Apple Announces Major Update to Mac Mini with up to 6 Cores, 64GB RAM, and 10GBE.

G

Gary T

Well-known member
Apple just announced the new Mac Mini with 4 Thunderbolt 3 ports, up to 6 cores, 64 GB of RAM and 10GBE. This could be a screamer when outfitted with a proper eGPU and it will be interesting to see some benchmarks.

After having ignored the Mac for so long it's great to see Apple fully back in the game. This definitely stokes my interest for the next iMac and if the next standard model comes with an option for 10GBE and 6+ cores they'll get my money.

https://www.apple.com/mac-mini/
 
I wasn't too excited by any of their new offerings. They buried the most interesting development, adding an option for Radeon Pro Vega in the MacBook pro. Apple really needs to offer a configurable Mac Pro. There's a reason the Hackintosh community exists and they'd lure back a lot of people if they offered systems with user replaceable parts and room for expansion.
 
They have the research and information about everyone and it probably wasn't worth doing that (in today's world) for the "few" computers they would sell vs. the millions that people are going to buy anyway regardless of what they offer in them.

This Mini update is nice.
 
The Mac Pro is coming. Hold your horses.

In the meantime there is very little we can't do with the current offerings.

The new Mac mini is one hell of an option for a modular edit system. 6 cores, 3.2Ghz i7, 32GB ram, 128GB SSD (a desktop can add storage easily) is only $1,600. Add a eGPU and a pair of decent UHD monitors and you have a system that can likely beat the top iMac all configured to the users choice. Pick the GPU you want and the storage that works bets for you.

Internal storage for editing died a long time ago. The only reason we had internal storage for video in the past is because external connections were crap. TB3 has essentially eliminated the need to try to cram drives into a computer chassis.

I have not been this excited about a new Apple product in a long time. Well this excited about a computer I will not buy. I'm more about portability these days and the Mac mini ties me to a desk which is why I'm getting rid of the iMac as well.


Holding off for the updated MBP with the Vega 20 GPU next month.
 
NorBro said:
They have the research and information about everyone and it probably wasn't worth doing that (in today's world) for the "few" computers they would sell vs. the millions that people are going to buy anyway regardless of what they offer in them.

This Mini update is nice.
Click to expand...

I think it's throwing away money. They don't even have to stock them on shelves, just have a build on demand system you order through their website. It's not like a computer is an impulse buy. Once you've built your own system, buying an enclosed unit you can't service yourself feels wasteful. The mini is nice, and will be a doorstop in a couple years.
 
Thomas Smet said:
The Mac Pro is coming. Hold your horses.
Click to expand...

I've been hearing Apple fans say this since the minimal spec bump to the classic Mac Pro in 2012. So I waited. Then Apple came out with the trash can in 2013 and it was so disappointing in so many ways. I like machines that can be upgraded with current tech. So I juiced my 2010 MP with faster CPUs, GPUs, SSDs, and RAM. But no matter how juiced my MP was, it still couldn't handle a UHD monitor at 60Hz, not because of a limited GPU (my GTX 980 could handle it), but because Apple decided that only the trash can could support such a monitor. Apple handicapped my system through OSX.

So a couple years go by, no new MP. Then three years. Then four. All the while, Apple is selling the now-out-dated MP at ridiculous prices. Finally, a year ago, Apple gives the trash can a minimal spec bump, and they tease us with a supposed re-vamp of the MP to be more "modular". In Apple language that means you MIGHT be able to upgrade the RAM or HD. But we'll see about that. And always, it's "right around the corner" so "just wait".

Some of us have given up waiting. Those horses you mention, they died in their reins. They were held too long and they choked to death.

But on a brighter note, I think the new iPhones and iPads look great. And they should, considering that's where Apple's been placing their attention.

I don't mean to be down on Apple. I think they make great products for creative professionals who need minimal/moderate tech. I just pine for the time long ago when they paid more attention to professional video creators who need current tech.
 
Glad I just updated my dying 2012 iMac with a new top of the line non Pro iMac. It's working great for what I need it to do so far. Thought they were showing new iMacs, guess not?
 
Massively overpriced as always with Apple. I'll start a new thread soon where will show how Apple is literally scamming us for biggest possible profit. We really shouldn't support a company that behaves this way. They basically do everything to machines breaking beyond repair in a short period after warranty.
 
So are cameras and clothes and food...it's just like any other industry that's at the top with monopolistic qualities.

They don't care about you (us) if you don't have the money (or don't want to spend the money) to buy their computer until everyone doesn't have the money to buy their computers.
 
