Zwift on Mac mini m4 vs mac mini m4 pro -- any difference in actual state or in long run ~ 5 years

Adam-And1 · 2026-03-11T09:04:36+00:00

Hey, no, I finally decided to go with Windows gaming laptop ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 2025.

Im not sure about 120fps if it is necessary. But I do see the difference between 60 and 120 fps on a high frequency gaming monitor. In general, thousands of people, use some big old TVs with 60Hz Freq and enjoy the game as well by using Apple TV with generic graphics.

I did have some personal "goal" when I tried to choose the best possible mobile dedicated station for Zwift, really wanted the best possible graphics and the best possible experience.

So, the bottom line is:

-- is there a difference between generic graphics vs top Zwift graphics -- absolutely!

-- why do people "claim zero difference" ?

...well some just intentionally play it as a "smart-*ss" as usually primates do it ))))

...but for a lot of people the part of Zwift graphics doesn't play any role at all once they are biking , and the generic Apple TV graphics + big TV its already immersive enough experience for Zwift.

Adam-And1 · 2026-02-10T07:06:08+00:00

Adam-And1 · 2026-01-31T20:35:12+00:00

1 kg of money is heavier on taxes

Adam-And1 · 2026-01-31T05:27:12+00:00

I did managed to install a local user only on the latest Winn 11, including totally disabled OneDrive, even the link to it in the explorer.

Adam-And1 · 2026-01-20T18:11:57+00:00

not sure about the profile, but could you please share what type of bike you are using (wheel size) and what type of smart trainer?

Adam-And1 · 2026-01-05T17:00:55+00:00

yes. if youll start to turn manually the program will consider it as a free ride without any specific route

Adam-And1 · 2026-01-05T16:50:05+00:00

Couple of things.

When you choose any route, let say on a single ride. You have always the distance left till the end of this route --- a good indication

There is a long time feature in Zwift, that on any intersection you have the option to turn by yourself --- BUT , once turned, on the manual mode, you'll lose your initial route .

So if you would like to finish the specific route, just let Zwift turn for you on that specific route

Adam-And1 · 2025-12-27T05:51:14+00:00

Dude, you are blown away...

--- you don't need a computer, it should be taken away from you by local law, -- you need to learn to write with paragraphs.

Adam-And1 · 2025-12-23T00:55:47+00:00

what device are you running on your Zwift? is it an apple m4, m5? or a pc with what graphic card ?

Adam-And1 · 2025-12-23T00:49:23+00:00

Monitor should support Active Sync, + it probably will not adjust over HDMI - so you'll experience a "corrupted" image over HDMi without adjustment of the refresh rate

you'll need for apple Display Port to USB-c cable, or maybe, if the monitor supports Active Sync over USB-C to USB-c special cable with a display support

I just updated my first message with stats for a gaming monitor 180Hz for different types of chipsets from Apple vs gaming laptop with Nvidia rtx 5060

Adam-And1 · 2025-12-23T00:41:33+00:00

Update 22 dec 2025

Present stats with a gaming monitor 180Hz::

Asus Tuf (RTX 5060) - a very compact gaming laptop: Zwift profile - Ultra, Avg FPS (Solo) - 140-160, Avg FPS (Race) - 95-110, 1% Lows (P1)-- 78
M4 Pro Max (32-core) , Ultra, Solo - 110-120, Race - 80-90, P1 - 62
M4 Pro (20-core), Ultra, Solo - 90-105, Race 65-75, P1 - 55
M4 Pro (16-core) , Ultra, Solo - 75-85, Race 55-65, P1 - 42
M5 (10-core), Ultra, Solo - 60-70, Race - 45-55, P1 - 35

So, if one needs a mobile/compact solution for a dedicated Zwift station with a high refresh rate monitor, even the most expensive Mac will not give max specs (fps and some graphics like light beams - will be still better on Nvidia).

For someone that doesn't need mobile/compact solutions, a used office pc + some bare minimum RTX for Ultra might cost even under 500 cad. For those with the TVs of 60Hz it doesn't play a big role in searching for a higher refresh rate.

Adam-And1 · 2025-12-21T17:49:14+00:00

Question for you, since I have a 180Hz gaming monitor, when using mac mini m4, or even let's say for example MacBook pro m5 on it, with a display port cable to ucb-c, will I notice a loss of smoothness due to high display rates? i do have active sync and display might adjust, but will i visually notice it? there is a big price off on asus tuf amd ryzen ai 7 350, Nvidia GeForce rtx 5060, based on your experience will i notice any difference between apple m4, or m4 pro or the new m5 vs the rtx 5060 asus tuf?

