Smallest SSD for maverick?

[slackerinabox]

The hard drive in my mac mini 2011 just failed and I'm thinking I'll go with an ssd. How big of a drive should I get if I want to spend the least amount of cash yet comfortably store the os, photoshop, and final cut pro (all my videos are stored externally). 128 enough or go 256?

Thanks!

 

[TheStu]

Well, how much space were you using on your 2011 Mini?

 

[slackerinabox]

Well, how much space were you using on your 2011 Mini?

That would be an obvious question but I don't remember at all 🙂 I got fcp from the app store and don't recall the install size, i think maveric was >20gigs

 

[TheStu]

That would be an obvious question but I don't remember at all 🙂 I got fcp from the app store and don't recall the install size, i think maveric was >20gigs

128GB should be fine, but prices on 256GB drives aren't all that much higher, so if you can swing it, just get that and don't worry about it.

 

[RossMAN]

128GB should be fine, but prices on 256GB drives aren't all that much higher, so if you can swing it, just get that and don't worry about it.

Agreed and if the OP is ready to BUY NOW, here's a fantastic deal.

 

[slackerinabox]

Agreed and if the OP is ready to BUY NOW, here's a fantastic deal.

WOAW! Well, I bit on a $70 highly regarded 128gb ssd. I have a 1 tb external and I noticed prices on thunderbolt externals are coming down, I'll probably get a 1 tb one and install lesser used apps on it as well as videos. Though 480gb makes canceling the order tempting!

 

[manly]

I held out for the longest time for the right price on a 250 GB SSD, and finally pulled the trigger in October.

But since I kept the old spindle hard drive around, I'm using a lot less space than I thought I'd need. So far just 50 GB.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

www.amazon.com/Kingston-Digital-Adap...dp/B00A1ZTZNM/

240GB for $130 + S&H. Faster than the M500 too.

To answer the OP's question, a 64 GB would be enough for an OS install and light use, but I'd do 120/128 minimum.

 

[phillyboy]

You can live on 128 but 256 gives some more breathing room.

 

[rtrt]

I've always thought that 64G was doable but 128G gave some much needed headroom

 

[dave_the_nerd]

A fresh install of Mavericks uses <10GB.

Add RAM for swap, double it because full SSDs suck. 32GB if you're just using it for one application and saving data to a network share or something.

 

[Rottie]

Intel 320 Series SSD has 160GB you can find one on the eBay. I had one on my 2007 MBP 2 years ago.

 

[mmntech]

I'm using a 120GB Samsung SSD in my MacBook, but I also have a 500GB hard drive in it as well. Since the Mini has a Thunderbolt port, it's easy to upgrade the storage.

 

[Tegeril]

If I may suggest for future users stumbling on this: http://www.ifixit.com/Store/Mac/Mac-Mini-Dual-Drive-Kit/IF171-005

Pickup a 128 or a 256, and also grab a large conventional drive and setup Fusion Drive: http://blog.macsales.com/15617-creating-your-own-fusion-drive

 

[Doppel]

I just built with a 120 GB as primary OS and mainly used programs but only because I have a terabyte drive for large data. If I had only one drive I'd want minimum 256.