I am currently using a 2019 5K iMac. I need a PC for another project (I only have room for one display) but still want to use a mac for my lightroom and photoshop work. I am thinking about the i7 mini w/32gb of ram and a BenQ SW271 27 Inch 4K. I know the mini does not have a GPU but will that matter with photoshop and LR or will I need a egpu. As a hobby I shoot with a D750. I am real happy with the iMac screen so I looking for a suitable replacement. Is there any thing else I should be looking at in the BenQ price range.
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Will I need/want a egpu?
- Thread starter dimme
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I have a 2018 i7 Mini and am doing fine without an eGPU, but I'm driving a 32" BenQ QHD screen, not 4k. Here's a long thread about 4k screens on the new Mini
forums.macrumors.com
But have you considered just running Windows in a virtual machine on your iMac instead of switching to a Mini? I'm doing this with Parallels on my Mini and it works better than I ever imagined.
Officially giving up on the Mac Mini 2018 + 4K monitor dream
I'm getting the i5 Mac Mini and will probably stay at 8 gigs of RAM for a while. I buying this computer as a desktop replacement for media consumption and word processing for the next 6-8 years. I was dreaming of getting something like the LG 27UK850 4K monitor and scale it at 1440p so that...
forums.macrumors.com
But have you considered just running Windows in a virtual machine on your iMac instead of switching to a Mini? I'm doing this with Parallels on my Mini and it works better than I ever imagined.
I went nearly 2 years on a 4k monitor without an eGPU (40GB RAM, 2018 i5).
I had a huge Photoshop project (30 megapixel, 16-bit photos) with a ton of retouching. I was able to do the work, but a lot of the Photoshop work was not in real-time because the PS tools had a lag. Specifically: healing brush, liquify, clone stamp tool, etc.
If you get a Mini test and see if your workflow needs an eGPU before buying one. Really, the only thing I use one for is the heavy-duty retouching of huge image files. Otherwise, the built-in Intel chip does fine for watching movies, web-browsing and such.
I had a huge Photoshop project (30 megapixel, 16-bit photos) with a ton of retouching. I was able to do the work, but a lot of the Photoshop work was not in real-time because the PS tools had a lag. Specifically: healing brush, liquify, clone stamp tool, etc.
If you get a Mini test and see if your workflow needs an eGPU before buying one. Really, the only thing I use one for is the heavy-duty retouching of huge image files. Otherwise, the built-in Intel chip does fine for watching movies, web-browsing and such.
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I do lots of 4k video editing and wouldn't be able to do it nearly as well without my eGPU. I also do a lot of 3D modeling. So in those specific cases, an eGPU is a must (as it is for gaming). If you don't need to do any of that, the internal GPU should be fine. I've found that the mini works best off the internal GPU if you use a TB3-DP cable, using your monitor's Display Port connection rather than HDMI.
Like weaztek, I only fire up my eGPU when I am working with multimedia applications. Intel integrated graphics is fine for mundane everyday tasks.
By all means if the monitor has an available USB-C or DisplayPort connector use that. DisplayPort 1.4 is a more capable specification than HDMI 2.0.
By all means if the monitor has an available USB-C or DisplayPort connector use that. DisplayPort 1.4 is a more capable specification than HDMI 2.0.
Thank you very much. I think it's arrived the time to learn Blender... I'm using Modo at the time of writing and it doesn't use the eGPU at all.
@jayducharme I can't get Blender (2.9) see my eGPU. Both in CUDA (ok I know) and OpenCL it say that no GPU found to use. I have an RX580. Maybe it's not supported? What eGPU do you own?
@dimme I'm sorry for the OT.
@dimme I'm sorry for the OT.
I have a Sapphire Radeon RX 5700 XT. A Blender project with lots of particle effects that used to choke on my old Mac Pro runs smoothly on my mini, and my eGPU fans kick in. So I know it’s working.
I have a 4k 32" LG monitor and absolutely love it. It is VA not IPS but works great as long as you're not watching it at a severe angle (but why would you anyway?).
Normally the eGPU is off.
When I need it, I turn on the eGPU power switch, select the HDMI 2 input on my monitor (that's what the eGPU is driving) to verify it's functioning, then unplug the HDMI cable from the back of the Mac mini (which drives the HDMI 1 input).
When I want to switch back to Intel integrated graphics, I just shutdown the whole system, turn off the eGPU, plug the HDMI cable back into my Mac mini and power up the system.
When I need it, I turn on the eGPU power switch, select the HDMI 2 input on my monitor (that's what the eGPU is driving) to verify it's functioning, then unplug the HDMI cable from the back of the Mac mini (which drives the HDMI 1 input).
When I want to switch back to Intel integrated graphics, I just shutdown the whole system, turn off the eGPU, plug the HDMI cable back into my Mac mini and power up the system.
Need, maybe. Want, for sure, who wouldn’t.
The thing is you read older posts on how the setup should work then and how people are doing it now. Things keep changing a little bit just from software updates. Obviously we just want it to work being plugged in and not have to do anything special. That is what Apple Mac is known for. That is how it works with a iMac.
I was running eGPU DP to Monitor DP and then HDMI from MM to Monitor HDMI 1. I had my Monitor on HDMI 1 and it would use the eGPU playing Tombraider even though I was selecting HDMI 1 on the monitor. This setup allowed me to power down or reset with FV on with no issues. Does that work today on the software revision I am on, IDK, Till my next game download...
The thing is you read older posts on how the setup should work then and how people are doing it now. Things keep changing a little bit just from software updates. Obviously we just want it to work being plugged in and not have to do anything special. That is what Apple Mac is known for. That is how it works with a iMac.
I was running eGPU DP to Monitor DP and then HDMI from MM to Monitor HDMI 1. I had my Monitor on HDMI 1 and it would use the eGPU playing Tombraider even though I was selecting HDMI 1 on the monitor. This setup allowed me to power down or reset with FV on with no issues. Does that work today on the software revision I am on, IDK, Till my next game download...
My setup has two monitors connected to my eGPU and one connected to the HDMI port on my Mini.
I turn on the Mac and it boots fine, boot screens and all. Obviously I use the eGPU all the time.
Other folks have reported the latest Catalina update fixes the issue requiring port swapping.
I turn on the Mac and it boots fine, boot screens and all. Obviously I use the eGPU all the time.
Other folks have reported the latest Catalina update fixes the issue requiring port swapping.
After reading so many posts about the problems.... I wouldn't! ?
I'm doing fine driving one QHD screen without one. In the past, I've done a lot of work with video but have not done that recently. Eventually, I'll circle back around, hook up my Sony production monitor as a second screen and start editing again. At that point, I'll decide whether I need an eGPU.
My purchase of the Mini was perdicated on using it with an eGPU and Bootcamp. Catalina made me buy a Windows gaming PC. Bootcamp and Catalina never worked reliably for me.
Pretty sure after 7 versions of Catalina 10.15.7 HDMI login screen thing might be put to bed. It's been booting from DP connection off the eGPU. No more HDMI connection to the Mini. Fingers crossed.
All said I'm happy with the Mini and the eGPU setup.
Let's hope Big Sir is not the same half baked release as Catalina ?
Pretty sure after 7 versions of Catalina 10.15.7 HDMI login screen thing might be put to bed. It's been booting from DP connection off the eGPU. No more HDMI connection to the Mini. Fingers crossed.
All said I'm happy with the Mini and the eGPU setup.
Let's hope Big Sir is not the same half baked release as Catalina ?
I've been instructed not to download it until at least v.3, so that's what I'll do.