Think of switching my Mini 2018 + eGPU for M1 maxed out

[CC88]

Dear all

I’m thinking of switching my Mini late 2018 i5 3Ghz, 64gb + eGPU MSI Radeon Vega 8gb, 256gb ssd for a maxed out M1 with 16gb and 1tb ssd.

I will connect my two raid at two thunderbolt ports. Instead of connecting my LG 4k monitor (in signature) via thunderbolt I will use the HDMI port on the M1 mini. Will I have hiDPI and 60Hz support like now (at time of writing one of the four thunderbolt port in the mini is connected to my eGPU)?

Will the 4K interface be fast as now once connected to the M1 mini? My current GPU is around 50k metal points.

I’m switching mostly for hardware decoding in FCP, less power consumption and less space needed on my desk.

What do you think?

 

[chrfr]

Dear all

I’m thinking of switching my Mini late 2018 i5 3Ghz, 64gb + eGPU MSI Radeon Vega 8gb, 256gb ssd for a maxed out M1 with 16gb and 1tb ssd.

I will connect my two raid at two thunderbolt ports. Instead of connecting my LG 4k monitor (in signature) via thunderbolt I will use the HDMI port on the M1 mini. Will I have hiDPI and 60Hz support like now (at time of writing one of the four thunderbolt port in the mini is connected to my eGPU)?

Will the 4K interface be fast as now once connected to the M1 mini? My current GPU is around 50k metal points.

I’m switching mostly for hardware decoding in FCP, less power consumption and less space needed on my desk.

What do you think?

Regardless of the specific answers to your questions, I’d definitely wait until an M2 Mini is released to even consider a switch.

 

[CC88]

Regardless of the specific answers to your questions, I’d definitely wait until an M2 Mini is released to even consider a switch.

Interesting hint... I don’t know if I will found someone interested in my 2018. Now I have only one person interested.

 

[MikeDr206]

I’d wait. It seems that at a minimum a M2 Mini is forthcoming. That’ll likely be limited to 24GB. I’m hoping they add an M2 Pro, which would mean more RAM

 

[Fishrrman]

One more vote that you should WAIT until the m2 Minis are released.

Probably going to happen in the next 4-5 weeks, maybe even sooner.

I predict that if you buy an m1 Mini NOW, by the end of the year you may be very unhappy at having done so...

 

[CC88]

Thank you both MikeDr and Fishrrman.

 

[leifp]

As you are using FCP the decision will come down to which you require/want more: the money from the sale of your Intel mini or the video codec boosts of the M2 (ProRes acceleration) and max RAM increase (24GB) or possibly even greater boosts offered by an M2Pro mini…

The M2 mini should be much better for FCP work than the M1 and an M2Pro version will be nearly twice as capable… but a lot more expensive.

Only you can know which matters more.

 

[abbihaus]

ergh im having this debate too.

I'm about to start an MS in computer science and looking for a mini for development work.

I dont think I need the power of the m1 but worried of 16gb of RAM.

I can currently get the 16gb m1 for 700$. If there is a 24gb M2 but it's $1200+, it has no utility to me because I can just get an m1 pro laptop with 32gb ram for near that price.

But since Im not a developer (yet), I have no idea if 16gb is sufficient for the next few years.

 

[monkeybongo]

If you can get an M1 Pro laptop with 32RAM for $1200, that's your choice with a thunderbolt dock. Faster than an M2 and with a screen for portable use.

Confirm with your CS program on which environments you'll be working in. Unless you'll be working in low level assembler or game development, you should be fine. If by the 3rd or 4th year you need more, just sell the old one and upgrade to the M5 or M6 processors by then which will be crazy fast.

 

[CC88]

Dear all thank you very much for your hints. They are really appreciated.

At this time the more extensive task is transcoding my EOS R5 c-log 8k and 4K files (don't use video RAW).

My mini 2018 worked all night long to import clips for 1tb total... Does the m1 (or maybe m2) give me a real advantage or not?

 

[leifp]

Dear all thank you very much for your hints. They are really appreciated.

At this time the more extensive task is transcoding my EOS R5 c-log 8k and 4K files (don't use video RAW).

My mini 2018 worked all night long to import clips for 1tb total... Does the m1 (or maybe m2) give me a real advantage or not?

For importing files? Are you using SD cards or connecting the camera direct? Because I have read of many photographers complaining about the performance of the SD card reader built into the MBPros. Attaching an external SD card reader improves performance massively. This may already help you with your Intel mini: buy a Thunderbolt card reader and see if it helps. If not, you can return it or keep it for your next Mac…

 

[CC88]

For importing files? Are you using SD cards or connecting the camera direct? Because I have read of many photographers complaining about the performance of the SD card reader built into the MBPros. Attaching an external SD card reader improves performance massively. This may already help you with your Intel mini: buy a Thunderbolt card reader and see if it helps. If not, you can return it or keep it for your next Mac…

Dear I mean import and transcode video file from the R5 from a cf express type b connected via an usb-c card reader from lexar.

 

[leifp]

Dear I mean import and transcode video file from the R5 from a cf express type b connected via an usb-c card reader from lexar.

Then M2 should be noticeably superior

 

[Fishrrman]

I'd hold out for the m2 Mini.
But be aware that it looks like it's not going to be released until early 2023.

 

[gradi]

Regardless of the specific answers to your questions, I’d definitely wait until an M2 Mini is released to even consider a switch.

I have seen exactly that same advice given to people for well over a year. Maybe a year from now people will still be giving it.

 

[gradi]

I'd hold out for the m2 Mini.
But be aware that it looks like it's not going to be released until early 2023.

For more than a year I have seen countless posts predicting the M2 Mac Mini to be released at various times in 2022 from early to mid to late. Now the prediction is early 2023. Will it later be mid 2023 and then late 2023?

The OP, like all of us, will just have to make his/her own decisions. If the M1 Mac Mini will do what you want now and it is at a good price, and likely quite a bit less than an eventual M2 Mini (if it actually ever appears), then consider that.

 

[MikeDr206]

For more than a year I have seen countless posts predicting the M2 Mac Mini to be released at various times in 2022 from early to mid to late. Now the prediction is early 2023. Will it later be mid 2023 and then late 2023?

The OP, like all of us, will just have to make his/her own decisions. If the M1 Mac Mini will do what you want now and it is at a good price, and likely quite a bit less than an eventual M2 Mini (if it actually ever appears), then consider that.

I will fearlessly predict that by 2035, we will have a new Mac Mini. Will buy you a case of beer if my prediction is false.

 

[gradi]

Here are a couple of videos that may help you with your questions.