If you are a Windows user and would like an alternative to the Apple Mac M1 mini then there’s plenty of choice out there for a small footprint Windows PC. We’ve done our research to find a comparable Windows machine that packs a punch at the same price.
Please note that specs are not exactly the same, this is purely based on price. Both models have cheaper versions, the Apple Mac mini M1 starts at $699 and the G5 Mini starts at about $1000.
We take a look at the HP Z2 G5 Mini Workstation. Both this and the Apple Mac mini have a price of $1699. We are using the comparison shown on the B&H website at time of publication, this may change over time.
Specifications At A Glance
What’s The Difference?
As the table shows there are places where there are pros and cons on both sides of the specifications.
For example the Mac mini has a 2TB SSD whereas the G5 Mini has a 512GB SSD. In terms of the memory the Mac mini has 16GB and the G5 Mini 32GB. Furthermore the memory is set when shipped on the Mac mini, at time of writing it maxes out at 16GB, whereas the memory of the G5 Mini can be upgraded to 64GB. The same can be said for the SSD with an additional slot for a second SSD drive, should you wish to install a second one at a later date.
When it comes to ports the G5 has more ports, so less need for USB hubs. The Mac mini can support 2 monitors using HDMI and DisplayPort, however this will require using one of the USB-C/Thunderbolt ports. The G5 can support up to 4 displays.
Software
As is expected, software is machine dependent, the Mac mini shipping with the latest macOS and the Mini G5 Windows 10 Pro. In recent years both Apple and Microsoft operating systems have become much the same in terms of user experience, so it’s a case of you pays your money you take your choice. In some ways it’s the OS that determines which machine people buy as some prefer the Apple experience and others Windows.
When it comes to the software needed for professional work then in many cases, with the exception of Apple’s Logic Pro, most major DAWs including Pro Tools, Studio One and REAPER, are platform agnostic. This is also the case for most other software such as plugins, they will also work on both Mac and Windows. It’s worth checking your specific needs before making the investment, just in case - but it’s rare.
Benchmarks
Geekbench scores for both machines are similar, you can see the headlines in the graphics below.
The Mac mini is the clear winner in Single Core score with the G5 Mini winning on the Multi Core score. How this translates in the real world may be negligible. Both are impressive computers given their form factor.
Summary
Is there a clear winner? We don’t think so, but there is a choice.
For those wanting a small footprint computer that offers similar performance to the Apple Mac mini M1 then it’s possible to find a Windows machine that gives the Apple Mac a run for its money. Of course there are cheaper ways to do this using the self build route or buying a different form factor, but for this exercise we wanted to try and compare machines that are as similar as possible.
What is often the case that when it comes to the choice people make it’s down to the OS, some love Mac and other people Windows PCs. The choice may be as simple as this.