Should I upgrade my 2018 i7 Mac Mini + 5700xt egpu to the M1?

[sirHydra]

Hi there,
I own a 2018 Mac Mini i7/16gb/512gb + XFX RX 5700 XT Ultra 8GB eGPU.

Well, I watched this video:

And it’s insane!

On paper, my eGPU is 3 times faster than the M1. But I mainly use it for light photo/video editing (like Screenflow), and from what I understand, it seems that the new M1 transcoders are close, if not even faster, for this kind of work. Am I right?

I’m thinking of upgrading to an M1 Mac Mini 16GB/512GB or 1TB.

The Pros:

• Right now, I can fund the new Mini just by selling my GPU. Its value is more than 2 times the price I originally paid;
• A faster machine on everyday tasks;
• Silent setup, no more heat, and a lot of free space on my desk.

The Cons:

• I have W10 and virtual machines for my 32bit apps (Parallels). So I need to keep also the old Mini for now;
• No more triple monitor setup. But I have a big LG 43UD79, so I can live without the third monitor.

What do you suggest? Is the Mini reliable enough at this point? I’m working from home, and I need a solid machine.
For example, can I use my Magic Trackpad 2 and Magic Keyboard 2 without issues, as on my old Mini?
What about the sleep/wake function with external monitors?

Maybe I could just sell the GPU and wait for the new M1X Mini?

BTW, I have just upgraded a 2015 15” MacBook Pro with an M1 MacBook Air 16GB/512GB, and I’m super happy!
But I don’t think to use the Air as my main machine. Should I?

Thanks!

 

[DaveP]

I'm very interested to hear the replies as I'm in the same scenario: i7 mini with eGPU. I'm hesitant though as this is my main development machine and don't want to get in a scenario where something doesn't work quite right anymore. I do use Linux and Windows VMs, but I figured I'd get an Intel NUC or similar and VNC in instead.

My current thinking is to just wait and see what comes out the rest of the year, but especially on the refurbs, the price on the M1 minis is low.

 

[szczottie]

I sold my Razer Core X and Sapphire Vega 64 for £626 on ebay and I bought base M1 (8GB and 256SSD). I mainly do 5-10 min videos in FCPX (Pocket 4k and GH5) and Lightroom CC. HEVC 10-bit render is 2x faster in Compressor than my Mini i7 and Vega 64. I will keep it untill I can get iMac Pro with Apple Silicon.

My only issue is sometimes after sleep/wake my monitor sets to default resolution.

It's not perfect but I get used to it (less ram and reseting to default resolution and few other minor issues).

 

[sirHydra]

Thanks for the replies.

I sold my Razer Core X and Sapphire Vega 64 for £626 on ebay and I bought base M1 (8GB and 256SSD). I mainly do 5-10 min videos in FCPX (Pocket 4k and GH5) and Lightroom CC. HEVC 10-bit render is 2x faster in Compressor than my Mini i7 and Vega 64. I will keep it untill I can get iMac Pro with Apple Silicon.

My only issue is sometimes after sleep/wake my monitor sets to default resolution.

It's not perfect but I get used to it (less ram and reseting to default resolution and few other minor issues).

Does Bluetooth work?
I would like to use my Magic Keyboard 2 / Trackpad 2 / MX Master 3

 

[Gudi]

No!

 

[DaveP]

No!

Any particular explanation why?

 

[Gudi]

Any particular explanation why?

Are you kidding? You own a very recent, maximally upgraded, identically looking Mini, which you only use for light photo/video editing. Come back in 5 years!

 

[DaveP]

Are you kidding? You own a very recent, maximally upgraded, identically looking Mini, which you only use for light photo/video editing. Come back in 5 years!

No, not kidding and your reply doesn't seem particularly helpful. I'm not the OP, but your rationalization appears to be that the OP's current computer works well for his desired usage. This is true. However, the M1 mini might work better.

Though if one of the main reasons to not upgrade is that the M1 is "identically looking", I'm skeptical of your opinions.

 

[mr_jomo]

I'd use the Air for a while and determine if my entire workflow was supported and fully functional. For the W10 needs use the Parallels release with support for Windows on Arm and see if the 32 bits apps worked OK emulated.