I still have a 2012 MacBook Pro Retina. In the six years I've had it, Apple has repaired it three times. Twice to replace the top panel and once to replace the retina screen.

Total repair costs to me over that period was $312.00.

I didn't even have AppleCare past the one year warranty. That's pretty good customer service I believe.

I also was received a new iPhone X last year to replace my iPhone 8+ when it malfunctioned under warranty.

Apple wouldn't do as well as it does if it didn't have good customer service. At least that has been my experience.

The company does exact a huge profit on RAM upgrades, however.

My thought always has been that if you don't like a company's sale or customer service practices, don't buy its products.

Apparently, a lot of people world wide like Apple's.
 
I have more PCs than Macs and for me Apple wins hands down in reliability and support. While I have five newer Macs, I'm typing this one of the two 2011 iMacs I own that serves as my primary personal computer. I haven't used this system for as an editorial workstation for some time but I did recently try to cut some 4K ProRes RAW footage and was pleasantly surprised at how well it performed. I think it will still be in use several years from now.

I was also able to get an out of warranty repair done to my MacBook Pro for only $300 with Apple replacing the logic board and display. My experiences at the genius bar also been great with Apple providing free diagnostics and software support on out of warranty Macs. I love that I can do a clean install on my Macs to the latest supported version of MacOS over the internet without any license keys to worry about.
 
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alohype said:
Massively overpriced as always with Apple. I'll start a new thread soon where will show how Apple is literally scamming us for biggest possible profit. We really shouldn't support a company that behaves this way. They basically do everything to machines breaking beyond repair in a short period after warranty.
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Oh please don't. That tired horse has been beat to death hundreds of times. You need to get over it. Apple is not hurting you by providing computers at a certain price point. Stop getting so upset about a product that people like to buy. Just because you don't find the value in it doesn't mean others do not. It is no different than any other product like cars or clothing. Sometimes people pay more for a certain value. Mac users value user experience and overall product satisfaction over measurbating of specs and penny pinching a few bucks. The cost of a computer means so little to myself and others.

For once can there be a discussion about a new Mac computer without some bitter hate filled person randomly selecting a worn out talking point about overpriced Macs? This is getting ab it old now.
 
alohype said:
Massively overpriced as always with Apple. I'll start a new thread soon where will show how Apple is literally scamming us for biggest possible profit. We really shouldn't support a company that behaves this way. They basically do everything to machines breaking beyond repair in a short period after warranty.
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I'll take an "overpriced" Mac any day of the week if "breaking beyond repair in a short period after warranty" means six years and counting like on my current 2012 RMBP or my 2009 17" MBP that has been sitting in my office unplugged for several years and that I plugged up and charged a few weeks ago to let a friend borrow for a trip and it fired up as soon as I lifted the screen. Yeah, totally overpriced junk. How dare they make computers that last almost a decade or more. Should we do the math and see what it costs for a Mac that's pushing these ages?
 
I don’t think I’ve ever had a Mac “break beyond repair” in the decades I’ve been using Mac hardware.
 
Jim Feeley said:
PureDan, how'd you spec your iMac? And you feel the GPU's enough for what you want to do? Have you considered an external GPU, like the ones from Blackmagic and Sonnet?
https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/blackmagicegpu/

(also note Blackmagic's newer Pro model with Radeon RX Vega 56 GPU)

My feeling is I'll pass on those, but interesting... Any thoughts?
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I ordered the 4.2GHz i7, it only comes with the Radeon 580 and I maxed the RAM at 64GB and it has the 2TB Fusion drive. My old 2012 iMac had the 1TB Fusion drive and I was very happy with it. I reviewed the BMD e-GPU, the original with the 580, we tried it on my friends $7k 15" MBP and saw VERY little difference in improvements, it really only does something if you have the 13" MBP with the weaker GPUs. I believe the new e-GPU Pro just came out, I didn't even know it was out until today. Sounds interesting but for now, this iMac is doing okay with 4K, I am editing a project this week on it. We always want/need faster rendering but so far, for the money, this was a good value. Apple gave me $500.00 trade in on my old 2012 iMac and this was only $2,500.00 + $619.00 for the 64GB of RAM from OWC so my net was not too high (remember, I am cheap!) I just couldn't justify an iMac Pro and I am actually glad that they didn't introduce the new 6 core iMacs, that makes mine not outdated for a little while longer.

The new Mac Mini w e-GPU Pro sounds interesting but that's a lot of cables and clutter and a non Apple display. I prefer the iMac form factor, my desk has a Mackie mixer, Genelec monitors, RAIDs, I think the clutter of that setup would be bad for me.
 
