Mac Mini Upgrade Struggle - Repair 2018 Mini or purchase new 2023 mini?

Cubase
,
1

I currently have a 2018 3.2GHz 6-core Intel Core i7 Mac Mini with 64 gigs ram. The logic board is dead and will be around $800.00 to repair.

I’m debating upgrading to the new Mac Mini: Apple M2 Pro with 10‑core CPU, 16-core GPU, 16‑core Neural Engine. This machine maxes out at 32 Gigs ram.

The big question is performance. Cubase now supports high-core-count CPUs. Do you think I will see a noticeable difference going from 6 to 10 core CPU’s or would I need to upgrade to a higher core count?

I’m running Native Instruments Komplete Ultimate and some big sample libraries.

Let me know what you think!

Thanks!!

2

I would get the M2. 32 GB of RAM is OK. Kontakt will load what it needs, not everything at once, so you will be fine.
The M2 will be quite a bit more powerful that a 6-core i7, and much quieter.

Make sure the software/hardware/plug-ins you rely on work on Apple M processors without issues(native, or via Rosetta)

3

Thanks - appreciate the insight. I’ll look into the M2.

Cheers!

4

I would wait a week and get the new Mac Minin Pro with 12 CPU cores

5

Thanks – I’m assuming this would be a noticeable difference or more of a future-proofing for upcoming Mac OS’s?

6

a bit of both