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expiredLaotzu3 posted Mar 03, 2023 11:16 PM
expiredLaotzu3 posted Mar 03, 2023 11:16 PM

Select Costco Stores: Apple Mac Mini: M1, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD (Late 2020 Model)

(In-Store Only)

$400

$599

33% off
Costco Wholesale
341 Comments 204,575 Views
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Deal Details
Select Costco Wholesale Stores (link for reference only) [store locator] offer Costco Members: Apple Mac Mini Compact Computer w/ Apple M1 Chip (Late 2020 Model, MGNR3LL/A) on closeout for $399.97 valid for In-Store Purchase Only where stock permits (request item # 1486314).

Thanks to community member Laotzu3 for finding this deal.
  • Note: Inventory availability nay vary by location.

Specs:
  • Apple M1 Octa-Core Processor (4x high-performance + 4x high-efficiency)
  • 8-Core Integrated GPU
  • 8GB RAM (onboard)
  • 256GB Integrated NVMe PCIe Solid State Drive
  • 802.11ax WiFi 6 / Bluetooth 5.0
  • Ports:
    • 2x USB Type-A (USB 3.1 / USB 3.2 Gen 1)
    • 2x Thunderbolt 3 USB Type C (supports DisplayPort / HDMI / VGA & Power Delivery)
    • 1x HDMI 2.0 (output)
    • 1x 3.5 mm Headphone
    • 1x Ethernet

Editor's Notes

Written by RevOne | Staff
  • About this deal:
    • Offer valid at participating locations while supplies last.
  • Ratings & Reviews:
    • Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars based on 1,423 customer reviews.
  • Additional Note:
    • Please refer to the Forum Thread for further discussion regarding this deal.

Original Post

Written by Laotzu3
Community Notes
About the Poster
Deal Details
Community Notes
About the Poster
Select Costco Wholesale Stores (link for reference only) [store locator] offer Costco Members: Apple Mac Mini Compact Computer w/ Apple M1 Chip (Late 2020 Model, MGNR3LL/A) on closeout for $399.97 valid for In-Store Purchase Only where stock permits (request item # 1486314).

Thanks to community member Laotzu3 for finding this deal.
  • Note: Inventory availability nay vary by location.

Specs:
  • Apple M1 Octa-Core Processor (4x high-performance + 4x high-efficiency)
  • 8-Core Integrated GPU
  • 8GB RAM (onboard)
  • 256GB Integrated NVMe PCIe Solid State Drive
  • 802.11ax WiFi 6 / Bluetooth 5.0
  • Ports:
    • 2x USB Type-A (USB 3.1 / USB 3.2 Gen 1)
    • 2x Thunderbolt 3 USB Type C (supports DisplayPort / HDMI / VGA & Power Delivery)
    • 1x HDMI 2.0 (output)
    • 1x 3.5 mm Headphone
    • 1x Ethernet

Editor's Notes

Written by RevOne | Staff
  • About this deal:
    • Offer valid at participating locations while supplies last.
  • Ratings & Reviews:
    • Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars based on 1,423 customer reviews.
  • Additional Note:
    • Please refer to the Forum Thread for further discussion regarding this deal.

Original Post

Written by Laotzu3

Community Voting

Deal Score
+124
Good Deal
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Top Comments

Laotzu3
16 Posts
58 Reputation
According to most reports M2 is 20% faster but it's disk access is 50% slower while the price is 33% more.

To get disk access on par with M1 you need to pay $200 to upgrade to 512gb ($799 or $699)
Laotzu3
16 Posts
58 Reputation
Recent mac's are not upgradeable in either ram or sdd unfortunately.
chi
6243 Posts
1380 Reputation
There's a slow SSD controversy on the M2 base models. The M1 base models have 2 SSDs while the M2 base models have only 1 SSD so there can be data bottlenecks.

https://youtu.be/bF_Lbdqfowo

341 Comments

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Mar 06, 2023 11:57 PM
7 Posts
Joined Dec 2020
bsol12Mar 06, 2023 11:57 PM
7 Posts
Quote from Laotzu3 :
The topic of longevity is a valid question around Mac Minis since they do stick around longer than laptops.

