Bad idea to get an intel mac mini now?

[Fravin]

2. You need 64gb ram for some reason (especially in a windows virtual machine) or 4 thunderbolt ports.

I'm running a M1 Mini for tho months now. And I have to say that the RAM have surprised me.

Not the speed or the amount of it. Bu the way MacOS uses it. It's a new look at RAM usage, I think. I don't know how I could explain it, but my i9 MBP 15" with 32Gb don't run this fast. Specially in Final Cut and Affinity Designer.

 

[MarkC426]

Anyone wanting a really cheap mini, for whatever reason, on Amazon UK today, i3 base mini for £461 (-42% off).
And yes it's brand new.

2018-2019 Apple Mac mini (3.6GHz quad-core 8th-generation Intel Core i3 processor, 8GB RAM, 256GB)

Eighth-generation 6-core and quad-core processors. Fast 2666MHz DDR4 memory. A variety of ports, including Thunderbolt 3, HDMI 2.0, and available 10Gb Ethernet. And all-flash storage that’s blazing-fast, so you can load giant files and launch apps in an instant. The re-engineered Mac mini is the ...

www.amazon.co.uk

 

[opeter]

Very nice, thank you for this information. Sadly, since the UK isn't in the EU anymore, if I buy something from your country, that is worth more than 22 €, there is very high import duties (22% TAX)...

And after 1 July 2021, the import TAX* must be payed for anything, that will be imported outside the EU.

* this is different is every EU member country

 

[MarkC426]

Is it not listed on your local Amazon site at this price?

 

[Boyd01]

Don't know about other countries, but when I click your link in the US it takes me to a page for the 8gb M1 Mini (not Intel) for $669 (Apple sells this for $699 on their own site).

 

[opeter]

Is it not listed on your local Amazon site at this price?

No, we don't have Amazon here in Slovenia. If I want something, I have to go to the german, french, italian etc. site of Amazon (.de, .fr., it., .es...).

In the past, I did buy quite a bunch of things from different UK stores, also on ebay.co.uk, amazon.co.uk, but now it is simply not worth it anymore. Sadly.

 

[opeter]

Don't know about other countries, but when I click your link in the US it takes me to a page for the 8gb M1 Mini (not Intel) for $669 (Apple sells this for $699 on their own site).

Hmmm... maybe because you are located in the US and it redirects based on you IP address?

I see the UK price:

In contrary, the german Amazon shows, that this model in not available:

Apple Mac Mini (3,6 GHz Quad-Core 8. Generation Intel Core i3 Prozessor, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB) – vorheriges Modell

6-Kern- und Quad-Core-Prozessoren der 8. Generation. Schneller 2666MHz DDR4 Speicher Eine Vielzahl von Ports, einschließlich Thunderbolt 3, HDMI 2.0 und 10 GB Ethernet. Und der All-Flash-Speicher, der blitzschnell ist, so dass Sie riesige Dateien laden und Apps im Handumdrehen starten können. Der...

www.amazon.de

 

[Boyd01]

Hmmm... maybe because you are located in the US and it redirects based on you IP address?

Guess that Amazon US simply isn't offering the same deal so they showed me whatever Mini they have on sale. Clearly, it would make no sense for somebody in the US to order a Mini from the UK, considering the shipping, import duties, etc. We can get the same Mini as a refurb directly from Apple for $679 which is pretty close to that sale price when you do the currency conversion ($653). They also sometimes have the 128gb version of that machine as a refurb for $599, saw one a few days ago there.

Anyway, that sounds like a good deal in your country. But I'm still delighted with my 2018 i7/2tb/64gb Mini, so I'm not in the market.

 

[familychoice]

Anyone wanting a really cheap mini, for whatever reason, on Amazon UK today, i3 base mini for £461 (-42% off).
And yes it's brand new.

2018-2019 Apple Mac mini (3.6GHz quad-core 8th-generation Intel Core i3 processor, 8GB RAM, 256GB)

Eighth-generation 6-core and quad-core processors. Fast 2666MHz DDR4 memory. A variety of ports, including Thunderbolt 3, HDMI 2.0, and available 10Gb Ethernet. And all-flash storage that’s blazing-fast, so you can load giant files and launch apps in an instant. The re-engineered Mac mini is the ...

www.amazon.co.uk

I wish Amazon would stock 16gb models. Amazing deal though.

 

[MarkC426]

Are these not user upgradeable?

 

[MarkC426]

Guess that Amazon US simply isn't offering the same deal so they showed me whatever Mini they have on sale. Clearly, it would make no sense for somebody in the US to order a Mini from the UK, considering the shipping, import duties, etc. We can get the same Mini as a refurb directly from Apple for $679 which is pretty close to that sale price when you do the currency conversion ($653). They also sometimes have the 128gb version of that machine as a refurb for $599, saw one a few days ago there.

Anyway, that sounds like a good deal in your country. But I'm still delighted with my 2018 i7/2tb/64gb Mini, so I'm not in the market.

