Mac Mini vs Macbook Pro 13" 1.4ghz?

[junolab]

I currently own a 2019 13" MBP with i5 1.4ghz which I use for my daily job (project management). I use it 95% of the time in clamshell mode with my Blackmagic eGPU and Ultrafine 5K monitor. However, I recently started working with music production in Logic Pro X and while the MBP works plenty fine for most occasions its also reached its limits a few times. Nothing that I cannot fix by freezing some tracks, but it has kept me wondering if I should consider a secondary Mac Mini to handle this.

So: Is an i7 Mac Mini (maxed out) a BIG improvement over a 13" that basically does the job ok? And perhaps more importantly for the buying decision; do I risk the health of the 13" by running sessions that give it at full capacity for longer durations? Its not really a money issue, but I don't want to spend so much if it's not a sizeable upgrade or wise decision to do so.

Any help is appreciated

 

[frou]

According to Geekbench, the i7 Mini has about 50% extra CPU performance in multicore than your MBP.

Already owning the eGPU and LG-5K means you're pretty well primed to have a deluxe Mini setup.

The Mini on its own has low-end Intel integrated graphics compared to your MBP's high-end variant of the same generation.

 

[Fishrrman]

The Mini will do better, but you don't need to completely "max it out".

I'd get the i7.
16gb of RAM from the factory ought to do.
512gb or 1tb SSD.

Hook up the BlackMagic eGPU and the display and it should be very pleasing to use.

 

[Cookie18]

As mentioned above, multi core performance will see a sizeable boost. Since you already have everything I’d definitely recommend it, I do the same thing with my Mac mini 95% of the time and my MacBook Pro when I need portability or I’m just doing something simple and don’t want to sit at my desk.

 

[junolab]

As mentioned above, multi core performance will see a sizeable boost. Since you already have everything I’d definitely recommend it, I do the same thing with my Mac mini 95% of the time and my MacBook Pro when I need portability or I’m just doing something simple and don’t want to sit at my desk.

Thanks! So you feel a bigger change in the speed? I'm a bit hesitant to just follow the numbers in GHz as I know my 1.4 i5 from 2019 is faster than my old 2.7 i7 from 2016. But that was of cause only considering normal office work and not sustained load over longer durations

 

[Cookie18]

Thanks! So you feel a bigger change in the speed? I'm a bit hesitant to just follow the numbers in GHz as I know my 1.4 i5 from 2019 is faster than my old 2.7 i7 from 2016. But that was of cause only considering normal office work and not sustained load over longer durations

Of course it depends on how you use it everyday, my MacBook Pro is a 2016 touchbar model so it’s one of the higher end processors but it is still dual core. I probably see a bigger increase than you will. A 50% increase, as mentioned above, is pretty sizeable though. I’d still be happy with that.