In my experience the key factors for longevity in mac minis are:

1) App support for the OS version
2) Physical ports

Prior to picking up the M1 I was relying on a 2014 i7 16GB. App support is still fine for it and it displays 4k just fine, but the lack of any USB-C ports was becoming untenable.
Agreed.
1
Mar 07, 2023 12:55 AM
326 Posts
Joined Sep 2021
SlickRailway7321Mar 07, 2023 12:55 AM
326 Posts
Quote from GreenIdea3316 :
yea, this thing is underpowered on RAM if you do anything on it like multi-tasking, opening multiple apps, windows, etc. I got a Mac Studio and yea its a lot more money but very happy with it. most people are not going to be happy with this unless they do virtually nothing on it.
You're getting downvoted, but it's a well intentioned point.

I have the M1 MBA with 8 gigs of RAM. I'm a developer, so yes, power-user or whatever, but if you even like to keep tons of tabs open you will eventually notice the box slowing down. (I don't always have tons of dev apps open and still experience sluggishness…)

And if you are a dev or other power user, 8 isn't enough imo. With Xcode plus the iOS emulator it's sluggish. VS Code plus Slack and 10 StackOverflow tabs and you're sluggish. I'm constantly closing apps.

You also lose one of the M1's best features on the mini: great battery life.

This is a great deal, but if you know enough to wonder if you could use more RAM, my guess is the answer is yes. You've been warned, ymmv, etc.
Last edited by SlickRailway7321 March 6, 2023 at 05:58 PM.
1
Mar 07, 2023 01:17 AM
738 Posts
Joined Mar 2007
JimmdeanMar 07, 2023 01:17 AM
738 Posts
Quote from SlickRailway7321 :
You're getting downvoted, but it's a well intentioned point.

I have the M1 MBA with 8 gigs of RAM. I'm a developer, so yes, power-user or whatever, but if you even like to keep tons of tabs open you will eventually notice the box slowing down. (I don't always have tons of dev apps open and still experience sluggishness…)

And if you are a dev or other power user, 8 isn't enough imo. With Xcode plus the iOS emulator it's sluggish. VS Code plus Slack and 10 StackOverflow tabs and you're sluggish. I'm constantly closing apps.

You also lose one of the M1's best features on the mini: great battery life.

This is a great deal, but if you know enough to wonder if you could use more RAM, my guess is the answer is yes. You've been warned, ymmv, etc.
You're entirely right - I definitely would not have recommended 8GB to you, but I'm in IT so I know the score. But some people are on here saying 8GB won't do anything at all and therefor the computer is garbage. They think if you can survive on 8GB you must be elderly.
Last edited by Jimmdean March 6, 2023 at 06:20 PM.
Mar 07, 2023 01:26 AM
3,870 Posts
Joined Sep 2004
GrandMstrBudMar 07, 2023 01:26 AM
3,870 Posts
I was able to get Best Buy to price match it and they sent me the M2 model.
3
Mar 07, 2023 01:31 AM
738 Posts
Joined Mar 2007
JimmdeanMar 07, 2023 01:31 AM
738 Posts
Quote from GrandMstrBud :
I was able to get Best Buy to price match it and they sent me the M2 model.
You'd think they would be extra vigilant after the last TigerDirect fiasco. they were the ones that got shafted in the end...
Mar 07, 2023 01:42 AM
3,109 Posts
Joined Jul 2011
euuser1398928Mar 07, 2023 01:42 AM
3,109 Posts
Quote from SiennaDeer7003 :
not sure if that's a good deal since I can buy the M2 for 499 with my educational discount. i guess if someone really needs one they can get.
A small but important difference between the M1 & M2 versions is the M1 base model with 256GB of storage has 2x 128GB chips whereas the M2 has 1 single 256GB chip. This makes the storage on the M1 twice as fast as the M2. The only way to get 2 chips in the M2 is to upgrade to the 512GB version (not this deal). With the M2 having minor improvements over the M1 mostly in the GPU, I personally prefer the M1 over the M2. M2 does have a slightly better wifi/bluetooth chip.
2
Mar 07, 2023 02:22 AM
582 Posts
Joined Oct 2022
DeadpooleMar 07, 2023 02:22 AM
582 Posts
Quote from hvcoup :
M2 mac mini is $500, any reason to go for this one over that?
Yup, a big one.

The SSD in the m1 mini is 2x the speed of the SSD in the m2 mac mini.

So with the 8gb model, you'll be doing a bunch of paging. I didn't see this as much of a problem and for everyday use like playing media, browsing, and simple non multitasking needs, the 8gb was fine with the fast SSD.

