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07-01-2020, 05:44 AM
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#1
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Human being with feelings
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 5,247
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Apple Macmini 2018: Wise ?
Dear Reapers,
I am in the need of a new mac, my macbook 2015 can't keep anymore, especially this coming summer where temps will go high and macbook will soon throttle, also with not that heavy projects, leading to unworkable.
For best bang for buck, and a better cooled mac, I am thinking of a macmini 2018, I7 3.6 Ghz, 64 gig RAM, 1 TB SSD. 1 Dell monitor attached to it via USB-C to display port (no scaling).
I will also run other DAW's besides Reaper, which are more heavy on their GUI, like Nuendo 10.
Did i do my homework well or would you advise else ?
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07-01-2020, 08:33 AM
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#2
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Human being with feelings
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Belgium
Posts: 5,246
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A friend bought a 2013 Mac Pro for the same price as a new Mini. He seems very happy with it. It came with dual upgraded GPUs. And since he's running two big screens he thinks that setup is way faster than a Mini.
It feels faster than a current MB Pro in any case.
__________________
In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.
George Orwell
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07-01-2020, 10:15 AM
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#3
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Human being with feelings
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 2,872
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I am wondering.. aren’t newer generation processors always outperforming older ones (even when the older ones have slightly higher specs), specially when using more recent OS?
While I don’t have the budget right now I am also going crazy with my 2015 MB inefficient cooling and speculating about the best future purchase.
While I know MB is worst and Mac(pro) best, between IMac and MacMini which one has more efficient cooling (lower heat emission, lower fan noise and higher performance at spec parity)?
Also not sure about Imac vs Imac Pro, the non-pro edition can be specced higher than the pro base mode and yet costs less..
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07-01-2020, 11:36 AM
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#4
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Human being with feelings
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 5,247
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Good questions, would like to know the (correct) answers to those also !
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07-01-2020, 02:35 PM
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#5
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Human being with feelings
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Sweden.
Posts: 1,610
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Phazma
I am wondering.. aren’t newer generation processors always outperforming older ones (even when the older ones have slightly higher specs), specially when using more recent OS?
While I don’t have the budget right now I am also going crazy with my 2015 MB inefficient cooling and speculating about the best future purchase.
While I know MB is worst and Mac(pro) best, between IMac and MacMini which one has more efficient cooling (lower heat emission, lower fan noise and higher performance at spec parity)?
Also not sure about Imac vs Imac Pro, the non-pro edition can be specced higher than the pro base mode and yet costs less..
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Usually newer generations perform better but it’s not that simple. You can’t just look at the CPU as many other factors come into play as well. A 250 bhp BMW will probably smoke any 250 bhp Volvo with a margin any day of the week. Because it has better transmission for one thing. A laptop might have a high spec CPU but still be outperformed by older lower specced desktops for instance. There are all kinds of bottlenecks that come into play from power supply to cooling and everything in between.
Checking a benchmarking database like geekbench can be great to help you decide. Make sure you take single core vs multi core performance into account as well as what you’ll be using it for. I had a very nice MBP i7 work computer that was amazing for most stuff but when I tried to run Photoshop, Illustrator and Sketch at the same time it just called quits. Turns out it was great at single core work but when faced with several memory hungry multi core applications it could not cope.
I believe the iMac wins out on cooling but I can’t say for certain. My old 2015 iMac was dead silent but when upgrading I picked a Mac mini because the iMac is a little long in the tooth by now and although an amazing computer I just did not want to spend all that extra cash. If I’m gonna shell out north of 3 grand on a computer it needs to come with fake tits and an attitude. If and when Apple refreshes the iMac line I will surely be in trouble though.
__________________
REAPER was made for you and me
Last edited by Sibben; 07-01-2020 at 02:50 PM.
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07-01-2020, 06:31 PM
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#6
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Human being with feelings
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Belgium
Posts: 5,246
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Why do you think Apple is turning to ARM processors?
Yeah, money too. But the biggest problem is Intel, just like IBM before, couldn't make their performance per Watt promises come true.
