Looking to get a new primary machine. Currently have a late-2013 27” iMac 3.4ghz i5 w/ 24gb ram. Still chugging along ok, but slows up sometimes plus I can’t update to the latest OS in the fall. Plus I really want a larger display. The 27” is great, but I really have my eye on the LG 38” ultra wide. I was about to order the 2020 macmini but today with the new iMacs being released, has me wondering what would be better for me? I mostly do just eBay and eBay photography, Internet browsing, email and occasionally some mild photo and video editing, but not to often. I really want the Mac mini and 38” display to eliminate my triple monitor setup. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!
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New MacMini or iMac?
- Thread starter SteelBlueTJ
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If you need to buy monitor also, then my recommendation is to go with new iMac 5k.
Mac mini uses 8th gen CPU while iMac 5k uses 10th Gen
There is no external monitor that has same level of picture quality as iMac 5K.
Mac mini uses 8th gen CPU while iMac 5k uses 10th Gen
There is no external monitor that has same level of picture quality as iMac 5K.
Photography.
A nice 5k monitor...and a decent gpu to push that display...and you can also run a 2nd monitor from an iMac?
Azrael.
The Mac Mini is such an excellent machine (and very good value) that I want to recommend it over the iMac. But if monitors are important to you, the iMac should probably be at the top of your list. But first I would look carefully at third-party monitors you can afford to see if there is anything which will work for you--besides the 5K iMac screen.
I was recently faced with the same decision and went with the Mini. I still feel that I made a good choice (monitors are very important but getting the right machine for the right price is more important).
Also, keep in mind that you can attach an eGPU to the Mini to power any sort of monitor. Bear in mind, as well, that the Mini is extremely fast with its solid-state hard drive, and that it can be upgraded to 64 GB of RAM. I'm upgrading to 32 GB in the near future and will spend only $134 (this is from Other World Computing).
Take care.
I was recently faced with the same decision and went with the Mini. I still feel that I made a good choice (monitors are very important but getting the right machine for the right price is more important).
Also, keep in mind that you can attach an eGPU to the Mini to power any sort of monitor. Bear in mind, as well, that the Mini is extremely fast with its solid-state hard drive, and that it can be upgraded to 64 GB of RAM. I'm upgrading to 32 GB in the near future and will spend only $134 (this is from Other World Computing).
Take care.
Thanks. I was thinking about getting the i5 over the i7. I mainly do internet browsing and email, but occasional will edit a small 1080p gopro video in final cut. Would the i5 with 16GB config be enough? I don't want to spend the extra $200 on the i7 if I don't have to. I would rather put that towards the 38" LG Ultrawide. Thanks
I think the i5 would be fine, for what you describe the i3 would probably even be OK. I have the i7 but am doing more advanced things, like heavy use of Windows in a virtual machine. I have 64gb but 16gb is also probably all you need. 8gb is not really enough because the graphics chip uses 1.5gb.
The only question I have is the integrated UHD 630 graphics with the ultra-wide monitor. I think that will be OK, but this chip has some limitations and if you push it too hard it gets hot, which slows the computer down. You might look through the Mini forum, I believe there are some threads about ultra-wide displays there. An eGPU is certainly an option but that's an additional expense and brings its own set of issues.
The only question I have is the integrated UHD 630 graphics with the ultra-wide monitor. I think that will be OK, but this chip has some limitations and if you push it too hard it gets hot, which slows the computer down. You might look through the Mini forum, I believe there are some threads about ultra-wide displays there. An eGPU is certainly an option but that's an additional expense and brings its own set of issues.
