The first Geekbench benchmark for one of the 2018 Mac mini models has surfaced (via VentureBeat), giving us an initial look at the performance we can expect from Apple's revamped desktop machine.
The benchmarked model is a higher-end custom configuration that features a 3.2GHz 6-core 8th-generation Intel Core i7 processor, UHD Graphics 630, and 32GB RAM. At a minimum, this configuration would cost $1,699.
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Two scores for the machine were uploaded today from the same user taken eight minutes apart. The first features a single-core score of 5070 and a multi-core score of 16818, while the second, which suggests much better performance, features a single-core of 5512 and a multi-core score of 23516.
The higher-end score set puts this particular Mac mini configuration right on par with the high-end 2.9GHz 2018 MacBook Pro, which earned a single-core Geekbench score of 5433 and a multi-core score of 22556. Given the price point of this Mac mini's configuration, its MacBook Pro-matching performance comes as no surprise.
The Mac mini also closely matches the 2013 Mac Pro models when it comes to multi-core performance and exceeds them when it comes to single-core performance. With the exception of the iMac Pro, it outperforms 2017 iMac models, which were not refreshed this year.
It's not clear why there's such a disparity between the two Geekbench readings, but it's possible with the first that background tasks produced a lower result, hence the retest.
We should see additional Mac mini benchmarks surfacing in the near future as the device is set to launch on November 7. Benchmarks of the base models will give us a better idea of what to expect from the lower priced versions of the device.
MacBook Air and iPad Pro benchmarks have also surfaced over the course of the week, with the iPad Pro also demonstrating MacBook Pro-class performance.
Top Rated Comments
So, an i3 w/ a decent (quiet) cooler for it, a mini-ITX motherboard (only 1 Thunderbolt port), some RAM, an SSD (much slower than the Mini's, probably), case (bulkier than Mini), PSU, all that stuff. Not top of the line stuff, just what I considered good quality at good prices. My cart ended up totaling around $600 after taxes.
By the time you add in the time I'd spend building it, plus more intangible but still valuable things like the Mini's industrial design, macOS without any Hackintosh hackery, Apple's support system, and the 4 Thunderbolt 3 ports that I simply couldn't replicate with a PC build, the base asking price starts looking pretty fair to me.
Anyway, that helped me get some perspective. If the new Minis turn out to be solid, with no thermal throttling issues or anything like that, I'm thinking maybe ... just have to wait for the reviews and the first batch of folks to get their machines unboxed and tested out.
I'd love to throw a couple of minis in the other room as quiet render nodes.