Less so with the m2.

SSD is not user replaceable. You'd have to go up to the 512GB model to get the same SSD speed, and many of those come with 16GB ram too, so the price really gets up there.
2

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Mar 07, 2023 02:29 AM
898 Posts
Joined Apr 2009
drwxMar 07, 2023 02:29 AM
898 Posts
Quote from OGSDER :
M1 can only support one external monitor natively. Where as M2 can support two.

You can use a DisplayLink dock, which my M1 works flawlessly with three monitors, but my M2 does not. I use these for office work, no gaming or photo editing.

that's not entirely true. perhaps the m1 mini can only do 1 external monitor, but the m1 studio does 2 monitors natively... just plug it in and go.
1
Mar 07, 2023 02:35 AM
4,961 Posts
Joined Dec 2009
masterz13Mar 07, 2023 02:35 AM
4,961 Posts
Quote from TokenSid :
So people don't want to do hackintoshes anymore?
They're effectively dead, thanks to Apple. Well, in the sense that eventually I'm guessing macOS will no longer support x64 at all. And adding to that, no more Boot Camp since it's an ARM device now. Frown
2
Mar 07, 2023 02:58 AM
44 Posts
Joined Nov 2016
sportykid2332Mar 07, 2023 02:58 AM
44 Posts
Quote from GrandMstrBud :
I was able to get Best Buy to price match it and they sent me the M2 model.
How did you get them to price match?
1
Mar 07, 2023 03:01 AM
3,870 Posts
Joined Sep 2004
GrandMstrBudMar 07, 2023 03:01 AM
3,870 Posts
Quote from sportykid2332 :
How did you get them to price match?
Showed them a link to a Costco that has one available with same day delivery. It was all done through chat
1
Mar 07, 2023 03:22 AM
3,542 Posts
Joined Oct 2006
waterfrontMar 07, 2023 03:22 AM
3,542 Posts
Quote from TokenSid :
So people don't want to do hackintoshes anymore?
It is not viable anymore. what's the point of building hot intel machines that comes with fan noise when you can have a super quite high performance Mac for about same cost?
you can still dual boot using Parallels Desktop just not worth time and money! concept is dead.
1
Mar 07, 2023 03:24 AM
3,542 Posts
Joined Oct 2006
waterfrontMar 07, 2023 03:24 AM
3,542 Posts
Quote from GrandMstrBud :
Showed them a link to a Costco that has one available with same day delivery. It was all done through chat
lucky you. only open box av now at Best Buy even though rep was willing to pm Costco showing out of stock!
Mar 07, 2023 04:33 AM
6,118 Posts
Joined Mar 2008
dcliveMar 07, 2023 04:33 AM
6,118 Posts
Quote from CoreyR2384 :
Since Apple moved to it's own silicon, most modern CPUs are not supported. The last consumer desktop Intel CPU supported is Intel's 10th gen, which is 3 generations old now. You would need an ancient AMD CPU if you wanted to go that route. More modern Xeon and HEDT CPU's are supported, but those are prohibitively expensive. On top of that, Mac OS is now optimized for it's own silicon, and many of the afformentioned CPU's can only run on older versions of the OS. The Hackintosh community has pretty much died out.
As a current Hackintosh owner: almost every word of that is total nonsense.

The i9-13900k (ie THE very latest Intel CPU) works GREAT in a Hackintosh.

The AMD 6900XTXH (the Second-Latest AMD generation's top performer) works GREAT in a Hackintosh.

MacOS 13.2.1, Apple's latest MacOS, works GREAT on Intel, on the i9-13900k and many others.

If you want to say "The end of the road will happen in a few years, but there's so far no clear plan for end of Intel support' you should write that, but what you wrote above is flat wrong.

No Intel CPU is "supported"; the only CPU MacOS supports is what Apple ships with an Apple logo on it. Just because Apple stopped at 10th gen Intel certainly doesn't mean we need to!

Wow.

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Mar 07, 2023 04:50 AM
282 Posts
Joined Sep 2011
chevoletMar 07, 2023 04:50 AM
282 Posts
Quote from CaptainTerra :
Tons in stock at Puyallup, WA location, none at Tacoma. Choose same day instacart delivery option using the Costco address to see if any are available.
Haha that's an amazing way to check inventory!

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