Your Mac Mini Build/Order

[grandM]

Not going to pull the trigger until next year, as I've already got my toy budget used up, and my current 2012-era Mac mini quad core is going strong, maybe my favorite Mac ever.

But at some point, it'll be the i7, base RAM, and 512GB SSD.

-- I'm a developer, as a pro and as a hobbyist, so threads matter. Ordinarily I wouldn't throw down the extra US$200 to get a seven-percent boost in clock, but the i5 hexcore is six threads while the i7 is twelve threads. Plus maxing out the CPU is pretty central to future-proofing, and I'd want to hang onto this thing for a while.

-- Base RAM. It's interesting that Apple broke their own if-it-moves-solder-it-until-it-doesn't rule here, and I think that's a sign that they're doing a better job at getting their head around the headless desktop. Upgrading the memory later helps me spread out the cost of the machine. Soapbox below.

-- I've already started moving the more graphics-heavy development stuff to my unextravagant gaming tower with a GTX 1060 (and an Ubuntu partition on SSD), so integrated graphics on a mini is enough for now ... in the sense of, well, okay, I'll need to pick up a 4K monitor too. But the genius of the Mac mini is that if it blows smoke, I don't have to landfill a perfectly good monitor too just because it's been welded to the computer. At some later point, I may consider an eGPU, but I'm undecided on the wisdom of muscling up a Mac to the point where it's on par with another machine I already have, and I want to see how the eGPU thing shakes out in general. The nice thing is, I don't need to decide up front.

-- There's a speed difference between internal and external SSD, and since I'm presuming I won't have a chance to upgrade it (which as I understand it is one of the ramifications of having a T2 security) I'll bump it up a notch but not to the skies. If at some later point I need more, I can move some lesser-used things to a still-fast-just-not-quite-as-fast external SSD.

Soapbox:

I think Apple under Tim Cook went badly awry on the headless desktop, followed their own dreams without regard to the pro market, emitted a row of platypuses with tap shoes where Macs used to be, got spanked, and went back to the drawing board. True with the Mac Pro, but also true with the Mac mini. They didn't know what people used the mini for, and read their own press about how it's only an intro/switcher machine, and killed the quad core. Bringing it back is a tacit admission that, whooops!, we misread the market in 2014 and did a dumb thing, and then nattered in confusion for a couple years, and then realized we'd better bring back the essential mini now that we understand it. And their having put a couple of USB-A ports on it is a nice concession to actual reality, which is that we're not all worshiping at the Church of the One True Port, and that USB-A will be the standard for keyboards and mice and lots of other peripherals for a long time to come.

Having said that, by moving the mini up the performance spectrum, they've made me happy at the expense (literally) of those looking for the rilly-low-cost switcher machine. They still haven't worked out that the mini is two machines -- the workhorse I waited for, and the entry machine they used to make. I can't even argue that the iPhone is now their entry machine, as clobbered the low end on that one too when they killed the SE.

Have the mini late 2012 here too. I bought a 1 Tb SSD but haven't installed it yet. I wonder what the performance impact is compared with the late 2012. Also curious how long apple will support the 2012. Feel like buying the new one though.

 

[Spankey]

initially ordered i5, 512, 16gb. Not sure I needed the i7 so RAM seemed like a wash. Thinking maybe to go with i7 and start with initial 8gb.

 

[dyzfnctional]

initially ordered i5, 512, 16gb. Not sure I needed the i7 so RAM seemed like a wash. Thinking maybe to go with i7 and start with initial 8gb.

same here initially i7 but thought about it and prob wont need hyper-threading. also did the apple gives back program for my late 2014 mac mini, they're giving back $155... not bad, better than nothing.

 

[Spankey]

Ok, canceled the i5.

3.2GHz 6‑core 8th‑generation Intel Core i7 (Turbo Boost up to 4.6GHz)
8GB 2666MHz DDR4
Intel UHD Graphics 630
512GB SSD storage

If I didn't use Bootcamp 256GB SSD would have been fine. I should be fine with the RAM and can decide on going 16GB or 32GB next week.

