Mini PC Powers My ENTIRE Studio!

[@therick0996]

Using a janky setup for a month to see what you REALLY need and want is the pro move here. Lots of times I've made a setup with what I THINK I want, not what I actually need. One suggestion: replace those casters with rollerblade style casters. It was a game changer for my office chair

[@MandicReally]

However much I hate letting myself use temporary setups to get a feel for things, it really is a good move. I just don’t want to raise the center of gravity any. Worth a try most likely though.

[@Eridescent]

This video is such an excellent summary of why your channel is great - the way you integrate 3D printing and tech into a practical solution. I particularly like that nothing in this video really involved *needing* the entire workshop you have - I'm sometimes a bit tired of videos where every outcome involves a lifetime of woodworking equipment and single-use tools.

[@MandicReally]

I try really hard to not let my content get to that. I do enjoy those videos, but I like to keep things "down to earth". Sure not everyone has a Prusa XL, but it isn't required for this. Granted I also limit the projects I do by not leaning on my background more. I should probably just aim to balance it a bit more. Thank you!

[@GEEKOMPC]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on our product. Your review of the GEEKOM mini PC is highly valuable to us!

[@reprinted3D]

Alan, you never cease to amaze me with your ingenuity. I do have an idea for you that may reduce the fan noise of the computer though: Take some acoustic foam and make a "curtain" that can "hang" from the underside of the shelf above the mini PC on the front, left and right sides (c-shaped, leaving the bottom open) that will absorb some of the sound while not interfering too much with air circulation.

[@TalkingSasquach]

As a fellow Premier user, I'm sitting over here pouring over your timeline. I love watching other creators I respect showing how they're using their software/hardware! Great work as usual!

[@robgeib1723]

Example of why I sub to the channel. Nice video.

[@SnoringVids]

Welcome to the PNW!

[@Setral]

That under shelf mount with the lower db is definitely a happy little accident 😅. And I really dig the design process for your "antenna" extensions, keeping an upgrade in mind isn't something I'd have honestly thought about.

[@MandicReally]

Got to love pleasant surprises. And I try my best to think of not just the needs I have right now, but possible expansions in the future. You learn the hard way enough times and you start to think that way, ha.

[@TechieNI]

Perhaps a drawer like setup for the hdmi switched, even if it brought it out 2 inches it would help. Great video as usual buddy.

[@MandicReally]

I had considered that and may still do it. Just couldn’t devote the design time at this moment. My first thought was like a keyboard tray they both sit on. May still doable.

[@vinny5915]

I thought it was a Mac Mini, from the thumbnail

[@MandicReally]

Basically a Windows equivalent really. Just more affordable for upgrades, by a long shot. ha

[@ser_igel]

@@MandicReally aside from upgradeability i'm really amazed that mac mini might be a viable choice here (32/256 + ext. SSD will cost about the same $1100) so, did you upgrade it to 64GB? was it worth it? UPD: i eat too loud so i really appreciate hand-made subtitles

[@MandicReally]

@@ser_igel the Mac Mini is really tempting for me, but you are stuck with whatever you order forever, and that is hard. Sure I can't upgrade this CPU but I can change the storage and RAM over time. I haven't upgraded the RAM yet, waiting to see if any better Black Friday deals hit on that before I order. Toward the end of this video edit I was really feeling the need, so it will be happening. Glad you enjoyed the subtitles. Trying to make a concerted effort to do them for every video. I too like having subtitles so I have to try and make the time.

[@mjcontos1119]

In healthcare we call that a Computer/Workststion On Wheels

[@MandicReally]

It has been suggested that I look at those carts before. Should keep my eyes peeled for some auctions or something.

[@mjcontos1119]

Maybe, often anything used for HC has an inflated price. Perhaps that isn't the case on the second hand market.

[@eslmatt811]

Most people over spec their computer. It is good see what you can do on a small machine.

[@MandicReally]

Very accurate. I do run my other PC to its limits, but not everyday all day. This is a good reminder that it is nice to have but not a 100% necessity.

[@haemse]

How is cooling noise (on idle)? Like an office pc?

[@codeman99-dev]

It's exactly like a laptop when it comes to noise. Completely idle should be silent.

[@MandicReally]

Nearly silent when idle. Granted Windows being Windows, the fan does random ramp as background processes decide to be weird. But that is the performance profile I have setup in it, the balanced one did that less. The fan curve is just quicker to ramp up on Performance. My 3D printers are louder so I don't hear the computer most of the time.

[@DmitriyK007]

Awesome Video!!!. What zip ties are you using? Was the workbench Butcher block expensive? if not too bad do you mind sharing where you go it. ty

[@MandicReally]

Thank you! The Zip ties are random ones from Amazon I'm fairly sure. Likely these (affiliate link): The butcher block is a 6foot by 39 inch one from Lowes. It was around $300. It isn't perfectly flat, and they warp over time if not reinforced. So I need to deal with that, but I will get there.

[@Papajin68]

What was up with the CRT footage starting at about 6:21? Was that just some stock footage you inserted to represent "doing work"? It didn't look like the model you were actually working on, nor your current space! I was going to marvel that someone was still using a CRT in this decade! PS: Those are some serious antenna mounts!

