my Apple hardware, but I still love the pleasure of occasionally being able to totally control the spec of a newly built PC like I did last year for the first time in about 15 years. That's something Apple will never give us as consumers, and apart from going back to user upgradeable storage and memory, I'm happy the rest of the motherboard is locked down to make the hardware universally run properly, unlike Windows!
I keep getting comments/ questions about the peripherals I'm using - so I've thrown links in the video description to help you out!
Please note, these are Amazon affiliate links, I make a small (very small) commission off of sales, at no expense to you. It's a way to support the channel indirectly, and I appreciate everyone who does view/ purchase using the links. If you do not want to support me, or use Amazon - I've listed the names of the items as well, so you can purchase direct from any retailer. THANK YOU!
There’s an image missing in the first 40 seconds, just shows a report of the Mac mini SSD being user replaceable I DONT know why the image just magically disappeared
I’ve had my base M4 MacMini a week, using it for graphic design every day and I’ve not made it sweat yet, I upgraded the internal SSD as I know how Adobe programs use swap memory and added an external SSD for my files. It’s lightning fast compared to my old work MacBook Pro M1 Max with all the RAM. I’m super happy with it and it’s transformed my desk, with so much space now. I can’t recommend it enough!
Thank you for your review. I’m also a graphic designer beginner and wanted a Mac but the price is insane
@ you’re welcome, I think MacMini is really good value, if you already have monitors, keyboard and mouse, otherwise the iMac is just as good value?
How upgraded internal memory? I dont understand..
@@IPTVBALKAN when I bought it, I doubled the ssd size, you can’t do this once it’s purchased. It was £799 instead of £599. It’s not a great deal for storage, but it’s still a great price for a fantastic Mac computer..
Same. $799 for a 16GB unified memory and 512GB SSD is all the machine I need. It’s a beast.
yet another review and all it talks about is video editing.... Not to diss on this particular review, but I wish reviews would cover more than just video editing. How about gaming, how about software development, how about regular daily driving tasks, how about music composition, dunno... people use computers for so much more than just editing youtube clips.
Hey I get it - but this is what I use it for, I am not going to pretend to be a software developer, or a 3D artist to get views, there are plenty of people who do those things & share their experience with the M4 mini! :) appreciate the comment though
I’ve been hunting down videos for someone who’s into digital illustration/animation as well as Blender. There’s only one channel I found so far named “Krishna Draws” who’s a professional comic artist/illustrator
This is an issue with all TH-cam reviews, as video editing is a major part of what the authors do with their computers. My key use is business finance so I spend hours looking at spreadsheets. Such use does not really stretch computers, as the files are small and make low demands on computing power, storage and memory. But there are other things to watch out for, like backup which is very important for business use and rarely covered by TH-camrs. And OLED monitors have the risk of burn-in which is a real issue as spreadsheets are pretty static things. My gripe with these minis is the reduced connectivity, I have multiple external drives, printers, scanners, speakers which need to be directly connected. But nothing is perfect.
Yeah it does seem like every single review I’ve seen has been about editing videos
Gaming 😂😂😂
I got a Mac Mini M4 to replace my M2 Mac Mini as my daily driver, and I've found out that getting an NVMe to Thunderbolt 4 enclosure did it for me. You can move libraries over to that disk, let the App Store download larger than 1GB apps to it, and move over the system photo library. I almost have 115GB free at all times. So it's not the end of the world - though 512 is always nicer!
Send Link to enclosure and NVME
@@moem5637 It's the Acasis TBU405 and the NVME I used is a Samsung 990 EVO SSD 2TB M.2.
You can do way better cost-wise by getting a cheaper NVME, since you won't get the entire speed through Thunderbolt 4, but you know. It's still amazingly fast.
@@moem5637 I purchased the Satechi Thunderbolt enclosure (Amazon and certified Apple stores)
This enclosure has Apple official certification and works flawless. Make sure you buy an SSD that can handle 40 Gbps.
OWC is also a certified brand, the enclosure costs around $100 to $120 usd and the NVMe drive that i bought cost me $123 usd WD Block SN850X
Thunderbolt drives get very hot, some drives will lose performance so i purchased a Thermalake heatsink ($9) and keep the drive enclosure open because it has no active fan for cooling.
