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Mac Mini Upgraded
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johnbandry
Senior Member
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Peter in Milton
Forum Enthusiast
So the Mac Mini goes from under performer to over achiever! You can't even buy one with less than 4 cores, a high speed SSD, and discrete graphics. As expected, the SD reader has been lost in the shuffle, but I don't count that as a big loss as we now have 4 TB3 ports and 2 USB ports, as well as HDMI. I expect that this will be a very successful machine. One will probably belong to me before long.
joger
Veteran Member
just ordered the iPad PRO 11" with 1 TB ;-)
lightandaprayer
Veteran Member
My main complaint is Apple sticking with an unrealistic amount of memory and storage for the base model, then charging an arm and a leg to upgrade them.
The $799 base model 3.6 GHz quad-core Mac Mini has only 8GB RAM and a 128GB SSD. Due to its lack of dedicated graphics memory or eDRAM cache, the Intel UHD 630 has to access the main memory. (I don't know the max RAM the GPU can utilize.) So add $200 to upgrade to 16GB RAM.
From what I have read on this forum, hardly anyone is going to be satisfied with a 128GB SSD. I make do with a 256GB SSD but there is no way I can get by with 128GB, so there is another $200 to get a 256GB SSD.
The Mac Mini costs $1199 for a realistic "base model."
Many people will want at least 512GB SSD, which is an additional $400. A Mac Mini with a 512GB SSD and 16GB RAM costs $1399. 32Gb RAM costs a whopping $600.
A 3.6 GHz Mac Mini with a 512GB SSD and 32GB RAM: $1799.
The 3.0 GHz 6-core Mac Mini is $1099. 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD. So the CPU upgrade costs $100. It's arguably a better deal but the 6-core CPU isn't going to be a huge boost as the apps that can take advantage of the extra cores are few and far between at this point in time.
My 2012 2.3 GHz i7 4-core Mac Mini cost $799. 16GB RAM from Crucial was $80. Total cost: $879. I upgraded the 1TB drive to a 256GB SSD for around $100 after 4 years. My needs are relatively modest; I don't think that I represent the typical Mac user on the DPR forum.
The $799 base model 3.6 GHz quad-core Mac Mini has only 8GB RAM and a 128GB SSD. Due to its lack of dedicated graphics memory or eDRAM cache, the Intel UHD 630 has to access the main memory. (I don't know the max RAM the GPU can utilize.) So add $200 to upgrade to 16GB RAM.
From what I have read on this forum, hardly anyone is going to be satisfied with a 128GB SSD. I make do with a 256GB SSD but there is no way I can get by with 128GB, so there is another $200 to get a 256GB SSD.
The Mac Mini costs $1199 for a realistic "base model."
Many people will want at least 512GB SSD, which is an additional $400. A Mac Mini with a 512GB SSD and 16GB RAM costs $1399. 32Gb RAM costs a whopping $600.
A 3.6 GHz Mac Mini with a 512GB SSD and 32GB RAM: $1799.
The 3.0 GHz 6-core Mac Mini is $1099. 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD. So the CPU upgrade costs $100. It's arguably a better deal but the 6-core CPU isn't going to be a huge boost as the apps that can take advantage of the extra cores are few and far between at this point in time.
My 2012 2.3 GHz i7 4-core Mac Mini cost $799. 16GB RAM from Crucial was $80. Total cost: $879. I upgraded the 1TB drive to a 256GB SSD for around $100 after 4 years. My needs are relatively modest; I don't think that I represent the typical Mac user on the DPR forum.
W
wklee
Guest
The memory appears to be upgradeable after purchase. Apple has also given us 2 USB A ports in addition to the USB C ports.
Padsterman
Well-known member
This is a welcome update for the Mac Mini.
I was hoping for an upgrade to the iMac to replace my 2012 Macbook Pro and old iMac. I would need to load this to 3.6 GHz Mac Mini with a 512GB or 1TB SSD and 32GB or 64GB RAM then add another decent monitor. The port options are nice enough but I would opt for 10GB ethernet as I have a 10Gbe Qnap NAS. With the options I would want about $2,599.00. I may be better off getting an "old" 2017 iMac, actually probably an iMac Pro as I intended to do way more video now. OR, hope over to PC (joking!)
However the option for 10Gbe may mean the next iMac, whenever that will be, will have this option.
I intend to replace my Macbook Pro with an iPad Pro for location work and travel work.
I was hoping for an upgrade to the iMac to replace my 2012 Macbook Pro and old iMac. I would need to load this to 3.6 GHz Mac Mini with a 512GB or 1TB SSD and 32GB or 64GB RAM then add another decent monitor. The port options are nice enough but I would opt for 10GB ethernet as I have a 10Gbe Qnap NAS. With the options I would want about $2,599.00. I may be better off getting an "old" 2017 iMac, actually probably an iMac Pro as I intended to do way more video now. OR, hope over to PC (joking!)
