Does any 2018 Mac mini compare to my current Macbook Pro

[marklcfc]

I'm interested in getting a Mac Mini to replace my current 2019 macbook pro, but I feel like I'd be downgrading. I only use the macbook in clamshell mode and I feel like a Mac Mini would be better for my uses. I only use the laptop for Logic Pro, Final Cut and general listening music / browsing the web.
I would have liked the new M1 but alot of the software I use is incompatible with M1.
From what I see the 2018 Mac Mini had less powerful processor and graphics, but I know you can upgrade them. This is the Macbook I have, if anyone can advise.

 

[MBAir2010]

if you purchased a brand new mac Mini the specs can be modified to your needs.
if you are looking for a used one, I would recommend the 2014 model were you can add RAM and a SSD drive to your liking.

I has a Mac mini in 2012 and loved the shine and overall look but the bluetooth drove me nuts were nothing synced properly. I was going to insert a tin foil thing like others did to improve the signal, but i happily sold the unit in 2018 instead!

 

[Boyd01]

if you purchased a brand new mac Mini the specs can be modified to your needs.
if you are looking for a used one, I would recommend the 2014 model were you can add RAM and a SSD drive to your liking.

I couldn't disagree more with this. You CANNOT upgrade RAM in a 2014 Mini, it is soldered, and the maximum is 16gb, which will probably be hard to find on the used market. The 2018 Mini RAM can be upgraded (although not sanctioned by Apple, since you must disassemble) to a maximum of 64gb.

It's true that you can upgrade the SSD on the 2014 and the 2018 has a soldered SSD that can't be upgraded. However, the 2014 SSD will only give you between 700 to 800MB/sec while the 2018 SSD is about 2700MB/sec. A USB-C SSD like the Samsung T7 will give you about 1000MB/sec on a 2018 Mini but probably only about half of that on a 2014 Mini with USB-A.

I have a top-spec 2012 quad-core 2.6ghz i7 Mini and it is about 50% faster than the top-spec 2014 Mini because Apple dropped the quad-core option in 2014. I also have a base 1.4ghz/4gb 2014 Mini, which is pretty much useless, and a 2.8ghz/8gb 2014 Mini that is OK, but I only use it as a server. Would not want to use it for Logic for Final Cut Pro (although they ran pretty well on my 2012 quad). 2014 was arguably one of the worst years for the Mini.

If you're looking for a used Mini, you definitely want a 2018 model. Have not looked but gather there are a number of them available as people upgrade to the new M1.

You can compare your MacBook Pro and 2018 Mini at EveryMac. I love my 2018 Mini, does everything I need which includes running demanding Windows software under Parallels as well as MacOS Mountain Lion and Sierra Virtual Machines for my very expensive legacy CAD, 3d and database software. Not familiar with your MacBook Pro, but suspect the biggest difference will be the lack of discrete graphics on the Mini. That can be addressed with an external GPU but, of course, that is an additional expense.

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[toke lahti]

I'm interested in getting a Mac Mini to replace my current 2019 macbook pro, but I feel like I'd be downgrading. I only use the macbook in clamshell mode and I feel like a Mac Mini would be better for my uses. I only use the laptop for Logic Pro, Final Cut and general listening music / browsing the web.
I would have liked the new M1 but alot of the software I use is incompatible with M1.
From what I see the 2018 Mac Mini had less powerful processor and graphics, but I know you can upgrade them. This is the Macbook I have, if anyone can advise.

Since you didn't want to make a comparison by yourself, here's some:
CPU
mini2018 3.2GHz i7(8700B) vs. mbp2019 2.3GHz i9 (9880H) vs. mini2014 3.0GHz i7 (4578U) vs. mini 2012 2.6 GHz i7 (3720QM):

Intel i7-8700B vs i9-9880H vs i7-4578U vs i7-3720QM [cpubenchmark.net] by PassMark Software

I'd leave those old ones for non professional work...
How much do you render with your mbp? Is throttling any problem or are you using some external cooling to it?

