Mac mini M4 build off

[Conza]

Budget (including currency): $999 AUD

Country: Australia

Games, programs or workloads that it will be used for: Gaming/emulation

Other details (existing parts lists, whether any peripherals are needed, what you're upgrading from, when you're going to buy, what resolution and refresh rate you want to play at, etc): 

This is an open thread to build a PC within the budget of the entry level Mac mini M4. Use your own local currency and pricing and see how you go.

 

Inspired by the Wan show segment today, which was done off the cuff without really researching and they did ok, but I think with a few more minutes to think about it, will be some interesting builds. Oh and I don't think those rules should necessarily apply, just build what you would for the budget.

 

Bonus points, if you can manage to include these features on the Mac Mini M4, going down their page

 

Gigabit Ethernet

Case features: 5 USB-C ports, 3 being thunderbolt 4 or USB 4.0

Windows OS (I know you can install it for free but if you can fit a key price in, why not)

 

https://au.pcpartpicker.com/list/KcQV3w

 

PCPartPicker Part List: https://au.pcpartpicker.com/list/KcQV3w

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5500 3.6 GHz 6-Core Processor  ($118.77 @ JW Computers)
Motherboard: MSI B450M-A PRO MAX II Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard  ($89.00 @ Centre Com)
Memory: G.Skill Aegis 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory  ($44.00 @ Device Deal)
Storage: Crucial MX500 500 GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($64.00 @ BPC Technology)
Video Card: PowerColor Fighter Radeon RX 6750 XT 12 GB Video Card  ($509.94 @ Amazon Australia)
Case: Deepcool MATREXX 30 MicroATX Mini Tower Case  ($40.00 @ PLE Computers)
Power Supply: Corsair CV550 550 W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($65.00 @ MSY Technology)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 11 Pro Retail - Download 64-bit  ($36.26)
Wireless Network Adapter: TP-Link ARCHER T2U PLUS 802.11a/b/g/n/ac USB Type-A Wi-Fi Adapter  ($30.00 @ Austin Computers)
Total: $996.97
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2024-11-02 21:19 AEDT+1100

 

 

 

 

[Blue4130]

To me, the key feature of the Mac is the size. That is something you won't be able to do diy.

[Conza]

That's a fair enough point of view, however not really the point. It's about value, and seeing what you can get for the same price as a DIY instead, and how people use the budget.

 

Besides, there are plenty of mini PCs that are near as makes no difference, the same size and are also likely better value, eg. Minisforum do a bunch, found a UM890 Pro for a smidge under $1000 AUD, 1TB SSD, 32GB of Ram, more ports etc, that would out do the Mac Mini M4 in many ways.

 

Anyway.

[monopoly_hater]

So I'm gonna go off what I can get the base mini for as a student in Belgium: EUR 599

 

As for the PC, I'll make the PC list German as shit is much cheaper there:

https://de.pcpartpicker.com/list/zBmqqH

I tried to match the base specs (RAM, SSD, CPU Power as evenly as possible). I'll go over my rationale:

 

PCPartPicker Part List: https://de.pcpartpicker.com/list/zBmqqH

CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5700X 3.4 GHz 8-Core Processor  (€144.89 @ notebooksbilliger.de)

Spoiler

This is only slightly worse the the M4 CPU wise and is easier to cool then the 5800X which would match the M4 more equally.

CPU Cooler: ARCTIC Freezer 36 CO CPU Cooler  (€20.78 @ Amazon Deutschland)

Spoiler

The cheapest non crap CPU cooler I could find. Not much else to say about it.

Motherboard: Asus Prime B450M-A II Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard  (€59.90 @ Computeruniverse)

Spoiler

Was pretty affordable and had BIOS flashback which is such a lifesaver. Again, not much else to say about it.

Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory  (€37.90 @ Amazon Deutschland)

Spoiler

Seemed fitting as the base mini also has dual channel 16GB. Note this is pretty unfair to the Mac as it is MUCH slower then the LPDDR5X-7500 the M4 uses. However I wanted to leave SOME budget for a GPU so AM5 or 1700 was out of the question.

Storage: Patriot P300 256 GB M.2-2280 PCIe 3.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive  (€19.45 @ Amazon Deutschland)

Spoiler

One of the cheapest not total ewaste 256 SSDs I could find. The Mac's SSD will probably be faster though. It is soldered though so overall I would prefer this.

Video Card: EVGA XC GAMING GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER 8 GB Video Card  (€180.00)

Spoiler

Used, of course. 2080s would be a bit of a stretch. This will obliterate the M4's GPU in gayming (3050 6GB equivalent). However assuming you have nothing else open the M4 has close to 14 gigs of VRAM. That is A LOT for ML workloads compared to anything else around this price.

Case: Fractal Design Core 2300 ATX Mid Tower Case  (€54.60 @ Galaxus)

Spoiler

The cheapest non Chinesium case I could find.

Power Supply: Gigabyte UD750GM 750 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply  (€79.38 @ Amazon Deutschland)

Spoiler

This will probably be contreversial as the Mac's PSU is only 155W. However PSUs below this price are simply garbage and Apple probably uses high quality PSUs. Also it's not Apple's fault they don't need more, 155W is stupid overkill as is.

