I'm trying to decide between building a new desktop or buying a pre-built one. I was initially saving for a custom build with an Intel i9 14900KF, a 5070 Ti, and 64GB of DDR6000 RAM, but the price has jumped from $1600 to around $2600 since October. My main focus is video editing, but I also enjoy playing Civilization. Currently, there are some discounted pre-built options that are catching my eye:
1. An Acer Nitro gaming desktop for $1699, which can be upgraded to 64GB of RAM later.
2. An OMEN gaming desktop for $1199, which is capped at 32GB of RAM.
3. A Mac Mini for $449, which is sufficient for my current needs and can handle video editing. I don't need super high specs since I have a MacBook already, but I want something stable for my desk.
Given all these factors, I'd love to hear what others would choose!
5 Answers
Definitely get the Mac! I bought a refurbished 2020 MacBook Pro (M1), and it's way better than my newer PC for everything except gaming.
I'd personally choose the base Mac Mini M4. Don't stress too much about RAM upgrades because they can become pricey. Save your cash for a potential future upgrade instead!
I already have a 32" 4K monitor, so I’m all set there!
Civ runs really well on Macs. If you're planning on sticking with the series, you might not miss out too much. I'd say go for the Mac if you're only playing it casually.
I do have Civ from Epic, and they don't have the macOS version for Civ6. I might just save up for the new one instead.
Considering your focus on video editing, I'd recommend the Mac Mini. Just make sure to get the maximum RAM you can afford since it's unified and soldered on — you won't be able to upgrade later.
For your needs, the Mac sounds like a solid choice. It's excellent for video editing, plus light gaming works just fine. If gaming isn't your primary focus, grab the Mac Mini and maybe get a PS5 for gaming later on!
I already have a PS5 that I hardly use, so I'm leaning more towards a good desktop solution.
Upgrading to at least 24GB seems reasonable to make it last longer. It’s non-upgradeable, so that extra capacity can really help.