i5 setup or Mac Mini?

golwg

golwg

golwg

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3 Jan 2010
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Got the option to either build an i5 setup or buy a 2.26 Mac Mini. I can buy the mac, new for £420.

Not sure what to do. I need Apple software but also like Win 7.

Thing that worries me is the mac speed. 2.26 as opposed to 2.66 Quad on the i5.

I don't game. I do use the pc for quite a bit of photo work, general office work, internet, video manipulation.

Is it right that i could run win7 on the mac through bootloader or something like that? Any good?

What do people think of the mac spec on the 2.26 model?

If i didn't need to use apple software then i would go i5 but what else can i do?

An i5 system is going to cost approx:

 
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The bootloader isnt perfect and can be tricky to use/setup but it is an option.
If you need apple software you have to go with mac unfortunately : ).

And if it's for graphic/video/sound editing you want an i7 and not i5, otherwise you can save your pennies and go with AM3 build which will be good enough probably anyways.

PSU is an overkill for this spec too and the case is terrible :X.
 
in your original post you say you NEED apple software,

you cant run it on a windows based pc, so surely a mac mini is the ONLY route?

Ash
 
I know i said that but i am thinking that maybe i should get a 2nd hand Mac and invest in a good PC as that is where the power is?
 
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with a pc you will definately get more bang for your buck in terms of computing power, but your not going to necesarrily notice the difference between OSx and win7 performance.

Apple have quite a reputation for themselves, which wouldnt exist if their computers were slow.

im not going to get into the apple vs windows story but its down to personal preference.

Ash
 
Just check the mini's GPU.

The current mini is a nVidia 9400M using shared system RAM rather than having it's own ram.

there's no doubt that a PC would get you more powerful hardware but as others have said - raw power vs the speed it takes you to do the tasks you want is another thing.

Personally I think the Mini is overpriced. I'm sat at a MacBook Pro typing this and I own n iPhone and have been labeled a Mac-head by a mate (who just so happens to work for MS).
Having said that I'm looking at the 2.6GHz 4GB Mac Mini.. although I'm hanging from buying unless I really get the urge.. for me it would be useful as I write applications for OSX and the iPhone.. but everyone's milage varies.
 
mac or i5 both good, i do a lot of photoshop and some after affects etc on a i7 with windows 7 64bit to me it wasn't a big wow, so i'ma buy a mac mini and see about useing that for work and i7 for gaming etc.

If i7 is better i will be useing the mac as a media centre lol, and if u don't know you can install windows on new macs with there intel processors.
 
if your doing multimedia than the mac I would say as the software is better and it won't break the bank, look at the purple shirts at least.

i5 for gaming through

I m sure you can install mac OS on a normal PC, don't know about nothing else from there or even if I should have said that here :p
 
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