Which Mac Mini recommended for my kind of Usage ?

Hi Guys,

Long time Windows User. I am looking to replace my old Windows 7 computer with a Mac mini. I have a 27 inch monitor already, so I am thinking instead of buying a laptop I would want to buy a Mac mini, now. Let me clarify a couple of things right at the beginning, though I have been a Windows user for most of my life that is purely because of the budget constraints that I had, because back in the days about 10 years back when I purchased this laptop I didn’t have the budget of afford a Mac computer let alone a Mac mini. So I want to make this thing very clear that I have a reasonable budget (Actually on the Lower Side) meaning I cannot have the latest and greatest meaning I cannot spend extravagantly on buying a Mac mini.

This also means that I am okay if the recommendation coming from you guys is a generation older model meaning 2021 or 2020 If I can squeeze in a M1 Model in it, nothing like it. But which ever model even if it is older that I go for, it should be able to upgrade with Forthcoming MacOS which are released for another 4 years if not more.

I know the obvious question which will be asked before making a recommendation would be what is my usage ? So I am an average user, who kind of does a little bit of every thing.From typical MS office, checking mails, media consumption which includes YouTube, watching movies, listening to music etc.. I also use affinity photo and sometimes Photoshop. This is only on a personal level to enhance my own photos as a hobby. So I do not earn a living out of using affinity photo or Photoshop and it is not for professional use just my personal use that I use Software like Affinity Photo. So I would want a hardware which runs affinity photo very smoothly and there are no jitters and Lags. So if you guys can tell me what is the basic minimum configuration of Mac mini and which generation and which year should I be looking to buy and most importantly with how much RAM? I know if I set my eyes on the current generation it is going to cost me a little higher.

So which is the generation that I should be looking at and most ? importantly how much RAM do you think for my usage is good enough ? like I said I am gonna use affinity photo so I would want a hardware which can run it without any jitters. Forum Members on the affinity photo recommend 32GB of RAM. But I think that’s way…way… too much. I think they are suggesting it from a future stand point and just to be on the safer side to make my hardware future proof. And to have 32 GB RAM on Mac Mini, which I am sure you cannot install 32GB RAM on Mac Mini but it will cost me a fortune. So anyways I would want to keep my RAM Aspirations to a reasonable level and a realistic level, as long as the hardware is able to run software like affinity photo and photoshop smoothly. So what do you suggest ? what configuration Mac mini and which year should and How much RAM should I be looking at?

Also if you guys can suggest me a place where I can buy older generation Mac mini which is like 2021 or 2020 a place where I can buy refurbished or even a used product but in a very good condition. I don’t mind I used product as well. I saw a couple of them on eBay the other day models like the 2021 M1 Mac mini with 8GB of RAM going for running $450-$500 but still I would like you guys to tell me where should I be looking at ? on which website ? where I can buy refurbished Mac mini or used or even open box Mac mini in extremely good condition.