Which Mac Mini (in 2024)

[cosmichobo]

G'day,

I'm currently running a 2012 i7 Mac Mini with 16GB/500GB, 2 x 23" Cinema Displays, and a USB3 IcyDock 4 stack hard drive tower. Yes, I'm running Mojave as my main OS.

I used to do video editing as a hobby (moreso back on my MacPro5,1 that's now sitting in a corner), but mostly these days I'm just web surfing, running Plex, and using Microsoft Remote Desktop to work from home.

Lately the machine has been crashing about once a week, so I figure I may need an upgrade shortly.

My first thought was a 2018 i7 Mini, firstly because I assume it will be a simple swap with the 2012 Mini, but also because I know it is capable of being upgraded, unlike the "M" series.

Then I thought - Maybe I'm just a cranky old fool, and an "M" series Mini would in fact be perfectly OK.

Are people finding the lack of upgradeability in the "M" series an issue?

Here in Oz, I can get a second hand Mac Mini M1 for about $600 to $800, depending on specs. I believe it can still handle 2 screens (?) though I'll need some different adapters? (Currently have HDMI to DVI and Thunderbolt to DVI adapters.)

To get a 2018 i7 machine I'm looking at around $900 to $1200! (Seems rather ironic that the older machine costs more...)

Which machine would you choose and why?

Appreciate the feedback. Have been using Macs since 1992, and honestly have been doubting the transition to Silicon due to the lack of ability to upgrade... but not sure I can handle running a PC as my daily.

cheers

cosmic

 

[Boyd01]

Still very happy with my 2018 Mini, but I use it heavily with some specialized Windows software under Parallels. I also have the same 2012 i7 quad Mini although it's just a headless file server now. Got a 23" Cinema display about a hundred years ago with my PowerMac G5 system and continued using it through the 2012 Mini, after which I just put it in the closet. The 2012 Mini can run Catalina, so you could still upgrade yours, although not sure if that would make any difference for you.

There were a number of threads about problems using the old Apple Cinema Displays on the the Apple Silicon Macs but I don't recall the details. Seems to me, they may not work properly. I believe there are also issues with them on the 2018 Mini, I never tried mine. From what I recall in the old threads, they used the same HDMI driver chips in the 2018 and M1 Mini and it doesn't provide the proper voltage for the DVI converter (or something like that). Using a USB-C adapter might be a solution. But there are some nice, inexpensive monitors today so, IMO, it's probably time to retire the Cinema Displays rather than buy adapters, etc to get them working.

Probably no point in discussing price/availability in Australia as I'm sure it's very different than the US. But FWIW, there's a place called MacSales (OWC Computing) that sells used Macs in the US (got my 2012 Mini from them) and they have the 2018 i7 Mini with 16gb RAM and 500gb SSD for $479 USD. That would be more than twice as fast as your 2012 Mini.

However, you haven't really given a reason to stay with Intel (such as using Windows VM's, like me) so, probably makes sense for you to go with an M-series Mini. Regarding upgradeablility, you can upgrade RAM on the 2018 Mini, although it's not easy. Can't upgrade the SSD or anything else on it though.

Based on what you've said, it's probably time to move to the M-series. Just be sure to get one with enough RAM and SSD, since they can't be upgraded.

 

[MBAir2010]

G'day,

Here in Oz, I can get a second hand Mac Mini M1 for about $600 to $800, depending on specs. I believe it can still handle 2 screens (?) though I'll need some different adapters? (Currently have HDMI to DVI and Thunderbolt to DVI adapters.)

Yes, I did!
Last year I picked up a second hand perfect Mac mini 2020 so I can run Monterey.
the Mac mini is incredible and runs many design program at once smoothly.
today I'm using/ upgraded to Sequoia Beta which is amazing
as I have a Satechi™ bottom hub/ssd port for extra connections.

BTW I passed on buying a oilcan of cold Forster (pronounced FAAAH_STUHZ) beer just 24 minutes ago.
maybe next time......

 

[Ben J.]

I went thru quite a selcetion of different minis a few years back.
The three last intel minis; i3, i5, and i7. Nice machines, but the noise from the i7 was unbearable. I installed software to not let it enter Turbo Boost mode because of that.

Then I got my first M1 mini. A revelation. You feel it from the first press of the power button. Ten seconds boot time, everything's snappy, and has a 'next step' feel to it. A year later I got a M2 mini. Didn't feel that much of a difference, simply because the M1 was already so good.

After a while with the base M2 mini, I deceided; now's a good time to invest in something to last for a good while, and I got the M2 Pro with more cores, more ports, and lots of memory.

Go with the inexpensive used M1s, they're fantastic value.

Oh, and they stay cool and hence completely silent, the M-series mini.

 

[VegetarianNachos]

My first thought was a 2018 i7 Mini, firstly because I assume it will be a simple swap with the 2012 Mini, but also because I know it is capable of being upgraded, unlike the "M" series.

Note that storage on the 2018 Mac mini is not upgradeable, and upgrading the memory will require a complete disassembly and reassembly.

I would definitely go with the M1 Mac mini. Will be noticeably faster and quieter.

 

[cosmichobo]

Thanks to everyone for the replies.

