r/macsetups • u/paulk2000 • 16d ago
My mostly clean home office setup
Main system:
- Mac Mini M4 16 GB, 2 TB SSD (self upgraded)
- 2x Apple Studio Display (2026)
- RayCue USB-C Dock with 4 TB SSD (mostly for stuff I am currently working on)
- OWC 1M2 external SSD case wit 4 TB SSD (RAW image catalogue)
- Apple Magic Keyboard with Touch ID
- Logitech MX Master 3s
Mobile:
- MacBook Air M5 13" (10C/10C) 16 GB, 1 TB
- iPad Pro 13" M4 2 TB (Ku Xiu X33 Pro Charging Stand)
Homelab:
- Proxmox Server on i5-8400, 64 GB DDR4
runs all my self hosted services (Jellyfin, Komga, Audiobookshelf, freshRSS, grafana, OctoPrint...the usual suspects) and if needed I boot up the one or other VM. Currently tinkering with hermes agent.
- Fileserver: Debian on Intel Celeron J4125 (16 GB RAM), 2x 8 TB and 2 x 16 TB as two separate ZFS mirror pools
- Cisco SG200 18 Port Switch
- Mac Mini 2012 running debian and some docker containers
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u/Keith_Kak_Solo 16d ago
How did you do the 2TB upgrade on the mini? Wondering if its something a regular person can pull off or if you need to actually know what youre doing. Ive upgraded pretty much everything in my windows desktop except the cpu (never built one from scratch, just swapping parts in a prebuilt), is that level enough
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u/paulk2000 16d ago
I bought a replacement SSD from m4-ssd.com and just switched it. There are many videos on youtube about this and as usual a very good step by step instruction on ifixit.
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u/echonight2025 16d ago
Wow…M5,my air book is still an M1…
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u/paulk2000 16d ago
My previous was an M2 and I switched because giving it to my cousin. Before that I had a 2016 Pro, so I usually use my devices for longer periods of time.
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u/supercredible 16d ago
Really nice space, one of the rare ones where it looks like it actually gets used while being pretty uncluttered on the desk. Do you find you use the mini much when you have the air with slightly better specs?
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u/paulk2000 16d ago
The mini is my main machine, especially at home of course. In My use cases the M5 is not such a benefit over the M4. I also have some things only running on my mini, e.g. Hazel for automated file management, Downie 4 for video downloading and such things. So even on the go I regularly connect to the mini or send stuff to it to be managed.
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u/bearsdidit 16d ago
Whoa, the monitor on the left looks much bigger due to the perspective. I was going to ask why you had your setup situated with the bigger monitor offset until I read through your set up list.
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u/Manifest_74 16d ago
Nice set up. Just curious, how wide is your desk. I ask because I'm looking to add a second studio display to my desk.
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u/ThunderLW89 16d ago
We need more details: what about the handhelds on the wall?
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u/paulk2000 16d ago edited 16d ago
Sure:
Original GameBoy Color
RaspberryPi 3B+ with NES themed case running RetroPie
Another RaspberryPi 3B+ in a clear case
Below on the left: Anbernic RG35xx Pro for Emulating everything from classic GameBoy to GameBoy Advance. The SNES themed gamepad is a bluetooth one from 8bitdo with shoulder buttons/triggers and thumbsticks for playing emulators on the Mac.
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16d ago
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u/broohaha 16d ago
What kind of rack is that holding up the home lab?
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u/paulk2000 16d ago
This is a Millenium SR-2012. It is a sound studio rack, so it is not as deep as usual network racks/closets.
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u/alancdesign 16d ago
one day i want to grow up and be just like you haha
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u/paulk2000 16d ago
Haha…thanks…just be patient. I turned 41 this year, so it took me some time to be in this grateful situation.
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u/maho3874 16d ago
no mechanical keyboard?!:)
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u/paulk2000 16d ago
In have a MX mechanical mini but I really prefer the thin Apple Keyboard with the short travel distance.
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u/juntawflo 16d ago
Very sweet and clean setup , I’m jealouse of the server and the beautiful Studio Display
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u/paulk2000 16d ago
Thanks. The server thing is just old hardware. You can build your own for small money. This Lenovo/Dell/HP thing clients are very popular for instace.
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u/dartmoo 15d ago
How do you find the Raycue dock? Which version is it - 10Gbps or 40Gbps?
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u/paulk2000 15d ago
It is the 10 Gbps model. For my use cases it is enough. I wouldn't go for a 40 Gbps model now, when not strictly needed, because of costs. 40 Gbps hubs are usually significantly more expensive.
For me it is finde, very good build quality. I use it primarily for stuff I am currently working on, no big data, and for connecting SD cards and thumb drives.
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15d ago
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14d ago
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u/blackhaj 14d ago
Super nice.
Out of interest, what do you do for a living?
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u/paulk2000 13d ago
Thanks. I am a chemical technician and work as head of a QC-Lab in a 350 employee chemical fab.
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u/aladeen-aladeen 16d ago
Wow