 

[HalfNelson]

I’ll be ordering it with the i7/1TB. Will look for 32GB RAM deals on Black Friday, along with an Akitio Node eGPU enclosure and a Radeon RX 580 8GB GPU.

Will be transitioning my current 2012 Mini with 2.6ghzQC to full time Plex server, and using the new machine as my primary computer and gaming machine.

 

[tubular]

Have the mini late 2012 here too. I bought a 1 Tb SSD but haven't installed it yet. I wonder what the performance impact is compared with the late 2012. Also curious how long apple will support the 2012. Feel like buying the new one though.

I’m currently running my mini from an external SSD via USB 2 — a temporary solution that ended up semi-permanent. The USB 2 channel gives the drive a little bit of a haircut on performance but I don’t notice it because of the truly vast improvement compared to the spinning hard drive it’s replacing.

 

[designergrey]

My last desktop lasted from 2011 until now and it was top level for the time so I thought I would do the same again. I am doing the 1TB just to make sure there is enough room for software and working files. I am a print designer so my files are sizable. I am doing two 6tb external drives (one for back up) and I would like to get the LG 34" 5K display LG 34WK95U.

 

[SuperMatt]

Ultra overkill -- for a Plex server???

I run a Plex server with over 1000 movies and it uses a 3rd gen i7 and it handles more than fine.
Hell, I used to run a Plex server off a Raspberry Pi at first.

I run a Plex server on a 2006 Mac Pro...

 

[Broken Hope]

I've ordered: i5/256 SSD/8GB Ram.

I've also ordered Crucial 16GB Ram kit on amazon.

If the ram is not user upgradable I will return both and order new build: i5/256 SSD/16GB Ram.

That's a single 16GB stick, you wanted the single rank kit, unless you plan on adding another 16GB stick later.

 

[oldtime]

I can't believe RAM is still so pricey. We really had it good a while ago. I think I'll wait til Black Friday and try to snag a 16GB stick for around $99.

 

[thisismyusername]

pulled the trigger..
i5/16gb ram/1tb ssd= $1899
one expensive plex server lol

Damn right that's an expensive plex server. I built my server for about the same price a few years ago and it has a Xeon processor, ECC RAM, supermicro motherboard, and 24TB of storage. You can build a cheap plex server for only a few hundred bucks, not counting storage for the actual media, if you're willing to run Linux.

 

[ElectronGuru]

I’m currently running my mini from an external SSD via USB 2 — a temporary solution that ended up semi-permanent. The USB 2 channel gives the drive a little bit of a haircut on performance but I don’t notice it because of the truly vast improvement compared to the spinning hard drive it’s replacing.

Repack that same SSD into something like this and wonder how you used to breath

 

[StellarVixen]

Repack that same SSD into something like this and wonder how you used to breath

USB 3.1 (not Thunderbolt) seems to be perfect for SATA SSDs. R/W speeds are just about right on that one.
[doublepost=1541031707][/doublepost]For us chasing the TB3 expansion option, something like this looks nice, and is among more affordable options:

https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/owc-envoy-pro-ex-thunderbolt-3

Edit: huge con - no detachable TB3 cable. If the cable breaks, it's all over. Still, 3 year warranty maybe can make up for that.

 

[ElectronGuru]

For us chasing TB3 expansion options

Good options already aplenty and the aftermarket is just barely getting started
Can't wait to see the mini shaped multiple bay breakout boxes!

 

[mpshah27]

Replacing my 2012 iMac 27” with this as my only Mac for the household and a dedicated Plex Media Server. It is an overkill but I’m sure it’s future proof for another 4-6 years.

 

[Sun Baked]

I gave in, I ordered a i7/512 SSD/16GB RAM for store pickup.

Guess I will get in line now, and see what the teardown and week of benchmarks show for the machine before I have to pick it up or change my mind.

 

[jameschho]

Ultra overkill -- for a Plex server???

I run a Plex server with over 1000 movies and it uses a 3rd gen i7 and it handles more than fine.
Hell, I used to run a Plex server off a Raspberry Pi at first.

pulled the trigger..
i5/16gb ram/1tb ssd= $1899
one expensive plex server lol

Also did the apple gives back program, sending back my late 2014 mac mini. They are giving back $155. better than nothing.

