Hey audio lovers!

Is there anyone out there using the base model Mac mini M4 who could run a quick stress test?

I'm considering switching my ecosystem over to macOS, and the new Mac mini looks like a great option apparently. However, I was looking for a CPU comparisson in between this model and a Windows PC computer with Ableton Live with no luck. So I'm not sure if it can outperform my current setup: an Acer Predator Helios 300 (Intel i7-11800H, 16GB DDR4 3200MHz RAM, 512GB SSD). My current laptop is super noisy, overheats a lot and it's been sluggish on every program with a GUI which I believe it is a problem with its internal graphic card so I'm eager to upgrade anytime soon.

If there is a hero out there that can run this .als and share the CPU consuptiom, I would be really appreciated.

On this image you will find the CPU % Ussage on different stress situations on different buffer samples.

.ALS File (Ableton Live 12 set)
https://www.mediafire.com/file/9s2d64l5904tbl8/CPU_TEST_Project.zip/file

 

Last edited: May 18, 2025 at 6:49 PM

Additionally the audio interface I'm using is a Focusrite Scarlett Solo 3rd Gen running on ASIO

 

This small set is made of stock patch presets and Serum 2

 

Focusrite Scarlett will not use an ASIO driver on Mac. Here is a gpt comparison of the two, running Ableton 12. Ask it to do the comparison yourself if the formatting is confusing when pasted here. Maybe someone can give you a benchmark test results for comparison, but there are enough factors involved I'm not sure that will give you a very clear picture of what you are getting into.

Spoiler

Great—comparing Ableton Live 12 performance between:

• Base model Mac mini M4 (likely has 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, unified memory, no fan or very low-noise cooling)
  vs.
  
  
• Acer Predator Helios 300 (e.g., Intel i7-12700H/i7-13700HX, RTX 3060/4060, 16–32GB DDR5 RAM)
  

Here’s a realistic breakdown specific to Ableton 12:

️ DAW Real-Time Audio Performance (Live 12)
Test Type Mac mini M4 (Base) Helios 300 (i7/RTX) Notes
Plugin Load (real-time CPU) ✅ ~15% more efficient Powerful but louder Mac's unified memory & low latency give it an edge

Track Count (MIDI + FX) ✅ Slightly higher Similar, less efficient Both solid, but Mac handles buffer underruns better

Sample Library Streaming ✅ Faster (unified RAM) ✅ Good (fast NVMe SSD) Comparable if Windows is tuned well

Thermal/Noise Performance ✅ Silent/low-heat ❌ Can get hot/loud Helios has gaming thermals, less ideal for studios

Plugin Compatibility ⚠️ VST3/AU only ✅ Full VST2/VST3 Mac lacks VST2, some plugins need workarounds

GPU Acceleration (video plugins) Minimal difference Minimal difference Live doesn't rely heavily on GPU
Estimated Plugin Instances (Live 12, 128-buffer)
Plugin Example Mac mini M4 Helios 300 (i7-12700H)
Serum (basic patch) ~90–110 ~80–100
Diva (divine mode) ~25–35 ~30–40
FabFilter Pro-Q 3 ~500+ ~400–450
Kontakt Libraries Excellent Excellent
(Mac handles small buffer sizes better; Helios has raw core count advantage at high buffer sizes.)

Verdict: Mac mini M4 (base) vs Helios 300 in Ableton 12

• Mac mini M4 (base):
  
  • ✅ Better for real-time performance, silent operation, tight audio timing
    
    
  • ⚠️ Limited to AU/VST3, no fan = may throttle in extreme sessions
    
    
  • Great for producers using mostly UAD, Arturia, Native Instruments, FabFilter, Serum, etc.
    
• Acer Helios 300:
  
  • ✅ More flexible for legacy plugins, heavier multitasking, or dual-use for gaming
    
    
  • ❌ Louder, more power-hungry, not as stable at low buffer sizes without tuning
    

Choose Mac mini M4 if you want quiet, smooth production with native Apple-optimized plugins.
Choose Helios 300 if you rely on older VSTs, Windows-only tools, or do heavy multitasking/gaming.

 

TY, I haven't used GPT yet, good stuff. Will look into it