Buying non certified enclosures such as the brands like UGreen, Orico are problematic and may disconnect frequently when they reach max speeds. (they don't use a certified Thunderbolt controller and their included cables are not up to the speed or specs either)
When I bought my M1 Mac mini ….i hooked it up to a 10TB external hard drive…never had any storage issues again…the external hard drive was like $168 🤓😊
RAM means "Random Access Memory". It is a type of device that holds data for random, fast temporary access. That is all. It has nothing to do with being used by the CPU or GPU or whatever. GPU memory is sometimes called VRAM, but it is still RAM. You don't even have to use RAM with a GPU or CPU. Modules can be used with FPGAs or ASICs, and they are not CPUs or GPUs. NPUs and various other accelerators can use RAM just as well. The same exact type of modules.
As an example, the RTX4090 has 24GB of RAM. It is perfectly correct to call it that, and some news sites do. Nvidia calls it "memory", which is the "M" in "RAM".
Heck, the M4 uses LPDDR5X, which is even closed to the good old RAM sticks than GPU RAM which is GDDR.
RAM is RAM is RAM is RAM. Shared, not shared, on-dye, separate, DDR, GDDR, HBM, it is all RAM.
Please don't take this too deeply. It just happens to be in my field. Your video is nice and informative, and has the quality of larger channels. 😁
nerd
Super informative, thanks! How is the RAM in the GPU utilized differently than the general RAM?
Also, have you considered sharing detailed information like this in videos as a TH-camr? You’re a great teacher. I’d subscribe.
Yeah, that’s true in general, but there’s still a difference between unified (shared) RAM and dedicated RAM, like he mentioned. It’s all technically RAM-even stuff like CPU caches or the DRAM in SSDs-but it is still important to differentiate between types for clarity. Things like bandwidth, latency, size, and how it’s used (shared vs. dedicated) make a big difference. So while calling everything RAM isn’t wrong either, differentiate is also useful.
Sorry, happens to be my field too.
PS: @ValisMind Maybe think about to disable this horrible auto translation, it's just annoying if put something on my playlist and this shitty translation starts. It was lucky that I was on my PC and were able to change the language. On autoplay or the TV I just skip.
"Please don't take this too deeply" says the guy who takes this way too deeply.
Every good programmer should also know that its not random accessable for a long time now, because the cost of a L2 cache miss is almost 400 instructions now. The RAM access time since the good old C64 home computer (120ns in 1985) has not gone down a lot. it's around 10ns now. Just an order of magnitude.
What's dock that you are using? Do you have a link for it?
Good thing you put "HONEST" in all caps in the title, otherwise I would have thought you were being dishonest.
I have no complaints about my M4 Mac mini choice: 1TB storage, 24GB memory and 10 Gigabit Ethernet. I did indeed upgrade from another Mac mini, an M1 with 16GB memory and 512GB storage. I have a VESA-mount Apple Studio Display, Magic Mouse with an adapter that converts it for wireless charging as well as raising the base of the mouse by 1 cm at the front and nearly 2 cm at the back, so it fits my hand much better. I use a short (no numeric pad) Touch ID Magic keyboard, a condenser mic on a folding boom and an Insta360 Link 4k webcam. The display's speakers are perfectly fine for my use. Once the Mac and display are connected, there are two unused Thunderbolt 4 ports on the Mac, two 10 GBps USB-C ports on the Mac and three more on the display itself. The microphone and webcam use up two of those USC-C ports on the display. I still have five free ports, four on the Mac and one on the display. I also have a USB-C SD/micro SD card reader that is sometimes used, it gets connected to one of the Mac's front ports. The speaker on the M4 version is surprisingly capable and clear compared to the tinny one on the M1 Mac mini.
So youre rich.
@ Not anymore!
Who makes that green usbc cable you're using with your external SSD's?