What counts most for audio, is clock speed. Number of cores isn't as important. More than four cores is almost wasted on audio. Unless you're composing for film or stuff like that.
So, yes, a quadcore Mini will do fine. It's still Apple's "Best Buy", atm, since you can replace/expand ram yourself.
I expect the new ARM machines to be very much "SOIC" (System-on-a-chip). Nothing to change or repair. I just hope that will also result in lower prices. Wouldn't advise anyone to wait for these ARM machines, though, as it will be a while before all the devs have adjusted the software. Especially plugins. Reaper's already there
__________________
In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.
George Orwell
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07-02-2020, 12:48 AM
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#7
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Human being with feelings
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 30
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If you need a new machine now, might as well get one. Waiting for the ARM Mac is pointless, as you've still got a year or two once it comes out before everyone else jumps on board, IF they do.
Just got my new i7 w/16gb about a week and a half ago to replace my six core 2010 Mac Pro and its great. CPU power wise, it's running about the same as the Pro was in Logic (haven't done anything in Reaper yet), but it's quicker to do everything if that makes sense. The faster FSB and SSD really make it snappy as hell. I figure with this machine, Ive got a good 6-8 years if I need it, everything with Apple will be sorted out by then haha.
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07-01-2020, 02:08 PM
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#8
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Human being with feelings
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Sweden.
Posts: 1,610
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nT
Quote:
Originally Posted by vanhaze
For best bang for buck, and a better cooled mac, I am thinking of a macmini 2018, I7 3.6 Ghz, 64 gig RAM, 1 TB SSD. 1 Dell monitor attached to it via USB-C to display port (no scaling).
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I have that exact setup except for the storage. I got a pre-owned 2018 with a 256 SSD and 8GB RAM for a really good price and then I put 32 GB of memory in it myself and hooked up a 1TB external SSD. Saved me quite some cash. I’m running it with a 4K screen via HDMI.
I’ve just had it a couple of weeks but so far it has performed flawlessly. It gets warm to the touch but is very quiet until the fan goes on (which it seems to do only when the turbo kicks in). Since I got an app that disables the turbo function I have not had the fans go on once and it stays dead silent. I reckoned I’ll re-engage the turbo when needed but that has never happened; it chugs on nicely without it. Even with the fans on it was not annoyingly loud though but of course you can’t really record close to it.
Tried it with Cubase but mostly with REAPER, both without issues. I have not taxed it super hard yet but I always run a bunch of instances of Kontakt, a number of plugins and an outboard drum machine and it does not break a sweat. Can’t say for certain it’s the proper setup for you but I’m very happy with mine.
__________________
REAPER was made for you and me
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07-01-2020, 02:25 PM
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#9
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Human being with feelings
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 5,247
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Sibben, many thanks, very good info, sounds promising !
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07-05-2020, 10:48 AM
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#10
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Human being with feelings
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Heart of Europe
Posts: 148
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vanhaze
Dear Reapers,
I am in the need of a new mac, my macbook 2015 can't keep anymore, especially this coming summer where temps will go high and macbook will soon throttle, also with not that heavy projects, leading to unworkable.
For best bang for buck, and a better cooled mac, I am thinking of a macmini 2018, I7 3.6 Ghz, 64 gig RAM, 1 TB SSD. 1 Dell monitor attached to it via USB-C to display port (no scaling).
I will also run other DAW's besides Reaper, which are more heavy on their GUI, like Nuendo 10.
Did i do my homework well or would you advise else ?
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that beast will handle anything,
also keep in mind you can buy 8GB RAM model and upgrade yourself, since the RAM is user upgradeable,
SSD is soldered though, so definitely go for at least 1TB,
also consider 10Gbit ethernet - added price cost for it is low and may prove futureproof,
btw great thing about 2018 Mac Mini is, you can actually install MacOS 10.14.6 Mojave there, since Catalina removed 32bit support
__________________
M1 MacMini (16GB, 2TB), RME ADI-2 DAC, Kali IN-8 + WS-12, DELL AW3418DW
M2 Max MacStudio (64GB, 4TB), Sonnet xMacStudio rack, RME HDSPe AIO, RME UFX III
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