+- MacResource (https://forums.macresource.com)
+-- Forum: My Category (https://forums.macresource.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=1)
+--- Forum: Tips and Deals (https://forums.macresource.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=3)
+--- Thread: Help me spend $$ on an M1 Mac Mini system. (/showthread.php?tid=252789)
Help me spend $$ on an M1 Mac Mini system. - prymsnap - 02-11-2021
The good news: a new work assignment has netted me enough extra cash to finally retire my Mac Pro 5,1. I'm eyeing an M1 Mini, likely with 1TB SSD. The bad news: I'm in sticker shock regarding the cost of SSD external storage AND am not clear on the best configuration strategy.
I realize I could technically keep using my USB and Firewire externals. But my thinking is that if I'm going to leap from the Middle Ages to the future, I want to go all in and have that as my new normal. I can afford to do it properly, so there's no excuse not to.
Current storage set-up with the Mac Pro 5,1:
• Two 2TB internal drives solely for image storage and a backup of that storage.
• One 1TB internal drive for general storage.
• One 2TB external drive for general storage.
• One 1TB external drive that backs up my 1TB internal SSD boot drive. (Boot drive is the only SSD in the system.)
So that's 8TB total: a rather haphazard collection that could benefit from a good refresh.
I've poured over SSD specs am still woefully unclear on the best path for replacing my old drives, especially because mistakes will be costly. Do I just replace each of the current drives with SSDs of matching capacity? Or is there a different strategy I'm missing? Do I want to spend the extra money on Thunderbolt drives to take advantage of daisy chaining?
My goals are 1) generous [currently 2TB] image storage plus matching capacity backup drive, 2) backup drive for my boot drive [anticipated 1TB], and 3) general storage [currently 3TB across two drives] including very large folders for files associated with pro apps.
Any advice? TIA! You guys and gals have never let me down
Re: Help me spend $$ on an M1 Mac Mini system. - btfc - 02-11-2021
Backup drives can be slower to save $.
Re: Help me spend $$ on an M1 Mac Mini system. - prymsnap - 02-11-2021
btfc wrote:
Backup drives can be slower to save $.
Good point.
Re: Help me spend $$ on an M1 Mac Mini system. - btfc - 02-11-2021
Depending on speed, age, etc. you might drop the 2TB drives into something like this:
https://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/MED3ER0GB/
Of course, newer, larger HDDs are pretty affordable now.
Also, it sounds like you might benefit from some sort of hub; again, the sponsors are a good place to start.
Re: Help me spend $$ on an M1 Mac Mini system. - prymsnap - 02-11-2021
btfc wrote:
Depending on speed, age, etc. you might drop the 2TB drives into something like this:
https://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/MED3ER0GB/
Of course, newer, larger HDDs are pretty affordable now.
I see what you're saying about re-purposing the two internal 2TBs. And I'm a happy longtime OWC customer. In fact, I'm assuming an OWC dock will be part of the final mix.
Re: Help me spend $$ on an M1 Mac Mini system. - prymsnap - 02-11-2021
btfc wrote:
Depending on speed, age, etc. ...
...how old do you feel is "too" old?
Re: Help me spend $$ on an M1 Mac Mini system. - rz - 02-11-2021
I'll be in the same boat soon, but I currently have 23TB of internal storage. I'll be looking for some sort of external storage solution that's relatively quiet.
Re: Help me spend $$ on an M1 Mac Mini system. - btfc - 02-11-2021
If they are only a couple of years old and spec out and test well, why not use them? I usually think about swapping out 3.5” HDDs about 3-5 yrs, but often that is as much about size and speed, and I usually repurpose them.
Re: Help me spend $$ on an M1 Mac Mini system. - prymsnap - 02-11-2021
rz wrote:
I'll be in the same boat soon, but I currently have 23TB of internal storage. I'll be looking for some sort of external storage solution that's relatively quiet.
Yowza: my dilemma seems quite small!
Re: Help me spend $$ on an M1 Mac Mini system. - btfc - 02-11-2021
SSDs for the drives where speed is a priority, Thunderbolt 3 is a good choice.
1 or 2 TB seems to be a sweet spot price wise:
https://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/TB3ENVP20/
https://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/TB3ENVP10/