HAGIBIS USB4 cable
I have an M1 Max Studio hooked up to three Dell Ultrasharp 4k 27 inch monitors next to an iMac Pro and I'm happy with my setup. I could use more RAM, say 40-48 GB of RAM instead of the 32 that I have and I wouldn't mind 1 TB storage instead of 512 GB. So I'll have a look when the M4 Studio comes out. I think that the M4 mini is a fantastic Mac and an incredible value, but the Studio has lots of RAM available, has a fantastic cooling system, and I love all of the ports. I use the three monitor port hubs to expand USB-A and USB-C ports though they are not all filled. The Studio is a solid option if you need more CPU, GPU, RAM, ports or cooling.
I just purchased the Mac mini m4 on sale for $559 will receive later this month. My first time to watch your videos and I appreciate the insight and info. I’m wanting to possibly start a business in photos. I found your comments regarding video and photo shop use with the m4 very interesting. This is all pretty much new for me tho I work with multiple apps on my work phone all day for a BIG retail company so I’m up for the challenge of learning what the Mac mini is all about. Thanks for the video!!
I use the base model Mac Mini for mostly running Security Spy and saving video/photo from home PoE security cameras. With my old Mac Mini I was about to install a fan in my entertainment cabinet due to running so hot. This baby stays cool! So far really impressed with how I use it.
Just wondering if the new minis have a internal/external mic? My M2 mini does not and that sucks.
Great review!
I bought my first Mac (MBP) in 2015 and it has lasted me over 9yrs. That was the 15" Retina, Intel i7, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD and it's still going strong. Had to replace the battery once and it needs another, but I keep it plugged in almost all the time so I don't really notice. But it can no longer take the latest macOS so I decided to finally buy a new system and chose a Mac Mini which I just ordered on XMAS and can't wait to get it.
I ordered the M4 Pro, 14 Core CPU, 20 Core GPU, 64GB Memory, 1TB SSD. Why so much? Future proofing. I expect it to last at least 8 years. At the end of the day, the extra $1000 on upgrades effectively is buying me extra years of use with the system so barring some other massive advancement in computers, I shouldn't need to upgrade again for quite some time. Also having 2TB of iCloud storage has been a big help as well and allows me to not need any external storage.
That's the biggest problem with my Mac stuff--it lasts forever. No real reason to upgrade. I have a MacBook Air from 2015 I still use for small tasks and writing then my M1 Mini that has run flawlessly since I bought it 4 years ago. I just had to add disk space because I do a lot of graphics and video work. But my Macs from the 90s are still running old games.
I am very happy with mine. It is the 24GB / 512 GB and I did get it with Edu discount and with Applecare and Tax the grand total was around $1000 USD. Love it so far.
how can you get edu discount? how old are you?
@Gamerpreneur_id It is fairly easy, give the Apple store your school email and that is all it takes.
Doubting now what to get, the M4 Mini 16 or 24 with 256 or 512GB. Damn. Don't do much graphical work like video editing, max use would be something like photo editing or 3D design. Guess the best choice would be to go for the 24GB RAM with 256GB SSD and then expand to an fast external SSD for my data.
The M4/24GB/512GB discount (EDU, Veterans, etc.) price is $879. Costco had it on sale for just $10 more, and in 2025 you can expect Best Buy to match that price. That's the config to get for those who are afraid of feeling cramped with the base specs. You get a lot for that money and the computer will last for years doing duty.
I think that's the one I'll ultimately plump for to pair as a portable option with my Mac Studio M1 Max. I'd prefer the 32Gb variant in reality as it sounds more in keeping with general computer memory sizing standards, but I'm not paying another £200 to reach 32Gb (I can get 64Gb in a new PC build for that money). Pushing to 32Gb would bring the final cost to within £200 of the Mac Mini M4 Pro. Would rather spend £200 on the Final Cut/Logic Studio package from the Education store to use on both machines.
Im thinking of getting the mac mini m4 with 512gb storage and im wondering if i should get 24gb of unified memory or 32gb, it will mostly be used for video editing while using effects like stabilizers and speed ramps
I'm failing to see why it's that much. My mini pc has almost triple the ram and 4 times the storage for far less. Storage prices and lack of options have always made macs a no go for me.
blah blah blah it's only in america. Here in europe cost more than 40% more money
Or just get a thunderbolt external m.2 enclosure and 2tb drive for $150ish, and accept 16gb ram is fine
Thank you 🙏 what about using cloud to save/storage?