However the option for 10Gbe may mean the next iMac, whenever that will be, will have this option.
I intend to replace my Macbook Pro with an iPad Pro for location work and travel work.
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johnbandry
Senior Member
What does it matter what the configuration of the entry-level machine dictated by marketing price points is?
You're really saying that the configuration you would want is too expensive.
Say you want:
You're really saying that the configuration you would want is too expensive.
Say you want:
- 3.0GHz 6‑core 8th‑generation Intel Core i5 (Turbo Boost up to 4.1GHz)
- 16GB 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)
riveredger
Senior Member
I didn't see any information about discrete graphics.
riveredger
Senior Member
johnbandry
Senior Member
There isn't one, probably because of space/heat concerns. You're probably supposed to use an eGPU if you want one.
strawbale
Senior Member
Will that UHD 630 be OK for 4k photo editing though?
I would have preferred the 28W mobile i5 with Iris plus 655 (with 128 MB eDRAM).
lightandaprayer
Veteran Member
John, have another cup of joe and read my comment again because you missed my point. . .
What I am really saying is that Apple configured a base-model Mac Mini with memory and storage that is insufficient for personal computing in 2018. And that Apple's prices for upgrades are exorbitant (but we already know that. . .)
Apple has done this for years with various Macs. . . While PC manufacturers were offering 8GB RAM, Apple continued to use 4GB even when the OS and the stock apps gobble up all of the wired RAM. Now that Macs use flash storage, Apple is pulling the same trick with the SSD. Apple could provide its loyal customers better value and barely make a dent in its healthy profit margin. Now that user upgrades of RAM and storage are a thing of the past, Apple charges a premium price for them. Some people harp on Leica for what it charges for an M model camera and lenses but Leica has nothing on Apple's prices for mass-produced computer components.
I have a suggestion for a new Apple motto: Greed Is Good!
So how about doing away with the bogus $799 computer and make an entry-level Mac Mini that reflects reality? That means 16GB RAM/256GB SSD for $1199. $999 would be a reasonable price but Hey, we are talking about Apple. . .
BTW, I'm not saying that the configuration that I want is too expensive. . . In fact, I think that it's pretty comparable to what I spent on my 2012 Mac Mini with upgrades, then add some $ for inflation and the faster hardware. Don't forget the $200 Apple Tax. The folks who want a 1TB SSD and 32GB+ RAM are the ones who are going to really pay through the nose for the privilege of sticking with Apple.
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tonybelding
Senior Member
I have no idea where UHD 630 fits in Intel's product hierarchy. All I know about Intel graphics are that they generally aren't considered adequate for anything but casual gaming — which makes sense for Apple, since apathy toward games is baked into their corporate culture.
If you want a real graphics card, you have to go for an EGPU. Then your sleek little Mac Mini will sit next to a box roughly six times its size that cost almost as much as it did. Oh, and the only graphics cards you can use are AMD, because Apple and Nvidia don't get along.
In just two more days (yes, on Nov 1) we'll finally get to see the new Thelio system from System76. I'm going to be watching that very closely. For a while now I've been giving a thorough try-out to a Linux-based system, and the results are… mostly good, though with a few hiccups and little sticking points. System76 will now be producing their own hardware (Thelio) and their own operating system (Pop!_OS), and they are aiming for a more Apple-like experience where everything Just Works.
Comparing Thelio with the Mac Mini could be what finally cements my move to Linux or my return to the Mac platform.
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riveredger
Senior Member
I actually thought he was making a joke. There is nothing overly exciting about integrated graphics.
johnbandry
Senior Member
I too would prefer Apple to have lower prices (and here in the UK that baseline Mini clocks in at £799, which is around USD1000). I don't think it's true that it's insufficient for personal computing. People on these forums have been insisting for ever that 8GB RAM is all you need. That 128GB SSD is going to have around 40GB free with the OS installed (maybe more, I'm just going on the numbers for my system and I don't know how much crud I have outside /users), which is plenty if you're not keeping lots of media files, and you can put those on relatively cheap external storage.
So yes, I agree it would be nice of Apple to offer a higher spec on the entry machine at the same price. What they do offer is not unusable though.
robgendreau
Forum Pro
Per ZDNet, RAM can be added after purchase:
Loading…
www.zdnet.com
We'll see what that means in practice.
Meanwhile, you could build a similar hackintosh of slightly bigger size, with 16GB Ram, 250GB SSD, i5 skylake for <$700US. https://www.4kshooters.net/2017/02/...capable-of-running-two-4k-monitors-at-a-time/
I do wish the RAM was easier to upgrade, but not so annoyed by storage, since you'll have to add that anyway.
strawbale
Senior Member
Agreed, but Iris Plus 655 would still be better than UHD 630, no?
strawbale
Senior Member
Does UHD 630 support 10-bit color?
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