So the graphics card in the 2011 is expected to be similar performance-wise to the 2010 Mini. If that is the case, should I wait for the new Mini and buy a 2010? Graphics card is my biggest concern as I have a need for a computer to act partially as an HTPC and partially as a gaming computer (only to play Starcraft 2, if being honest, possibly Civ 5). This board has made it seem like the new mini wouldn't really offer anything more, so should I just wait and pay around $100 less on an old one?
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2011 Mini v. 2010 Mini
- Thread starter youarethegovt
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You seem to understand the difference between the current and "to be released model". I personally would wait, as paying that much money for a very weak core2duo is not acceptable, the new i3 or i5's will be a major CPU spec bump. Personally I would take the CPU increase, even if it causes a minuscule decrease in graphics performance.
hope this helps a bit
hope this helps a bit
You seem to understand the difference between the current and "to be released model". I personally would wait, as paying that much money for a very weak core2duo is not acceptable, the new i3 or i5's will be a major CPU spec bump. Personally I would take the CPU increase, even if it causes a minuscule decrease in graphics performance.
hope this helps a bit
It does. I understand the difference, but I would expect, maybe, $100 off on the current 2010 model? Would that work as well for what I want to do?
The 2010 mini will function fine as a HTPC and for light gaming. TBH the 2009 mini wouldn't be too bad either; you'd only lose the HDMI port (so you'd need an adapter) and get a slightly inferior GPU.
Of course there are already refurbished 2010s on the Apple Refurbished Store for $100 off the normal price. Not sure if that's going to decrease when the putative refresh happens.
Of course there are already refurbished 2010s on the Apple Refurbished Store for $100 off the normal price. Not sure if that's going to decrease when the putative refresh happens.
I did not wait and bought the current model earlier this week. I have no regrets.
Primarily two reasons: A couple of years ago I bought the last Lenovo T61P (the flagship model of the Thinkpads, it was the end of the T61p). Later I discovered that the initial T61p were plagued with GPU issues when used for gaming (overheating) and that it took Lenovo something like 9 months to acknowledge it. It was only towards the end of the production run that they did replace the motherboards of those machines that were affected / users complained about. My machine was build with this redesigned motherboard and has never given any issues (touch wood). I've always been a late adapter and it has served me well.
The second reason is the Thunderbird connection. I see the potential of it going the same way as Firewire but at least at this moment the firewire 800 accessories are far cheaper.
Primarily two reasons: A couple of years ago I bought the last Lenovo T61P (the flagship model of the Thinkpads, it was the end of the T61p). Later I discovered that the initial T61p were plagued with GPU issues when used for gaming (overheating) and that it took Lenovo something like 9 months to acknowledge it. It was only towards the end of the production run that they did replace the motherboards of those machines that were affected / users complained about. My machine was build with this redesigned motherboard and has never given any issues (touch wood). I've always been a late adapter and it has served me well.
The second reason is the Thunderbird connection. I see the potential of it going the same way as Firewire but at least at this moment the firewire 800 accessories are far cheaper.
If apple puts at least a 2.5 dual core/4 thread processor in the new mini, then it will worth getting a new one provided the price doesnt go any higher. Otherwise grab a 2010 or a 2009 if you dont need hdmi. Other issue on the new ones is lion. If your software isnt updated for lion, your screwed.
Thank you for your kind words - must be that I am getting old and returning to memories from when I was a child
(Thunderbird was a favourite series). However you are almost correct: after 20 odd years I am returning to Unix (SCO Unix and Sun Sparc, later Solaris).
I wouldn't be surprised to see a base model with 4GB RAM, smaller hard drive and low-end i3 for $599. Maybe even less. If you want more fast storage you would have to get a Thunderbolt drive (which Apple definitely wants people to do).
That would be quite the marketing coup for Apple, but I don't know if they want to go in that direction.
it'll have to come with 4GB if it ships with Lion.
And the HDD it gets will purely be down to whats most cost efficient to put in. 320GB/500GB I don't really mind. I'd be tempted to put a tiny SSD in there just to keep it as silent as possible. 64GB would be fine.
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The 2010 mini is excellent as a HTPC. I am using one now. Maxing out the RAM is a good idea.
Graphics wise it functions perfectly for 1080P movies.
It serves all my media around the house from a drobo.
The mini will have a better processor but its graphics are quite a concern.
Graphics wise it functions perfectly for 1080P movies.
It serves all my media around the house from a drobo.
The mini will have a better processor but its graphics are quite a concern.
2GB is the minimum amount of RAM required. Generally you need to double the required RAM to get a pleasant experience (unless you don't want to run multiple apps at once or memory hungry apps) with a new OS. Snow Leopard requires 1GB RAM, yet when Apple released new Macs to use that they included a minimum of 2GB RAM.
The 2011 Mini should be much more future proof than the 2010 Mini. It'll possibly support 16GB RAM (even if Apple doesn't offer this configuration) and should have a much faster CPU.
When Mac Mini's are refreshed, don't they always match the same base processor/RAM/graphics as whatever the current base 13" MBP is at that time? I am expecting that a refreshed Mac Mini will have the same 2.3 GHz i5 with 4GB RAM and the Intel HD3000 graphics. Probably going to sell for $699 as well.
Much thanks. I'll wait till mid August and if nothing has surfaced, I'll pull the trigger on a 2010 model.
Soooo...if I have an iMac, I can still play Starcraft on my new mini because it can share the optical drive? Sorry for the newb questions.