Hey! What kind of cable is that you’re using with the external drive?
@valismind, my approach would be to upgrade the unified memory and set up an NVME M.2 SSD array into a Thunderbolt port to cover the storage issues.
Great video! How have you set up your monitor? It doesn’t appear to be sitting on top of your desk at all.
He is using a monitor arm
Could you please add links to the products in this video. That would be really helpful. Thanks!
Just added them, thanks!
@valismind thank you for sharing. Appreciate it.
@@nishanksathe9897 Thanks for reminding me - I don't usually put product links, because I am not here to sell, more-so just a conversation. But I have applied for Amazon affiliate long ago, to help support the channel indirectly, and I understand loads of people have been asking about the peripherlas haha.
are you related to Nick Wright? Good overview. Would the M4 Pro be an alternative to your suggested upgrade on the M4 model?
Thanks for your honest opinion and your real world experience.
Where is this Green cable from?
Anyone can recommend Best monitor pairing with this stuff pls?
Can you use a docking station? My docking station has two HDMI and other features.
The fact that it has inbuilt speakers is crazy
7:18 Mention is made of the M1 and M1 Pro having been very capable setups compared to the base model M4. The inference here is that the Mac mini was available in the M1 Pro format: not so. The Pro fit-out first came with the M2 version.
I never said an M1 Pro Mac Mini existed. I was talking about the M1 Pro SoC. All I said was that the M1 Pro and M1 were very capable, so it’s no surprise the M4 is as well. It’s 3 generations newer.
There was no comparison to M1 from M4 either
@ Thank you for the clarification. Any inference is derived from the viewer’s/readers perception of the author’s intent, however misguided that inference turns out to be.
@@PeterEmery no i understand, and i could have worded it better for sure - apprecaite you I will keep this in mind
Samsung Odyssey G8 OLED Ultrawide @ 1440p - apparently no scaling issues with text. Sounds like a keeper.
what is the first black/wood keyboard? I need to know :D. Got it, its Keychron
The price sweet point is actually waiting a few months and buying higher end models at a lower price slightly used.
What keyboard is that second one at the beginning of the video (0:01)? Looks super nice
Lofree keyboard :)
Most of my software I use cannot run on Apple Silicon chips ... I do need a virtualized Intel Windows ...
If you use an external ssd, get a powered dock , ssds take a lot power when under load you dont want the mini to have to supply it. They already get warm
Yes I usually use it plugged into the caldigit, but ti be fair haven’t noticed a difference
I wouldn’t think 5 watts would be a lot of power to most people
Can you suggest a good powered dock? Thanks
This is terrible advice 😅
Please people don’t spend more money. That’s what ports are there for. This is down right terrible advice lmao.
Very little Apple experience, iPod 4 oh so long ago then more recently a mini then they released a new version half a year later.. creeps. Anyways, I think this seems to be my next purchase but I have been looking around for a performance of a thunderbolt nvme enclosure rather than a massive cost price to just up the storage. The other main thing I have yet to find is a intake air filter for it.. think 11 year old cat named Tarot that loves to shed even after brushing. Tumble weeds of cat hair rolling about. Any suggestions?
what monitor is that looks so fire
Samsung Odyssey G8 OLED 34” 1440P
Can you link to those lime green cables? I like the size and power indicator. Thanks. Great video.
I have NO idea where I got it, it’s a thunderbolt 4 cable - that’s all I know. I’ve had it for a year now, I want to get another because I love it too. I’ll look and see if I can link.
I was wondering the same thing
Got any spare old mac minis you can send over?? Kidding, great video as always!
LOL, I wish - I don't have an Apple tree hahaha
Love the new studio great job buddy
Thank you 🙏
The base model with a 2tb nvme in an enclosure with 40 gibabits speed seems dam good.
