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Should I buy a Mac Mini or Mac Pro
- Thread starter Macmatrix1
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As far as video editing goes, the Mac mini should be fine. It's been a while since I used 3D rendering software; I'm not sure how much they can draw on the graphics card now, or if they're still more CPU-reliant. I have no experience with AutoCAD and can't remark on that, either.
One problem you might run into with the Mac mini is with Bootcamp. Based on what I've read, the eGPU can be a bit finicky and it might require some tweaking to get it more stabilized. Others can chime in with their experiences, but if you're going to be using Bootcamp heavily, the Mac Pro options might be better.
The Mac Pro "can" seems like the worst option to me. It is the least expandable at this time.
The standard Mac Pro tower can still be upgraded to be a more current system, but that depends on how much you like to tinker. I'm not sure how the processor compares with more modern processors; looking on Geekbench, Mac Pros with the Xeon you mentioned have as single core score of around 3,000 and a multi-core score of around 27,500. The Intel I7 in the Mac mini 2018 has single core scores around 5,000 with multi-core scores around 22,000. Most of your applications will be able to use multiple cores, so the Mac Pro tower should still offer you good and potentially better performance than the Mac mini. The only potential snag here is that the Mac mini has Apple's T2 chip, which handles some video encoding tasks and reportedly does so faster than the processor.
Crunching the numbers, then, the Mac Tower might be the best for performance and expandability... but I'm with you on feeling a bit nervous about spending that amount on a computer that is now seven years old.
One problem you might run into with the Mac mini is with Bootcamp. Based on what I've read, the eGPU can be a bit finicky and it might require some tweaking to get it more stabilized. Others can chime in with their experiences, but if you're going to be using Bootcamp heavily, the Mac Pro options might be better.
The Mac Pro "can" seems like the worst option to me. It is the least expandable at this time.
The standard Mac Pro tower can still be upgraded to be a more current system, but that depends on how much you like to tinker. I'm not sure how the processor compares with more modern processors; looking on Geekbench, Mac Pros with the Xeon you mentioned have as single core score of around 3,000 and a multi-core score of around 27,500. The Intel I7 in the Mac mini 2018 has single core scores around 5,000 with multi-core scores around 22,000. Most of your applications will be able to use multiple cores, so the Mac Pro tower should still offer you good and potentially better performance than the Mac mini. The only potential snag here is that the Mac mini has Apple's T2 chip, which handles some video encoding tasks and reportedly does so faster than the processor.
Crunching the numbers, then, the Mac Tower might be the best for performance and expandability... but I'm with you on feeling a bit nervous about spending that amount on a computer that is now seven years old.
I have limited experience with Mac Pro's but I think I'd be temped to go down the MP Tower route.
My disappointment in my mini grows every day, even with a Vega 64 in an eGPU enclosure, so much so that I'm thinking I might cut my loses, sell it and just build a windows machine with Ryzen 3 and 2080 for roughly the same cost. Not as sleek but I give up.
I've found the processor performance in my mini to be lacklustre at best.
The mac pro tower is, for all intents and purposes, end of life now. It won't get any more software updates, it doesn't have Thunderbolt, it doesn't support PCI 3, and the processors are so old that they are outperformed by Macbook Pros. Not to mention that the 1080Ti is unsupported in Mojave and anything later, even if you could get those systems to run.
I am considering the MP can vs the Mac Mini. The configuration you posted (D500 graphics; 6 Core Xeon; 1TB) is a great price. If it were me i'd sacrifice the graphics (D300) and run an eGPU to get an 8 core Xeon for about the same price. The internal graphics on the MP are so terrible that even the D700 is outclassed by a Radeon 570.
The Mini might be faster, and it includes native support for eGPUs with TB3 and a warranty, but it isn't as upgradable internally, and I have serious doubts about the cooling situation. I'd pick the Mac Pro can because of that.
I am considering the MP can vs the Mac Mini. The configuration you posted (D500 graphics; 6 Core Xeon; 1TB) is a great price. If it were me i'd sacrifice the graphics (D300) and run an eGPU to get an 8 core Xeon for about the same price. The internal graphics on the MP are so terrible that even the D700 is outclassed by a Radeon 570.
The Mini might be faster, and it includes native support for eGPUs with TB3 and a warranty, but it isn't as upgradable internally, and I have serious doubts about the cooling situation. I'd pick the Mac Pro can because of that.
It certainly runs warm to the touch, but whether the internal components are actually coming to any harm is doubtful. Noise level when stressed is obviously better with the 'can MP.
Larry Jordan has been doing this for a long time and he has some recommendations:
https://larryjordan.com/articles/configure-a-mac-mini-2018-for-video-editing/
https://larryjordan.com/articles/configure-a-mac-mini-2018-for-video-editing/
I'm not concerned with damage, though I'm convinced that inadequate cooling killed my 2011 that had discrete graphics, an SSD and an HD in fusion. That was a LOT of heat. I'm more concerned that the computer will start thermal throttling under heavy load just like everything else Apple makes today does.
