i3 Processors?

[bayswater]

I was interested in the Apple announcements yesterday, hoping for an update to the Mini. There was an update, and on the surface it looks promising, but in the details, I saw that although RAM is now better than 16G, it has an i3 processor. An i3? Isn't that what goes in the $99 discount store laptops? Is this going to be suitable for DP, Logic, etc with loads of plugins?

[HCMarkus]

I was interested in the Apple announcements yesterday, hoping for an update to the Mini. There was an update, and on the surface it looks promising, but in the details, I saw that although RAM is now better than 16G, it has an i3 processor. An i3? Isn't that what goes in the $99 discount store laptops? Is this going to be suitable for DP, Logic, etc with loads of plugins?

You can get an i5 or i7 hex via upgrade.

The winning cost-effective combo looks to be:

i7 hex
Minimal RAM (RAM is user upgradeable - sell the 8GB it comes with and install aftermarket 16 or 32 GB)
Just enough SSD for OS and Apps,
An external USB3 SSD for projects and VI Samples.

The Apple internal SSD Cost is too high IMHO. If money is no object, sure, go for it, because it is not user-replaceable.

[bayswater]

I was interested in the Apple announcements yesterday, hoping for an update to the Mini. There was an update, and on the surface it looks promising, but in the details, I saw that although RAM is now better than 16G, it has an i3 processor. An i3? Isn't that what goes in the $99 discount store laptops? Is this going to be suitable for DP, Logic, etc with loads of plugins?

You can get an i5 or i7 hex via upgrade.

The winning cost-effective combo looks to be:

i7 hex
Minimal RAM (RAM is user upgradeable - sell the 8GB it comes with and install aftermarket 16 or 32 GB)
Just enough SSD for OS and Apps,
An external USB3 SSD for projects and VI Samples.

The Apple internal SSD Cost is too high IMHO. If money is no object, sure, go for it, because it is not user-replaceable.

Thanks. Yes, I looked elsewhere and saw other processors are available. And user upgradable RAM is great. I'd be happy with the minimal SSD with the array of high speed connections. I wonder if it is also user replaceable?

This could save me from jumping to the PC I found in small shop a block away. I'd almost given up on Apple. Black Friday is coming.

[mikehalloran]

I'd be happy with the minimal SSD with the array of high speed connections. I wonder if it is also user replaceable?

We’ll know in a week and a half or so when iFixIt gets one and does a tear down report.

My money says that it will have the same NVMe PCIe 3x4 blade found on the 2015-on MBP and 2017-on iMac.

If so, the 970 EVO 2T will slap in with a pin-out adapter, $6–$13 depending on where you buy it under what brand—all have the same part number. List on the 970 is $579 and I’ve seen it for $499 and free shipping.

Reading the Apple blurb, I can’t believe they’ll use anything else but will it be socketed or soldered? We’ll know soon enough.

[HCMarkus]

Pretty sure the 2018 Mini SSD is not user replaceable. The RAM clearly is.

Apple Store note on Mac Mini storage:

"Mac mini storage is not user accessible. If you think you may need more storage capacity in the future, consider upgrading at the time of purchase".

Apple doesn't provide such a warning for RAM.

But, as Mike says, we'll know for sure once the Fixit Folks gets their hands on one.

[bayswater]

Pretty sure the 2018 Mini SSD is not user replaceable. The RAM clearly is.

Apple Store note on Mac Mini storage:

"Mac mini storage is not user accessible. If you think you may need more storage capacity in the future, consider upgrading at the time of purchase".

Apple doesn't provide such a warning for RAM.

But, as Mike says, we'll know for sure once the Fixit Folks gets their hands on one.

I was looking for something like that note but didn't see it. It sounds pretty definite. When I set up a test partition with all my stuff except data, I use about 70G, so I guess I'd have to spring for 256 to make it work. With TB3 ports, I don't see why I'd need more than that.

[mikehalloran]

The iMac storage is also not user upgradable. Watch me.

In fact, the hot upgrade right now is the 2015 iMac. Like all 2013–2017 27” iMacs, it has two busses, PCIe and SATA.

The 2015 PCIe buss has an NVMe PCIe 2 blade in the SSD and Fusion models. The buss, however, is PCIe 3x4. Replacing that slower chip with the 970 EVO doubles the speed and turns it into a 2017 with TB 2 ports instead of TB 3. Double the speed and max capacity for $600 including labor? Yea... that works.

Then there’s the SATA buss. A 4T 860 EVO is $700–800, 2T now runs a little over $300 (many brands). Heat sensor required if replacing an HDD is $38.

6T storage upgrade for $1,400... If I can find a 2015 i7 at the right price, that’s the way I’m leaning.

