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kriista1234

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jan 12, 2008
306
12
Haven't seen any benchmarks comparing these yet, but when pricing out a mid/high spec M2 mini, (M2 pro, 32gb, 512gb) it's pretty much the same price as a mid spec M1 Studio (M1 max, 32gb, 512gb) and I'm wondering what the performance difference would be.

I guess the M2 is "next gen", but the "Max" is likely faster than the "Pro" (these names...), not to mention probably better thermals and other stuff from the larger form factor.

As a point of reference I'm working audio, so the extra GPU power isn't massively important to me (though I do do a bit of video editing as well, it's not the core thing I'd be using the machine for).

I guess it's quite early days, but has anyone seen any comparisons between these two, or have thoughts?
 

kriista1234

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jan 12, 2008
306
12
Is that from the keynote thing? I've not looked too thoroughly, but I couldn't find hard numbers like that.

Also wonder if thermal performance would be an issue in the smaller chassis when talking heavy CPU usage. My 2012 quad core "server" mini sounds like it's gonna take off when I'm in a Zoom meeting with a couple other apps open.
 

Andropov

macrumors 6502a
May 3, 2012
746
990
Spain
Is that from the keynote thing? I've not looked too thoroughly, but I couldn't find hard numbers like that.
I believe the M2 GPU cores were around ~20% faster than the M1 GPU cores. The M2 Pro has 19 of them, so that'd be equivalent to ~22.8 M1 GPU cores. The base M1 Max has 24 of them, and increased bandwidth (408GB/s vs 204GB/s), so it's probably a bit faster. The 32-core M1 Max is definitely faster GPU-wise.

On the CPU side, the Pro/Max of a given generation share the CPU, so the M2 version is obviously better.
 

Samadaeus

macrumors newbie
Jan 17, 2023
10
2
Hey guys, long time reader first time writer. I was really hoping I can get more insight because I may have jumped the gun with this. So I’ve been stretching my 2016 MacBook Pro the best I could but over the last 3 years I’ve become a fullstack developer.
My MBP has done the best it’s could but after it’s first kernel panic .. I’m constantly having to reset pram and smc .

The reason I mention this is because I just want to elaborate how I’ve been waiting to buy the M2 Mac mini since the kernal panic that happens six months after the M1 Mac mini was released.

I tried to buy the Mac Studio when It came out, but I spent so much time trying to learn about it configurations, and before I knew it, it was sold out for six months. To avoid any unfortunate repetition of history, I got the M2 pro fully decked out,
annnnnd the cost came out rather too close to the Mac Studio Max with upgrades.

At the risk of sounding dumb and to ask it really simple, which of these 2 is the better buy?
1.
Mac mini​
Mac studio
With the following configuration

Apple M2 Pro with 12‑core CPU,
19-core GPU,

16‑core Neural Engine

32GB unified memory

1TB SSD storage

Gigabit Ethernet
Four Thunderbolt 4 ports, HDMI port, two USB‑A ports, headphone jack
Accessory Kit


With 3year Apple care totaling at
$2265 with student discount​
Hardware

Apple M1 Max
10-core CPU,
32-core GPU,

16-core Neural Engine

32GB unified memory

1TB SSD storage

Front: Two USB-C ports, one SDXC card slot

Back: Four Thunderbolt 4 ports, two USB-A ports, one HDMI port, one 10Gb Ethernet port, one 3.5 mm headphone jack

Accessory Kit
3year Apple care totaling at
$2469 with student discount.
 

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leman

macrumors Core
Oct 14, 2008
19,521
19,674
The Mini will be a bit faster CPU wise, and it's smaller. The Studio is faster GPU-wise, has more ports and is generally sexier. Take whichever you like.
 
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Samadaeus

macrumors newbie
Jan 17, 2023
10
2
The short answer is, the one that’s best for your needs is the better deal.
Yeah well that’s the thing about “needs”

They’re only clearly shown when you’re knee deep in expired “wants” that have place you in the deep end.

I’m searching for more of an educated opinion please and thank you.
It’s $180 difference.. relatively 6 % .. do you see more than 6% in performance value among the 2?
 
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Samadaeus

macrumors newbie
Jan 17, 2023
10
2
Yeah well that’s the thing about “needs”

They’re only clearly shown when you’re knee deep in expired “wants” that have place you in the deep end.

I’m searching for more of an educated opinion please and thank you.
It’s $180 difference.. relatively 6 % .. do you see more than 6% in performance value among the 2?
Side note: would down grading the $-300 core upgrade make such a difference in performance?

Cause then the gap would be substantial enough not to question the move ?
 

kriista1234

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jan 12, 2008
306
12
I think I'm now leaning towards the juiced up M2 Pro mini since the CPU is much more important than GPU for music stuff.

Wondering about extra 2CPU/3GPU core upgrade though (up to 12CPU/19GPU), as it's not that much more.
 

Alex W.

macrumors 6502
Apr 18, 2020
353
190
If you have an m1/m1pro/m1 max, just wait a few generations and upgrade - dont get caught up into the yearly cycle its a tick tock so wait for the m3/m4 before its really worth upgrading.
 
