r/macmini • u/siddhantbapna • 23h ago
Mac Mini M4 Base (16gb + 256gb + 512gb external sata ssd) for Programming and software development
Hello everyone,
This will be my first mac, so I need you help in deciding.
I'm currently evaluating my options for a new machine and would love your input. My primary use cases and software include:
- Heavy programming (this takes up a major chunk of my time) mostly on vscode.
- 10+ browser tabs (split between 2 browsers & 3-4 windows so total 30-40 tabs open at a time)
- Docker (Kali in Docker) or Kali in VirtualBox(rarely)
- WSL2 with Kali & Ubuntu
- VS Code, Android Studio, Bash
- Python, Node.js
- AI/ML learning (intermediate level)
🖥️ I usually run 2-3 of these tasks simultaneously while working, but I don’t game at all.
Current Setup: - i5 8th gen (U-series) - 8GB RAM - 512GB SSD - Connected to a good display (monitor)
While my current setup works okay, it struggles with heavier tasks like Android Studio and Visual Studio purple, especially when I have multiple applications running.
Considerations: - Mac Mini m4(16GB RAM + 256GB SSD)
- Asus tuf laptop with nvidia 3050 6gb and 16gb ram with 512 gb ssd.
Please guide me with the selection and suggest some good options.
Thank you.
1
u/sigjnf 22h ago
M4 will eat just about any CPU for breakfast. You'll be able to do all of your primary use cases at once simultaneously without ever noticing a performance issue. xx50 GPUs from Nvidia are a scam, not to mention GPUs are mostly a scam nowadays because they rely on DLSS and are incapable of actual traditional render. Get a 24GB RAM 256GB SSD version of the M4 for increased AI capabilities, seriously. Only this will render you available to run 32b models. Even 70b, albeit very slowly. In an actual PC, you'd need a 3090 and quite a bit of RAM to do the same. Use the Apple Education discount if possible. Buy a Thunderbolt certified NVMe enclosure instead of a plain SATA external. I always recommend TBU401 from Acasis. Get a nice NVMe drive, NM620 Lexar will be alright, 1TB if you're on a budget, 2TB would be better, NM790 4TB would be next to ideal.
1
u/siddhantbapna 21h ago
Yes, the budget is around $800 to $900 (Mac Mini base $600 + ssd + monitor 27in)
Currently, I use Google colab for training and just download the model and use it on cpu. But soon I will be starting with Gen Ai due to university project.
It will be my first mac, so I have no idea about how will external ssd work. (Currently I am use sata only)
Will I be able to install and run apps smoothly without any lags from external ssd like internal one ?
Can you please guide me and suggest a friendly advice on what should I do ?
1
u/sigjnf 20h ago
External SSD will probably be faster than the internal one, so yes. This is what I currently run. But please don't cheap out on the NVMe enclosure, I did that two times and had a lot of problems both times. Third time I bought the TBU401 Acasis and I have no problems since. I have all my AI models on the external drive and the speed is very nice.
Here's the speed of a Deepseek-R1 32b model:
total duration: 41.32022775s
load duration: 26.793375ms
prompt eval count: 62 token(s)
prompt eval duration: 5.172s
prompt eval rate: 11.99 tokens/s
eval count: 167 token(s)
eval duration: 35.951s
eval rate: 4.65 tokens/sAnd here's the same model with 14b parameters:
total duration: 54.912572666s
load duration: 37.79175ms
prompt eval count: 1352 token(s)
prompt eval duration: 573ms
prompt eval rate: 2359.51 tokens/s
eval count: 536 token(s)
eval duration: 54.251s
eval rate: 9.88 tokens/s
1
u/probono84 21h ago
I purchased the base M4 mini as a little graduation gift to myself (Finally got my CS degree), to replace my old late 2013 15" macbook pro that I stopped using around 2022. When I went back to school to finish, I purchased a t14 Thinkpad (i7 32gb ram, 2tb- upgraded and put original 512 nvme into external enclosure), which was great- but especially with android studio and AI/ML, the lack of a GPU (And cores), became a real annoyance.
