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Mac Mini - Buyer's Guide status: caution

honestone33 said:
my 2018 model, with a 256 gig SSD, 8 gig of Ram, and a Core i5 processor. I actually thought I might be taking a step backwards, as the late 2012 model has a Core i7 processor.
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Right, and good to see someone confirm it. Today's Intel-i5's are faster than a circa-2012 i7. I've even seen a desktop i3 that is faster than a circa-2010 Intel-i7.

If I buy a MacMini-2018, I think it will be similar to yours with the Intel-i5. With the small-case and power-supply ... it just seems like a more reasonable config.

Good to see the posts of happy MacMini-2018 owners. It helps to offset all the trouble-threads. Still not sure if some machines are just bad, or others are getting revised-motherboard models. However, it seems clear that you must be running the latest Catalina, because that is the only way you get any new/updated firmware for sub-processors and micro-controllers (in addition to latest macOS and drivers).
 
Tesla1856 said:
Right, and good to see someone confirm it. Today's Intel-i5's are faster than a circa-2012 i7. I've even seen a desktop i3 that is faster than a circa-2010 Intel-i7.

If I buy a MacMini-2018, I think it will be similar to yours with the Intel-i5. With the small-case and power-supply ... it just seems like a more reasonable config.

Good to see the posts of happy MacMini-2018 owners. It helps to offset all the trouble-threads. Still not sure if some machines are just bad, or others are getting revised-motherboard models. However, it seems clear that you must be running the latest Catalina, because that is the only way you get any new/updated firmware for sub-processors and micro-controllers (in addition to latest macOS and drivers).
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Thanks.

Yes, I forgot to mention that I am running the latest version of Catalina, OS 10.15.3 (also on my Mac Book Air). Additionally, not having any issues with the HDMI port. My 24" Samsung monitor works very well with it.
 
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Tesla1856 said:
Still not sure if some machines are just bad, or others are getting revised-motherboard models. However, it seems clear that you must be running the latest Catalina, because that is the only way you get any new/updated firmware for sub-processors and micro-controllers (in addition to latest macOS and drivers).
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Well... my mini was a Configure-To-Order, manufactured in late January 2020, and I am one of the 'lucky' ones with eGPU issues (howling fans), so dunno about any revised motherboards.

I'm running 10.15.3 and hoping the next incremental OS update fixes it. Other than that, I am happy with my mini!
 
watakoola said:
Well... my mini was a Configure-To-Order, manufactured in late January 2020,
and I am one of the 'lucky' ones with eGPU issues
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Sounds very new. So you custom-config it and pay for it at apple.com ... and Apple ships it to you directly? No Retailer or Apple-Store is involved?
 
Tesla1856 said:
Sounds very new. So you custom-config it and pay for it at apple.com ... and Apple ships it to you directly? No Retailer or Apple-Store is involved?
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Correct. I 'customised' the 6-core version by upgrading it to the 3.2GHz processor. That made it a CTO and shipped to my door.
 
harriska2 said:
No way am I putting either of our 2018 minis on Catalina. They are staying on Mojave.
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Yeah, I hang-back on the updates as well (why fix what is not broken).
I can see we both also hang-onto our hardware for a good while ( to get or money's worth or maybe to help supply the family).

However, when the next iOS or macOS is in final beta, I finally upgrade (so I am never more than one release-version back).
 
cltd said:
Hello,
my iMac 2013 died (GPU burn), so I think about Mini 2018. But...
- MacRumors Buyer's Guide shows status: caution
- checked with some Apple resellers: Mac Mini i5 (16 gb ram, 256 or 512) mostly marked as "waiting" or "on request".

I'm not into rumors, so I'd like to ask here: is there a new Mini on the horizon?
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My iMac 2012 died last August, motherboard toast. Tried an eBay motherboard replacement, it was bad as well. After refund on the replacement MB I decided to go with the 2018 Mac Mini. I am entirely happy. Don't know about the HDMI issues as I run a great Viewsonic monitor from Thunderbolt to Displayport interface. It is great and wakes quickly every time from sleep. To offload some space from the Mini's SSD I added a Seagate Fast SSD via USB-C and moved my large Music Library and Video files to it, all works perfectly. Hey you need a new Mac, this is the way to go, save money and great performance. I have the i5 256 8 Gb basic model. Also running Catalina with no issues whatsoever.
 
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MRrainer wrote:
"If I buy a new one now, it will come with Catalina, I assume? Can you downgrade it?"

Not sure what it "will come with", but YES, you CAN "downgrade" to Mojave if you wish.

You would want to do this BEFORE you migrate any personal data or apps to the new Mini, however.
 
watakoola said:
Catalina is the current OS, so it will ship with that on it... unless some shop has an old inventory item lying around.
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When I purchased my late 2018 Mac Mini from a Best Buy store in Oregon on February 1st, it came with Mojave installed. But I already had a Catalina-based, SuperDuper! backup (actually 2 of them) from my prior late 2012 model, along with the full installation file for OS 10.15.3, the latest version of Catalina. It was then a breeze to install Catalina on the newer model, then migrated/copied needed files, folders, apps, settings, etc. from the backup.

I'm guessing that if one orders one from Apple, it should come with the latest version of Catalina. Just make sure you havea backup of the machine you are upgrading from.
 
So, because we're moving to home-office likely very soon, I've just ordered a new 2018 Mini.
Mainly because I need a new display anyway and I didn't want to buy a non 4k display anymore and 4k displays don't work on my 2012 and there was a great offer on an as-new Eizo EV3285....

I can pickup the display on Saturday, the Mini should actually arrive tomorrow.

I wanted to buy a 16" MBP, but the power-usage thing kept me from it. And the fact that a 32GB, 1TB, 8 core one would have added almost 1000 bucks to the tab.
But I might get work to fund me (a smaller) one at some point, so it would be sort of overkill.
 
MRrainer said:
1. a great offer on an as-new Eizo EV3285....

2. I can pickup the display on Saturday, the Mini should actually arrive tomorrow.

3. I wanted to buy a 16" MBP, but the power-usage thing kept me from it. And the fact that a 32GB, 1TB, 8 core one would have added almost 1000 bucks to the tab.
But I might get work to fund me (a smaller) one at some point, so it would be sort of overkill.
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1. Wow, nice. A 32-inch 4K $2000 monitor. I'm afraid I'll have to stick to 4K Dell-UltraSharps or LG-Pros.

2. Cool

3. Yeah, same here. A fully-load MacBookPro-13inch is pricey, and not sure it's worth it to stay docked at my desk 85% of the time.
 
I got the display for 750 CHF. It's in original packaging and Eizo says it still has 4.5 years of warranty.
It's from a clearance sale. It's still at least 400 CHF cheaper than the cheapest "new" one.

I like good displays. The only thing I'm afraid of is that it will spoil me and I "can't" work with my work setup of 2x HP zr24 displays anymore (1920x1280). A co-worker bough himself some cheap 4k displays for that reason.
 
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