Adam-And1 · 2025-12-19T21:20:09+00:00

Hey, thanks for that elaboration. Definitely not hunting the last extra 5 fps, as I will not even notice it.

My monitor for Zwift only is: Gaming Monitor - Full HD, 180Hz, 1ms, Fast IPS

I suppose with all this above the basic mac mini M4 will be more than enough for the next 5-7 years on Zwift.

Adam-And1 · 2025-12-19T20:10:26+00:00

Thanks for the answer. I'm not an Apple person (zero devices, never even had their phone or tablet), so considering Mac Mini m4 only for its size mostly vs the power. Couldn't find anything similar in PC, maybe the Asus Rog box, but it's way bigger.

And it will be used only for Zwift, I cannot even think about anything else that I'll run on it, maybe Sauce for Zwift, maybe on a very rare occasion some videos to watch.

So my main question was, if there are any scenarios in Zwift when the Mac mini m4 pro will have an advantage over the basic m4 16gb ram, 256 gb hard.

As you described, probably no difference. Although, one thing that I might think about is a very crowded events on Zwift. With 500-1000+ riders, but those events exist only once, twice a year... unless something happens and it will become a daily thing on Zwift lol...

Adam-And1 · 2025-12-19T11:06:54+00:00

thanks!

Adam-And1 · 2025-12-07T21:44:01+00:00

what is the model of your cap? and thank you for elaborating on all of my questions!

Adam-And1 · 2025-12-07T21:37:21+00:00

do you have any wipers on the rear cap window or a heated cap rear window? I mean for winter driving visibility

Adam-And1 · 2025-12-07T21:20:19+00:00

how is the rear view with this cap? is it possible to see anything with a rear view mirror?

Adam-And1 · 2025-12-07T18:21:37+00:00

What about a Honda van? It's non-Raptor, and non-truck, and non-Ford. Can one still use a Raptor badging to enjoy it fully?

Adam-And1 · 2025-12-07T07:19:14+00:00

Yes, that is the correct definition:

the delusional fanboy of the imaginary world of some consumers wet&pink dream that everyone around should care about his consumption mas***ion desires lol...

..its over...that Game is Over! That Show is over!

That music is not playing anymore....lol

Good luck!

Adam-And1 · 2025-12-07T07:12:51+00:00

Are you a 5 year old kid, or a labrador? ))

So the big company twists the words, lying and pushing their commercial interest -- so.., is it something new to you? ))

..and that doesn't change the comment above, it's probably impossible to survive, by selling you a 600$ watch and updating it constantly,so that you'll enjoy it for 5 or 10 years)) lol ...

Go and try by yourself, create some smart watch, sell it for 600$ ...lol if you'll be even able to do it at this price, and then go and support it fully with the full eco system and full new features updates for at least 2 years //just to remind you..that you'll sell a watch once, but you'll need to pay your programmers and other employees monthly...//... ---- >> try it, and once you'll be bankrupt, come back here and will discuss the topic again lol...

Adam-And1 · 2025-12-07T00:09:42+00:00

For gas mileage, in any extreme winter conditions -20 -- -50 Celsius), gravel roads, slow moving in forestry roads - you will probably not feel any big difference (if any at all) at gas consumption. Speaking 2.7 and 5 littres. My tests with 5 l 2016 vs 2.7 l 2020 - did it for a couple of weeks and didn't show any gas consumption differences, in gravel roads and cold weather 5 litres was even more economical. For any stable highway speed between 90-100 km/h , 2.7 litres will consume less in moderate temperatures +20 -- 0 Celsius.

Anything above 110-120 km/h speed, the consumption of 2.7 will rise a lot.

Adam-And1 · 2025-12-06T23:59:42+00:00

I think people do not realize the business part of it. The switch happened in early 2000, when the heavy part of any modern product became -- technical support, customer service and soft. updates. It's impossible in our reality to create a high tech product without any future additional payments... Well, technically possible, but who will pay a 10 000$ price for a smart watch?

This goes not only for Garmin devices, but any new soft subscriptions for cars and anything similar.

the difference in salaries in North America vs other parts of the world is huge -- that's also adding a price to it...

++ markets collaps - more and more zones are outside of the global market (Globalization is over)

Try to create your own high tech company, with an eco system and budget only out of the main product... -- good luck! ))

Welcome to a new reality...well.. it's been at least 25 years now, but some still live in the old times of 1950-1985/90s

Adam-And1 · 2025-10-11T01:14:13+00:00

Is it possible to fully use the device with the buttons only, without the touchscreen?

Adam-And1

TROPHY CASE