If no, well that's the answer you need.
if yes, your investigations will probably have keept you occupied past or close to WWDC and new macs would have been revealed clearing the decision fog even further ?.

Edit: yes bluetooth does work - I've had zero issues so far, but mileage has varied for other owners.

 

[Media Pimp]

I actually bought an M1 mini to replace my 2018 i7 Mini w/ 32GB Ram and a Vega 56 eGPU setup. haven't looked back since. The lack of (loud as hell) fan noise and heat output alone has been a game changer for me.

 

[xraydoc]

Maybe I could just sell the GPU and wait for the new M1X Mini?

There's no guarantee such a machine will exist. In fact, I'd wager that the Mac mini will hang around on the M1 for a while.

Other than the eGPU, the M1 should be faster or at least equal for most things as compared to your current machine. What you'll lose giving up the eGPU depends on the software you use.

I can tell you for general benchmarks, my M1 MacBook Air is virtually equivalent to my PC running an 8-core Core i7-9700K at an overclocked 4.6GHz. Just the heaksink on this thing weighs nearly as much as the MacBook Air in its entirety!

 

[alien3dx]

noooo. m1 not pure perfect. i still typing in mac2017 base

 

[George Dawes]

From what I’ve read the m1 Mac mini is an amazing bit of tech plus it runs nice and cool and quiet

I had two minis Seize up due to heat issues , the m1 seems to have solved that issue

 

[szczottie]

Thanks for the replies.



Does Bluetooth work?
I would like to use my Magic Keyboard 2 / Trackpad 2 / MX Master 3

I don't have any issues with BT but I only use it with Beats Solo Pro and AirPords 2, for mouse and keybord I use logitech unifying receiver (MX Keys and MX Master 3).

 

[Spindel]

From what I’ve read the m1 Mac mini is an amazing bit of tech plus it runs nice and cool and quiet

I had two minis Seize up due to heat issues , the m1 seems to have solved that issue

Mehh stupid OneDrive sync is making my M1 Minis CPU temp run amok

Just look at this!

 

[George Dawes]

I would also avoid the fusion drive at all costs.

SSD is so much more reliable

 

[jinnyman]

Unless you have to run a windows virtual machine, m1 is better.
I'm the one who switched from intel mac mini with egpu (razer core). I'm not running VM on mini as I do have a pc and imac intel that can run vm, but the experience you get from m1 surpasses cumbersome setup of intel mac mini + egpu. The reduced heat and noise alone makes up for it, but you better get 16 gig version as I regret getting 8 gig.

 

[sirHydra]

I’m also thinking about the new iMac 16GB/512GB.

I work a lot with text, and I like the retina monitor of my MacBook.
How much should I pay for an equivalent external monitor?

I'd use the Air for a while and determine if my entire workflow was supported and fully functional. For the W10 needs use the Parallels release with support for Windows on Arm and see if the 32 bits apps worked OK emulated.

If no, well that's the answer you need.
if yes, your investigations will probably have keept you occupied past or close to WWDC and new macs would have been revealed clearing the decision fog even further ?.

Edit: yes bluetooth does work - I've had zero issues so far, but mileage has varied for other owners.

This is a good advice.
Anyway I should buy a Thunderbolt dock, which costs 1/4 of the Mini.

 

[xraydoc]

I work a lot with text, and I like the retina monitor of my MacBook.
How much should I pay for an equivalent external monitor?

Unless you're doing color-accurate photo or video editing, almost any 4K monitor with an IPS panel will suffice. My personal recommendation is that for text, avoid low-end TN and VA panels.

27" 4K running at HiDPI 2560x1440 mode will give you extremely sharp text.*
32" 4K running at HiDPI 3008x1692 mode will give you more space but with slightly less sharpness at nearly the same character size as 2560x1440 at 27" (but still pretty damn good; with my 51-year-old eyes, it looks essentially the same as my MBA's display).

*Technically, 4K at HiDPI 1920x1080 will give you the sharpest text, but on a 27" display, all the text and UI elements look kinda comically big.

