Advice on first Mac desktop

[AngusW]

So I've been rocking the MacBooks for a while and love them. But like a lot of others I'm working from home more now and want something a little bit more suited to work from home. I'm debating between a MacMini 3.6GHz and an iMac 3.1GHz. From what I'm seeing for my needs best is the Mac mini since I've already got two monitors and pretty sweet set up already. What are people's thoughts is the Mini the best way to go?

 

[rambo47]

As long as you already have monitors that will connect the Mini should save you some money. I think the Mini and iMac are pretty close in performance.

 

[AngusW]

Thanks that’s what I thought. I also do some gaming would they both work for that?

 

[rambo47]

Thanks that’s what I thought. I also do some gaming would they both work for that?

Both will work for gaming but you should order the best graphics card you can get. Both have heat issues under heavy loads, and gaming is very taxing.

 

[Micky Do]

So I've been rocking the MacBooks for a while and love them. But like a lot of others I'm working from home more now and want something a little bit more suited to work from home. I'm debating between a MacMini 3.6GHz and an iMac 3.1GHz. From what I'm seeing for my needs best is the Mac mini since I've already got two monitors and pretty sweet set up already. What are people's thoughts is the Mini the best way to go?

The reason I went for the Mac Mini when it debuted out in 2005 was (and still is) it's transportability. I didn't want a laptop to tote every day (and still don't, but times changed and I came to need daily portability, so I got a MacBook Air to supplement the Mini), but did want something that could be carried, and set up (usually with an LCD projector) on the odd occasion. Nothing else was a fit.

Add to that, you can choose peripherals to suit your needs, and update the components independently. The Mac Mini just made sense to me...... In storage now during an itinerant phase of life, I look forward to being able to set the Mini up again with a decent size monitor, and nice sounding speakers when I do get to settle into an apartment again, hopefully within the next couple of weeks.

 

[Fishrrman]

Get the i5 (or i7).

Get AT LEAST 16gb of RAM (8gb "isn't enough" on the Mini because 1.5gb of the RAM is "roped off" for the GPU). Buy 16gb "from the factory", because opening/installing RAM on the 2018/2020 Mini is not a trivial procedure.

If you need more than 16gb, it MIGHT be worth buying just 8 from the factory, and installing it yourself. But see above re the installation requirements.

You can get more for your money by buying from the Apple online refurbished store. But you have to keep a VERY close eye on the Mini refurb pages, know EXACTLY what you want, and be ready-to-buy within minutes of seeing what you want -- because it won't be there long.

 

[weaztek]

Thanks that’s what I thought. I also do some gaming would they both work for that?

If you do gaming, I would get the iMac.

Otherwise, you need an eGPU for the Mini. Which is not a big deal. They can be found for $200-$350 used.

 

[richmlow]

Hello AngusW,


It sounds like a Mac mini is more than adequate for your needs! You will find out (as I did) that a nice home office setup will improve your overall productivity considerably. MacBooks are great! However, the small screen, ergonomics, etc. of laptop computers are not well-suited for sustained and concentrated work.

Regarding the possible specifications of a Mac mini....

1. Intel Core i5 processor (3.0GHz, 6-core)
2. 16GB RAM or more
3. 512GB SSD storage

With regards to gaming, I'm not sure that the Mac platform (any system) is the way to go. Personally, I have Macs to work on and Windows PC / PS3 to play games on!


Good luck on your purchase decision!


richmlow

So I've been rocking the MacBooks for a while and love them. But like a lot of others I'm working from home more now and want something a little bit more suited to work from home. I'm debating between a MacMini 3.6GHz and an iMac 3.1GHz. From what I'm seeing for my needs best is the Mac mini since I've already got two monitors and pretty sweet set up already. What are people's thoughts is the Mini the best way to go?