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Most of the bigger problems with Geekbench were fixed with Geekbench 4.

Its main problem now is it’s too short.
Its main problem, like all other synthetic benchmarks, is it doesn't accurately represent the ability of a computer to perform a specific task other than how well it runs Geekbench. I already provided an example.
 
Its main problem, like all other synthetic benchmarks, is it doesn't accurately represent the ability of a computer to perform a specific task other than how well it runs Geekbench. I already provided an example.
Yes but the point is that for general purpose comparisons, Geekbench is actually more useful than Handbrake. Handbrake tests are useful assessing Handbrake and nothing else.
 
Yes but the point is that for general purpose comparisons, Geekbench is actually more useful than Handbrake. Handbrake tests are useful assessing Handbrake and nothing else.
Agree 100%, which is why I don't use it as anything other than how well a system runs Handbrake. Just like I don't use Geekbench as representative of anything other than how a system runs Geekbench.
 
Agree 100%, which is why I don't use it as anything other than how well a system runs Handbrake. Just like I don't use Geekbench as representative of anything other than how a system runs Geekbench.
In a way, Geekbench is analogous to a lite version of spec. It’s a general purpose benchmark, testing multiple different types of tests, and doesn’t claim to be a definitive comparison for all workloads.

Basically, for general purpose comparisons, Geekbench 4 is as good as it gets without resorting to stuff like spec, with the caveat that Geekbench doesn’t run long enough to cause significant throttling.

However, if you have very specific workloads for your computers, then yes, test those specific workloads.
 
In a way, Geekbench is analogous to a lite version of spec. It’s a general purpose benchmark, testing multiple different types of tests, and doesn’t claim to be a definitive comparison for all workloads.
Which doesn't make it any more valid.

Basically, for general purpose comparisons, Geekbench 4 is as good as it gets without resorting to stuff like spec, with the caveat that Geekbench doesn’t run long enough to cause significant throttling.
It's interesting but that's about it.

However, if you have very specific workloads for your computers, then yes, test those specific workloads.
Agree 100%, which is my point.
 
You do wonder, following a bit of analysis with benchmarks, if some classic Mac Pro owners on a budget might view the 2018 Mac mini as a viable upgrade path. After all these years the advent of Coffee Lake with extra cores means that the horsepower is now able to compete with 2012 Mac Pros. Anyone needing GPU can now add that on, there's a 10 Gig Ethernet option for power users, the PCIe NAND Flash is presumably as fast as anything in the current Mac range and Thunderbolt 3 will take care of other needs.

Maybe this generation of Mini is not looking at PC switchers but classic Mac Pro switchers?
As a cMP owner and so called power user I’m currently considering this upgrade path and connecting my cMP via Ethernet as a slave/render farm. The cMP performs fine but the idea of a 2nd machine with a modern processor and with noticeably higher single core performance (hopefully) is very appealing as an After Effects user. The vast majority of day to day AE operations are single core. The cMP currently smashes multi core renders using the Render Garden script so it would be great if the Mini smashed the single core ops alongside it. I’m pretty close to pulling the trigger and putting it through some real world AE tests.
 
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Maybe this generation of Mini is not looking at PC switchers but classic Mac Pro switchers?

Many MacBook Pro users including myself jumping ship. I'm not as portable as I used to be, sure, but I got used to buy MBPs over all else just because they were always better than the Mac mini, but weren't as expensive as the Mac Pro. After 14 years of Apple portables (starting with the 12" Powerbook) this will be my first Mac mini purchase.

I think I'd be happy with Apple's 2019 Mac Pro replacement too but I know they're gonna come out the gate with a starting price of $5k or something and I just can't.
 
Yup, the 6-core Mac mini chips have excellent single core and dual-core performance.

Not the i3 quad though.
As a cMP owner and so called power user I’m currently considering this upgrade path and connecting my cMP via Ethernet as a slave/render farm. The cMP performs fine but the idea of a 2nd machine with a modern processor and with noticeably higher single core performance (hopefully) is very appealing as an After Effects user. The vast majority of day to day AE operations are single core. The cMP currently smashes multi core renders using the Render Garden script so it would be great if the Mini smashed the single core ops alongside it. I’m pretty close to pulling the trigger and putting it through some real world AE tests.
 
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Many MacBook Pro users including myself jumping ship. I'm not as portable as I used to be, sure, but I got used to buy MBPs over all else just because they were always better than the Mac mini, but weren't as expensive as the Mac Pro.

Similar story here - worked on MBPs for the last decade. I used to be a lot more mobile with work, but these days it's not required, and critically - the Mini offers pretty decent hardware without the pre-conclusion that everyone needs a dedicated GPU, and at a much lower price (with higher spec ceilings) than the MBP. This machine I'm typing on (base 2018 MBP15) will do for any short term work away from the home office, but the Mini will be the real workhorse.

I think I'd be happy with Apple's 2019 Mac Pro replacement too

I'm less sure about this - I kinda suspect it's still going to skew heavily to default high-end GPU. I'd love to be proven wrong, but I think the Mini may be Apple's offering for non-graphics intensive users.
 
Screen Shot 2018-11-05 at 10.12.43 AM.png

Screen Shot 2018-11-05 at 10.15.24 AM.png


Neck to neck with i7-8700K. I find it hard to believe this, maybe the i7-8700K wasn't being pushed to the limit here?
 
I'm more interested in the performance of the i5.

Will these be the "Core i5-8600" CPU's?
 
The cinebench test, although an excellent test to quantify multi core rendering speed of a cinema 4D scene, doesn't take all that long to render with today's CPUs. A cold computer in a cold room could render that scene before much thermal throttling of the CPU takes place.

What I'd be really interested in is ... Can the i7 in the mini render an animation overnight. Is the mini capable of 24/7 rendering without burning up or requiring the need to wear earplugs.

Most render designated boxes use big fans that are loud.
 
Can the i7 in the mini render an animation overnight. Is the mini capable of 24/7 rendering without burning up or requiring the need to wear earplugs.

Most render designated boxes use big fans that are loud.

You are correct, they can sound like a jet engine for hours at a time...

So, I put my GPU's on water and now I have a very quiet render workstation. I was able to get rid of 12 fans, 3 from each card. It still pours out a lot of heat though, which is expected.

my-rig2.jpg
 
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