Choosing a Mac Mini Model

Which ever you decide, max it out at purchase, they are not upgradable.

Mac mini - Apple

M2 8 CPU...

Display Support:2 Displays*Resolution Support:6016x3384 (6K)*

Details:*This model supports "up to two displays" -- one "up to" 6016x3384 (6K) resolution at 60 Hz over Thunderbolt and one display with "up to" 5120x2880 (5K) resolution at 60 Hz over Thunderbolt or 3840x2160 (4K) resolution at 60 Hz over HDMI.

The Thunderbolt 4 ports support native DisplayPort output using USB-C as well as Thunderbolt 2, HDMI, DVI, and VGA output with adapters.

2nd Display Support:Dual/Mirroring*2nd Max. Resolution:5120x2880 (5K)*

Details:*Please refer to the earlier field for details, but if the primary display is 6016x3384 (6K) via Thunderbolt, the largest secondary display this system can support is 5120x2880 (5K), also via Thunderbolt. The HDMI port supports one display up to 4096x2160 (4K)https://everymac.com/systems/apple/mac-studio/specs/mac-studio-m2-ultra-24-core-cpu-76-core-gpu-2023-specs.html

M2 Pro 12 CPU...

Display Support:3 Displays*Resolution Support:6016x3384 (6K)*

Details:*This model supports "up to three displays" -- two displays up to 6016x3384 (6K) at 60 Hz over Thunderbolt and one display with up to 3840x2160 (4K) resolution at 60 Hz over HDMI.

Alternately, this model can support "up to two displays" -- one display with up to 6016x3384 (6K) resolution at 60 Hz over Thunderbolt and one external display with up to 3840x2160 (4K) resolution at 144 Hz over HDMI or one external display up to 7680x4320 (8K) at 60 Hz or 3840x2160 (4K) resolution at 240 Hz over HDMI.

The Thunderbolt 4 ports support native DisplayPort output using USB-C as well as Thunderbolt 2, HDMI, DVI, and VGA output with adapters.

https://everymac.com/systems/apple/mac_mini/specs/mac-mini-m2-pro-12-core-cpu-19-core-gpu-2023-specs.html

If budget allows perhaps a Mac Studio?

Mac Studio - Apple

https://everymac.com/systems/apple/mac-studio/mac-studio-faq/mac-studio-pros-and-cons.html

M2 Max 12 CPU..

Display Support:5 Displays*Resolution Support:6016x3384 (6K)*

Details:*This model supports "up to" five simultaneous displays -- four displays "up to" 6K resolution (6016x3384) at 60 Hz over Thunderbolt and one display "up to" 4K (4096x2160) at 60 Hz via HDMI or two displays "up to" 6K resolution (6016x3384) at 60 Hz over Thunderbolt and one display "up to" 8K resolution (7680x4320) at 60 Hz or "up to" 4K (4096x2160) resolution at "up to" 240 Hz over HDMI.

2nd Display Support:Dual/Mirroring*2nd Max. Resolution:6016x3384 (6K)*

Details:*Please refer to the earlier field for details, but if the first display is 6016x3384 (6K) via Thunderbolt, it can support as many as three more 6K displays via Thunderbolt and a fifth display as large as 4096x2160 (4K) via HDMI. Alternately, if the first display is 6016x3384 (6K) via Thunderbolt, it can support a second 6K display via Thunderbolt and a third display at 8K at 60 Hz or 4K up to 240 Hz over HDMI.

https://everymac.com/systems/apple/mac-studio/specs/mac-studio-m2-max-12-core-cpu-38-core-gpu-2023-specs.html

M2 Ultra 24 CPU..

Display Support:8 Displays*Resolution Support:7680x4320 (8K)*

Details:*Via Thunderbolt, this model supports "up to" eight simultaneous displays at 4096x2160 (4K) resolution at 60 Hz, "up to" six simultaneous displays at 6016x3384 (6K) resolution at 60 Hz, or "up to" three simultaneous displays at 7680x4320 (8K).

2nd Display Support:Dual/Mirroring*2nd Max. Resolution:7680x4320 (8K)*

Details:*Please refer to the earlier field for details, but if the first display is 7680x4320 (8K), this Mac Studio can support two more 8K displays. It alternately can support as many as eight 4K (4096x2160) displays total or six 6K (6016x3384) displays total.

https://everymac.com/systems/apple/mac-studio/specs/mac-studio-m2-ultra-24-core-cpu-76-core-gpu-2023-specs.html

Jonah_N wrote:

Hey everybody,

I currently use a MacBook Pro/docking station setup for school, connected to two monitors. I am looking to purchase a Mac mini desktop as my laptop is being strained by this process. I currently run a lot of complex excel models and Microsoft applications and I am looking for the system that can handle this with ease, in comparison to my MacBook Pro docked. Some additional information is that the two displays I use are nothing special or demanding, but would like the ability to upgrade to two 4K/5k monitors in the future. Thanks for the tips!

I'd suggest looking at M2 Pro Mac minis, M2 Max Mac Studios, and possibly Certified Refurbished M1 Max Mac Studios. These Macs have four Thunderbolt ports and can drive three or more displays – including two or more USB-C / Thunderbolt ones. So even if you got two 27" Apple 5K displays, you would have two USB-C / TB ports remaining for other expansion options such as high-speed external SSDs.

(There are M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max chips, but so far they haven't made an appearance in the Mac mini and Mac Studio.)

RAM on all of the Apple Silicon Macs is non-expandable. So get as much as you need when you order the Mac. even you must custom-order a machine. You'll probably want at least 16 GB of RAM. All M2 Pro Mac minis, and {M1/M2} Max Mac Studios, come with at least that much.

The Studios have a couple of front-panel USB-C (USB) ports and a front-panel SDXC card slot, which are.a nice convenience.

set yourself a budget, if you aim to go new or used.

I personnally have a 2018 model with 32gb ram and 2tb ssd but i produce music and video. You don’t need this for Excel sheets…. Any basic model would do. But as said before, be strategic and plan your needs ahead: unlike old macs, you need to decide upfront as these are not upgradable.

i’d now go for the M2 as it seems to heat less than the older Intel-based macs.

if you do large excel sheets, i would consider one larger monitor rather than 2 side by side. A large 32 or more that you can either use as one, or 2 (or even 4 although not sure macOS supports the latter (??), is what i would eventually go for (i use 2 x 27 inches) - waiting for the 49 inches (curved) to go more decent prices.

For reference what MacBook Pro do you currently use?

Excell is mildly RAM hungry. Any M1/M2 Mac configured with 16GB RAM should work just fine, assuming you are currently using a 13” laptop with only 8GB RAM. Maybe splurge and get one with 24GB just to leave room to grow.

I would caution against a 2018 mini. Their Intel UHD 630 gpus are underpowered for 4K/5K displays and can stutter if you use any user interface scaling other than the default retina doubling.