GPU
Just any eGPU case and any recent desktop AMD card will blow mbp away...

 

[Fishrrman]

I'd suggest a 2018 with an i7 CPU and 16gb of RAM.
Get it installed "at the factory" unless you are ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN you can open the Mini and install more RAM yourself. This isn't a "trivial task"...

 

[marklcfc]

GPU
Just any eGPU case and any recent desktop AMD card will blow mbp away...

This is my main concern, without an external gpu which appear quite large, Logic and Final Cut won't run as well. I have to say both run super good on the MBP.

 

[Boyd01]

I really doubt that an eGPU will matter for Logic, unless perhaps you are driving multiple large screens. I run Logic Pro and Final Cut Pro on my i7 2018 Mini and they work fine for my usage without an eGPU. However, my use of Logic is confined to 8 tracks of live recordings with some basic plug-ins and I only use 1080p in Final Cut.

I decided to try the Mini without an eGPU, figuring I could add it later. Have yet to see any need. I am only using one 1440p screen normally on the Mini, however I have a 1080p Sony production monitor for an external video device in Final Cut Pro.

Yes, most of the eGPU's appear pretty large. So what? It's a desktop computer and I have plenty of room if I ever decide to get one. But if your MBP is "super good", doesn't make much sense to spend a bunch of time and money on something new.

 

[toke lahti]

This is my main concern, without an external gpu which appear quite large, Logic and Final Cut won't run as well. I have to say both run super good on the MBP.

I'll bet your screen(s) is(/are) larger.
So you can hide the eGPU behind it(/them).
Or under the desk.
I'd get the biggest eGPU box I could find, it would be the quietest.
Unless you have acoustically isolated and ventilated rack + expensive cables to your desk.

 

[GaelenSky]

I’ve just purchased a brand new 2018 mini with an i5 and - at the moment - 8GB of RAM and an internal capacity of 512GB. My main reasons for picking the Intel model over the M1 was the expansion capabilities, and while the M1 wipes the floor with the Intel chips it isn’t all about the processor. Firstly the i7 model I have read suffers from thermal throttling, I can’t imagine you would be a stranger to this coming from a closed-lid MBP especially of that year, but it’s something to consider. I wouldn’t say this swayed my choice on the i5, but I didn’t feel i’d be getting the best I could out an i7 in the mini so I didn’t bother. The 2018 mini’s feature desktop class processors vs mobile though, which if someone wants to correct me on or add more to feel free but it helps to know.

The Intel UHD is atrocious though. I wasn’t expecting much, but it stutters with my 27” 4K display at normal scaled settings. I’m still trying to figure out the best route for an eGPU that doesn’t rip me a new one as these are inexpensive macOS machines.

Also, don’t go older than the 2018 model like the initial reply suggested, especially not the ‘14 models. They can’t run a modern display for gash and run mobile CPU’s as well as soldered hell. Apple were on a bit too much glue back then, literally.

 

[Boyd01]

The issues with the UHD 630 and scaled resolutions have been discussed extensively here. That is why I got a 32" 1440p screen that gives me a comfortable text size at native resolution. 8gb of RAM is also a problem since the UHD 630 uses 1.5gb off the top, only leaving 6.5gb for everything else. That can cause a lot of disk swapping, which is pretty fast but generates heat and causes the fans to speed up.

 

[toke lahti]

Saddest thing with mini2018 is, that it is still stuck with dp1.2, so there's no futureproof with it.
Even when tb4 does support dp1.4, the machine's iGPU does not.
I guess thre's same problem with new M1-mini?
And you can't even use an eGPU with it.
So the decade of No Good Headless Desktop Mac just keeps on going...

 

[Erehy Dobon]

GPU
Just any eGPU case and any recent desktop AMD card will blow mbp away...

