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Kurri

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Mar 6, 2009
401
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Maxed out with a i7, 16ram, fusion drive, are the comparable to the imac's now? or are they different parts? would this run photoshop fine with layers, effects, etc.? Thinking about getting one of these instead of an imac since I have a very nice monitor already and save a little $. Trying to find the downside to these? different ram maybe not as fast? any help?:apple:
 
The CPUs aren't the same. The Mini uses laptop-grade U series processors with dual-core only.

The iMac uses dual or quad core desktop processors (if I'm not mistaken), which are quite a bit more powerful. That's not to say that the Mini processors aren't adequate, though.

RAM and storage are the same to the best of my knowledge. (1600 MHz DDR3 RAM and PCIe storage)
 
The CPUs aren't the same. The Mini uses laptop-grade U series processors with dual-core only.

The iMac uses dual or quad core desktop processors (if I'm not mistaken), which are quite a bit more powerful. That's not to say that the Mini processors aren't adequate, though.

RAM and storage are the same to the best of my knowledge. (1600 MHz DDR3 RAM and PCIe storage)
Several iMac models have mobility CPU also. I think the mainboards between mini and imac are very simliar.

I was going to correct you, but wow, it does use the U processor. This is not just mobility, but ultra low voltage mobility for less power.

The previous generation 2012's use the M series mobility. Within the same generation of CPU, M's have more processing power than the U's, but U's use less power. Both are mobility.
The M's go in the thick and heavy workhorse business machines like the inch think Thinkpads.
The U's go into the thin and lights.

Nothing beats the old 2011 with dedicated gpu and dedicated video mrmory. It's been downhill since then.
 
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Maxed out with a i7, 16ram, fusion drive, are the comparable to the imac's now? or are they different parts? would this run photoshop fine with layers, effects, etc.? Thinking about getting one of these instead of an imac since I have a very nice monitor already and save a little $. Trying to find the downside to these? different ram maybe not as fast? any help?:apple:
iMac with i7
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IMac_(Intel-based)#Slim_Unibody_iMac
21.5inch uses i7-4770S (desktop-quad)
27inch uses i7-4771 (desktop-quad)
27inch retina uses i7-4790K (desktop-quad)

The Mac Mini with i7
i7-4578U (ultra low power laptop, dual)

The mini uses not just 'M' mobility laptop class, but gimped further 'U' ultra low power mobility dual core.

These are not even remotely in the same realm of similarity...
 

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I doubt a maxed out Mac Mini compares to an iMac with an i7 quad-core iMac processor, but I would think that a maxed out Mini would definitely compare to a lower end new iMac. I think the SSD really helps a lot with speed in any case.

I have just purchased the Mac Mini with the specs you mention and it is REALLY fast. I haven't tried out Photoshop yet to be honest but I'd be amazed if it can't handle effects and layers at a decent speed.

Safari is way faster than my old 2007 iMac which had become unbearably slow. All other apps open almost instantly without barely having time to show the bouncing animation in the dock.

The 1TB SSD on the Mini is blazing in my opinion. For the things I do the speed is incredible and I'm really happy I didn't bother going for an iMac this time around. Over the moon with it so far.

Oh, I just noticed you said a Fusion Drive. I actually took the 1TB SSD drive so I don't know if that makes any difference or not compared to the Fusion Drive.
 
thanks for the info. some really good stuff. I appreciate it!
 
thanks for the info. some really good stuff. I appreciate it!

Keep in mind that you might not notice a difference, even in Photoshop.

The i7 Mini still is very fast at most tasks and would do Photoshop just as well. Where the more powerful/quad cores help is generally things that are more intensive yet.

You'll notice lots of people use the 13" MacBook pro for graphic design and Photoshop. They all use dual core U processors.
 
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