Check spec before I buy advice

[SpinalTap]

I suspect one of the drives on my 2009 Mac Mini Server is failing. If so, I can't wait on a possible Mac Mini Haswell model upgrade.

My instinct is to buy a 2012 2.6Ghz i7 with single 256GB SSD. My intention would be to then buy a separate 2.5" 9.5mm HGST Travelstar 5K1500 (1.5TB) drive, to create a large capacity Fusion drive (I want to maintain my existing BootCamp partition on one of the drive's three separate platters).

My understanding is that if I erase the 256GB SSD, install the additional 1.5GB drive, then Disk Utility will flag an error message before asking if I want to initiate a fusion drive installation.

Is this correct?

Or, would I need to enter Terminal to effect Fusion Drive?

 

[blanka]

Moneywise you are better off buying the stock drive and slide in a Samsung 840pro yourself.
I personally like to have all work files on the HD, so no Fusion for me.
And may I ask why Bootcamp? Bootcamp is nice to unleash the full power of a 680MX in an iMac for serious gaming, but with the HD4000 unleashing the "true GPU power" is probably not a goal.
I have my Windows partition floating in a flex-size disk image file, it boots in 10 seconds within OSX, it can access all my working files via shared folders, and I don't have to mess with partitions, reboots or file access troubles.

 

[Karlitr0s]

Bootcamp is nice to unleash the full power of a 680MX in an iMac for serious gaming, but with the HD4000 unleashing the "true GPU power" is probably not a goal.

Forgive me for not knowing this, but are you saying that you'll get the same frame rates for a given game in Windows via Parallels as you would with Bootcamp?

 

[Schnort]

Forgive me for not knowing this, but are you saying that you'll get the same frame rates for a given game in Windows via Parallels as you would with Bootcamp?

No, he's saying that the HD4000 isn't really a decent enough GPU to bootcamp to windows to play a game on because it will still stink (though less).

I'm pretty sure windows via parallels isn't going to give you a decent gaming experience on any hardware.

 

[fredr500]

Why don't you just replace the failing drive with the intention of moving it to a new mini when it gets released?

 

[SpinalTap]

And may I ask why Bootcamp?

My wife is a teacher, and requires use of Windows only programs for her work. I run Parallels off Drive1 on my server, while BootCamp resides on Drive2 (which is accessed by Parallels' 'My BootCamp').

I'm pretty sure windows via parallels isn't going to give you a decent gaming experience on any hardware.

FWIW, CrossOver13 provides native speeds for playing any Windows game - but without requiring a WindowsOS - http://www.codeweavers.com/products/cxgames/

Why don't you just replace the failing drive with the intention of moving it to a new mini when it gets released?

I don't want to 'crack open' the case on my 2009 server for fear of wrecking it/before recycling it.

 

[Schnort]

FWIW, CrossOver13 provides native speeds for playing any Windows game - but without requiring a WindowsOS - http://www.codeweavers.com/products/cxgames/

CrossOver uses Wine as its Windows compatibility mechanism. And Wine most certainly cannot provide "native speeds for playing any Windows Game".

It only supports DirectX9, and adds quite a bit of overhead between the game and the hardware that isn't present when running natively under windows.