jernaugurgeh

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jernaugurgeh
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  • Compared: New Apple Silicon Mac mini versus Intel Mac Mini

    jernaugurgehjernaugurgeh
    I've ordered the base M1 Mac mini, with 8gb ram and a 256gb SSD. I got it with educational pricing from the UK Apple Store for £628 inc. I'm actually quite excited to be buying in at launch... I'm usually several years behind in my tech (I'm still rocking an iPhone 6s Plus!) but felt like I wanted to jump in and be an early-adopting guinea pig for a change.

    I'm going to be comparing it to my Mac mini (2018) base i3 model with a 128gb SSD, that I've upgraded to 32gb RAM myself (somewhat of an overkill for me really, but the RAM was cheap!).  I've also added an external USB-C 512Gb NVMe SSD for my files. I currently have this little beastie plugged into an Iiyama 32" 4K monitor via a Razer Core X eGPU with a Radeon RX580.

    I only bought the i3 mini a few months back in a sale at a UK electrical store for £499 (reduced from £799). I picked up the eGPU and Radeon card secondhand on Ebay for under £300 total not long after. This combo replaced a self-built gaming PC I got bored with and a lowly 12" MacBook that wasn't cutting the mustard any more.

    I mostly use it for homeworking: web development, some Adobe graphics stuff, some light video editing, music production, and a bit of casual game dev... Oh, and casual gaming too. I did try Bootcamping but it proved to be a pain with the limited internal SSD and I couldn't get the eGPU working under Windows 10 properly, so sacked it off.

    I've not really been fully utilising the eGPU... I'd rather leave it turned off most of the time because it can be a bit noisy even at idle (compared to the virtually silent Mac mini, anyway), but I find I have to leave it plugged in or else the macOS UI can be really sluggish using the crappy Intel UHD 630 integrated GPU at 4K, and it's really temperamental swapping between the internal and external graphics as well. 

    If the M1 Mac mini proves as good as the Intel for general stuff, works okay with the apps I use, and handles the UI, graphics and video better than the UHD 630 crap, then I'll be flogging my 'old' Intel variant and the eGPU. Hopefully it will work with my Epson EcoTank printer and generic HD webcam too! As for gaming, I could imagine that the M1 graphics will handle the sort of stuff I play okay, but if not then I'm not too bothered really... I've got a PS4, and am considering upgrading to a PS5 when they are readily available and aren't being put on Ebay for 3 times their price by scummy scalpers!

    Anyway, the signs all point to the M1 blowing the i3 out of the water.... and taking on the more powerful Intel variants too.


    watto_cobrarazorpit