[@MandicReally]

Just stock footage that I placed my design work inside of. That was the design I was working on screen captured. Trying different things versus just a sped up design timelapse slapped on the screen.

[@cgreever1]

Why not 96 gigs?

[@MandicReally]

The specs currently indicate that 64GB is the limit for this model. I don't know if that is 100% accurate, have to contact GEEKOM to find out. That said, if I'm spending the money, my main workstation needs an upgrade more than this.

[@Nobe_Oddy]

have you tried running the Cyberpunk 2077 benchmark WITH RAYTRACING ON??? Intel Arc does raytracing SURPRISINGLY WELL!!!!! Yea you take a performance hit, but it won't slow down to a slug's pace like AMD does... And you probably won't end up keeping it on if you're gonna play it on that machine, but it's worth checking out just to see that Intel put out a pretty decent GPU (once they put out good drivers for it) And they have their next Generation GPU c0oming out NEXT MONTH, so keep an eye on it just to see how well they did with their SECOND GPU attempt... which in some aspects is BETTER THAN AMD!!! 🤯

[@thomasbishop7144]

Why he no use remote connection or a program like Parsec to connect to his desktop system for CAD and Video Editing workflow ?

[@MandicReally]

Minor bit of added latency is annoying. And more than anything it is matter of transferring files from one to the other. Much easier to load up the Video files directly on this computer and it does the job fine enough at the beginning. This video project alone was 600GB of files, so sending files to the other computer from here or going and transferring them in the office takes time. The next step is an all SSD NAS to use as the primary storage so everything can be edited over the netwrok. Maybe then Parsec would make sense.

[@bscommissions892]

why would you buy anything intel powered at this day and age?

[@mntoddster]

How does Fusion360 do on it?

[@Speedgaming802]

should of got a mac mini m4

[@MandicReally]

The default Mac Mini is a great value, but the second you add on any upgrades the value is gone. This video project alone is over twice the size (600GB) of the pitiful 256GB default SSD in the Mac. Once you configure the Mini to similar spec to this machine, it costs twice the price.

[@xRisyox]

GARAGE call it what it is

[@MandicReally]

"stu·di·o (/ˈsto͞odēō/) noun 1. A room where an artist, photographer, sculptor, etc. works." I do call it what it is. It is a Video Production STUDIO in a GARAGE! A space with efforts made to control lighting, sounds, and evironmental factors for the goal of better video production. As it get's built out it will be looking a lot less like a garage. When the garage door is gone, will it still be a garage? Or just a room with concrete floors? It is wild that a space can be more than one thing and be called, more than one thing!

[@xRisyox]

@ can you open the garage door in your studio, please

[@xRisyox]

There’s nothing shameful about it monster garage had a great studio presence, but it was still a beast of a garage

[@intrinsical]

Single point of failure + Putting all the eggs in one basket + Its going to take months to recover from this failing.

[@MandicReally]

I'm confused as to what you're getting at. That using this computer is "putting all your eggs in one basket"? Isn't that true of anyone who only has 1 computer? That said, I have multiple backup solutions I use to archive video projects and 3d design work. Just because I didn't explain my entire work infrastructure doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Not every video can be a master class in how to run a business...

[@intrinsical]

@@MandicReally You do what you decide is best, no need be sensitive about it. Its just that in my experience, mini pcs are a dice roll. If you are lucky, it will last for years with light usage. I have ones have seen had either continual issues or fails just after the warranty period expires. Its because all mini pc mainboards are custom designs squashed into a tiny box. They are not like standard sized mainboards that have been mass manufactured and are produced in sufficient quantities to allow catching and fixing most of the design issues and flaws. The tiny form factor just magnify any heat dissipation issues. Personally I would not feel safe relying on just one mini pc for everything, especially as you said you are running a business.

[@stealtheo]

The Mac Mini M4 is currently available at Costco and Amazon for a discounted price of 499.99. It provides significantly enhanced performance compared to any comparable Windows mini PC, all while being priced at a fraction of the cost.

[@MandicReally]

And has 256GB of storage. This video alone was 600GB. I agree the Apple Silicone chips are great, but the Apple "upgrade tax" is ridiculous. A Mac Mini M4 with the same RAM, Storage & and Multi-Gigabit Ethernet is twice the price of this MiniPC. Then you are stuck with that configuration until you sell it and buy another one. The Macs in general are SO CLOSE to being good for me, but their upgrade expenses are just too crazy.

[@stealtheo]

The mini can be equipped with an SSD Thunderbolt 4.0 storage option, which significantly enhances its performance.

[@seadog6351]

Entry level mac mini m4 is less than $600. Just saying.

[@MandicReally]

With 256GB of storage. This video alone was 600GB of video files. Upgrading the Mac Mini to even just 1TB of storage (not enough) it becomes the same price as the GEEKOM. Upping it to the max 32GB of RAM & 2TB of storage, along with the 10Gb Ethernet, brings it to $1899. Almost double the price of the GT1. The Mac Mini ONLY makes sense as a thin client. Don’t get me wrong, it is a really tempting idea for me, but the moment you upgrade anything on the base configuration the value is totally gone. And that doesn’t touch on the fact that you are completely locked into that configuration forever.

[@seadog6351]

@@MandicReally Thanks for pointing this out. Not a huge mac fan but the m4 mini is getting such good reviews.