I had erroneously thought that the 2018 had returned to full upgradeability... Sad to hear it isn't the case. Dismantling the 2018 to upgrade the RAM doesn't put me off too much...

But the issue of monitor compatibility is the bigger issue. I'd been under the belief that they would be OK, just need some different adapters. I'm not against upgrading them... Just another cost I wasn't anticipating.

I'd probably prefer to stay Apple for the monitors, but I guess the loyalties aren't what they once were.

Worst comes to worst, at this moment I have another 2012 i7 going mostly unused as a HTPC, so if needed I can grab it and swap the SSD over.

I guess I'm leaning toward the M1 at this point. Thanks again.

 

[Boyd01]

But the issue of monitor compatibility is the bigger issue. I'd been under the belief that they would be OK, just need some different adapters.

They may be OK, I see mixed reports depending on the adapter. if you do a search here in the Mini forum you'll find lots of threads and it's confusing because there are a number of different Cinema Display models. See if this link works for you, the first two pages reveal a bunch of threads

https://forums.macrumors.com/search...1&c[nodes][0]=146&c[title_only]=1&o=relevance

 

[justmadeupname]

I went thru quite a selcetion of different minis a few years back.
The three last intel minis; i3, i5, and i7. Nice machines, but the noise from the i7 was unbearable. I installed software to not let it enter Turbo Boost mode because of that.

Then I got my first M1 mini. A revelation. You feel it from the first press of the power button. Ten seconds boot time, everything's snappy, and has a 'next step' feel to it. A year later I got a M2 mini. Didn't feel that much of a difference, simply because the M1 was already so good.

After a while with the base M2 mini, I deceided; now's a good time to invest in something to last for a good while, and I got the M2 Pro with more cores, more ports, and lots of memory.

Go with the inexpensive used M1s, they're fantastic value.

Oh, and they stay cool and hence completely silent, the M-series mini.

Thanks for your post.

I use a MacBook Air 2015 (8GB/256GB) connected to an external 21.5" 1080p screen and have external mouse and keyboard.

I don't do much apart from Safari with max 10 tabs, Music App, Mail app, a few TextEdit windows & Terminal with 8 tabs. Sometimes I have some Preview and Pages app open as well.

I've noticed that the fans on my laptop tend to run at maximum speed when I'm using applications like YouTube (in Safari), especially during hot weather or when the room temperature is high in the winter. This issue doesn't occur when I'm using the laptop without an external monitor, suggesting that the integrated graphics card might be underpowered.

So really contemplating getting a used Mac Mini M1 2020, 8GB/256GB or 8GB/512GB.

I don't want to pay more that £300 though. If I'm patient I think can find a good deal on eBay or Facebook Market.

Question: Is the M1 Mac Mini still good enough for my modesty needs, for another 3 to 5 years?

I rather save money and not get the M2 or the upcoming (?) M4 Mac Mini and get a refurbished Apple Studio Display (Vesa) as the 21.5" 1080p is not that sharp.

Oh I need a new iPhone soon as my SE gen 1 is giving now poor battery life, so another reason I don't want to spend too much on a Mac Mini.

 

[Ben J.]

Question: Is the M1 Mac Mini still good enough for my modesty needs, for another 3 to 5 years?

IMO, most definitely. It's still very capable. Have a look at Geekbench scores:

Mac Benchmarks - Geekbench

Single core: 2363.
Notice how all the M series macs are in a league of their own, and how the other M Macs don't represent very big jumps in performance compared to the M1.

Multi-core: 8448.
Here also, the M series reign, and the differences are much bigger, but that's of course due to the large number of cores on some of them. But I always look at single-core performance as the most important. Zillion-cores macs are as I see it for people who need speed processing of very big files like 3D rendering, software compiling, bulk video conversion etc.

I don't want to pay more that £300 though. If I'm patient I think can find a good deal on eBay or Facebook Market.

Oh I need a new iPhone soon as my SE gen 1 is giving now poor battery life, so another reason I don't want to spend too much on a Mac Mini.

I think you might be forced to pay more, or maybe go for something with a cosmetic defect to get it at that price. Here in Norway, I've yet to see it sold under 5000 Kroner (NOK), but we do have a generally high price level here.

I too have a SE 1. I love it; sits so well in my hand, and does what I need it to do; phone, messages, train tickets, road maps, easy stuff. I'm preparing to swap the battery (I got a new one together with the purchase) but I'm a bit hesitant. I've opened a few imacs and macbooks, but not iphones. I don't want to break it.

 

[justmadeupname]

I too have a SE 1. I love it; sits so well in my hand, and does what I need it to do; phone, messages, train tickets, road maps, easy stuff. I'm preparing to swap the battery (I got a new one together with the purchase) but I'm a bit hesitant. I've opened a few imacs and macbooks, but not iphones. I don't want to break it.

I've been checking on eBay in the UK and the prices are around £350 - £375 (some being in excellent condition) for a Mac Mini M1 8GB/256GB but the owners are open to offers. So I think around £300 is possible. I don't mind a some cosmetic flaws as I will put the Mac Mini under may table anyway, like I do presently with my MacBook Air.

Having lived in Sweden for a while everything tech is still quite expensive, even second hand and I imagine Norway is the same.

Good luck with the battery transplant when it happens !