Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Critique my setup please

M

mikef07

Suspended
Original poster
Aug 8, 2007
305
273
I am about to pull a trigger on a mac mini and 2 4k monitors to run with it.

i5 6 core 3.0
8gb RAM
512GB SSD
10 Gigabit Ethernet

I will add 32GB kit aftermarket from OWC.
I will also add Samsung T5 SSD 1TB External

I also have a 10TB WD USB 3.0 that I will use for storage of media.

Monitors:

I think I am set on:
2 x LG 32UD60-B 4K Monitors

I am willing to sub any of the above if it makes sense but please give me an alternative choice.

I will use this machine for Outlook, Word, Excel, Mail, GIMP, Acrobat, and Internet Browsing. I also use PLEX a lot through this machine.

This will replace a 2011 imac 27"
 
mikef07 said:
Monitors:

I think I am set on:
2 x LG 32UD60-B 4K Monitors
Click to expand...


Most of the main manufacturers of monitors provide a three year warranty. LG generally provides one year.

Maybe check the warranty period on those monitors. This recent video was made by a guy whose quite expensive LG monitor failed just after the warranty expired. See especially from 07:50:

 
6 cores is a lot, typical fully utilized by video or image processing. From the work you've described, I should think 4 cores would be more than adequate.
 
mikef07 said:
I am about to pull a trigger on a mac mini and 2 4k monitors to run with it.

i5 6 core 3.0
8gb RAM
512GB SSD
10 Gigabit Ethernet

I will add 32GB kit aftermarket from OWC.
I will also add Samsung T5 SSD 1TB External

I also have a 10TB WD USB 3.0 that I will use for storage of media.

Monitors:

I think I am set on:
2 x LG 32UD60-B 4K Monitors

I am willing to sub any of the above if it makes sense but please give me an alternative choice.

I will use this machine for Outlook, Word, Excel, Mail, GIMP, Acrobat, and Internet Browsing. I also use PLEX a lot through this machine.

This will replace a 2011 imac 27"
Click to expand...

Get the i7 for the peace of mind and future proofing.

F-Train said:
This recent video was made by a guy whose quite expensive LG monitor failed just after the warranty expired
Click to expand...

The precise reason manufacturers are offering warranty for "x" number of years is because they know the product is probably not gonna fail during that period. One of the most disgusting practices I have ever saw. They want us to buy tech every 2 years. They do not want us using same monitor for 3,4,5 years...
 
  • Like
Reactions: pl1984
No problem getting the i7 but my only concern is fan noise. I like it quiet. Do you believe I will constantly have the fan turning on from my use?

Any alternative monitors that give a longer warranty?
 
Don't mind the hassle or risk. Trying to future proof. Seems like all the other monitors are double the price for a 4K 32".
 
Seems like 10gb Ethernet is a waste to me unless you are linking it to something on your home network for file sharing or something. I seriously doubt you will be getting that much speed from your isp even if you keep your computer another 8 years so it only makes sense for transfer speeds.
 
imaccooper said:
Seems like 10gb Ethernet is a waste to me unless you are linking it to something on your home network for file sharing or something. I seriously doubt you will be getting that much speed from your isp even if you keep your computer another 8 years so it only makes sense for transfer speeds.
Click to expand...

For $100 it seems worth it to me. My guess is eventually wifi routers will have 10gb built in. My house is wired so that is why I am choosing that.
 
mikef07 said:
For $100 it seems worth it to me. My guess is eventually wifi routers will have 10gb built in. My house is wired so that is why I am choosing that.
Click to expand...

Well it’s not one of those upgrades that is going to hurt you or have negative consequences so if the $100 is not a big deal then I guess you can go for it. But unless you live in very large city, I would seriously doubt your internet connection will be faster than the 1gb port in the next 6-8 years.

Personally, I bet you would never notice a difference getting the 1gb port and 16gb of ram, but if money/time to upgrade isn’t a problem then go for it.
 
imaccooper said:
Well it’s not one of those upgrades that is going to hurt you or have negative consequences so if the $100 is not a big deal then I guess you can go for it. But unless you live in very large city, I would seriously doubt your internet connection will be faster than the 1gb port in the next 6-8 years.

Personally, I bet you would never notice a difference getting the 1gb port and 16gb of ram, but if money/time to upgrade isn’t a problem then go for it.
Click to expand...

I do transfer large files from time to time and the $100 is a non issue. I remember opting for 10/100 multiple times thinking I would never want or need 1GB and now wish I would have gotten the 1GB. I won't make the same mistake for $100
 
  • Like
Reactions: imaccooper
mikef07 said:
No problem getting the i7 but my only concern is fan noise. I like it quiet. Do you believe I will constantly have the fan turning on from my use?

Any alternative monitors that give a longer warranty?
Click to expand...