Um, don't waste your money on a Mac to run a Plex Server. I do that as a VM on a Sandy Bride i7 PC running ESXi, it does 4x 1080p transcodes while still running a few smaller VMs. I'm about to add a NVidia P2000 for GPU transcode.

In fact, you can buy pretty much any cheap used PC w/ a PCIE 3.0 slot, slap in the $400 GPU and be doing multiple 4K transcodes without breaking a sweat. This whole setup will cost you less than even the base price of a Mac Mini. You would have plenty of cash left over for a NVidia Shield as the Plex client and more gigantic hard drives for media storage.

 

[kevink2]

I ordered the 256GB i5 mini with 16GB. I also went ahead and ordered a 2TB SSD SATA drive and external USB-C 3.1 enclosure (10gb). I checked my old home directory, which was about 870GB (currently in a VM, will transfer to the Mini). To fit it all in internal storage would have required the quite expensive 2TB model (if I wanted spare storage) or the still expensive 1TB model.

Now, I'm wondering whether I should have just gone with the 128GB model with i7. Same price, and would have still had plenty of storage for OS/apps.

I will stop questioning my decision

If I wanted to question anything, it is ordering it on announcement day, and not waiting until third party resellers offered it. I don't know how long that would delay things, since I assume Apple would prioritize their store at launch, but that could have saved me on the sales tax. Unless, of course, I am too honest and just pay the "use tax" when paying state income tax next year

 

[jameschho]

I ordered on the day of the announcement. I'm so pumped for a mac with 10Gbe, I've got one more open SFP+ port on my home switch. I also ordered a 36GB ram kit from Crucial.

 

[kaibob]

My Mac mini order:

I-5 processor
16GB memory
256GB SSD

$1,299

For external storage a 500GB Samsung T5 SSD from Amazon. $107

Delivery is November 14 - 15.

 

[killawat]

• 3.2GHz 6‑core 8th‑generation Intel Core i7 (Turbo Boost up to 4.6GHz)
• 8GB 2666MHz DDR4
• Intel UHD Graphics 630
• 512GB SSD storage
• 10 Gigabit Ethernet (Nbase-T Ethernet with support for 1Gb, 2.5Gb, 5Gb, and 10Gb Ethernet using RJ‑45 connector)
• Accessory Kit

$1,499.00 w/ student discount and no tax, then +$300 for some sweet 32 GB RAM.

 

[Scarpad]

Damn right that's an expensive plex server. I built my server for about the same price a few years ago and it has a Xeon processor, ECC RAM, supermicro motherboard, and 24TB of storage. You can build a cheap plex server for only a few hundred bucks, not counting storage for the actual media, if you're willing to run Linux.

how is it running the server on linux, i'm so used to it on a mac

 

[Neodym]

This is all dependent on iFixIt's tear down to confirm memory is upgradeable.

8gb (if RAM is really user upgradable, need to wait for confirmation)

https://www.macrumors.com/2018/10/31/apple-shares-october-event-video-on-youtube/

Fast forward to 28:55: Ram is S0Dimm, so it is upgradeable. Whether Apple officially approves the user doing that, is a different question.

 

[dombera]

That's a single 16GB stick, you wanted the single rank kit, unless you plan on adding another 16GB stick later.

Sorry, I've posted an incorrect link for some reason, I've ordered 2x 8GB sticks kit.

 

[killawat]

I ordered on the day of the announcement. I'm so pumped for a mac with 10Gbe, I've got one more open SFP+ port on my home switch. I also ordered a 36GB ram kit from Crucial.

What's your solution for connecting to SFP to ethernet? All the ethernet adapters I could find were like $300, it was cheaper for me to just buy a new switch.
[doublepost=1541193404][/doublepost]

Now, I'm wondering whether I should have just gone with the 128GB model with i7. Same price, and would have still had plenty of storage for OS/apps.

I wouldn't. I couldn't even get a few creative suite apps installed on that, they're growing by the day.