2:05 the ram isnt soldered on it's in the SOC
I've been running the base config mac mini for the past week , nobody should even configure a mac mini; base mac mini is good for most literally everything. byo ssd, its the best $500 pc you can buy
is 16gb ram enough for 4k video editing?
@@beary2teddy yes I literally have one and it runs circles around my pc in optimization
What is exactly your screen ? i am french and u speak too fast for me to understand its reference... it's a samsung it's the only thing i got... thanks in advance ! i love it !
Sorry! It’s a Samsung G8 OLED
@@valismind thanks but what size . i mean how many inches ? (and don't excuse yourself, you're perfect, it's just my english practice which is not perfect !)
Is it this one : Samsung screen PC Odyssey OLED G8 34’’ 175Hz , 0.1ms, Dalle OLED curved 1800R, UWQHD: 3440 x 1440 ????????????
@@FrancoAmorto French also here, add subtitle bro :)
Apple has always had some products of good value.
I agree, just a joke haha. But this is an incredible value.
@@valismindcan you talk about it more? Do you think it’s worth it to buy this right now? Or wait for a Mac mini upgrade. Sorry if it’s a dumb question I’m new to Mac’s, only ever used a pC but might need one of these for work. It seems cheap and like it would work
is 256 GB enough? is it possible to load apple apps in an external ssd ?
Yes it is possible
It was such a pain when I saw that fingerprint right on the Apple logo, just at the beginning of the video
LOL
Great review, but I think this model would not be for me because I want to do music production or write orchestrations. So, I think the Mac mini Pro would be better. You agree? I love your monitor but what model is it and screen size. Looking for one when I get my Mac mini. Right note I have an iMac 2015 and need a new one. Thank you, again.
It’s a Samsung Odyssey G8 OLED, 34” Ultra-wide. It’s the 1440p model. The Alienware QD OLED is the same display as well, and cheaper but doesn’t look as nice.
I think the M4 would be nice for you. But the M4 Pro would def be a better configuration, even the base model if you plan to keep it for the next many years to come. It’s def worth the investment. Honestly though, the M4 base model with an external SSD, or dock that has an SSD would be a nice solution for music production.
Do you plan on using Logic, or FL?
And thanks for the mind words!
That's why I'm asking you all this is because I'm using Logic and need to upgrade Logic and get a New Mac mini (Pro), etc.
I bought the M1 Mac mini when it came out but wasn’t able to get the spec I wanted without a massive wait time so had to make do with the 8Gb version if I had got the spec I wanted I wouldn’t even be looking to upgrade. Anyway as no YT’er has done any comparisons on various memory configurations so I thought F it I’ve got the money so ordered a maxed out memory version was more restrained on the internal storage as its easy to add external storage.
What kind of usb c game is that? the green one
Love the style and aesthetic of your videos. Came for the review - stayed for the vibes 🦞
Im a stock trader doing lots of crome tab. Like 20 30 base modle enogh for me??
For sure
Isn’t it a contradiction that you splurged on the $1600 Apple monitor and the $900 Samsung monitor, but you were not willing to spend $1000 for a Mac Mini with 512 GB storage and 24 GB memory? The 256 GB SSD is also slower.
Although you can always install the Mac OS on an external thunderbolt Nmve SSD.
What is that Thunderbolt dock?
Thanks a lot - my first desktop Apple 😊
Great video! Thank you.
THANK YOU
it's funny they decided to put the button on the bottom indeed... but that said, as a desktop computer, if you're a daily user, it's not a problem, as you can just put it into sleep, just by leaving the computer unattended for some minutes, which I have been doing for years, or clicking in the menu to go to sleep if you absolutely want it "off" immediately.
I'd like if Apple had put an app on the iPhone to turn it on and off, for the few possible times you might need to do that, and don't want to push the button at the bottom of the machine, or in Apple style, make a dock with on/off button!.. or something.
I have turned mine off then had to turn it on once in three weeks of use and it took about three seconds to lift that corner up and press the button. Admittedly I do not keep it in a tight enclosure but given all the positive aspects, I do not know why people are hung up about this!
Hot corners are a simple way to do this
Of course the storage is user-replaceable. You just need to get a fitting module which will be produced by 3rd party. So there will be no difference to a "normal" SSD, which you also need to buy.
