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2012 MacBook Pro 15" vs. Mac Mini (2014)

Hater

Hater

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Sep 20, 2017
898
885
Edinburgh, Scotland
I'm currently using a 2012 MacBook Pro as a desktop machine - external monitor (34" LG UltraWide), keyboard, mouse and 2x HDD's.

As the external monitor uses the TB port, I have none free for external storage, as both USB slots are used by the keyboard + mouse. I could use an external USB hub, but there is still only limited USB bandwidth available either way.

I'm patiently waiting for the new modular Mac Pro to pop up for sale before splashing out on a new (well, probably second hand Mac) and am waiting to see what happens in that space.

I can still get ~$600 (AUD) or so for my MacBook right now, as is. This leaves me enough to claim a second hand 2014 Mac Mini (or splash out a few hundred for a brand new one).

Connecting a Mac Mini to my external monitor leaves me with 2x TB ports for external storage as well as free USB ports for USB keys or hard drives or whatever I want.

Of course, the Mini comes with a downside - HD5000 graphics being the only option. I currently have a GT650M.

My question: Will the Mini give similar performance in FCP and iMovie to a 2012 MacBook Pro? It's the reason i'm craving for my HDD space and HDD bandwidth - Storing raw data and working off said volumes.

Thanks
 
The graphics aren't the only downside, you also downgrade to a dual-core processor from a quad-core. That is a difference you're likely to notice.

I'd recommend waiting to see what (if anything) Apple decides to do with the Mac mini this October. Otherwise, get a 2012 quad-core Mac mini, or an older Mac Pro 4,1 / 5,1 (the Mac Pro with the right upgrades is definitely the best choice for performance + storage).
 
Mmm, Haswell vs. Ivy Bridge was where I was thinking maybe the processors, although with half the cores, would balance each other out.

I guess not. I guess 2012 is still the year that reigns king for Apple hardware.
 
You haven't really told us what you have or what Mini you would buy, there are a variety of 2012 MBP's and 2014 Mini's. You can get a pretty good idea of performance by comparing GeekBench ratings here: https://everymac.com

Regardless, if you are talking about the base 1.4ghz/4gb/500MB hard drive Mini.... forget it. That machine is seriously crippled and would not be a good choice for Final Cut Pro (you also did not say whether you're using Final Cut Pro X or legacy Final Cut Pro). I have one of the base 2014 Mini's but only use it as an itunes server. It's fine for that, but really sluggish if I try to do anything else.

I used to have a 2012 base mini and it actually ran Final Cut Pro (both the legacy version and FCPX) OK. It can easily be upgraded to 16gb but the 2014 is not upgradeable.

I currently use a quad core i7 2.6ghz 2012 Mini for Final Cut Pro X and Logic Pro X. It's a fast machine - a bit faster than the top model quad i7 2012 MacBook Pro in fact. The HD4000 is its weakness, but it still works fine with FCPX. It can be a bit sluggish viewing un-rendered footage on the timeline if I have a lot of effects with multiple layers/transparency though.

If you're planning to buy the new Mac Pro, I hope you have a lot of $$$$. :p Maybe best to save your money until it comes out? The port problem with your MBP is trivial... you could get a keyboard that has a USB port for the mouse, that would free up a port for a disk. Or get a bluetooth keyboard and mouse and you would have two free ports.

IMO, the keyboard and mouse are not a real factor in USB bandwidth (I assume your MBP has USB 3.0). I use a 1tb USB 3.0 external Samsung T3 SSD as a boot drive on my 2012 Mini and it also has a USB keyboard and mouse. I get about 400MB/sec write and 430MB/sec read with that SSD.
 
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You could use a mini USB hub, and connect your keyboard and mouse to that. That frees up one USB port for external storage.
 
Bluetooth keyboards are crap. I don't know of any decent (ie, DAS, Ducky) keyboards that come in Bluetooth anyway, and it'd mean selling my current keyboard and buying one, which would probably be another $100 on top of this exercise anyway. It's true I do have USB ports on my keyboard though which leaves one USB port free if I connect my mouse directly rather than into the laptop...

It's the Thunderbolt storage that intrigues me, USB is used for other things such as my vinyl plotter, transferring things from USB keys rather than dedicated storage. At the moment I have to disconnect the laptop and use it as a normal laptop if I want to, say, print something that someone has given me on USB while halfway through a print job, etc. It's fine, it's manageable, but not ideal. I've been putting up with it for the last few years anyway so not exactly a huge deal, it's not as if I cut stickers or print onto paper every day anyway.

The only Mini i'd consider would be a 2.8 or 3.0Ghz/16GB machine, the top tier one. I didn't realise these boxes came with Iris graphics rather than the HD5000 - hence the confusion above. The 1.4Ghz model sucks and would not do what I want, I already understand this!

I think the lack of Thunderbolt 3 is also a turn off - an eGPU would be a good thing for what I want. I guess that also eats up a TB port though, something I want to use for storage...
 
Apple wants $2200 for that spec...

Jesus christ, that gets you an HP EliteDesk in a smaller enclosure with 4TB of storage and a 7 series i7. I thought they were a lot cheaper than that.
 
my mac mini is from 2012, uses 4 gb that can be upgradable and had the original 500GB Hd.
i use that for heavy PS photo editing, streaming eurosports (tynecastle looks nice on that), iTunes and other tasks at the same time using el capitan without issues.

I hope this helps
 
Hater said:
Bluetooth keyboards are crap. I don't know of any decent (ie, DAS, Ducky) keyboards that come in Bluetooth anyway,
Click to expand...
Well, after testing a variety of keyboards as replacement for my aging Logitech G15, I eventually stayed with the Logitech Craft (even though I originally did not want a wireless keyboard).

Not exactly a bargain, but really nice materials and quality, scissor mechanics, illuminated keys and comes both with a Logitech Unifying receiver as well as Bluetooth. Can easily switch between up to 3 computers (which I’m using to full extent) at the press of a key and delivers a really good typing experience, while not taking up too much desk space (as some gaming keyboards do).

All in all one of my best purchases in recent years (now that the teething problems seem to be mostly ironed out).
 
Neodym said:
Well, after testing a variety of keyboards as replacement for my aging Logitech G15, I eventually stayed with the Logitech Craft (even though I originally did not want a wireless keyboard).

Not exactly a bargain, but really nice materials and quality, scissor mechanics, illuminated keys and comes both with a Logitech Unifying receiver as well as Bluetooth. Can easily switch between up to 3 computers (which I’m using to full extent) at the press of a key and delivers a really good typing experience, while not taking up too much desk space (as some gaming keyboards do).

All in all one of my best purchases in recent years (now that the teething problems seem to be mostly ironed out).
Click to expand...

Try using a proper keyboard. You'll toss the Logitech crap in the bin.
 
Hater said:
Try using a proper keyboard. You'll toss the Logitech crap in the bin.
Click to expand...
Ah - so your name is program. In that case, you’ll stick to your false prejudices and I’ll stay satisfied with my quality keyboard. Have a nice day!
 
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