Hi guys

I have been a happy owner and user of my lovely MacPro 5.1 2012, but just ran into a wall which makes me think this is end of the line for me and I need an upgrade. I was running Monterey and latest Fusion 360 update demanded to run on Sonoma. I keep hearing that running Sonoma on MP 5.1 is a no go so now I am thinking it is probably time for an upgrade.

So pls help me to decide where to go next. I was not expected this to happen and kind of dead in the water so need this to resolve relatively fast, but still trying to be as money efficient as possible.

Here is what I use:

• Fusion 360 (alot)
• Adobe LightRoom (alot)
• Topaz Photo AI (occasionally) - this was very slow on my MP
• Adobe Photoshop (occasionally)
• iMovie / Adome Premier etc (occasionally)
• Blender (occasionally)
• Office / Chrome etc...
• I also have approx 10TG of data on internal drives

Now I am thinking I can either go get

• brand new latest Mac Mini + some kind of external storage
• • basic Mac Mini M2 8GBRAM / 10 cores would cost be approx $600CAD
  • another option Mac Mini M2 24 GBRAM / 10 cores would cost be approx $1000CAD
  • Lacie desktop storage 10TB would be approx $700CAD
• get 2019 used MacPro 7.1 from iPowerSale - 3.2GHz Intel 16-Core 96GB RAM 2TB SSD Radeon Pro W5500X. It would cost be approx $2400 CAD

I understand that probably MacPro 7.1 would greatly outperform Mini, but a) would I need all that power? b) would it become obsolete faster than new Mini? Trying to see if extra $1000 for 7.1 is justifiable.