LOL, today that would cost a fortune. Are you remotely aware of the insanity of current AIB GPU card pricing?

I bought a Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 580 card in June 2020 for $180, a fifty dollar markdown from the April 2017 launch price of $230. Fine. I didn't want to pony up another hundred bucks for the newer RX 5700 XT (especially because I needed to upgrade to Crapalina for GPU support).

Today that same RX 580 card is being offered by third-party sellers on Amazon for $750+. That over 4x the price I paid last summer.

Four.
Year.
Old.
Graphics.
Card.

Between the price of a Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box and the street price of an RX 580, that's nearly $1100.

I also bought a Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 2GB card for a productivity Windows PC build for $65 in October, $15 less than the $80 launch price (again from 2017). Today's street price for this card is again around 4x what it was six months ago. This is a low-end discrete GPU, the main benefit being that it uses little power (it doesn't even require a power cable from the power supply; it gets all of its power from the PCI connector).

Suggesting a discrete GPU + eGPU enclosure was a valid alternative six months ago. In early 2021? No, not really.

Remember that GeForce cards are not an option and only a subset of Radeon cards are supported by Apple. The ghetto $65 Lexa PRO RX 550 that lives happily in my Windows 10 SFF build is not supported in macOS.

If you're trying to get better graphical performance out of a Mac mini 2018, right now you're basically screwed unless you are willing to pay an arm and a leg for an overpriced legacy Radeon GPU.

 

[toke lahti]

LOL, today that would cost a fortune. Are you remotely aware of the insanity of current AIB GPU card pricing?

I bought a Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 580 card in June 2020 for $180, a fifty dollar markdown from the April 2017 launch price of $230. Fine. I didn't want to pony up another hundred bucks for the newer RX 5700 XT (especially because I needed to upgrade to Crapalina for GPU support).

Today that same RX 580 card is being offered by third-party sellers on Amazon for $750+. That over 4x the price I paid last summer.

Four.
Year.
Old.
Graphics.
Card.

Between the price of a Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box and the street price of an RX 580, that's nearly $1100.

I also bought a Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 2GB card for a productivity Windows PC build for $65 in October, $15 less than the $80 launch price (again from 2017). Today's street price for this card is again around 4x what it was six months ago. This is a low-end discrete GPU, the main benefit being that it uses little power (it doesn't even require a power cable from the power supply; it gets all of its power from the PCI connector).

Suggesting a discrete GPU + eGPU enclosure was a valid alternative six months ago. In early 2021? No, not really.

Remember that GeForce cards are not an option and only a subset of Radeon cards are supported by Apple. The ghetto $65 Lexa PRO RX 550 that lives happily in my Windows 10 SFF build is not supported in macOS.

If you're trying to get better graphical performance out of a Mac mini 2018, right now you're basically screwed unless you are willing to pay an arm and a leg for an overpriced legacy Radeon GPU.

OMG, I didn't know it's that BAD!
I bought 2nd hand RX580 last summer for €125!
Boy, I was lucky then!
Is it that bad also for older cards like RX5700, isn't there even a mac version for that?

Where is this world coming to...

 

[Erehy Dobon]

OMG, I didn't know it's that BAD!
I bought 2nd hand RX580 last summer for €125!
Boy, I was lucky then!
Is it that bad also for older cards like RX5700, isn't there even a mac version for that?

Where is this world coming to...

It is bad for ALL graphics cards. Every. Single. One.

They are all now going for 3-5 times the normal MSRP. There are USED cards going for 2-3 times their original launch price.

It's been like this since November 2020 and this is basically a daily topic on the various PC hardware and PC gaming sites.

Advising someone to get an eGPU and an add-in graphics card is completely whacko right now.

If you want to have a jolly good laugh, use your favorite Internet search engine to locate the official Apple Support document that lists their recommended eGPU enclosures and graphics cards. Then search for those specific cards at the various shopping sites. You will find this a total riot.