how about the RAM?

Ram is soldered as it's unified ram shared with gpu and cpu.

This seems like a good solution too. Buy a fast thunderbolt 3/4 ssd, combine it with internal storage to expand it.

this method cant expand the system disk, it is useless.

Yes, this is actually my POV.. SSD will failed.
When it failed I need at least has chance to change the SSD.
Not like other solder in there and need send whole Mobo and risk myself to change the SSD.

Now apple design like this, i can just pull out SSD, send to someone do reball and etc, install back MACOS and i happily bring back the SSD plug back into my MAC mini...at least the life spam of other part will tahan compare u solder on the mobo itself.

Dont really mind on these. Since 2012 apple already solder the RAM...
We need to remember, compare to CPU, RAM and SSD, SSD will eventually failed in the 1st point.

Yes..but i heard huge software can run in external ssd..not sure about the perfomance..

This post has been edited by shyan90's: Nov 8 2024, 06:05 PM

it seems can even boot off the ssd when install macOS on it.. maybe I missed somehing?

although slower, why not just use ssd as extra ram (virtual memory) since now has thunderbolt ports, can get a really fast ssd

although m2 mac mini video, but here he talks about swap memory at 6:20 mark



This post has been edited by jonthebaptist: Nov 8 2024, 07:37 PM

you can install macos on external ssd disk and boot it from external ssd, but you cant expand the internal system disk with external ssd disk.

In the video, she created a new partition in the built in ssd disk, and expand it with external disk, this cannot expand macos system partition.

why u want to do that?
my m1 256gb storage - store OS and app
External nvme 2TB - store data

Work as expected and 256GB can survive for 3 years+ without any issue. By doing this, original storage seldom do writing as only store OS and App. More read/write is on my external nvme. This increase the life span of storage also

This post has been edited by ericlaiys: Nov 8 2024, 10:25 PM

Some apps have data that is stored on macOS system data right? Even you move the app to external ssd, the app data still store inside internal storage.

I run apps like Draw Things, even move the app to external, but the data still hides inside built in, same as ollama also. If can move those data to external, then would be good.

If you are running MacOS on external ssd, doesn't everything stores in external SSD?

Anyone got 3D printer can print this. Looks super cute! I will ask my friend to help print this in the future.

Mac Mini Mac Pro enclosure

Seems like it has dual nand on the base model as well. 5:38.

M4 vs M4 Pro

M4 ssd is again slower a lot.

Successfully upgraded the nand chip from 256gb to 1TB.

From the video, it's not bad.

Now just waiting when launch in Malaysia...

it not direct replace with other nvme. so too high risk to replace it.

I think risk wise is minimum, imagine u need to heat the whole mobo and hell know what did you screw up vs detach the memory chip and rechip it..

has anyone here purchased anything from this guys?
Its seriously cheap and kind of cant believe/trust..

Please check all items in his store.. he should have big channle if this happen to be genuince.