Same i3 model from UK Apple refurb is £679 (Same £ as $)

 

[vbctv]

Are these not user upgradeable?

RAM is upgradeable on the Intel models if you have the tools. The new M1 model is not user-upgradable...

 

[opeter]

I wish Amazon would stock 16gb models. Amazing deal though.

You can upgrade the RAM yourself.

 

[MarkC426]

That was my thought.....

 

[MarkC426]

Anyone wanting a really cheap mini, for whatever reason, on Amazon UK today, i3 base mini for £461 (-42% off).
And yes it's brand new.

2018-2019 Apple Mac mini (3.6GHz quad-core 8th-generation Intel Core i3 processor, 8GB RAM, 256GB)

Eighth-generation 6-core and quad-core processors. Fast 2666MHz DDR4 memory. A variety of ports, including Thunderbolt 3, HDMI 2.0, and available 10Gb Ethernet. And all-flash storage that’s blazing-fast, so you can load giant files and launch apps in an instant. The re-engineered Mac mini is the ...

www.amazon.co.uk

Now reduced to £425

 

[familychoice]

You can upgrade the RAM yourself.

That was my thought.....

Yes sorry, I should have specified the M1 model for my 16gb Amazon option desires!

At present I'm holding out for a new Mini announcement next week, otherwise I'll most likely get the current 16gb M1 via Apple, though I'm very tempted to get an 8gb 'cheap' M1 via Amazon as a temporary fix.

 

[sublunar]

Now reduced to £425

Attractive pricing, and the UK Amazon is bouncing around in that range at the moment (was higher than that today, £499.81). But realistically the M1 Mini is the way ahead.

The i3 mini has 4 thunderbolt 3 ports and can add up to 64Gb of RAM but the HD630 graphics are weak compared to the M1 8 core GPU, the M1 runs cooler and probably quieter, and benches significantly faster than the i3 (although RAM isn't upgradable and you only get 2 USB4/Thunderbolt ports) and will arguably be supported for longer in the long run.

 

[MarkC426]

I have seen the base M1 mini at £632 on Amazon.

 

[sublunar]

I have seen the base M1 mini at £632 on Amazon.

Might have been a momentary price cut, it’s usually just under £649. Refurbs can be had for £589.

don’t forget the supposed new form factor coming along with new CPU

 

[Ungibbed]

With Parallels updated for M1, my need for Intel is nearly gone.

I don’t see any logic in going the Intel route when considering buying new. Unless you’re using a legacy app that would tank on M1/Rosetta.

On the other hand, a used Intel powered Mac from a friend or a decent price from a reseller can be a bargain! Especially if you don’t need the latest and greatest.


I’m still using a 2012 i5… 🥱 💤

 

[MarkC426]

I think a lot is also dependant on ram requirements and extra ports.

 

[sublunar]

With Parallels updated for M1, my need for Intel is nearly gone.

I don’t see any logic in going the Intel route when considering buying new. Unless you’re using a legacy app that would tank on M1/Rosetta.

On the other hand, a used Intel powered Mac from a friend or a decent price from a reseller can be a bargain! Especially if you don’t need the latest and greatest.


I’m still using a 2012 i5… 🥱 💤

My 2012 is hardly used these days, great machine but from late next year it will stop officially getting security updates for Catalina.

although tempting to get an Intel mini if a superb price was available the M1 mini is much more future proof if 2 thunderbolt ports will be sufficient

 

[Boyd01]

With Parallels updated for M1, my need for Intel is nearly gone.

But that won't let me run legacy MacOS versions like I do on my 2018 Mini. It would cost me about $2000 to update my old CAD and database software to run on Big Sur. Before getting the 2018 Mini, I ran these by booting into MacOS Mountain Lion from a separate SSD on my 2012 Mini. But it's so much more convenient to be able to do that in Parallels on the 2018 Mini, and I have also replaced my old Windows PC with a Parallels VM. The M1 just can't do all this for me.

 

[Ungibbed]

But that won't let me run legacy MacOS versions like I do on my 2018 Mini. It would cost me about $2000 to update my old CAD and database software to run on Big Sur. Before getting the 2018 Mini, I ran these by booting into MacOS Mountain Lion from a separate SSD on my 2012 Mini. But it's so much more convenient to be able to do that in Parallels on the 2018 Mini, and I have also replaced my old Windows PC with a Parallels VM. The M1 just can't do all this for me.

Thats all okay, just as I pointed out with my 2012 Mini, I just use a few Windows apps that are handled by the old i5 in mine. Since these tools are not super demanding, a M1 Mini would handle my needs fine.

I’m near the end of the support rope in my case where I have to make a decision either way.

 

[Ungibbed]

My 2012 is hardly used these days, great machine but from late next year it will stop officially getting security updates for Catalina.

although tempting to get an Intel mini if a superb price was available the M1 mini is much more future proof if 2 thunderbolt ports will be sufficient

I’m pretty much leaning towards a M1 but considering I bought my Mini for only $200, I got my money’s worth.