Total: €596.90
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2024-11-02 12:03 CET+0100

Pros of each
 

Spoiler

PC:
 

• Can be upgraded and repaired, compared to the Mac which is totally disposable without some MAD soldering skills(the tradeoff you make for the tightly integrated nature of the M-series chips)
• Has a faster GPU and can actually gayme
• You can add devices via PCIe (such as WiFi cards, NICs, thunderbolt NICs, etc, etc).
• Actually has legacy ports
• Makes nice fan sound if you're into that like me

Mac mini:

• Can be transported and it's case is simply higher quality
• Is not a egregious space heater and is power efficent
• Has MUCH faster RAM and faster SSD (both are soldered though)
• Has macOS, which is Unix based like Linux while supporting commerical apps. Also, it comes with a OS instead of pirating like with this build.
• The CPU is slightly faster and has some great fixed-function video editing hardware for those of you that are into that.
• It has Thunderbolt out of the box (3 Thunderbolt 4 ports).Add the 2 front USB-C ports and you have 5 total USB-C ports. As a side note you can use those to add back the PCIe you lost by not going PC, but that requires more costs and looks ugly so I won't consider it.

In my own perspective as a dev who already has a couple of PCs, I am seriously considering getting this. However I have not decided fully yet. The last time any mac was such good value was 2020 with the M1 Mini at the peak of Intel's stagnation. Honestly impressive they gave us a redesign without a price hike, very un-Apple. Either way both have their own place in the market.

 

[Blue4130]

2 minutes ago, Conza said:

That's a fair enough point of view, however not really the point. It's about value, and seeing what you can get for the same price as a DIY instead, and how people use the budget.

 

Besides, there are plenty of mini PCs that are near as makes no difference, the same size and are also likely better value, eg. Minisforum do a bunch, found a UM890 Pro for a smidge under $1000 AUD, 1TB SSD, 32GB of Ram, more ports etc, that would out do the Mac Mini M4 in many ways.

 

Anyway.

The PCs that are near Mac mini size are nowhere near as fast.

 

Building a normal size pc that is faster is not really that impressive in my opinion. The fact that Apple has made something so small and performant is nuts. And to do it at the cost that they did is nuts.

[Jeppes]

3 hours ago, Blue4130 said:

The PCs that are near Mac mini size are nowhere near as fast.

 

Building a normal size pc that is faster is not really that impressive in my opinion. The fact that Apple has made something so small and performant is nuts. And to do it at the cost that they did is nuts.

At least here apartments are usually large enough to house even a matx case without an issue. Mac:s are crazy expensive if you need a gpu for rendering that matches 4070 etc.

[monopoly_hater]

Guys, stop beefin and create your build lists!

[Jrasero]

On 11/2/2024 at 7:10 AM, Blue4130 said:

To me, the key feature of the Mac is the size. That is something you won't be able to do diy.

This.  I think the only comparison is the Mini PCs and while they are good they kind of get stomped CPU wise, granted if you needed for standard memory, storage, or want a better GPU or external GPU option then yeah these things are great with the big caveat is that these are being made from direct to consumer Chinese manufactures so who knows the support/customer service you will get or if the brand will even be around in 2-5 years.  

 

[monopoly_hater]

4 minutes ago, Jrasero said:

This.  I think the only comparison is the Mini PCs and while they are good they kind of get stomped CPU wise, granted if you needed for standard memory, storage, or want a better GPU or external GPU option then yeah these things are great with the big caveat is that these are being made from direct to consumer Chinese manufactures so who knows the support/customer service you will get or if the brand will even be around in 2-5 years.  

 

The mini pcs get stomped on performance every way. Even Radeon 890M that costs 1000 dollars for mini pc is worse.

[Conza]

The small size is a factor, there's no denying that.

 

However, in terms of pure value, I'd say most people would agree, small size is usually at a premium and the best value is normally at an mATX or ATX size/form factor build.

 

So I made this thread to see what was possible within the same budget at the same point in time. No doubt as time goes on, the M4 (or successors this may apply to, too), will remain the same price, or go up in price and go up in performance (successors), but the DIY scene should continue to be a higher value option, with no restrictions needed for, size, or, macOS.

[monopoly_hater]

10 hours ago, Conza said:

The small size is a factor, there's no denying that.

 

However, in terms of pure value, I'd say most people would agree, small size is usually at a premium and the best value is normally at an mATX or ATX size/form factor build.

 

So I made this thread to see what was possible within the same budget at the same point in time. No doubt as time goes on, the M4 (or successors this may apply to, too), will remain the same price, or go up in price and go up in performance (successors), but the DIY scene should continue to be a higher value option, with no restrictions needed for, size, or, macOS.

Right now, best you can do AFAIK is either the above build or used 12600KF + used 1080 if you're more adventurous. That is a side grade, 1080 wins for pure gayming but the M4s additional vram really helps. The CPU on the M4 is more comparable to a 7700X then 12600kf