2011 Mini 256GB SSD + 750GB...boot drive?

[Jamooche]

I am 2 seconds away from buying the Mac Mini Server with the 256GB SSD and the 750GB HD. I'd rather have this option to keep AppleCare intact rather than install an aftermarket SSD.

Is OSX installed on the SSD? I can't imagine it wouldn't, but just want to make sure before I make the purchase.

Thanks!

 

[jamesryanbell]

Yes it is. If you select the SSD, it's automatically the boot disk.

 

[sapporobaby]

I am 2 seconds away from buying the Mac Mini Server with the 256GB SSD and the 750GB HD. I'd rather have this option to keep AppleCare intact rather than install an aftermarket SSD.

Is OSX installed on the SSD? I can't imagine it wouldn't, but just want to make sure before I make the purchase.

Thanks!

I have a similar setup in my MBP. I have a 120 GB SSD boot drive, and a 250 GB SSD for data. Super fast, quiet and no heat.

 

[Jamooche]

Thanks everyone! Ordering now...

 

[alotlikehomer]

So how do I get the Music, Photos, Movies, etc. to automatically save on to the 750GB? They seem to be directed to the SSD. Also iPhoto and iMovie seem obsessed w/ building the library on the SSD.

 

[Jamooche]

So how do I get the Music, Photos, Movies, etc. to automatically save on to the 750GB? They seem to be directed to the SSD. Also iPhoto and iMovie seem obsessed w/ building the library on the SSD.

Not sure what you mean by automatically save? You can simply save wherever you wish. For iTunes Music and iMovie, I assume you could simply move these files over and then relink the program to find the new location. I haven't tried this, but it should work.

 

[EmpyreanUK]

So how do I get the Music, Photos, Movies, etc. to automatically save on to the 750GB? They seem to be directed to the SSD. Also iPhoto and iMovie seem obsessed w/ building the library on the SSD.

Are you talking about your home directory? (i.e. the folder each user has containing 'Documents', 'Music', 'Downloads' etc.) If so you can change its location. In Snow Leopard the procedure is to go to System Preferences > Accounts, right-click on the user whose home directory location you wish to change, choose 'Advanced Options', and in the new dialogue that appears, change the 'Home directory' to wherever it is you want it to be (on your HDD).

They may have changed the procedure on Lion, but if they have I'm sure it's not radically different.

 

[KScottMyers]

Are you talking about your home directory? (i.e. the folder each user has containing 'Documents', 'Music', 'Downloads' etc.) If so you can change its location. In Snow Leopard the procedure is to go to System Preferences > Accounts, right-click on the user whose home directory location you wish to change, choose 'Advanced Options', and in the new dialogue that appears, change the 'Home directory' to wherever it is you want it to be (on your HDD).

They may have changed the procedure on Lion, but if they have I'm sure it's not radically different.

Yes - its the same process in Lion. Just make sure the "Users & Groups" panel is unlocked to see the advanced options.

 

[shortcut3d]

I have the Apple SSD and its very slow compared to SSDs from OWC (SATA II or SATA III). If it wasn't for value (yes the server with Apple SSD comes in lower than after market for once) I would use the OWC ME Pro 6G like in my i7 MBP. My benchmarking show that the Apple drive is around 191 - 200 MB/s where as the OWC ME Pro 6G is around 560 MB/s and even the OWC ME Pro 3G is 241 - 254 MB/s. In the real world, the MBP is my fastest machine period, handbrake, iMovie, iPhoto, Aperture, etc. Boot is almost like an appliance, near instant on. iPhoto library with several thousand pictures opens way faster than on the iMac with twice the RAM. I know these aren't apples to apples comparisons, but the SSD affects the performance a lot.

Another reason to consider the Apple SSD is that if you are spending considerable time in bootcamp, the performance is not limited by lack of native AHCI support. My mini's are being used as Windows 7 7MC HTPCs. Definitely over kill, but they are faster than Tivos and cost nearly same when you factor in subscriptions. Not to mention you can re-purpose them in the future.

 

[Jamooche]

I have the Apple SSD and its very slow compared to SSDs from OWC (SATA II or SATA III). If it wasn't for value (yes the server with Apple SSD comes in lower than after market for once) I would use the OWC ME Pro 6G like in my i7 MBP. My benchmarking show that the Apple drive is around 191 - 200 MB/s where as the OWC ME Pro 6G is around 560 MB/s and even the OWC ME Pro 3G is 241 - 254 MB/s. In the real world, the MBP is my fastest machine period, handbrake, iMovie, iPhoto, Aperture, etc.

Yeah, I did know the Apple SSDs are slower, but still much much faster than the regular spinning hard drive. My main reason was just to keep the AppleCare intact. I wonder though, if you weren't running benchmarks and timing things to the second, if you'd really notice a difference in day to day regular tasks.

I too was surprised that the Apple SSD is cheaper.