Mini Memory Recommendation

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Level 1

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Mini Memory Recommendation

I'm looking to replace my iMac mid-2011 with a Mini. My older system was a i5 2.5 GHz processor with 12 GB RAM. My question is, with the new Minis, if I go with the M1 and 8GB RAM am I going to see improvements with processing speed? Or would I need the additional 8GB of RAM. I'm not doing any heavy graphic processing, video editing or gaming. Just standard computer usage for work and online surfing. It reads like the RAM on the Mini is "integrated" and that you can't easily upgrade the RAM after your purchase. Hate to buy something newer and it not at least be as fast.

iMac 21.5″, macOS 10.13

Posted on Aug 21, 2022 8:11 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Allan Jones

Level 9

69,368 points

Aug 23, 2022 8:43 AM in response to den.thed

If you haven't noticed, RAM cannot be increased once the computer leaves the assembly line, so most of use recommend configuring with the future in mind. The macOS is very agile with managing memory so 8GB does surprisingly well. My older Macbook Pro has 8GB RAM and has vey shown starved for RAM.

Likewise, storage cannot be increase later. If the financials raise the issue of "buy more RAM or buy more storage," I would go for storage based on how well 8GB RAM seems to service most consumers.

Whatever RAM and storage to order will be your "forever" RAM and storage.

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Answer 2

den.thed

Level 9

78,010 points

Aug 21, 2022 1:19 PM in response to fwdloop

The M1 will be much faster even with only 8GB of integrated non-upgradable RAM.

However for the sake of future proofing, I would order M1 Mac mini with16GB of RAM and the largest Drive that you can afford.

Buy Mac mini - Apple

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Answer 3

John Galt

Level 10

141,964 points

Aug 22, 2022 2:59 PM in response to fwdloop

Ditto everything den.thed wrote.

The M1 Mini will run rings around your iMac.

Memory usage really can't be compared between the two processors. 8 GB will outperform your existing iMac. I'd still get 16 GB, for future needs that cannot even be contemplated yet.

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Answer 4

fwdloop Author

Level 1

8 points

Aug 23, 2022 8:53 AM in response to fwdloop

Thanks for all the input! Yes economics is unfortunately a factor. I currently use just over 270GB of hard drive space, so I'm looking at a 500GB hard drive as a minimum. Part that with 16MG of RAM and the system cost goes up a couple of hundred bucks. Not a lot to some, but right now for me it's a bit o cash.

I suppose I could go with a smaller hard drive, bump up the RAM and save some stuff to an external drive.......

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Mini Memory Recommendation

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