M2 Pro Mac Mini Real World Editing - Vs Mac Studio & PC in Resolve.

Taking the M2 Pro Mac Mini Through my workflow in Davinci Resolve and comparing it's performance to the M1 Max Mac Studio and a Custom Built Windows PC.

PC Components (Affiliate Links):

Timecodes:
00:00 - Opener
00:46 - Camera, Footage, and Setup
02:32 - The Initial Edit
03:28 - Audio
03:58 - Color
05:07 - Timeline Responsiveness
05:37 - Project 1 Render
05:49 - Second Project Setup
06:11 - Working in Fusion
07:42 - Heavier Effects
09:04 - Timeline and Render Performance
09:28 - Mac Studio Performance Timelime 1
10:36 - Mac Studio in Timeline 2
10:58 - The PC's Performance Timeline 1
11:39 - PC in Timeline 2
15:15 - Comparison Conclusions
16:19 - Let's be Real
17:14 - Final Thoughts

Find me on Social Media

My Studio Equipment (Paid Links)

Audio file(s) provided by Epidemic Sound

[ElevatedSystems]

Update: I finally got the project to render on the PC. Interestingly I just disabled Resizable BAR and it rendered in 19 min 21 sec. I think the system was just flooding the VRAM with too much data all at once.

[gabrielesartori]

I just retired after 40 years as a system and silicon designer and then manager of design teams for PC and PC components. This is the best real life test I ever seen for audio-video applications and it proves the true that all the pro already knew. Thank you for your hard work.

[slytherben]

Dude, you're the only reviewer I'm gonna trust going forward. This was incredible. Our studio has run on Macs for 14 years but we're not entirely happy with Apple's current direction. As we consider PC's for the first time, just hearing the word crash is off-putting. 14 years. No crashes. Granted, a more powerful PC would've handled it, but still something to keep in mind as we move forward. Oh! Also! All these YouTubers just test export performance - when studios could care less. We export overnight. Watching you actually edit was so so helpful!! Thank You!

[davehagan]

Killer video! It was refreshing to watch someone create an actual video project on both rather than compare them based on synthetic benchmark tests.

[HakonBroderLund]

Yes! This is a real editing review. Not just a export test that everyone other reviewer is doing. Keep it up!

[marcodimario]

This is how a PROFESSIONAL review should be done! Thanks a lot :)

[mischamim]

In Europe PC Mac Studio M1 Max 10Core GPU 24C 64GB costs 3200 euros. For that price you can buy an Intel 13700K with RTX 4080 64GB 3 TB RAM 6000Hz. And of course in a couple of years the PC can be redesigned: a new processor and a better graphics card. But with PC Mac Studio there is nothing you can do, you can only resell it if they buy it. Mac Studio M1 good not a big PC, but you also need to take into account the fact that now developing neural networks and how it will work with these applications is not clear. Just slicing video and substituting text does not need a computer for a few thousand, if you have DaVinci you should already use all the features. That's why you need a serious machine for work or hobby.
Thank you for the video.

[ElevatedSystems]

Just to answer the question. The RTX 3060 12GB was not a good choice for this build. It's built on a cut-down GA106 GPU with 1300 fewer CUDA cores than the GA104 in the 3060 TI, and the memory bandwidth is cut in half which means the 3060 TI actually has more memory available to the GPU in VRAM intensive tasks.

[zandtussenjetenen]

My whole life I bought pc's, each new video game required an upgrade wich costed hundreds of dollars (in my case euro's) Switching to Playstation and Xbox solved that problem. Then starting with very simple video editing on a pc. Well in 2000 that sucked so I quit. Now in 2023 I bought a mac studio. What a dream of a machine. Coming from a pc it takes time to get used too. But everything runs butter smooth. Fast and no crashes ever..love it. It's a big step af using ps's for 24 years but worth the switch. No fan noise, errors..or blue screen fatal errors..😂 Thanks for the outstanding reviews which made me switch to Mac and I'm so happy with it..regards from Holland..keep up the good work..

[johnathonme]

Wow, this is one of those videos that you save in your playlist and watch 2 or 3 times to make you've captured everything its communicating, and then you watch it *again* because there was more to learn. What an awesome video!!!! Stumbled across this on YT seeking answers to the same decision between buying the Mini M2 Pro and Studio M2 Max where my setup, workflow and skill level is similar as yours. You freaking rock, I've subscribed!!

[bowieknife]

I just started learning about video editing and need a new mac... your behind the scene and review is really helpful! Thanks so much.

[shaunlawsonvid]

Just what I was looking for. Thanks for creating.

[gaetanobruno]

I was considering going back to using Windows, but I've been using Mac for over 12 years. I work with video, and DaVinci never crashed or had any issues. Thank you very much for reminding me to stick with Mac for my next upgrade. Hahaha Hardware isn't everything... software plays a big part in the final experience.

[ionse]

I'm doubting myself if going for a mac mini pro M2 512gb 16gb ram (1300$) or if i should for a 1500$ gaming pc with i7 12700k, 32gb DDR5 5600mhz, Asus Prime z790-A. 980 Samsung PRO 1TB SSD, RTX 3060 Asus dual, 650w.

[sillydillybar]

I love the comparison of a real world test, similar priced competition and the point about balancing the budget of shooting equipment with editing.

[Ricer-bn]

This dude is awesome. Knows his stuff like the back of his hands..

[wereoctopus]

Synthetic benchmarks have their place, but it's really valuable to see where the pain points are likely to be for various hardware setups in a real workflow.

[Thirsty_Fox]

Great video! I recently priced a PC upgrade vs base M2 Pro Mini and at least here in Canada, for the same C$1800 I could get a 13700k 32GB RAM with 3070. I think it would perform much better than the M2 Pro Mini and probably better than the more expensive Mac Studio.

[TheThaiLife]

This is awesome and very useful. Much appreciated. I'm stuck buying the MBPM2 16" one step above base to avoid the dreaded, but probably not important SSD cripple. I need the better screen to help my eyes. But this is so great to see you even got into fusion. My current Macbook M1Air gets completely useless on those. Great info and thank you!

[darren-in-china]

What length was each timeline, as it would be good to know which of the systems managed to export out faster than real time?