If it were me, I would go with 8gb.

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Yes, but you are really pushing it. Avid has been doing demos with a Mac Mini just to show how efficient PT 11 is. Note that purchasing PT11 gets you a dual install with PT10 also for legacy compatibility. Don't expect to be able to run PT10 on the Mac Mini.

EDIT: Forget what I said! The latest PT 11.0.3 will work with Mavericks 10.9 BUT the co install won't work. So the ability to run PT 10 is a non-issue.

Also, I am not real comfortable with this. After years of having PT challenge big Zeon workstations I can't get used to the idea of running it on a laptop. Please make sure you talk with someone who has actually done this before you buy....that's not me! Good luck. I hope this all works out for you & happy holidays.

The Mac Mini has run PT9 PT10 and PT11 just fine. As with ALL computers, if fx or VSTi are excessive then the machine requirements will have to be boosted.

I am not a Mac fan but it will work just fine.

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And for the record, at this point I'll never buy anything other than a laptop unless I have to for interface connection.

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And to the OP, Cubase offers more than PT11 so I wouldn't consider that an upgrade.

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Pro Tools 11 has better system management but it will not really take advantage of the extra RAM unless you are using a lot of Virtual Instruments OR you are investing in HD Native or HDX via an external PCI Chassis OR, you managed to score a license for PTHDX(without the hardware). Reason being that Disk Cache(Which will allow you to load entire projects into RAM) is not available in non HD Pro Tools systems. So yes, there will be a benefit from using more than 3 Gigs of RAM but not something that will be life changing unless you are using a lot of Virtual Instruments. Will PT11 run on your Mac Mini? Probably. It doesn't hurt to check the supported hardware list.

The quadi7 Mini is the sweetspot, if you're handy with a screwdriver you can add a second internalhard drive with the Data Doubler bracket from OWC. ( [[url=http://[/URL]="http://www.macsales…"]Other World Computing (OWC) - Performance Upgrades For Your Mac[/]="http://www.macsales…"]Other World Computing (OWC) - Performance Upgrades For Your Mac[/] )

Check out the Logic benchmark test, to see the relative performance of different models. (Dead Link Removed)

The test uses Logic's embedded effects and instruments to stress the CPU. Newer models are in the later threads.
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Currently Logic is the most CPU efficient DAW on OSX when using virtual instruments and effects with DP8, and PT11.

Ableton Live and Cubase, apparently has little/ none specific OSX optimization.