Mini with Photoshop

[Momof9]

So will the iGPU 630 UHD work with photoshop? I see so much conflicting info my brain hurts... LOL

I am looking at multiple configs....

Base model - $800 could you do basic stuff in PS? With 8gb ram, would it be slow if you have many multiples of chrome or safari tabs open? If I got the base model, I would be primarily using it for email (6-8 accounts) and web browsing etc. If I could use it with basic PS tasks, I might do some things. - I would be using my new iPad Pro for my graphic design tasks.

Since the UHD 630 is the only option in the mini - does it matter if you change the other specs? I5/16gb ram/ 256 ssd or i7/16gb ram/256 ssd - I am leaning more towards the i7 - more future proof etc. But these latter would be more heavier PS usage, since I would return my iPP 1 TB and get a 256gb one instead (saves $800 that I could put toward the Mac mini).

 

[archer75]

photoshop will make use of CPU and RAM. But get the base RAM and upgrade that on your own, you'll save a ton going with 32gb versus apple.
I don't see the graphics as being as much of an issue with photo work. Video work, yes. And it depends on what resolution you're driving.

But if needed, you can add a egpu later.

 

[F-Train]

I can tell you based on testing with my own work that the Mac mini i5/8GB has no difficulty editing scans of medium format (6cmx7cm aka 2 1/4" x 2 3/4") and large format (4"x5") negatives in Lightroom and Photoshop. These files are much larger than 35mm RAW files. Editing was snappy with no lag whatever.

Please note that I am talking about editing single photographs, not batch editing, nor about major Photoshop manipulation of the image. Also, if you're shooting medium format or large format film, there's kind of an incentive to get the photo right in the camera.

 

[ElectronGuru]

I edit up to 10 ps images at a time with my ‘17 5k imac. 8gb ram is not enough. And with vram reports should be avoided for anything graphic intensive.

That’s not to say order 16+ on day 1. But it can get annoying so expect to want more at some point. I would go i5/256/8 to start. Then swap to 32 next year.

 

[Momof9]

I know I was frustrated with the 2017 - 21” 3.4 ghz iMac with 8gb ram - it was so slow doing basic things. I think I just got a bad one, because all of the store models that were slower and older were fast than it.

If I am using the Mac mini as my computer - I would be doing files 3600x3600 - 200-300 mb psd’s at 300 ppi. I do work with a lot of layers as well.

If I go with the i3, would it work with light work? How about running an action? It is not too complicated, for my QC work.

 

[ElectronGuru]

I know I was frustrated with the 2017 - 21” 3.4 ghz iMac with 8gb ram - it was so slow doing basic things. I think I just got a bad one, because all of the store models that were slower and older were fast than it.

Sounds like you had fusion drives and they had pure ssd. If so, even the i3 mini will be suitably snappy.

i3/128 will probably work but it’s hard to beat the value of the i5/256.

 

[macdos]

I know I was frustrated with the 2017 - 21” 3.4 ghz iMac with 8gb ram - it was so slow doing basic things. I think I just got a bad one, because all of the store models that were slower and older were fast than it.

If I am using the Mac mini as my computer - I would be doing files 3600x3600 - 200-300 mb psd’s at 300 ppi. I do work with a lot of layers as well.

If I go with the i3, would it work with light work? How about running an action? It is not too complicated, for my QC work.

48000x20000 px PSB files at 1.2 GB are no problem with Photoshop on MM (i7/64 GB). Why would it be?

As you point out, RAM is and always will be the culprit.

 

[Momof9]

Would 16gb of ram work fine on the i7 Mac mini?

How about the ssd, would 128gb be fine for OS and software? I know on my Windows PC, I started having issues a few years into using the 128gb ssd on my hybrid drive. I do have TONS of external storage I can use.

 

[macdos]

Would 16gb of ram work fine on the i7 Mac mini?

How about the ssd, would 128gb be fine for OS and software? I know on my Windows PC, I started having issues a few years into using the 128gb ssd on my hybrid drive. I do have TONS of external storage I can use.

Real world example: I bought i7/64 GB with a 500 GB SSD. I currently have 340 GB free, meaning 160 GB is in use. Of those, 68 GB are movies I haven't seen yet, and 10 GB are documents (for fast use). I have installed Illustrator, Photoshop, Indesign, Media Elements, Premiere, Bridge and Acrobat, plus some additional minor apps.

If I offload the movies, that leaves us with 92 GB. For a 128 GB disk, you have an additional 36 GB for cache files, a growing system, and whatever apps you put on the disk. A healthy disk should also have at least 10% empty space.