I am currently using an older Mac running Mojave and want to buy a new M3 iMac. My current Mac (1 TB fusion drive) is filled to 406 GB. I wonder if 512 GB is enough going forward??
Most of my storage is iTunes library at 306 and Photos at 26. I would be willing to store some of iTunes externally to free up space, but how much space should I leave free on the disc?
iMac 21.5″ 4K, macOS 10.14
Since the internal storage of the new Macs cannot be changed after the purchase, I would advise you to configure your new M3 iMac with the most storage you can afford today. 512GB is the minimum I'd ever recommend for most anyone, and 1TB is a more comfortable option, IMHO.
Your idea to offload your Music and Photos libraries to an external drive is a good one.
A good rule of thumb for free space on any drive, especially a startup drive, is to have never less than 10%-15% of the total capacity always available. This will allow the OS room to do what it needs to do to run smoothly.
Since the internal storage of the new Macs cannot be changed after the purchase, I would advise you to configure your new M3 iMac with the most storage you can afford today. 512GB is the minimum I'd ever recommend for most anyone, and 1TB is a more comfortable option, IMHO.
Your idea to offload your Music and Photos libraries to an external drive is a good one.
A good rule of thumb for free space on any drive, especially a startup drive, is to have never less than 10%-15% of the total capacity always available. This will allow the OS room to do what it needs to do to run smoothly.
Adding to what Limnos and DI said, it's sort of like asking how much closet space you need in your house. It all depends on how much you need to keep. All things being equal, it usually pays to get more than you think you need.
But buying more internal space in a MacBook is pricey, so unless you really want to have everything kept within your new iMac for some reason, getting external storage as Limnos suggested for things like photo and music archives will usually be much less expensive. People who buy laptops often want everything internal to make it easier for portability, but with an iMac which, under normal circumstances, doesn't get moved around, having external drives isn't near the issue.
Regards.
This is really a very individual situation. For my usage I would get a larger drive. For my wife she could probably go on for another 10 years with what she has. It also depends upon how much you are willing to tolerate external storage, and if you need access to all files all the time. I have most of my photos stored on multiple archive drives stored in other parts of the house. I also take a lot of photos.
I have 4 external drives attached to my iMac right now!
Just remember that the days of upgrading storage once purchased are gone.
I would not buy an iMac now, my recommendation is to purchase a Mac mini (you may be able to find a Refurb at Apple.com) and then purchase the display of your choice. You can get external displays for as little as <$100. \ Buy a MM with 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD and you will have a very nice setup. Honestly there is very little reason to buy iMacs now as the MM's are just as powerful and offer more options for displays than an iMac.
I will take all into consideration but am leaning toward the 1 TB if a refurbished iMac appears with all the specs I want. Otherwise, will store things externally.
I wasn't sure how much the system would need for the M3--but I will allow more free than is recommended just to be safe.
Thanks to everyone for your prompt and useful responses!
I had looked at Mini in the past but I wasn't sure about giving up the retina display. I live in a remote, rural community so I can't just walk into a store and look at monitors, but I will be visiting the Chicago area in a month or so. If I could find a monitor that is sharp and easy to read (for text especially) I would certainly consider the Mini.
I have never viewed a 4K or 5K screen in person, so I will need to do some research. I bought a 13-inch Macbook Air back in 2014 (before Retina) and I ended up exchanging it for a Macbook Pro, just to get the Retina screen. It made a huge difference. I was getting eyestrain from the Air.
So considering the Mini is an excellent suggestion. I am not in a hurry. Could even wait to see what the updated Mini is like.
There have been numerous reports of display problems, i.e. lines across the screen, on the new iMacs and many appearing after the 1 year warranty expires.
I agree wholeheartedly with rkaufmann87's recommendation of a Mac Mini. You can get a LG 32UN500-W Monitor 32" UltraFine (3840 x 2160) Display, AMD FreeSync, DCI-P3 90% Color Gamut, HDR10, Built-in Speakers, 3-Side Virtually Borderless Design for $435 at Amazon.com.
My next Mac upgrade will be a Mini with 16GB RAM and a 1 or 2 TB SSD and that monitor.
I did not know about the lines across the iMac screen. I was reading about it--that is shocking!
Thanks also for your suggestion of a display. You've been a great help.
Yeah, it's got me afraid to consider buying an iMac.:(
If Apple does not respond with compensation and assurance, a whole lot of people will stop buying the iMac!
I am certainly not willing to risk it right now.
How much storage do I need?