Run&Gun said:
I'll take an "overpriced" Mac any day of the week if "breaking beyond repair in a short period after warranty" means six years and counting like on my current 2012 RMBP or my 2009 17" MBP that has been sitting in my office unplugged for several years and that I plugged up and charged a few weeks ago to let a friend borrow for a trip and it fired up as soon as I lifted the screen. Yeah, totally overpriced junk. How dare they make computers that last almost a decade or more. Should we do the math and see what it costs for a Mac that's pushing these ages?
Click to expand...

My 15" MBP from 2012 is at year 7 almost and still doing just fine. My friends make fun of it but I only use it for meetings, travel, media management, not editing so it's fine. Just with it had USB 3.0 ports, that's the only thing that makes downloading Cinema RAW Light a nuisance. Macs do generally last longer and are generally built better than PCs. But that's not why I buy them, I buy them because of the OS, I can't stand ANY form of Windows, it's so, so bad. I've been tempted to build a Hackintosh, it would be fun but I am too busy for such hobbies.
 
puredrifting said:
I ordered the 4.2GHz i7, it only comes with the Radeon 580 and I maxed the RAM at 64GB and it has the 2TB Fusion drive. My old 2012 iMac had the 1TB Fusion drive and I was very happy with it. I reviewed the BMD e-GPU, the original with the 580, we tried it on my friends $7k 15" MBP and saw VERY little difference in improvements, it really only does something if you have the 13" MBP with the weaker GPUs. I believe the new e-GPU Pro just came out, I didn't even know it was out until today. Sounds interesting but for now, this iMac is doing okay with 4K, I am editing a project this week on it. We always want/need faster rendering but so far, for the money, this was a good value. Apple gave me $500.00 trade in on my old 2012 iMac and this was only $2,500.00 + $619.00 for the 64GB of RAM from OWC so my net was not too high (remember, I am cheap!) I just couldn't justify an iMac Pro and I am actually glad that they didn't introduce the new 6 core iMacs, that makes mine not outdated for a little while longer.

The new Mac Mini w e-GPU Pro sounds interesting but that's a lot of cables and clutter and a non Apple display. I prefer the iMac form factor, my desk has a Mackie mixer, Genelec monitors, RAIDs, I think the clutter of that setup would be bad for me.
Click to expand...

The iMac and eGPU is in a really weird position right now. Most of the eGPU options and the ones people build are centered around the Rx580 which is the same GPU in the top iMac. No matter how awesome TB3 is a rx580 is a rx580. The iMac really needs a Vega GPU to see any advantage over the internal rx580. That is until Apple opens up multiple GPUs in the pro apps. Then one could add a rx580 to a iMac and use both of the 580’s. It takes a really beefy and overpriced GPU right now to make eGPU make sense on the iMac.

The weaker the Mac the more benefit the eGPU provides. It’s not really any different than buying a PC desktop and deciding if one should buy a new graphics card. For example if I buy a Dell desktop that comes with a rx580 then there is little point buying another rx580 to replace that. That’s essentially what the eGPU is doing. When PC users buy a computer with a gtx1070 do they rush out and buy a gtx1080 right away? Those with a gtx1050 or worse are more likely to buy a gtx1080 to upgrade. Same exact concept should/will apply to eGPU as well.

Unless one has a consumer grade Mac they should really consider moving up to at least a Vega GPU to see any benefit.

The real raw potential of eGPU is being able to use multiple eGPUs in the future or append the processing of the eGPU to the internal GPU. Resolve can already make use of multiple GPUs and there have been tests with the iMac Pro Vega 64 and adding two eGPUs with Vega 64 for 3 Vega 64’s working together. Despite the limited bandwidth they still provide a clear processing advantage. That’s the true power of eGPU.
 
Thomas Smet said:
The iMac and eGPU is in a really weird position right now. Most of the eGPU options and the ones people build are centered around the Rx580 which is the same GPU in the top iMac. No matter how awesome TB3 is a rx580 is a rx580. The iMac really needs a Vega GPU to see any advantage over the internal rx580. That is until Apple opens up multiple GPUs in the pro apps. Then one could add a rx580 to a iMac and use both of the 580’s. It takes a really beefy and overpriced GPU right now to make eGPU make sense on the iMac.
Click to expand...

There's now a Blackmagic eGPU Pro with an RX Vega 56 in it. https://www.apple.com/shop/product/HMQT2VC/A/blackmagic-egpu-pro
 
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