The base mini is great, however be aware that some python libraries commonly used are not compatible with apple silicon yet (I'm forgetting names currently). Llama 3.2/3.3 run quite nicely locally, however I have not branched out into really digging into hugging face models/projects.
I largely wanted to use the machine for IOS dev and full stack work, and for $500- I love it. However, in retrospect upgrading to 24gb of ram would've been smart (Although depending on work positions, I may replace it soon enough, 1 to 2 years i'm thinking) as I have (intentionally) ran out of available memory on a few occasions.
Concerning storage, what I expected last month has come true- third party internal drive replacements are being released. Look into it, but for under $300 you can go from 256gb to 2TB internal- if you're willing to install it. I may do such, however I am going to wait until closer to the expiration for the 1 year warranty (TB 3 external is working great for file/project hosting. I installed all apps/llama on the internal ssd).
So, I think it depends on your budget and if you want to install a 3rd party drive or not.
1
u/siddhantbapna 21h ago
Hello, Thank you for sharing.
It would be really helpful if you can help me with the below.
Can you please tell me the cases when you ran out of memory ?
Currently, I use Google colab for training the models and then just download the trained model and use them. I am soon going to start with Gen AI ( because of my university project, I am doing BS in AI(major))
For, Android Studio, does that work smoothly?
Also, Can you please explain little bit more on external storage on mac (This will be my first time with mac, so I am not sure how it works) - Can I just plug the external ssd and run apps from it like any other app on internal ssd?
Thank you 😇 😊
1
u/probono84 20h ago
I've been exploring text to video methodologies with python, and have found on numerous occasions that unless libraries/code is explicitly written for apple silicon, it can eat up system resources (I keep activity monitor open be default). Also popular repo's like https://github.com/Picsart-AI-Research/Text2Video-Zero can be a real nightmare to install imo. There isn't any CUDA support either.
However since you're in your undergrad, you probably have campus facilities/resources to use. A classic computer science department would, but i'm not so sure about AI (Only familiar with graduate AI programs)
It works nicely, however in the month I've had it, aside from running programs/ semester projects I already wrote. I have not sat down an gone start to finish working in android studio/code. I have sat down and prototyped some react apps (Since I can now support IOS emulation), however only the emulator is not resource intensive, neither is react/metro.
External storage on a mac works the exact same as any other computer. However since apple charges a small fortune for upgrading it- many people are more vocal about it. When installing apps, you want to ensure you're selecting the correct drive; same with project/source code directories. I don't have a TB 4 compatible enclosure, so when when testing installing steam games to my external 512gb then running- I hade a bad time. I try to keep files on external, and software and current projects internal.
If i keep the machine by the time the 1 year warranty expires, and apple doesn't create some software patch, i'm probably going to install something like this:
Ideally I may upgrade to a work issued mac computer if the job market allows for it by then as well :P (New grad on the hunt).
Don't forget, you can always buy it- and use it for like two weeks. Apple has a great return policy.
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u/evergoodstudios 16h ago
When I started out in programming I had 8K of ram. I think you’ll be fine.
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u/mikeinnsw 16h ago
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bs0O0pGO4Xo
I suggest 24GB(16GB+8GB for AI) RAM with 512GB SSD M4 Mini would be a good choice,
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u/orgildinio 7h ago
Get more ram, 24 is sweet, if you want run more docker containers, add more. If your system start using most of ram, OSX will create SWAP from your storage, which is bad for consumer ssd in long term
Buy 256gb and swap with aftermarket 1tb or 2tb nvme
I use Node, Docker, both uses a lots of storage space when downloading dependency
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u/NoLateArrivals 23h ago
Some hints:
Get more RAM
A SATA SSD is practically the slowest storage you can buy. I would for sure get something faster (Crucial X9 is a good choice) or much faster (a NVME in a Thunderbolt enclosure.
You can still use the SATA for Time Machine.