For what you will doing on your Mac Mini, you will not notice any difference in fan noise from the i5 CPU to the i7 CPU. I would definitely go for the i7 for future proofing, since obviously it cannot be changed after.

I am posting a link to pcmag.com for their list of top monitors for 2019, and then a link to Samsung for the monitor I own:

PC-Mag (Top monitors 2019): https://www.pcmag.com/roundup/295820/the-best-computer-monitors

Samsung: https://www.samsung.com/us/computin...onitor-with-quantum-dot-lc32hg70qqnxza/#specs

The Samsung I own is a QLED with Quantum Dot Technology (which delivers one billion accurate colors) and has a refresh rate of 144Hz, which can be changed to 120Hz or 60Hz as needed. It has a 1ms response time. It is a curved display, but it is not a huge curve at all and it is gorgeous! It is 32", same as the monitor you were looking at. It has AMD FreeSync 2, and a very cool feature called "Eye Saver" which cuts down on the blue light emitted causing WAY less eye strain, especially when combined with "Night Shift" on macOS Mojave. It has 2 HDMI ports, 1 Display Port, and 3 USB ports one of which you can charge a device with. It has tons of other features which you will be able to see if you visit the page I linked to. It is a great monitor, hell, I even use it sometimes for my Xbox One S even though I have a 55" Samsung TV that puts out a gorgeous picture.

It is only $100.00 more than the monitor you want, and that is straight from Samsung. You can probably find it cheaper somewhere else. It also comes with a three year warranty on parts and labor.

:apple:
 
So that monitor is only 2K I believe. Why would I do that over 4K. I will never ever play one game.
 
Dr. Stealth said:
Depending on how often you move files you may want to opt for a Samsung X5 instead of a Samsung T5. I use an X5 and it's incredibly fast with all file transfers.

Just a suggestion...
Click to expand...

I did see that and it is pretty expensive for the same space. I don't move files a lot but it is enticing.
 
F-Train said:
This recent video was made by a guy whose quite expensive LG monitor failed just after the warranty expired. See especially from 07:50:

Click to expand...


You really have to use a little (a lot?) of discretion with Youtube posts. I watched this video for like 3 minutes and this guy is completely lost. He has no idea what he is doing or even saying. Trash this one.
 
Dr. Stealth said:
You really have to use a little (a lot?) of discretion with Youtube posts. I watched this video for like 3 minutes and this guy is completely lost. He has no idea what he is doing or even saying. Trash this one.
Click to expand...

I think that maybe your problem with this guy is about style. He has 165,000 subscribers and a loyal following. He’s no monitor expert, but he’s perfectly capable of explaining that his expensive LG monitor bricked it two months after the one year warranty expired.
 
Last edited:
mikef07 said:
So that monitor is only 2K I believe. Why would I do that over 4K. I will never ever play one game.
Click to expand...

I am sorry, I completely forgot that the monitor is 2K, but honestly when I compare it to my 4K Samsung TV, you cannot tell that the monitor is only 2K...at least to my eyes. I thought they had come out with a 4K version of it, but apparently not.

I have a friend who has this monitor, it is cool as hell but I do not know if it would meet your needs...amazing design though. $60.00 more than the monitor you were looking at:

https://www.samsung.com/us/computin.../32-sr75-4k-uhd-space-monitor-ls32r750uenxza/

Edit: This is essentially the 4K version of my monitor, for $500:

https://www.samsung.com/us/computing/monitors/curved/32-ur59c-curved-4k-uhd-monitor-lu32r590cwnxza/

:apple:
 
Last edited:
My opinion only, but I'd buy something other than LG.
The only LG product I owned (a tv), failed within 2 years and I couldn't get it repaired (no parts), even if I wished to pay.
I won't own another of their products.
Again, my opinion only.
 
At this point I am now leaning towards:

i5 or i7
16GB Factory installed RAM
512GB SSD

I will also add Samsung T5 SSD 1TB External.

I am also considering 2k monitors instead of 4K. I have been told that i will see no difference sitting 18-24 inches away and using excel, word, internet, etc.
 
mikef07 said:
No problem getting the i7 but my only concern is fan noise. I like it quiet. Do you believe I will constantly have the fan turning on from my use?

Any alternative monitors that give a longer warranty?
Click to expand...
Unless i'm encoding video my i7 is silent. I do run a plex server with multiple simultaneous streams. Doesn't affect fan speed. At least not that I can hear.

OWC is overpriced for ram. You can get cheaper on amazon. I went with 32gb and install myself.

For a monitor I use a single dell ultrawide 34" 3440x1440. Plenty big enough.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MacMiniUpgrader
Received my mini today and to say the least I am not impressed.

First I can't use two USB C to Displayport cables as it won't boot. Have to use HDMI to 1 monitor and USB C to Display port on the other.


Second every time I reboot or restart it does not hold the scaling I set. I have to go into system preferences and change the scaling every single time.

Piss poor QC.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back