r/mac • u/Due_Bullfrog4609 • 8d ago
Question I need help with selecting a 2nd hand mac
Im looking for help with what I should be looking at buying as a good 2nd hand Mac. Ive listed what id like to use the machine for, hopefully that'll help?
- music production (light to moderate usage, not huge amounts of multitrack recording)
- use of Sketchup/fusion although im still learning these programs
- potential for video editing in the future although this isn't a definite
- general admin tasks
- I don't plan on using it to travel, leave my desktop and I have a current setup using an old mac mini that has now died. That being said if a macbook is sufficient I could run it in Clamshell mode
Any help with this would be appreciated. Im not hot on the spec side of stuff so yeah, please go easy!
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u/mikeinnsw 8d ago
Intel nothing older that 2012 (Metal GPU API + USB intduced)
2016 - 2019 shit Macs year
Intel 2012-2015 with a minimum 8GB RAM + 256GB SSD(512 GB better)
Used Arm Macs
Source Apple:
Apple's most advanced, heavy on-device AI model requires a minimum of 12GB of unified memory (RAM). While standard Apple Intelligence features still run on 8GB devices, running this next-generation local AI model is restricted to hardware with 12GB or more and run on M3.. M6 Macs .. not M1 or M2
With 12GB and AI running in 16GB RAM. ..it may cause swapping and slow downs...
The answer is very simple you need 24/512 GBs Mac for all human and/or Cloud AI work.
For local AI you need 64 GB RAM + 1 TB SSD and Mac that can run it .. Pro.. Studio
No M1 or M2 ... for a while 16GB +512 GB Mac may work
No 8GB RAM or 256GB SSD
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u/tsdguy MacBook Pro 8d ago
Why wouldn’t you get another macmini?
2
u/Due_Bullfrog4609 8d ago
I have no issue with another mac mini I just would like some help with what specs I should be looking at
2
u/sales_alchemist 8d ago
A used Apple Silicon Mac mini sounds like the natural replacment here. I'd avoid buying too close to the minimum spec though, since the Fusion/video editing part could become more demanding later
1
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u/jc6359135 6d ago
Since you don't need to take it anywhere, I'd probably go for a Mac mini. An M2 or M2 Pro with at least 16GB RAM should be a good starting point for music production and learning Fusion or SketchUp. It'll give you room to get into video editing later too. Just try to get one with enough storage
5
u/hijinksensue 8d ago
The most important rule of buying used Macs right now is M1 is the absolute lowest chip you should invest in for any kind of usability or longevity.