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MP 7,1 Shud I buy Mac Mini now or wait for new Mac Pro 2019?
- Thread starter Apple Master
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You're getting mixed up between CPUs and GPUs.
CPU = Central Processing Unit = the main chip. Examples include i7, Xeon etc.
GPU = Graphics Processing Unit = a graphics card (e.g. RX580), or the weak graphics processor inside some CPUs.
The mini has a strong CPU (in some configurations), but no dedicated GPU - just the basic one inside the CPU. iMacs have reasonable-to-decent GPUs, in addition to the CPU. As modern GPUs contain thousands of simple processors, repetitive work on large chunks of data (e.g. encoding video) is often handed off to the graphics card, taking a load off the CPU. Without a GPU, the CPU is doing everything, which slows things down.
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Good Idea. Whats a good batch render app? Ive been out of the game for awhile.
I was looking at my local (Belgian) Apple website but I couldn't find the euro sign on this keyboard
Still, much higher than the OP's budget.
I use adobe media encoder. If you’re on FCP then compressor probably makes more sense.
For the op’s budget I’d get a refurb i7/256GB/8GB 2018 Mini refurb, roughly $1050 and update with RAM, and e-GPU when needed. I went this route and have no regrets. I do mostly audio and some light photoshop. I have an rx-580 GPU sitting around to add to an external enclosure at some point. So far I haven’t felt a need to add an e-GPU but will at some point when I have cash to burn. Looking forward to learning more about the Mac Pro in June at WWDC.
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Here’s the thing. The MacPro MIGHT be unveiled in June. And there’s no guarantee it will be on the market soon after. You could buy a mini but you will need an egpu for video editing.
For another option you could go the mid range iMac route or skip the whole thing and go PC. That’s what I did last month and the transition wasn’t as bad as I feared.
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Don’t buy a used 2013
Only the RAM and SSD are upgradeable.
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They also said it was coming in 2018 after announcing it in 2017.
I hope this is not too late to answer your questions.
A lot has to do with your original 4K format videos and at what bit rate and compression they were created in and what sort of software are you planning to use it for.
As a simple rule of thumb is that, if you are using a consumer grade video recorder like the GoPro 7 as opposed to more professional RED or a GH5/GH5s and Sony A7III/A7SII for your 4K footage and you are using exclusively the free iMovie that came with newer Macs and working exclusively with MP4 as opposed to Prores or RAW, then I would recommend you to stick with the Mac Mini 2018 and not the Mac Pro of any kind. One of the benefits of the Mac Mini 2018 is that it has the Coffee Lake CPU as well as the T2 security chip. The Coffee Lake CPU has what Intel called Quicksync which is basically a hardware encoding and decoding device which behaves sort of like a CUDA in the Nvidia graphics card, but it's designed to be efficient in working with H.264 MP4 format. This feature that encode and decode 1080p and 4k video footages at breakneck speed given the right software which supports Intel QuickSync. Also new to the Mac Mini is the new T2 security chip which ALSO acts as a hardware encoder and decoder chip in unison with Quicksync to give you even more turbo boosting 10bit HEVC. So all we are talking about is the consumer grade files produced by consumer grade cameras. The weakness of the Mac Mini is that it uses an Intel GPU which is very weak for professional video apps like FCPX and Davinci Resolve (studio) that need more powerful GPUs and RAM than what the Intel could muster. However, with the introduction of eGPU and TB3, you can actually mitigate this problem with Davinci Resolve Studio by hooking up multiple eGPUs to speed up render times with 4K footage. What the Mac Mini provides is the best of both worlds; both QuickSync + T2 chip plus whatever eGPU you have hooked up. With any Mac Pro, you don't get Quicksync. I'm not sure about the new Mac Pro 2019, but I think likely that it won't have Quicksync. Professionals mostly don't work with consumer grade video equipment and files anyhow.