U can run the home directory using external ssd
The internal storage of the mac mini m4 IS replaceable. Just look it up.
Why so few USBs,you need at least two for your mouse & keyboard.
The good thing about thunderbolt is the bandwidth, you can use a type c dongle, that has multiple USB ports for your keyboard, mouse and other peripherals and not have an issue.
@@valismind Ah I see, thank you very much.
Can the base model play youtube playback at 8K60fps HDR without framedrop?
It has only 256 GB. Would be to less for me. I have a Minis forum mini pc with 2 TB.
great review
The dock is bigger than Mac mini
LOL I know it’s crazy
You lost me when you recommended the 1tb model. External storage is so good these days, there is absolutely no need. Just take 5mins to learn about hard links, soft links, etc..
I didn’t recommend the 1TB model, I said if I were to get one - that’s the spec I’d consider
I like that green USB cable!
When we have the base being 8GB, TH-camrs be like" 8GB is not enough get 16". When 16GB is the base, TH-camrs be like: "16GB is not enough,, get more". Convince me this thing is not a cult.
LOL, 16GB is more than plenty for 90% of people using this thing. Including me. I dive into this later into the video, upgrading would only be to future proof. But it's not needed. Storage is more-so the concern with the base model, but that's it.
ur video is beautiful!! but recommend to use gimbal please!
thanks for great viedo!
I bought the exact one you recommend
want that keyboard but not in store right now , damn
Don't need power hungry PC for my daily basic work anymore.
4:53 - My other monitor is an Iliad…
I have the same Logitech Mouse MX Master 3S
Your audio is too quiet.
The base model should have been 512go, and the M4 pro base model 1to
M4 Pro Mac mini is the sweet spot.
Kurze Info, du bist hier auf einer deutschen Plattform da ist englisch eher kontraproduktiv
I have USB-C to USB-A hub, so Mac mini has $0 additional cost for me.
why none of these reviews talk about the insane battery life the mac mini has.😅
♾️ craziest battery life on a Mac, runs forever.
Best to avoid the 256gb model and get the 512gb - the 256gb has dual 128gb NAND memory chips and the 512gb has dual 256gb NAND chips which are faster - this makes the 512gb internal storage about 50% faster (which helps a lot when the memory runs out and it starts using the SSD as memory cache - and then as others have said, get an external thunderbolt enclosure and stick a large fast nvme SSD in it for a fraction of the cost apple charge for internal storage. fyi don't bother with 1tb internal storage as its no faster than the 512gb option and its cheaper to buy much larger (and maybe faster) external storage.
Does anybody else think this is Apple's way of keeping you in their ecosystem or adding you to it? I mean that's cheaper than their phones with the same storage.
base model with an external ssd it is then
Why do you feel the need to write “honest” in the title?
What happened to Apple ?
Easy one they removed Ive who was removing all ports because of his obsession with thinness
I’ve was a fantastic designer. He did pull a lot of inspiration from BRAUN, but the products were outstanding in terms of looks. But form is never supposed to be over function, and I’m happy with the direction Apple has taken as of late at least on a hardware front.
thank you i buy this one macmini4 the most cheap
Base is the one to get for EVERYONE! Use external ssds or nvme with thunderbolt enclosure. Why pay apple tax storage ??!
I agree. But things like Final Cut can be annoying with the way it caches. I have always bought base models though.
Exactly what I did…1TB ex SSD…$249 add on. The whole setup is easy peasy. Combined it’s a very efficient setup.
this algorithm is lame ads are even worst
n software / experrience , all set in this 599
Bro acts like external Good ssd's don't exist...
iTs NoT rAm ItS uNiFiEd MeMoRy
boot off a fast external 4tb SSD. Geez. dont be so picky. wait for the $2000 M4 Max Mac Studio. this machine is for casual users. GEEZ.
HDMI 2.1
"What happened to Apple? This is actually a good value. "Said NOBODY EVER that abandoned shitty PCs and horrible DOS and Windows OS's crashing all day long since what? 1984? the last 40 years I could care less about a Windows PC since buying a Mac back in the day. LMFAO. There has NEVER been a time when a Mac wasn't a good value. LOL wut?
