He makes a good case if dual core and 8GB is sufficient for the life of the computer. The 2014 also has a better GPU, so yep there are specific scenarios where the 2014 is better.
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Apple Has the i7 Mac Mini In Stock
- Thread starter rmm805
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2014 spec'ed the same as the 2012....$1,228 before taxes....
2012 - $699+$50 for 16GB of Crucial - $749 before taxes
GeekBench 64-bit Multi-core
2012 (2.3) - 11690
2014 (3.0) - 7106
Guess it's worth the additional $500 for some PCIe based storage....not. Not to mention that 1866MHz RAM will run at native speeds in the 2012.
What? I would never pay $1228 for that. I dont buy new, thats stupid with something like a mini.
Also, a 1 tb 5400 RPM drive for $1200+... thats laughable.
2014 mini, 8gb ram, 256 PCI-Express (NOT SATA) and 2.6 i5 + 2 years, 2 months apple care for $600 no tax.
That to me is a better deal, UNLESS you need a quad core like its a life or death situation. The quad core is nearly useless if youve got a 5400 RPM drive.
You spend $700 on the quad core, but wait its actually $749 because of tax (in NC)! But you need to upgrade the ram now so theres another $50. Of course youll need an SSD so we will say $100 for a quality samsung 850 256gb. Plus tax on SSD and RAM.
Now you are at some $909.50 for a mini that has a slower SSD, no wireless AC, only 1 thunderbolt 1 port and no 4K support.
Conversely that 2012 mini has a quad core and 16b ram. So, you must ask yourself is the better multi-core performance worth $300+? Thats quite a bit of cash while also being a 2012 model, and $900 will net you a 4K quad core iMac on ebay.
I dont mean to argue it too much it just seems like a super niche purchase.
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Agreed-- if expandability and power are what you need, the 2012 wins overall. Otherwise, the 2014 is better for 2x Thunderbolt ports, better GPU, and faster SSD support.
Both machines will let you browse the web. One is better at CPU-intensive workloads. The other will allow for faster file transfers. One is more modular. The other will give you better display and wifi support. Just comes down to what someone prioritizes.
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Do you have a link to where you are seeing 5K iMacs with quad-core for $900?
If we're comparing new to new, then the 2012 wins in this case. I wouldn't pay $1228 for that either....
I'm not trying to rude or difficult, I like a good discussion every now and then. If only Apple would follow Intel's lead on their NUCs....this one is quite the piece: http://www.intel.com/buy/us/en/product/components/intel-nuc6i7kyk-515964
[doublepost=1466705179][/doublepost]And out of stock on the 2.3 Quad again...
4k, not 5K. Though bestbuy was selling "refurbished" 5K base imacs for some time around that price. But according to the reviews they were abused trash.
If you watch ebay for about a week youll be able to score a mint 4K iMac for ~$900 using best offer.
If you're comparing purely by specs (and disregarding the other things like I/O and expansion), at the same price point, the 2012 still wins. Some people need 16 GB RAM. If you want that in a 2014, you're going to be paying much more. This is just a result of the way Apple built the 2014. Just showing why some people value the 2012 still.
Yeh, but then you're stuck with that dinky used 21" screen. Personally at the same price point, I would forego that and go for a new 2012 and use whatever monitor I want. That's just me.
Yeh, but then you're stuck with that dinky used 21" screen. Personally at the same price point, I would forego that and go for a new 2012 and use whatever monitor I want. That's just me.
Wrong. I compile apps on my Mini. I've got plenty of available RAM, so I don't really touch long-term storage at all; but the CPU power can make a huge difference (especially the ability to run processes in parallel).
Or, you don't. Depends on how much RAM you really need. (Of course, the true advantage of the 2012 is that you can choose how much RAM you want now, and change it later. Can't do that with a 2014.)
Unless you don't. In which case, you can save some money.
That's true for any Mini -- they are SFF PCs, after all. Then again, all of Apple's desktop products are niche-oriented; Apple gave up on producing a general-purpose desktop computer years ago...
Well I dont know about "dinky" it is a 4k DCI-P3 certified screen! It is physically smaller than I am used to though.
If I could get a very good deal on an SSD version I would probably jump on it but ebay is full of 5400 RPM models people were disappointed with.
My biggest complaint about the 4K....a 5400RPM drive from 2009/2010, like really Apple. HGST does make a 7200RPM variant that keeps up with "real" desktop drives.
The RAM can't be upgraded on the 4K iMac either right? What about the HDD to an SSD?
RAM is soldered. The HDD can be upgraded, iFixIt shows that the base model does not have the SSD slot. Not sure on the higher end models....
EDIT: It appears that the unit must have a Fusion Drive or SSD for it to have the SSD slot. There are separate part numbers for those with SSDs and those with HDDs only.
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Its an ordeal to upgrade it to an SSD since you have to take the screen off and then it doesnt have the PCIe cable on it since it didnt ship with an SSD(or maybe im thinking of the mac mini). So youd be replacing the HDD with a SATA SSD unless you got that cable.
I have heard that some people run an external boot SSD over thunderbolt in an enclosure. That seems to fix the slowness issue.
I think it's just Apple's way of gaming their product line to get more profits, sadly. Unless you're on the low end of the user spectrum or have specific needs, you're going to want some sort of SSD regardless of the machine these days.
It's a nice screen, but just too small for my needs. If I'm going to have a desktop, I say go big or go home
Not worth saving a few bucks for something I'm going to be staring at.
Would you like to see a spreadsheet of the 4.5k profit I turned over last year by clicking a few buttons on apple's website and posting these to a templates eBay listing - signed up for a basic ebay store membership which drastically reduced the eBay fees. So believe me when I say that it was quite easy and took very little effort. The most difficult task was shipping them out, and I just took them to work where we have a daily fedex pickup so I didn't have to deal with that either.
Thanks, but that isnt really relevant right now is it? Prices are not what they were last year. Check sold ebay listings.
And next week, Apple gives all of us 2012-worshippers a big "f-u" and ships a QC bastard-of-a-NUC that can actually do 4K at 60 Hz.
Though, of course, the soldered parts aren't going away. Ever.
Though, of course, the soldered parts aren't going away. Ever.
Next week, Apple give the ultimate "f-u" and discontinue the Mac mini once and for all.