Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

M4 Mac mini's efficiency

jeffgeerling.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

151–160 of 632 posts

Re: M4 Mac mini's efficiency

#151

Post by josephg »

AshamedCaptain wrote: post #73
GeekyBear wrote: post #23

Also interesting, the M4 Mini has the flash storage on a replaceable module, instead of being soldered to the motherboard, although the NVMe controller is still integrated into the SoC. iFixIt and others have already posted videos showing that the flash storage is now upgradable. > M4 Mac mini Teardown - UPGRADABLE SSD, Powerful, and TINY https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rtdGxBeSkz8

"Upgradeable" is too big of a word here, specially considering that they're using different form-factors even between the models released on the same year (e.g. pro vs non-pro) ; and also different from models released on the previous year (e.g. studio). This almost certainly means that next year's model will also use a different interface, so you won't be able to upgrade your storage at all.

You might be able to. You just need to make sure you get a compatible module somehow.

I wonder if 3rd parties will start selling them. If the memory controller is in the cpu, there’s no reason for the little board housing the ssd to have any proprietary chips…

Re: M4 Mac mini's efficiency

#152

Post by gzer0 »

naoru wrote: post #104
nextos wrote: post #9

I use Linux, but I think the cheapest M4 Mini offers an incredible value and efficiency per €. With education discount, it's around €650, including VAT. It's pretty hard to find such a silent and powerful machine for that little. Any comparable options? A good fanless build with a i3-14100T is more expensive and 40-50% slower on Geekbench. An i5 is a bit closer. Some 2024 Ryzen CPUs can match or exceed its multicore…

A comparable option in my opinion would be Minisforum 790S7. They also have a separate mini-ITX motherboard from that one if you want to DIY. The CPU in it is faster in raw multi-thread performance, single-threaded it's a bit slower, but still quite impressive. The only problem I had with Minisforum is that they couldn't supply the exact hardware I ordered and their suggested solution was either to wait for 1+ month…

I can't find a Minisforum 790S7 for anywhere near the price of the base model mac mini. I am seeing $459.00 USD and that is "BAREBONE (NO OS/RAM/SSD)" [1]. I am comparing this to the M4 Mac Mini base model, that does indeed come with an OS, RAM, and an SSD[2] at $499 USD.

[1] https://store.minisforum.com/products/minisforum-mini-itx-pc...

[2] https://www.apple.com/us-edu/shop/buy-mac/mac-mini/apple-m4-...

Re: M4 Mac mini's efficiency

#153

Post by bitwize »

favorited wrote: post #103
IshKebab wrote: post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Upgradable" if you are willing to desolder and replace the BGA chips. You can't just swap the module out.

The storage is not soldered to the M4 mini SOC.

M4 Macs only accept SSDs of the exact same make and model as the one installed at the factory.

So to expand storage in an M4 Mac, you indeed need to desolder the flash chips and solder in new ones.

Re: M4 Mac mini's efficiency

#154

Post by iphoneisbetter »

akira2501 wrote: post #36
rgovostes wrote: post #22

> If only they didn't put the power button on the bottom. I can't tell if anyone is being serious about the "Powergate" issue. The thing is 5" wide and weighs 1.5 lbs, it's not exactly a burden to lift it a little. And there are highly practical workarounds: https://www.reddit.com/r/macmini/comments/1gncek7/nailed_the...

> it's not exactly a burden to lift it a little. Human dexterity is not constant. Some people have injuries which compromise them. > And there are highly practical workarounds: Apple. A consumer product company where every _single_ product has some massive defect which must be apologized around. Which is fine.. but I'm not sure how that justifies their typical price point.

[dead]

Re: M4 Mac mini's efficiency

#155

Post by cascades42 »

nextos wrote: post #9

I use Linux, but I think the cheapest M4 Mini offers an incredible value and efficiency per €. With education discount, it's around €650, including VAT. It's pretty hard to find such a silent and powerful machine for that little. Any comparable options? A good fanless build with a i3-14100T is more expensive and 40-50% slower on Geekbench. An i5 is a bit closer. Some 2024 Ryzen CPUs can match or exceed its multicore…

While I suspect it is silent for most tasks, the M4 mini isn’t fanless.

For my music studio I’ve enjoyed the M1 mini since it is totally silent and am eager to read some noise tests on the new M4 mini.

Re: M4 Mac mini's efficiency

#156

Post by josephg »

IshKebab wrote: post #133
favorited wrote: post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The storage is not soldered to the M4 mini SOC.

No, it is soldered to the storage module. You have to desolder the flash chips from that module and replace them. You can't just order a bigger storage module from Apple (or anyone else) and plug it in.

I don’t think anything is stopping you buying a second hand / 3rd party module online. It just needs to be physically compatible with your particular generation of hardware.

Re: M4 Mac mini's efficiency

#157

Post by andy_ppp »

pier25 wrote: post #128

The M4 Pro is less efficient than the M3 though. https://www.notebookcheck.net/Apple-M4-Pro-analysis-Extremel...

I am not sure that is true, does it not use more peak power but get more work done leading to less energy overall for say exporting a hundred photos because it finishes quicker?

Re: M4 Mac mini's efficiency

#158

Post by opdahl »

ewalk153 wrote: post #5

Given these efficient numbers, I wouldn’t be surprised if Apple were racking Minis for serving the new ML models for Siri.

You should check these guys out. They actually do it (rack, not hosting ML models) and it seems to me to be pretty elegant: https://www.macstadium.com/blog/m4-mac-mini-review

Re: M4 Mac mini's efficiency

#160

Post by mrtksn »

tredre3 wrote: post #44
nextos wrote: post #9

I use Linux, but I think the cheapest M4 Mini offers an incredible value and efficiency per €. With education discount, it's around €650, including VAT. It's pretty hard to find such a silent and powerful machine for that little. Any comparable options? A good fanless build with a i3-14100T is more expensive and 40-50% slower on Geekbench. An i5 is a bit closer. Some 2024 Ryzen CPUs can match or exceed its multicore…

> With education discount I don't understand why so many people use the discounted price as reference. Surely very few of us on HN are still in college? So let's use the actual price when making comparisons.

A lot of people have a relative or something still in education, just buy it through them. It's not like this is government subsidy, just a promotion to increase sales and maybe hope to have long term customer by hooking them at younger age. Probably much less immoral than blocking ads on YouTube.
Post reply on HN