Help with dual Mac-PC setup

[skaertus]

I am currently mounting a desktop combining the best of both worlds. I intend to include a Mac, a PC, and accessories that would let me switch from one to the other seamlessly. The devices would be as follows:

• M4 Mac Mini, 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16 GB RAM, 512 GB storage
• Dell XPS 8960 desktop, Core i7-14700, RTX 4060, 32 GB RAM, 2 TB storage
• Samsung ViewFinity S9 27-inch IPS monitor, 5120 x 2880 resolution
• Logitech MX Keys S keyboard + Logitech MX Anywhere 3s mouse

As far as I am concerned, both the keyboard and the mouse support up to 3 devices via a Bluetooth connection, so it would be possible to switch from the PC to the Mac and vice-versa very quickly and seamlessly.

As for the monitor, it supports Mini Display Port and Thunderbolt 4 connections. I am thinking in connecting it to the XPS via the Mini Display Port and to the Mac Mini via Thunderbolt 4, getting a 5120 x 2880 resolution in both computers, and exchanging between them whenever I want.

Would this work? Any flaws or potential problems in this configuration?

Thank you for all the help and support.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

Should be fine.

 

[mfram]

I use my MX Mechanical Mini keyboard and MX Master 3S mouse between my PC and Mac, no problem. That part will work just fine. Also have a Magic Trackpad I use for the Mac. That lets me use gestures and works great.

 

[skaertus]

Should be fine.

Thanks.

I use my MX Mechanical Mini keyboard and MX Master 3S mouse between my PC and Mac, no problem. That part will work just fine. Also have a Magic Trackpad I use for the Mac. That lets me use gestures and works great.

My main concern is about the monitor. I want to connect both computers at 5K resolution. That should be fine on paper, but I would like to know if someone has any experience with this monitor and one of these two computers.

 

[bradman83]

One minor wrinkle to consider: if your Mac has FileVault enabled it will sometimes lock out non-Apple Bluetooth devices until the password to unlock the drive is entered when booting or restarting.

I had an old hand-me-down 2014 Mac Mini that I used as a file server that I shared peripherals with my Windows work laptop and my Logitech MX Keys keyboard and similar Logitech 3-device Bluetooth mouse (the Triathalon) wouldn't be recognized by the Mac Mini whenever it restarted. I would literally have to plug in a wired USB keyboard to enter the password to get past FileVault and then it would recognize the bluetooth keyboard and mouse.

Apparently some third party Bluetooth devices work just fine, and Logitech's official solution was to just turn FileVault off (which is not advisable). You can also bypass this by setting one of the Bluetooth channels to the USB unified receiver and plugging the receiver into the Mac. It's also possible that this issue has been resolved by newer hardware and newer Bluetooth versions. Either way it's something to test!

 

[Kenny99]

Have you thought about just running a " Virtual Machine" either OS / Windows or Windows / OS depending on your hardware.

 

[skaertus]

Have you thought about just running a " Virtual Machine" either OS / Windows or Windows / OS depending on your hardware.

Yes, I do. It is not worth it for me.

First, because I play games as well, and, in this regard, there is no substitute for a PC with a video card. As powerful as the Mac GPU can be, there are not as many games available for Mac. And the RTX 4060 runs circles around the GPU in the Mac mini.

Second, because I have used virtual machines before, and there is an impact on performance. And I want to run both Windows and Mac at full speed with no performance penalty.

Third, because it is not worth it financially:

• Parallels Desktop costs $119.99 a year in the Pro Edition. In 5 years, it will be $600. (Seriously, this new Parallels annual subscription model is making it a rip-off.)
• To run Windows on a virtual machine, I would need additional RAM and storage to accommodate a second OS comfortably. A Mac mini with 32 GB RAM and 1 TB storage would cost $600 more than one with 16 GB RAM and 512 GB. As I am in Brazil, and prices are higher due to high taxes, the added cost would be $1,240.

So, that amounts to an additional cost of $1,840 in 5 years (or $1,200 if I am lucky enough to get a Mac mini with U.S. prices). And that does not consider any Windows license I may have to acquire.

I am paying $1,790 for a Dell XPS with a Core i7-14700, RTX 4060, 32 GB RAM, and 2 TB storage. Much more worth it to have two computers than paying about the same price for having just one.

 

[skaertus]

One minor wrinkle to consider: if your Mac has FileVault enabled it will sometimes lock out non-Apple Bluetooth devices until the password to unlock the drive is entered when booting or restarting.

I had an old hand-me-down 2014 Mac Mini that I used as a file server that I shared peripherals with my Windows work laptop and my Logitech MX Keys keyboard and similar Logitech 3-device Bluetooth mouse (the Triathalon) wouldn't be recognized by the Mac Mini whenever it restarted. I would literally have to plug in a wired USB keyboard to enter the password to get past FileVault and then it would recognize the bluetooth keyboard and mouse.

Apparently some third party Bluetooth devices work just fine, and Logitech's official solution was to just turn FileVault off (which is not advisable). You can also bypass this by setting one of the Bluetooth channels to the USB unified receiver and plugging the receiver into the Mac. It's also possible that this issue has been resolved by newer hardware and newer Bluetooth versions. Either way it's something to test!

Thanks. I do not intend to use FileVault. And I do not intend to reboot or restart it frequently. Hopefully, it goes well.