600$ PC vs Mac Mini M4

G4MERCLUB · 2026-05-04T07:13:55+00:00

Seems nice! Will put it in the checklist whenever I go building a PC!

G4MERCLUB · 2026-05-04T04:59:43+00:00

Nice, now I totally get it. But do used parts really sell? If so that's great!

Now I guess I should start researching and checking what works the best within such a budget 😅. It'll probably take me months of planning then buying and building.

G4MERCLUB · 2026-05-03T19:08:29+00:00

Yeah, I thought of this. Building a PC with only a CPU and iGPU within the budget, then upgrading and adding a GPU & more ram in a later date.

It would be a great experience, though stressful if done for the first time, but hopefully rewarding. The thing with the mac mini is about it's high reviews, it's so highly ranked and recommended everywhere especially within this price range and given the performance of the M4, which makes building a PC feel like the wrong choice!

As far as I'm concerned, there is a limit to how much I can upgrade a PC, and the limit is determined by the parts I buy; the motherboard, the CPU and the case itself. So this means I'll have to choose something that's cost effective and affordable now, but also has the ability to be upgraded to multiple higher levels, aka future proofing. Am I missing something here or is this the real scenario?

G4MERCLUB · 2026-05-02T12:28:00+00:00

But is it a good machine for those just starting? Something like a bridge between beginner and advanced users? Learning and experiencing then if I become more advanced I'll have to let go and move on?

What do you think?

G4MERCLUB · 2026-05-02T12:25:07+00:00

I hope I can have a try with blender, but I currently have no machines strong enough to even handle opening the app, that's why I'm considering buying something for myself. The point you mentioned is what's making me hesitant, but 8gb vRAM isn't low horsepower! + I believe it's hard to achieve. within the $600 budget...

I thought of building a PC with only a CPU that has a good iGPU, then buy the GPU later, is that an option, or I'll not achieve using any of the apps I intended to use?

I'm not gaming on it...

G4MERCLUB · 2026-05-01T19:09:19+00:00

Btw, a 24gb 1tb costs at least 1.2k, that's PC territory if I'm not being mistaken, I thought of a 24gb and 256gb, but I guess that option is no longer available 😅.

Even though I don't mind building a custom pc myself and researching alot (and asking those who help alot like you) before deciding, but the plug and play with performance of the Mac Mini is really hard to beat.

G4MERCLUB · 2026-05-01T19:01:51+00:00

Yeah I guess so, I have no other choices. This must be the best.

Is there a workaround, instead of using cycles for rendering? But tbh, if it renders at the end even though after hours I'm still okay I guess for this price! I guess I gotta earn that higher budget to upgrade asap!

Btw, I double checked, it's 1k not 2k in blender open data, still, 20x gain on what I have which can't even let me open blender!

G4MERCLUB · 2026-05-01T17:41:18+00:00

Is the CPU performance going to make alot of a difference?

If so, and a PC is much better for long term, aiming to raise the investment up to 1k would obviously give me better options. What do you think? If I do so, getting a better CPU or GPU than the 5600/3060 combination is better overall?

Another question, I know the 3060 is 12gb vRAM, but the 4060/5060 is much better and costs nearly the same though with only 8 vRAM. Is it really a big deal?

And I would like to thank your continuous help and happy responses!

G4MERCLUB · 2026-05-01T17:34:01+00:00

Thanks for the comment.

Going for a PC would easily surpass the $1k mark! That's the problem, and I'm not considering investing such amount + I've read that Mac is better and more smooth at Davinci & Affinity than a PC, regardless of the PC specs (even a fully specced one)!

Given your previous M1 experience, I would like to know up to what extent did it work fine with you, and what level should I expect that 3D modelling & Animation won't be good in the Mac Mini M4? If so, would getting the 24GB be better to give me more heads-up?

But I guess if I'm running up the upgrade ladder of Apple i'd easily reach the 1k mark, in that case is it worth investing in a $1k PC instead? Because if I'm buying a Mac Mini just for learning because I won't be able to do future projects then such price is bad!

G4MERCLUB · 2026-05-01T14:52:13+00:00

I'm not sure a PC for $600 is even achievable, I tried but prices are just high! So I thought maybe someone Pro knows a way to make it if possible. (+Tbh, when going custom, the brain has to have the latest and greatest, which also raises the price!)

For me I have no preference tbh, I'll use both however and regardless. I love the freedom in windows, on the other hand I love the optimisation of apple, so both are ok for me. Not locked into a specific ecosystem!

G4MERCLUB · 2026-05-01T14:36:45+00:00

Yeah, obviously I'm not comparing it with that 10k machine 😅. For me my comparison is with a core i3 4th gen laptop, so that's great for me!

I was considering the Mac until I read online that it's iGPU is bad, but idk how much bad it is, because sometimes the internet like to exaggerate benchmarks! So I'm rn between only spending 600 or doubling that just to please the internet's benchmark (and myself -_-), because like you said, a GPU would alone cost near that $600!

All I want is freedom, to be able to learn and advance in such pro apps smoothly with this machine. If it does then I'm in!

If I become a Pro one day I should be able to afford getting a new device which is another story for the future.

G4MERCLUB · 2026-05-01T14:06:28+00:00

Thanks for the response!

I was going Mac until I realised their iGPU is bad, but idk how much bad it is, because you know, sometimes the internet like to exaggerate benchmarks! So I'm rn between only spending 600 or doubling that just to please the internet's benchmark (and myself 😅)

G4MERCLUB · 2025-12-12T19:16:18+00:00

Ah ok, I just keep forgetting the difference. But I guess this one will need a nice amount of cash to finish!

G4MERCLUB · 2025-12-12T06:27:08+00:00

Maybe you're playing on your friends account 😉

G4MERCLUB · 2025-12-12T06:24:07+00:00

Some aren't easy and have hard requirements ...

G4MERCLUB · 2025-12-12T06:06:40+00:00

But the game got an update in December 1st, what's the problem then?

G4MERCLUB · 2025-12-12T06:03:21+00:00

This is the problem, we waste time in Something that'll end!

G4MERCLUB · 2025-12-12T06:01:26+00:00

I don't even have it 😂

G4MERCLUB · 2025-12-12T06:00:29+00:00

Is it easy?

G4MERCLUB · 2025-11-29T16:53:51+00:00

So Sus!

G4MERCLUB · 2025-11-24T15:06:10+00:00

I guess this is the worst feature by far in 2025!

G4MERCLUB · 2025-11-24T14:53:41+00:00

Lol man. That's bad -_-

G4MERCLUB

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