The writing is on the wall for my current iMac, and I’m looking at new Apple mac options. I would prefer a Mac Mini or Mac Studio, and my Google-fu is failing me. I need advice on what specs I’m wanting to look at, and/or resources for comparing performance in WoW. Although the M3 for both of those is coming out supposedly later this year, my current computer unfortunately needs replacing now.
Edit: So supposedly they’re going from M2 to M4, skipping M3. Either way, the rest of it is still my question.
Take a look at MacRumors Buyers Guide
https://buyersguide.macrumors.com/#mac
If you need something now, I would approach this in one of two ways.
First, consider a low cost Mac Mini. Something to hold you over until the good stuff gets here.
Option 2: Go with the Mac Studio M2 Max with at least 1TB SSD. This will give you some longevity on your investment.
Either way, you also have to factor in the cost of monitor.
Personally, I’m holding out for the Studio in about 6 - 8 months.
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Awesome, thank you for the info! Do you happen to have any idea how well TWW will run on a low cost Mac Mini? Or how I could find that info?
The monitor cost I’m okay with spending a little more since I can use it with a future Mac Mini or Studio.
I’m currently using a Mac Mini M1 16GB memory, 1TB SSD with 27" LG Ultragear 144Hz monitor.
I run WoW with graphics set to 4 or 5 and a few tweaks. The game runs fine and maintain steady frame rates between 60-72 fps except in crowded cities.
Like you, I was in a situation where I had to get a new computer. I went with the Mac Mini because I knew iMacs were a few months out. However, the iMacs were released with only 24" monitors. So I decided to hang on the Mac Mini. I was holding out for the M3 Studio, which doesn’t exist. 
So, now I’m waiting on the M4 Studio. I’m expecting to be blown away by the difference.
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Thank you for sharing your experience! It’s much appreciated.
I’d actually argue strongly on paying full price for an out of date M2 Studio
it never got an M3 refresh and m4 is due in 8 months give or take. the issue with the m2 version is it’s not discounted at all despite apple knowing it’s obsolete. M3 Max runs massive circles around a M2 at this point due to massive increase in CPU cores and on gaming side introduction of hardware mesh shaders and much better memory management technology.
I’d say a cheap mini to hold over til an m4 studio is actually sensible instead, or if you need performance now just get an M4 Max Macbook pro this fall.
With any machine though, even a hold over like mini, do not get 8GB memory, it is not enough despite what apple tells you. even safari will lag with that if you go to any somewhat demanding pages, because it’s shared memory, app memory and video memory so your system is always starving. a mini still needs at least 16GB
I have played on a few different Mac setups & depending on the resolution, any M series is tolerable
Right now, my desk setup (secondary system) is an M1 base Mac mini (8gb ram & 256 HD) that I bought new old stock for less than $400. I play wow @ 1920 x 1080 well but I turn down setting to stay @ 144 fps because I notice the difference but it was never daily driver. I have actually run 4 instances of WoW at once on this system - not full on playing but I used my extra accounts to do a version of follower dungeons for mop remix. I carried an alt I was leveling (along with 3 others so I do not disrupt other players in dungeon finder). Wouldn’t recommend it but it worked for this specific use case (the 4 followers just sat at the entrance to the dungeon while main on other system cleared it)
Made some changes to my living room & got lucky so I decided to finally get a nice Mac again (first in 20 years) & went MacBook Pro M3 Pro (18 gb ram 512 GB HD) - $1699 so I can play in my recliner. It plays extremely well as a laptop (would be better if my eyes could still see that small) & works great with external 4K monitor
Last thing I will say is if you are looking for a monitor, I used to use a Gigabyte M32U (my son too it over). I like it because it’s 4K, 144 hz, USB hub & KVM built in. I used my PC & an old mini (which the M1 replaced) both connected & at press of the button, everything switched from one system to the next & used all the same peripherals. I can plug in my MacBook now (when my son is not using his desk) & allows me to basically use it as say a mini on the 4k monitor
TLDR - like Omegle said 8 GB isn’t great but it did work enough for me. I like the Pro chips but I would try to make it till the M4 Pro chip comes out. The extra memory is great.