The Mac Pro machines, in contrast, is more geared towards professional grade files and working with RED RAW and Pro Res files and they are very efficient in ingesting and processing and rendering those files. Which is where the Mac Pro truly shines.
The common misconception I see from a lot of people, who actually bought those Mac Pro 5,1s and now having to sell them and trade them towards the Mac Mini is that, they thought the Xeon can brute force render and transcode faster than the Quicksync and now T2 capable macs. They don't as the consumer grade video software use only Quicksync. Since the Xeons don't have Quicksync, it reverts to pure software encoding and decoding which takes a long long time to do if you use consumer grade software that only utilize Quicksync but don't support any GPU rendering.
So know which software you are using and how much time do you plan to spend on that software to do your video edits. If you spend a lot of time with iMovie and less time on Davinci Resolve; get the Mini and an eGPU and have the best of both worlds. If you spend most of your time on FCPX, Davinci Resolve and Premiere Pro, then the Mac Pro is your best best even with the newer 2019 model since those software don't rely on Quicksync but rather on raw GPU power and multiple CPU cores.
Hope this helps.
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[QUOTE="WrightBrain, post: 27354790, member: 320163"
Only the RAM and SSD are upgradeable.
[/QUOTE]
Also the CPU. I have changed mine from 6 to 12 core.
Only the RAM and SSD are upgradeable.
[/QUOTE]
Also the CPU. I have changed mine from 6 to 12 core.
Also the CPU. I have changed mine from 6 to 12 core.[/QUOTE]
Interesting. The GPU is oddly the one thing you can't then.
Although you've likely already decided, I thought it might help others who run across this thread to post my recommendation (trying to help).
The 2019 Mini is tempting but a 2019 upgraded iMac is the better ROI. Why? In short, the iMac has a built in great quality 4K monitor and there will be less possible thermal throttling issues with the iMac case rather than the cramped Mac Mini case. (For those who are unfamiliar with thermal throttling that is when a computer runs too hot thus the speed of the computer can significantly drop to protect the components. Electronics need good airflow and to keep cool. It is never a good idea to pack a bunch of electronics that will run hot in a very tight box with very limited airflow (i.e., Mac Mini/MacBook Pro). Something has to give. Not only is there a chance the computer will run slower it will also die sooner than a computer that has good thermal dynamics. Baking electronics = shorter lifespan).
Since I get the sense a restricted budget is in play and your core requirement is to edit GoPro videos (video editing is CPU and GPU intensive = high heat), I definitley recommend an upgraded iMac. If budget is not an issue (up to the absurdly priced Mac Pro) then go with the highest level and maxed out iMac (not iMac Pro). Focus your budget in this order of importance (#1 & #2 is a close call): 1. CPU (i7 or above, NOT an i3, 6-core), 2. Memory (16GB is bare minimum, 32 is standard, more is better), 3. SSD (500GB is a good middle ground; 256 is too little, stay absolutely away from any internal serial ATA HDD because that is ancient and slow technology - hang your head in shame Apple for offering that!).
I priced out the middle level iMac (4K, 3.2GHz 6-core, i7, 16-32GB memory, 500GB SSD). Depending on the memory size, the price will range from $2,200-2,600 +tax. That's totally fair for a good computer. A 256GB SSD is too small for too many reasons to list here. You will definitley need to rely on good external HD storage (buy 1TB SSD storage commonly on sale and a $10 enclosure) for any iMac you buy because the best practice is to put as little strain as possible on the internal iMac HD. The iMac HD is a royal pain to replace because of glue strips and such. You want to avoid that route as long as possible. macOS and core files should be the only ones on the internal iMac HD, other files go to ideally an external SSD drive. Backups go to external HD but you can certainly use a large capacity 8TB drive. (I like Seagate rather than WD. WD will not stand behind their warranty and they are a royal pain to deal with if there is a problem.)
In comparison, a similar Mac Mini (not recommended) will cost $2,200 PLUS you have the cost of a good 4K monitor (another $500) + keyboard ($100), + mouse (good quality, $60-90).... GRAND TOTAL around $2,900! Besides a higher cost, this computer will likley not last as long because of electronics damage from constant high heat.
