Mac Mini w EGPU or Macbook Pro 13" w EGPU

[Rockies]

I am trying to decide which is a better value in performance and cost. I mainly will be doing 60% internet browsing and 40% photo/video editing, NO gaming. Any suggestions? Also can anyone suggest the best available EGPU for this type of setup? Thanks.

MacBook Pro 13" with 256GB $1499 + $700 EGPU (BlackM) = $2200
Mac Mini 256GB $1099 + $700 EGPU (BlackM) = $1800 (rounded)

 

[KrisLord]

I am trying to decide which is a better value in performance and cost. I mainly will be doing 60% internet browsing and 40% photo/video editing, NO gaming. Any suggestions? Also can anyone suggest the best available EGPU for this type of setup? Thanks.

MacBook Pro 13" with 256GB $1499 + $700 EGPU (BlackM) = $2200
Mac Mini 256GB $1099 + $700 EGPU (BlackM) = $1800 (rounded)

Do you already have a decent screen and keyboard/mouse?

Otherwise it’s worth adding them into your pricing.

Having said that, I think the new mini looks rather great.

If you don’t need the portability of the MacBook I don’t see a reason to get it.

 

[F-Train]

Also can anyone suggest the best available EGPU for this type of setup? Thanks.

MacBook Pro 13" with 256GB $1499 + $700 EGPU (BlackM) = $2200
Mac Mini 256GB $1099 + $700 EGPU (BlackM) = $1800 (rounded)

I would suggest that you check out this on-going thread, which contains quite detailed discussion of your external GPU options: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/external-gpu-egpu-resources.2154653/

 

[Rockies]

Do you already have a decent screen and keyboard/mouse?

Otherwise it’s worth adding them into your pricing.

Having said that, I think the new mini looks rather great.

If you don’t need the portability of the MacBook I don’t see a reason to get it.

I really don't need the portability that much, but for a few hundred dollars it might be worth it because then I would have a computer to use on a vacation or while lounging on my deck. Still researching to see if there are any major CPU differences between the Mac Mini and MacBook Pro 13".

 

[mightyjabba]

Still researching to see if there are any major CPU differences between the Mac Mini and MacBook Pro 13".

The mini uses a desktop processor rather than a portable one, and I believe it out performs the 13” MacBook Pro by quite a bit in things like Geekbench.

 

[Cashmonee]

The mini is faster than the MacBook. You are comparing what I assume is the 6-core 8th-gen i5 in the mini to a dual-core 7th-gen i5 in the MacBook Pro. Honestly, that is not really much of a comparison, and the fact that the MacBook Pro is more expensive makes this a no brainer.

Also, I would suggest looking at eGPUs besides the Black Magic. Those are awfully pricey for what you get.

 

[tpivette89]

The mini is faster than the MacBook. You are comparing what I assume is the 6-core 8th-gen i5 in the mini to a dual-core 7th-gen i5 in the MacBook Pro. Honestly, that is not really much of a comparison, and the fact that the MacBook Pro is more expensive makes this a no brainer.

Also, I would suggest looking at eGPUs besides the Black Magic. Those are awfully pricey for what you get.

Agreed. For the minimum specs/price, you could get a MSI Radeon RX 580 8GB:

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod...on=rx 580&cm_re=rx_580-_-14-137-244-_-Product

plus, a Akitio Thunderbolt 3 eGPU enclosure:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Akitio-Nod...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

So for $396 you could get the same performance + the ability to upgrade GPUs at a later date.

Keep in mind the Blackmagic eGPU has a fixed graphics card, so you can't swap it out when it becomes irrelevant/obsolete in a few years. Just something to think about.

 

[F-Train]

Also, I would suggest looking at eGPUs besides the Black Magic. Those are awfully pricey for what you get.

D'accord! For the reasons explained in this post: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/external-gpu-egpu-resources.2154653/page-8#post-26851344

Pricing for GPUs is discussed two posts up.
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Agreed. For the minimum specs/price, you could get a MSI Radeon RX 580 8GB:

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA2F86RB5480&Description=rx 580&cm_re=rx_580-_-14-137-244-_-Product

plus, a Akitio Thunderbolt 3 eGPU enclosure:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Akitio-Node-Thunderbolt-3-External-GPU-PCIe-eGFX-Box-NODE-T3IA-AKTU/401364731074?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

So for $396 you could get the same performance + the ability to upgrade GPUs at a later date.

Keep in mind the Blackmagic eGPU has a fixed graphics card, so you can't swap it out when it becomes irrelevant/obsolete in a few years. Just something to think about.

I think that the Blackmagic is now overpriced given what is happening to the price of GPUs, and like you I have a problem with the fact that it can't be upgraded.

That said, the RX 580 launched 17 months ago for US$230. I don't think that $221 is particularly attractive. I also think that references to Newegg pricing should be accompanied by a caution to research Newegg's position on GPU returns.

The price of enclosures varies a lot depending on features.

I paid US$610 for an Asus enclosure ($330) and an RX 590 GPU ($280). This is only $90 less than a Blackmagic, but I was happy to pay it. Reasons here: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/external-gpu-egpu-resources.2154653/page-8#post-26851344

If I believed that cheapest was always best, I wouldn't have purchased a mini.

 

[Rockies]

Thanks for the replies all. Leaning towards the Mac Mini due to the discussed superior desktop computing power. I just realized the lowest end 2018 MacBook Pro 13" uses 7th Gen processors, have to spend significant more to get 8th Gen processors. I guess that is Apple being Apple.

 

[Cashmonee]

Thanks for the replies all. Leaning towards the Mac Mini due to the discussed superior desktop computing power. I just realized the lowest end 2018 MacBook Pro 13" uses 7th Gen processors, have to spend significant more to get 8th Gen processors. I guess that is Apple being Apple.

Yeah, the non-Touchbar machines did not see upgrades at all this year. To be honest, I am not sure why, unless they are planning on dropping them. That could make sense with the pricing of the new Air.