 

[Gudi]

Though if one of the main reasons to not upgrade is that the M1 is "identically looking", I'm skeptical of your opinions.

It looks the same, because it is exactly the same computer. The only difference is the processor and a 2018 6-core i7 supported by an eGPU isn’t exactly slow either.

 

[sirHydra]

Not an easy choice, I have too many options:
- I could buy the M1 iMac and keep the old Mini for VMs, Plex server, Time Machine server, and so on. Maybe controlling it from the iMac, moving heat and noise away;
- I could buy the new M1 Mini and keep the old Mini;
- I could buy a TB dock and test everything with the M1 Air + the old external monitor.

For the moment, I’m tempted to sell the GPU and wait if I can

Unless you're doing color-accurate photo or video editing, almost any 4K monitor with an IPS panel will suffice. My personal recommendation is that for text, avoid low-end TN and VA panels.

27" 4K running at HiDPI 2560x1440 mode will give you extremely text.*
32" 4K running at HiDPI 3008x1692 mode will give you more space but with slightly less sharpness at nearly the same character size as 2560x1440 at 27" (but still pretty damn good; with my 51-year-old eyes, it looks essentially the same as my MBA's display).

*Technically, 4K at HiDPI 1920x1080 will give you the sharpest text, but on a 27" display, all the text and UI elements look kinda comically big.

This is why on my LG 43UD79 I have a lot of room but no sharpness at all. It is too big for that.
And if I am right, the iMac 24” 4.5K is super-sharp. Even more than a 27" or a 32" 4K.

I should use both to have the best of the 2 worlds ??

 

[xraydoc]

Not an easy choice, I have too many options:
- I could buy the M1 iMac and keep the old Mini for VMs, Plex server, Time Machine server, and so on. Maybe controlling it from the iMac, moving heat and noise away;
- I could buy the new M1 Mini and keep the old Mini;
- I could buy a TB dock and test everything with the M1 Air + the old external monitor.

For the moment, I’m tempted to sell the GPU and wait if I can

If you need Intel-based VMs, keep the Intel mini, put it in a closet and Remote Desktop to it from your shiny new M1 iMac when you need something Intel. Over gigabit ethernet, it’s almost as fast as using the machine directly.

 

[- rob -]

I actually bought an M1 mini to replace my 2018 i7 Mini w/ 32GB Ram and a Vega 56 eGPU setup. haven't looked back since. The lack of (loud as hell) fan noise and heat output alone has been a game changer for me.

I have a maxed out 2018 i7 Mini w/ 64GB Ram and the Blackmagic RX580 eGPU setup.

I have looked on the M1 with interest, but did not upgrade because my setup is pretty fast and I wanted to give Apple a generation to prove stability and work out kinks.

There's no guarantee such a machine will exist. In fact, I'd wager that the Mac mini will hang around on the M1 for a while.

The data leaked from the Quanta Computer hack includes references to J374 and J375 models that are believed to be Mac Minis with a next gen chip.

Unless urgent, OP should wait at least until WWDC (5 weeks) to see what is announced.

 

[sirHydra]

If you need Intel-based VMs, keep the Intel mini, put it in a closet and Remote Desktop to it from your shiny new M1 iMac when you need something Intel. Over gigabit ethernet, it’s almost as fast as using the machine directly.

Now I know the future of my Mac Mini. Thanks!

The data leaked from the Quanta Computer hack includes references to J374 and J375 models that are believed to be Mac Minis with a next gen chip.

Unless urgent, OP should wait at least until WWDC (5 weeks) to see what is announced.

I can resist 5 weeks...I hope

 

[minvoyager]

I have an M1 Mac Mini with 16GB RAM.

On the plus side, the M1 Mini is the zippiest computer I've used for general computing, and it is superb for using apps that maximimize the CPU, and for processes where the M1 contains a dedicated processessing facility such as handling H.264 and H.265 video footage.

On the minus side, I find that the M1 Mac Mini even with 16GB RAM grinds to a virtual standstill for things that ideally require a top end GPU such as a Nvidia 3080, e.g. extremely complex motion graphics.

When the M1X or M2 processors come out, I aim to upgrade.