2 VM's + Programing / Graphics

I am using similar Mac Mini with 8Gb of RAM and external SSD. While my needs are mainly database related (MySQL, DevonThink Pro etc.) its processor cores are almost constantly fully used and it slows down with largest databases. It seems I made a mistake and I should have purchased a 2012 i7 model instead. Unfortunately those models are in high demand and prices are very high.

If your software can use multiple cores it would make sense to purchase model with more cores. Unfortunately Apples current custom built i7 processor Mini is joke with two cores and only some iMacs and Macbook Pro models have 4 core processors.

 

As a software/game developer, I'll say that from experience Ebenezum is right about cores. A dual core machine, mini or other, is going to bog down with 2 VMs (I'm assuming each VM only gets 1 or 2 hardware threads/"CPUs").

Get a Quad Core Mac, 16GB RAM, and an SSD, and you should be in business though without significant hiccups. I used to run Xcode + IoS Simulator + Java Server Instance + Parallels (running PC IDE) + Other open crap on this configuration (Quad Core+16GB+SSD) on a MacBook while working a big iOS f2p game, and it did a really decent job. It sounds like your workload will be similar overall.

For a Quad Core Mac Mini, you're looking a chasing down a 2012 i7 (I think they have still been showing up in the Apple refurb store - check out refurb.me and set an alert) or a 2011 server if you can do without USB 3, check eBay, CraigsList, etc.

And with 2 VM's, you will definitely want 16GB RAM - fortunately less than $100 to upgrade it yourself on earlier models - giving each VM 2-4GB as needed.

A couple months back, I got and upgraded a 2012 i7 Quad core (see thread about 'happiest mac mini you'll see today') and so far it's been a beast. I'm really happy with it, and you can't beat it for size / portability / silence and low power consumption.