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Homy

macrumors 68030
Jan 14, 2006
2,506
2,458
Sweden
I've been waiting to see how the new Mac Mini and M2 Pro/Max compares to the old base Mac Studio and I'm going to buy the Mac Studio. It gives the best GPU performance for the money. Here is my comparison. Prices are converted from Swedish Crown:

Mac Mini M2 Pro 12c CPU/19c GPU/32 GB/512 GB $2,735
Mac Studio M1 Max 10c CPU/24c GPU/32 GB/512 GB $2,447

Even without 10Gb Ethernet the Mac Mini costs $2 606. Mac Studio has also been sometimes on sale here with 10% discount and when the new ones with M2 come in March? the old ones going to be on sale so the base model will cost as low as $2 202.

Mac Studio has also other advantages GPU-wise:

Mac Mini M2 Pro 19c - 6.8 TFLOPS, 200 GB/s
Mac Studio M1 Max 24c - 7.8 TFLOPS, 400GB/s

It's also better to buy Mac Studio 32c GPU than the new M2 Max with 30 GPU cores. Seeing the prices went up here by ca 21.5% the new Mac Studios with M2 Max 30c GPU will cost ca $3,264. The current M1 Max 32c costs $2,687.

M2 Max 30c - 10.7 TFLOPS, 400GB/s
M1 Max 32c - 10.6 TFLOPS, 400GB/s
 

PauloSera

Suspended
Oct 12, 2022
908
1,393
Haven't seen any benchmarks comparing these yet, but when pricing out a mid/high spec M2 mini, (M2 pro, 32gb, 512gb) it's pretty much the same price as a mid spec M1 Studio (M1 max, 32gb, 512gb) and I'm wondering what the performance difference would be.

I guess the M2 is "next gen", but the "Max" is likely faster than the "Pro" (these names...), not to mention probably better thermals and other stuff from the larger form factor.

As a point of reference I'm working audio, so the extra GPU power isn't massively important to me (though I do do a bit of video editing as well, it's not the core thing I'd be using the machine for).

I guess it's quite early days, but has anyone seen any comparisons between these two, or have thoughts?
I'm not sure but I'm guessing there is approximately $700 worth of performance difference between them.
 

Samadaeus

macrumors newbie
Jan 17, 2023
10
2
I think I'm now leaning towards the juiced up M2 Pro mini since the CPU is much more important than GPU for music stuff.

Wondering about extra 2CPU/3GPU core upgrade though (up to 12CPU/19GPU), as it's not that much more.
Right??? I was like damn the cost increase in literally more than half a base model that comes with 8 and 10
This is where I’m most unease with.. I feel like I that’s where I may have messed up .
 

Samadaeus

macrumors newbie
Jan 17, 2023
10
2
Can anyone explain what’s the deal with 10 GB bandwidth? I mean I get a 1gig Internet service but I am extremely sure that comcast is not gonna be giving me anything more at a better value

So how does that get use?
 

mattfro

macrumors newbie
Aug 7, 2019
28
24
Sweden
Can anyone explain what’s the deal with 10 GB bandwidth? I mean I get a 1gig Internet service but I am extremely sure that comcast is not gonna be giving me anything more at a better value

So how does that get use?
LAN as @Homy said, so perhaps for a NAS for example. :)
 

Samadaeus

macrumors newbie
Jan 17, 2023
10
2
LAN as @Homy said, so perhaps for a NAS for example. :)
Yeah… that’s not really the question..

In the USA att fiber for $400 a month gets you 5gs I’m very very few select areas.

I’m aware Ethernet is the use.. but how with more than 1g get used..

What’s NAS?
 

vadimyuryev

macrumors member
Oct 3, 2017
65
209
Yep, exactly what @Andropov says.

M2 Pro will be faster CPU-wise and slower GPU-wise than the M1 Max. If you don't care much about the GPU, getting the "base" 10-core M2 Pro will save you some money and it should have comparable CPU performance to M1 Max.
I agree!
 

HobeSoundDarryl

macrumors G5
Yeah… that’s not really the question..

In the USA att fiber for $400 a month gets you 5gs I’m very very few select areas.

I’m aware Ethernet is the use.. but how with more than 1g get used..

What’s NAS?
Network Attached Storage.

There's more to an ethernet port than broadband internet service speed. You can build your own network- that's the LAN (Local Area Network) some referred to- at home now to crush anything you can buy from broadband providers. If that helps you do something you want to do, that's where "Faster than 1GB" would matter to you.

If you only want to rationalize it based on broadband service, will you ever use the Mac for any work? Perhaps clients will have a network (and broadband) much faster than 1GB? While you are there, your Mac could step up to their speeds.

If you travel internationally and take your Mac with you, U.S. broadband speed limits are not exactly representative of the world.

And then there's simple progress. While you don't have access to better than 1G now, will that still be the case before this Mac is EOL'd? If there is potential in your area for faster broadband, think of it as some future proofing.
 
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eejët

macrumors newbie
Jan 5, 2023
4
3
You’ll probably only have to wait a few days or a week to get first hand reports or reviews. There aren’t likely to be surprises there, but still. Unless you really need something the Studio offers (ports?), the M2 is probably the better choice. You’re probably not even losing much in GPU performance given that the M2 GPUs are appreciably better.

I think the new M2 Pro/Max machines also have an HDMI 2.1 port, which might be relevant to you.
 
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eejët

macrumors newbie
Jan 5, 2023
4
3
XMacs are like busses. You wait years for one… then two come along at once! Apple should really expand their monitor offerings with these tasty desktops they’re now selling.
 
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