I think it’s definitely subjective, and also more of a joke. I think Macs have been a GREAT value since the switch to Apple silicon, it’s why I’ve been using them - and have abandoned my windows build entirely for editing as of late
@@valismind I suppose it's subjective but I've been computing since the late 70s and I have only ever had to turn off a Mac and turn it back on because the OS froze up a handful of times a year. Compared to a handful of times a day with DOS and Windows. The fact is that Apple makes the hardware AND the software. It's an intimate relationship that Windows will NEVER be able to match, Windows must run on 10 billion different configurations, Mac OS has to run on like 5. Checkmate. Yeah, you pay a price but it's ALWAYS been worth it to people that want reliability. Reliability has been with Macs since day 1. still waiting for Windows.
"I make videos about making videos" 🙈
You quoted something I didn’t say
@valismind 🙊
[LOBSTER EMOJI]
LOL thank you
I’m waiting on your DISHONEST review.
LOL, thanking Apple for an HDMI port. That sounds sad coming from the PC after the macbook pro 2015 that broke and has overheating problems after repair. The M4 looks like a good deal but the deal breaker is the 256Gb storage. Looking at the windows side I can buy a mini PC 200+ euro less because the mac mini price in europe is 700 Euro. But the mini PC has 2x the ram 32Gb and 4 x the storage 2Tb and CPU and GPU is performance is very close to the M2 mac. I'm talking about the Beelink Ser8. And best thing is you can still upgrade the ram and storage on that machine. I still prefer MacOS but the way Apple screws you with the low storage and ram is just unacceptable to me.
I’m not thanking them for an HDMI port, I’m just shocked that it’s an HDMI 2.1 port at this price point.
I would be asking myself also why you spent so much money on those cheap ugly keyboards!
They Keychron & the lofree are neither cheap or ugly & I also don’t spend a penny on them 😂 the blue Logitech, sure. Not even mine though and I’d never actually use it. Was for a racing sim setup I had at one point.
Some people seem to like to whine about Apple's $200/step upgrade price, but for those who haven't looked, Lenovo and Microsoft charges the same (or thereabouts) for some of their systems with step upgrades. *This pricing is a good thing.* It forces you to buy only what you need. And if you still think the prices are too high then tell me, please, separately price out the following you get from Apple:
1) MacOS, including many applications that are sufficient for many people;
1b) Updates to MacOS for the next 7 years or so;
2) Customer support you can actually receive by calling (on a phone), or walking into your local Apple Store;
3) Spare parts and information on your computer for the next 10 years.
When you can figure out the prices for those things, then complain about the upgrade steps.
The big difference is that most (not all!) PCs still have user serviceable memory and storage.
I think the most uniform criticism Apple have received within the M-series line up from the outset is that upgrade prices are obscene when it comes to both memory and storage. Not one sane person on the planet can justify what they charge for memory and storage compared to the PC world. Considering they produce all the chips in their machines, and how skin flint they are towards towards their suppliers, the profit margins have always been obscene too.
A third party is producing SSD's for the M1/M2 Mac Studios for $800 per 8Tb compared to over $2000 from Apple, and with better onboard power protection. That goes to show how much they are raking in for upgrades when a third party can still turn a profit after all the R&D work they did to reverse engineer Apples product to make their own.
As to your points, I'd give you 1a/b, a partial for 2 as some people in the stores aren't totally clued up anecdotally, and as to 3, yes they have spare parts, but they won't sell them to end users to upgrade where it's possible, and unless you take out Applecare, repair costs also cost an arm & a leg, making it sometimes more economic to scrap what you have and buy a new machine.
Don't get me wrong, I love my Apple hardware, but I still love the pleasure of occasionally being able to totally control the spec of a newly built PC like I did last year for the first time in about 15 years. That's something Apple will never give us as consumers, and apart from going back to user upgradeable storage and memory, I'm happy the rest of the motherboard is locked down to make the hardware universally run properly, unlike Windows!
🦞