Mini Mac I think

Noxia

Noxia

Noxia

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Hi all,

I have decided I would like to go back to Apple and all my machine will be used for is Web development and tinkering around with Swift/iOS development. No gaming or graphically intensive stuff.
My current thinking is to get an older model and upgrade the ram myself if it has 4GB. I also have a 240GB SSD spare that I can fit in there. I think the late 2012, model would be a good bet with the i5 (2.5).
I have a nice 1440p screen and I presume HDMI out can support this res from the Mac itself.
Just wondering if I'm missing out on any other options here, I'm quite unfamiliar with the models but I understand that the 2014 ones have the RAM soldered in so you cannot upgrade and thus forced to pay Apple's silly RAM prices. I don't think I need an i7 for what I'll be doing but I'd rather have an older and higher specced machine if it's cheaper than newer and lesser specced.

Thanks
 
HDMI on the Mac Mini won't support 1440p but you can use the Thunderbolt output on the 2012 Mac Mini to do Mini-Displayport to Displayport.

Because of how the 2014 Mac Mini has been butchered, the 2012 Mac Mini is now highly sought after and inflated in value (on auction sites) - you can keep checking the Apple Refurbished section but once they appear, they don't tend to be around for long.
 
Sry not trying to thread hijack - I just bought a Mac Mini 2012 (i5, 4GB) used, plus the Apple magic trackpad and small matching apple keyboard, all boxed, for £200 - 1yr old, but I'm guessing that was a good deal?

Never had a Mac before (a Apple IIe doesn't count), but doing some music recording and wanted to get something small with firewire.

Quite impressed so far, running it through a Samsung smart tv, but I need to up the ram to 16GB etc.
 
Thanks, so I presume I'd need that adapter regardless of which year I bought? I cannot seem to find that cable either but I do see Mini-Display to DVI.
Also, on a windows keyboard, is the Windows button the equivalent of the command button on a Mac keyboard? I don't really like the Mac keyboards. I see what you mean about the prices too, base spec ones (4gb,500gb) are going for £400 plus. Such is life though.
 
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Does your monitor have DisplayPort? The Mini-DisplayPort to DisplayPort is just a single cable, no adapter required. My Dell U2715H even came with the cable included so it was just a case of plugging it into the Thunderbolt port on the Mac Mini and away you go.

I have used a Mini-DisplayPort to DVI adapter before but if you could go with the previous method then it would obviously save you buying an adapter.

The Windows key does act as the Command key on the Mac - takes a wee bit of getting used to (I keep trying to press Ctrl or Alt) but by no means impossible.
 
Yes I just checked and it says Displayport X1. Not familiar with that port at all. A few auctions I'm watching seem to come with it anyway and I've seen some unofficial ones for about a fiver http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CB-088-OK&groupid=1929&catid=1757. I'm surprised it cannot output 1440p through HDMI though, is there a not too technical reason for that?
Also, and excuse my ignorance but if I am installing a SSD (NTFS) into the Mac, I presume when I install the USB boot media I'll have an option to format it to the Mac format as it wil recognise it's not compatible.
I do have a HD caddy so I may be able to format it from my girlfriends MBP in advance to save the hassle I guess.

To save the hassle I'm tempted tp just get this: http://store.apple.com/uk/product/G0R70B/A/Refurbished-Mac-Mini-26GHz-Dual-core-Intel-Core-i5

Then again, with some patience and luck I could probably get what I want for £500 or less.
 
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The Mac Minis we're talking about have on-board graphics and the Thunderbolt (Mini-DisplayPort) port gets the best of the options in terms of resolutions it supports. The HDMI was kind of tacked on for people who use their Mac Minis with their TVs and supports 1920 x 1080 by default and up to 1920 x 1200 using Apple's HDMI to DVI adapter.

Apple's Disk Utility will let you format the SSD prior to installation but I would personally put it in a caddy and format it before you go taking the Mini apart - that way you know it's working and playing ball. Everything has to be pulled out of a Mini to install a hard drive as it sits at the very front of the machine.

For the same price as that linked product, you can get a 2012 i7 Quad Core Server version (with two 1TB hard drives) in the Apple Refurb store. But it's when it will next appear and for how long in terms of purchasing it. There will of course be cheaper 2012 versions than the Server edition but I haven't seen any appear recently.

The lack of Quad Core option, along with the soldered RAM and disappearance of the second free SATA port (if you wanted to install a second 2.5" hard drive, you now can't) are pretty big negatives for the 2014 version but it is quicker in Single Core performance and has two Thunderbolt 2 ports, which would allow you to drive two monitors at up to 2560 x 1600.

It really comes down to preference but I'm sure both machines would cut the mustard in terms of what you're wanting to do with them.
 
Thank you that's very helpful. I'm not in a rush so I think this will be a case of biding my time and knowing when the right one comes available. I was unaware of a server version as well.
 
Sorry one more, my ideal setup would be one where I could also boot into windows when needed for example if I want to use visual studio. Am I right that I simply need a second drive or partition and a copy of boot camp?
 
You only need to partition your hard drive and install Windows onto that partition. Boot Camp Assistant is already included in the OS X installation and is painless to set up.

You could add a second drive just for Windows but it isn't really necessary. It should be noted that if you were to go for a Mac Mini with a Fusion Drive (128GB SSD + 1TB HDD usually) that the Windows installation will only operate within the HDD portion, so you wouldn't get the SSD speed benefit within Windows.
 
Thanks again. It's great they include that standard. I understand it's a bit fiddly installing two drives so I suppose another option would be to install both OS on one SSD and I could then make use of an external hard drive partioned however I saw fit. Not very graceful but not a bad option.
 
Missed out on a few eBay ones. Tempted to go for 2012 i5/8GB/500GBon refurb store but it's £499 and you get the one year limited warranty. I did however miss out on the exact same model/spec and it sold for £436 and it had 12mth Apple care.
 
Get a 2.6 quad core 2012 model, upgrade the memory to 16GB along with a SSD and your flying. I have this with mine along with the OEM 1TB drive as a 2nd backup/media drive. Love it and would pee all over the new 2014 model.

Geekbench is around 13k
 
I got a midrange 2014 (i5 2.6 - 8gb) from refurb store in the end. Just changed to SSD and it's overkill for what I do. Find myself using windows more so perhaps should have got an NUC, nice and quiet though. What made me go for the 2014 was the two thunderbolt ports and Iris graphics over intel 4000.
 
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Did you upgrade to the ssd yourself? Easy job? Or did you pay for the upgrade? I've the mid spec 2014 and had a 2009 one with ssd.
 
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