Back OT. The new 6 core i7 Mini looks pretty good for DP. I do little video and no gaming so the onboard GPU isn’t an issue in that regards. Where it is an issue is that I cannot have three monitors if one is 5K. I need three — less is not an option. Three is possible only if 4K or less. If I add an eGPU and a 5K, I’m looking at iMac Pro prices — might as well go with that.

I don’t mind having my VIs in a USB dock but my boot drive needs to be 2T.

[cuttime]

$4,199 for a mac Mini. Give me a break:

https://www.macworld.com/article/331821 ... c-pro.html

[HCMarkus]

$4,199 for a mac Mini. Give me a break:

https://www.macworld.com/article/331821 ... c-pro.html

I'll give you a break... just buy one set up like I described a few posts back. Max performance, a LOT skinnier price!

PS: I have no intention of buying a Mini at any price. Very happy living in Cheesegraterland, with my supremely cost-effective 12-core 3.33, 48 gig RAM, SSD-stuffed DP-loving Mac Pro. I think I'll be using this until it dies, possibly expanded via VE Pro and a PC if it ever becomes necessary.

[HCMarkus]

The iMac storage is also not user upgradable. Watch me.

Like Michael Canavan (first MOTUNation Xeon de-lidder), you have already achieved MacHero status Mike. I have little doubt you will succeed with the Mini, as long as the T2 chip does not stymie your efforts!

[bayswater]

How important is the size of the SSD on this Mini when it has three TB3 and two USB3 ports? I can see it if you have a terabyte of apps that need to be on the startup drive. But how often does that happen? I have at most 100G of stuff that wants to be on the startup. Aren't the connections on the new Mini good enough that it becomes practical to put all libraries and documents on external drives? (I do that now on an iMac, over FW and USB 2, and don't have problems.)

Even Apple has thrown in the towel, no long insisting that you keep your Logic libraries on the startup drive.

[mikehalloran]

The T2 security chip shouldn’t be an issue—the MBP has it and the 970 EVO + adapter is an easy install. Unless iFixIt declares otherwise. The implementation as done in the iMac Pro takes up too much space and makes no sense in the Mini. I’m guessing but it would surprise me if I’m wrong.

I like having all my apps and work files on the boot drive — with APFS Snapshots, there’s no argument against this for me if I’m buying something new or hot-rodding something used. In my case, 1T is possible if I offload iTunes and Logic but just barely ergo the need for 2T onboard. I prefer the ease of having my files where I want.

My VIs & BIAB libraries sit on an external already. Although eSATA now, USB-C is fine. My 2T has about 20G free space. If external, I’ll just add another—pull it out of my 2010. If I upgrade a 2015 iMac, I’ll buy a 4T SSD to throw inside.

The sticking point for me is still the number and type of monitors the new Mini will support. I could add one of these to turn it into being able to handle one 5K and two 27” 4K but a 2017 or iMac Pro can do that out of the box while a 2015 can do it over TB 2.
https://www.apple.com/us/search/egpu?src=globalnav

LG makes a number of 27” 4K monitors including one that hooks up over USB 3 for $595 and a couple others over HDMI that can be had around $400 each. If I could make three of those work with the Mini, that might tip the scales in its favor.

Otherwise, it’s $2K to $2.5K to add 2017 iMac or iMac Pro graphics capability plus a 5K to the new Mini. This = the price of a refurb iMac Pro. I’m looking at the one for $4,929.
https://www.apple.com/shop/browse/home/ ... c/imac_pro

Yea... If the iFixIt tear down shows the Mini to be on the same order of difficulty of storage upgrade as the iMac, the Mini starts looking really good. I wouldn’t think twice.

[mikehalloran]

The iFixIt teardown of the new Mini is out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_cont ... UrSLnnMyeg

Good news: RAM is replaceable with a couple of tools and some patience—nothing hard, though.

Bad news: The SSD is soldered in.

OWC has RAM. I believe it's the same as that in the iMac Pro. Expensive, yes, but there are better prices out there.
https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/memory/ ... -mini/2018

The good news is that RAM does not need to be replaced in pairs.

[cuttime]

Good news: RAM is replaceable with a couple of tools and some patience—nothing hard, though.

According to this review it voids the warranty:
https://www.macworld.com/article/331850 ... eview.html

[bayswater]

The iFixIt teardown of the new Mini is out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_cont ... UrSLnnMyeg

Good news: RAM is replaceable with a couple of tools and some patience—nothing hard, though.

Bad news: The SSD is soldered in.

OWC has RAM. I believe it's the same as that in the iMac Pro. Expensive, yes, but there are better prices out there.
https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/memory/ ... -mini/2018

The good news is that RAM does not need to be replaced in pairs.

Quite a bit more difficult than the previous model, but doable.