Hey everyone, I'm a music producer and mixer looking for some advice. Right now, I have a Mac Mini with the M4 chip, 16GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD. I'm thinking about switching to Windows because I've heard it's easier to get VSTs and plugins there. I'm considering a custom mini PC from Kreative Devices which has an AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS and AMD Radeon 780 M, along with 32GB RAM and a 1TB SSD. After selling my Mac, it would only cost me an extra $200. I've noticed crashing in my projects and high CPU usage, so I'm wondering if this switch is a good idea. Thanks for your help!
2 Answers
I get the appeal of mini PCs, but I would actually recommend considering a good mATX build instead. It might save you some cash, and you'd have full-sized components that are easier to upgrade later on. Plus, smaller systems tend to be pricier. An mATX will still be compact, but more cost-effective overall.
Absolutely go for it! The bump to 32GB of RAM is going to be a game changer for you. The Ryzen 9 will definitely handle heavier projects better than the M4 chip. Plus, you're spot on about VST availability on Windows—much more user-friendly for music production. That CPU usage issue will likely be a thing of the past with better specs. Honestly, $200 for that upgrade is a steal!
Just a heads up, the CPU you're looking at is a mobile chip, which might not perform as well in single-thread tasks as the M4 despite being more powerful overall.
Thanks! I thought vocals sounded better on Mac, but I've seen lots of posts saying that's not a huge deal anymore. What do you think?