So, it's a no brainer, the iMac is the better value and ROI. A last comment to note is don't always trust the seemingly "budget" option because when you take a close look at the facts it is usually not the best value. A good example is buying storage (GB). Smaller GB sized hard drives are usually more expensive per GB than a higher capacity drive.
Hope this helps!
The 2019 Mini is tempting but a 2019 upgraded iMac is the better ROI. Why? In short, the iMac has a built in great quality 4K monitor and there will be less possible thermal throttling issues with the iMac case rather than the cramped Mac Mini case. (For those who are unfamiliar with thermal throttling that is when a computer runs too hot thus the speed of the computer can significantly drop to protect the components. Electronics need good airflow and to keep cool. It is never a good idea to pack a bunch of electronics that will run hot in a very tight box with very limited airflow (i.e., Mac Mini/MacBook Pro). Something has to give. Not only is there a chance the computer will run slower it will also die sooner than a computer that has good thermal dynamics. Baking electronics = shorter lifespan).
Since I get the sense a restricted budget is in play and your core requirement is to edit GoPro videos (video editing is CPU and GPU intensive = high heat), I definitley recommend an upgraded iMac. If budget is not an issue (up to the absurdly priced Mac Pro) then go with the highest level and maxed out iMac (not iMac Pro). Focus your budget in this order of importance (#1 & #2 is a close call): 1. CPU (i7 or above, NOT an i3, 6-core), 2. Memory (16GB is bare minimum, 32 is standard, more is better), 3. SSD (500GB is a good middle ground; 256 is too little, stay absolutely away from any internal serial ATA HDD because that is ancient and slow technology - hang your head in shame Apple for offering that!).
I priced out the middle level iMac (4K, 3.2GHz 6-core, i7, 16-32GB memory, 500GB SSD). Depending on the memory size, the price will range from $2,200-2,600 +tax. That's totally fair for a good computer. A 256GB SSD is too small for too many reasons to list here. You will definitley need to rely on good external HD storage (buy 1TB SSD storage commonly on sale and a $10 enclosure) for any iMac you buy because the best practice is to put as little strain as possible on the internal iMac HD. The iMac HD is a royal pain to replace because of glue strips and such. You want to avoid that route as long as possible. macOS and core files should be the only ones on the internal iMac HD, other files go to ideally an external SSD drive. Backups go to external HD but you can certainly use a large capacity 8TB drive. (I like Seagate rather than WD. WD will not stand behind their warranty and they are a royal pain to deal with if there is a problem.)
In comparison, a similar Mac Mini (not recommended) will cost $2,200 PLUS you have the cost of a good 4K monitor (another $500) + keyboard ($100), + mouse (good quality, $60-90).... GRAND TOTAL around $2,900! Besides a higher cost, this computer will likley not last as long because of electronics damage from constant high heat.
So, it's a no brainer, the iMac is the better value and ROI. A last comment to note is don't always trust the seemingly "budget" option because when you take a close look at the facts it is usually not the best value. A good example is buying storage (GB). Smaller GB sized hard drives are usually more expensive per GB than a higher capacity drive.
Hope this helps!
Just curious why not the iMac Pro. I know I had a mid 2010 27" iMac and the video card starting giving out and when I did some research I found this to be a common problem with the 27" models due to thermal management. I priced getting the card replaced from 3 local shops 2 were Apple Certified and the third wasn't certified but had great reviews from people who had their Macs fixed there. The card alone was about $400 and the labor between 150 and 200 dollars and from what read that would lost between 1 year and 3 years depending on use. I personally never shut my systems off unless I'm leaving the house for an extended period of time. (3 days or more). So I took that 600 that the repair would cost added another 200 for a metal video card and purchased a mid 2010 MacPro. I was able to sell the iMac for about 200 dollars.
