2012 Mac Mini

Ant84

Ant84

Ant84

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20 Feb 2007
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1,094
So my self built PC has served me very well over the years but I find myself hankering for a new Mac Mini today. Upgraded to Lightroom 4 to do some hobbyist level photo editing, nothing too extreme, and I'm finding my PC is suffering from some major slowdown. I don't know whether that's down to ageing CPU or lack of RAM (running 4gb).

I love OSX and quite fancy making the switch, but I'm a bit torn between the options available. Brief reading suggests the middle spec Mini is the pick of the bunch in terms of performance and value, but I'm wondering if it'll be overkill for what I need. I don't play games, nor do I edit videos. The most intensive application for me will be Lightroom 4.

I expect the Ivy i5 will give me a massive bump over my overclocked i3 530, but will it be enough of an improvement to justify the upgrade or do I need the Ivy i7?
 
I'm ordering the 2.3 i7 quad tonight. I do light video editing of fraps gaming recordings, but mainly it will be my php dev computer for my websites.

I'm using my works interest free loan so am going to go for it.

I may even go 2.6 quad and not buy a bluetooth mouse and keyboard. I already own a wwired keyboard and a trackpad anyway.
 
Whats this works interest free loan? I've heard quite a few people mention that they have it as well.
 
I wish the mini comes with a good graphic card, previously I wouldn't care because I don't play games but PS CS6 actually utilise the GPU, unlike CS5 so a good GPU is a must for me now days.
 
Raymond Lin said:
I wish the mini comes with a good graphic card, previously I wouldn't care because I don't play games but PS CS6 actually utilise the GPU, unlike CS5 so a good GPU is a must for me now days.
Click to expand...

I was willing them to stick the 650m that's in the 15" retna into it, would have made it an instant purchase for me.

Instead the 4000HD is about as good as the 6630 that was in last years one so it's a bit of a side step on the front with just more raw processing power (and ram capacity).

Still should get one at some point though
 
Well, my budget for my next Mac is under £2k, specced up the Mini to the max with 16G ram, i7 and Fusion drive, still come under £1k and with another £1k left to get any monitor on the market, or two.

Or I can get the new 27" iMac in December, which will have 32G of ram and better GFX.

Either one I need to buy external optical drive now so it makes no difference. I guess the iMac will be more powerful too.
 
At a guess the imac probably would be a better choice if you have the freedom of no monitor at the moment/the budget for a 2k imac, the graphics would be more powerful which is the main difference.

I fancy the mini as I wouldn't have the cash to make the jump from the i7 mini to the 21" imac (and I like my monitor still)

External cdrom isnt the end of the world, I like the look of the super drive (especially as it is usb powered), just an extra £70...
 
Ive ordered the 2.6ghz i7 and also ordered 16GB from Crucial and 256GB M4 to put in it when it arrives. The machine comes with a 1TB 5400 rpm drive. Im moving from a Macbook air 1.8 i7 so should be abit nippier. I did a lot of PS work on my Macbook air connected a 24" TFT and never let me down, so mini should be fine even at basic spec. If not pick up a 2nd hand 2011 model.
 
I think I'll go for the middle spec i7 2.3 quad. Almost double the CPU benchmark of the base spec i5 2.5 dual, so a little more future proof. I guess I've always got the 14 day return period in the unlikely event I'm not happy with it.

My one concern is the speed of the 5,400rpm hard drive. I know it's possible to fit an SSD, but I'm not sure how difficult that is.
 
I've been looking at getting the misses a iMac for Xmas, but instead just dropped the cash on a i7 mini 2.3. I'm gonna plop some more ram in. Got the apple wireless kb and ms... Then the rest of the 1k budget I got a Philips 27" hdmi monitor in silver.

I hope the above will make a near 27" iMac experience for a lot less dosh.... Thoughts ?
 
Iam in the same situation. I now own iPhone/iPad/ATV and really want to use OS X so intend to switch from my custom PC(in sig) to a Mac.

Oxy said:
I may even go 2.6 quad and not buy a bluetooth mouse and keyboard. I already own a wwired keyboard and a trackpad anyway.
Click to expand...

Yeah is the magic mouse and KB worth getting aswell?

pingwing said:
External cdrom isnt the end of the world, I like the look of the super drive (especially as it is usb powered), just an extra £70...
Click to expand...

Can you just use a 3rd party CD/DVD drive?
 
Just picked up the middle spec i7 from my local Apple store with a Bluetooth keyboard and wireless trackpad.

The keyboard is annoying me already as it doesn't sit flat on my desk like my Logitech one does.
 
Jimmy1983 said:
Yeah is the magic mouse and KB worth getting aswell?
Click to expand...

Well I have the wired numeric keyboard, I have two so using one with my old imac at my parents and my spare can now be used with this mac mini.

I will take the trackpad to my flat and leave an old wired apple mouse at my parents to use.

I have just ordered the 2.6 i7 quad, 16gb ram for £58 from crucial and 3 year apple warranty.

yay for free work computer loan money!

Also got HE discount from my sister, erm yeh, sister.
 
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