3 ms·

There was a comparison mentioned on last week’s episode of the Accidental Tech Podcast, I don’t remember if it was pointed out to them or they noticed it themse

by MBCook 2y ago

There was a comparison mentioned on last week’s episode of the Accidental Tech Podcast, I don’t remember if it was pointed out to them or they noticed it themselves. Base Mac mini: $599, 16/256 GB Double storage and ram: $600 upgrade. Price of 32/512 config: $1199 Two 16/256 machines: $1198. The ram is (Apple) reasonable at $200, but $400 for the storage doubling is insane.

matt-p 2y ago
I think you have it the wrong way round? Ram is 400 (200/8GB) storage is 200
- MBCook 2y ago
  Oh do I? Well somehow that seems more insane to me.
ewzimm 2y ago
Also, the 256 uses 2x128 drives while the 512 uses a single drive, so you even get slightly slower storage with the upgrade. The base model is a great deal.
- mkl 2y ago
  Do you have a source on that? It's not what I've read elsewhere, but I'm having trouble finding anything specific.
  - ewzimm 2y ago
    I had to look it up, and I had gotten that slightly wrong. The 256 did switch to 2x128 NAND while the previous model used 1x256, but the 512 is also multiple. https://www.macrumors.com/2024/11/08/m4-mac-mini-modular-storage/ https://www.macrumors.com/2024/11/08/m4-mac-mini-modular-sto...
- einr 2y ago
  This is true for the Mac Studio but not for the M4 Mac Mini -- they all have a single storage slot and the only difference between the 256 and 512 models is the model of the NAND chips.
  - ewzimm 2y ago
    You're right thanks. The change was to 2x128 NAND for the 256 drive from the previous generation, not 2xSSD.
0cf8612b2e1e 2y ago
While I am sure there are performance differences, I picked up 128GB of DDR4 a few months ago for ~$200. That is some wild margin.
- moooo99 2y ago
  The differences actually are quite huge. As far as I know, the M series chips all use LPDDR5 RAM, which is indeed more expensive than the DIMM/SO-DIMM modules you would add to your diy build. Still, you can easily get a good kit of DDR5 DIMMs for 110€/32GB from a retailer. So while LPDDR5 RAM is more expensive, it is most certainly not expensive enough to justify a 230€/8GB price as being driven by BOM costs

by MBCook 2y ago

matt-p 2y ago

I think you have it the wrong way round? Ram is 400 (200/8GB) storage is 200

MBCook 2y ago
Oh do I? Well somehow that seems more insane to me.

ewzimm 2y ago

Also, the 256 uses 2x128 drives while the 512 uses a single drive, so you even get slightly slower storage with the upgrade. The base model is a great deal.

mkl 2y ago
Do you have a source on that? It's not what I've read elsewhere, but I'm having trouble finding anything specific.
- ewzimm 2y ago
  I had to look it up, and I had gotten that slightly wrong. The 256 did switch to 2x128 NAND while the previous model used 1x256, but the 512 is also multiple. https://www.macrumors.com/2024/11/08/m4-mac-mini-modular-storage/ https://www.macrumors.com/2024/11/08/m4-mac-mini-modular-sto...
einr 2y ago
This is true for the Mac Studio but not for the M4 Mac Mini -- they all have a single storage slot and the only difference between the 256 and 512 models is the model of the NAND chips.
- ewzimm 2y ago
  You're right thanks. The change was to 2x128 NAND for the 256 drive from the previous generation, not 2xSSD.

0cf8612b2e1e 2y ago

While I am sure there are performance differences, I picked up 128GB of DDR4 a few months ago for ~$200. That is some wild margin.

moooo99 2y ago
The differences actually are quite huge. As far as I know, the M series chips all use LPDDR5 RAM, which is indeed more expensive than the DIMM/SO-DIMM modules you would add to your diy build. Still, you can easily get a good kit of DDR5 DIMMs for 110€/32GB from a retailer. So while LPDDR5 RAM is more expensive, it is most certainly not expensive enough to justify a 230€/8GB price as being driven by BOM costs