Why I ditched my 2018 mac Mini and got an iMac instead

I bought a MacMini, replacing an aging iMac after sitting on a fence for a long time and haven’t regretted the decision.

Other than browsers and native apps, I run LR CC with 1TB storage (not classic) and HighDesign (2D drafting software).

All I can say is graphics speed doesn't seem to be a problem. Everything runs smoothly/lag free.

I bought for today and if my needs change tomorrow, an eGPU or SSD/TB3 is an option.

Horses for courses.

 

I was so happy it came out. I already had a 4K monitor for my PS4 Pro and Xbox One X, so just paid £1300 (thanks to a student discount) for an i7/16GB RAM/256GB SSD model. I may... get an eGPU if I want to go all out and go for a triple 4K monitor setup, but otherwise it's perfect.

 

The Mini is a great computer for what it is: A SFF computer. Unfortunately, do to dearth in Apple's product line, people are forced to expand it to try and make up for the holes in the Macintosh line.

 

You are brave opening up a new purchase iMac under warranty to swap out the internal drive. I have read upgrades to the M.2 970 Evo with 2000 plus read and writes. But I don't think you will see that in a 860 evo only 500 read and writes.

I just sold my late 2015 iMac 2TB fusion today. I contemplated upgrading to the 970 evo, but in the end did not want to risk it or invest in the 3 year old machine.

Instead I am taking the sale money and buying this. I will run it from my 2017 15" MBP. One step closer to a mini when they upgrade the iGPU.

 

Apple can't upgrade the iGPU. They're using Intel's desktop line of graphics, and they all come with the same iGPU options. The only way they could get better integrated graphics would be dropping down to mobile processors or getting custom silicon from Intel. The first defeats the point of switching to desktop processors, and there is no indication of the second happening anytime soon. Apple has been pushing eGPU solutions, and I don't expect them to address the integrated graphics in the Mini any other way.

 

Thx you for your experience.
I told you a think, my idea about Mac mini better iMac.
Mac mini need less maintenance then IMac.
All in one : crash video card,monitor or other? Go to Apple store
Mac mini:crash video card? Buy another or replace from amazon crash monitor? Buy another o replace from amazon

Mac mini go to Apple store only for motherboard o fan problem (ssd is hard to die and ram can be replaced easily ).

 

the iMac can cost a lot to replace, anything having to do with the display costs a minimum of $850 Canadian. The 6 core mini is fast compared to the iMac. I might just buy a mini, then get the desktop when it comes out. Yea lots of holes in apples product lines. Its disgusting that you have to spend $6k to get a built in graphics card that's modern. Egpu are limited to applications whereas internal takes advantage of everything.

 

What is SSF?

 

Small Form Factor

 

As much as I wanted at an iMac it was close to $1000 more than my mini configuration (I'm not in the US). The iMac cost has been what has stopped me buying one for years. I can only imagine the next model will cost more. It was time to upgrade from my 2010 iMac and I have to say the mini done the job admirably.

 

Ha Ha
I googled it earlier to find out.

--- Post Merged, Jan 22, 2019 ---

great point

 

OK, thank you.

 

3840 x 1600?

I have a 4096*2304 Ultrafine 4K and it runs perfectly.

It obviously depends on a specific need, but SATA3 SSD having 90000 IOPS vs m.2 having 400000 IOPS means I can use a single drive for everything because it has enough throughput. (I do music and audio)

 

Yes it is 3840 x 1600

Are you using a eGPU with the monitor and mini?

 

Nope! Directly to Mini.
Running 4k60fps is fine, there's no GUI stutter, running Logic works fine.

I'm running at native (2048*1152 @2x) non scaled resolution.

I've heard 5K has issues, 4K seems to run just fine.

 

BigBoy2018 makes some good points. The iMac and the mini are very different machines. There is still some choice to be had among Apple computers. My choice was an i7 mini.

 

Completely different in my opinion. I wouldn't even consider an iMac (Pro), i was sure I was going to stay on the 15" until they released the Mini

 

I actually sold my iMac 5K when Apple announced the new Mac Mini.
A maxed out Mac Mini + LG Ultrafine 5K is more expensive upfront but the freedom it gives me is worth it for me.
When the new Mac Pro comes out I can simply sell my Mac Mini and keep everything else.

 

It was such a no brainer that you bought a mini before ultimately buying an iMac.

Meanwhile, there’s nothing in your post about that couldn’t have been figured out by spending 30 minutes looking at prices and specs before you bought either of them.

 

No, I mean I can safely run sample libraries, audio projects and applications all from the same drive. (or in my case, applications on internal and everything else on external).

Project opening times, sample loading is all much faster from NVMe than a SATA + you can offload RAM because you can stream more samples from a faster drive, loading less into RAM.

As far as editing goes: detecting transients on a spinning disk drive takes forever on a multitrack drum take for example, much faster on an SSD and even faster on a NVMe.