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I don't understand that refurb Mac Mini deal

F

FrenchPB

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Sep 15, 2005
389
0
Hey all,

Just saw the following Mac Mini on the French apple store :

Mac mini 2,5 GHz bicœur Intel Core i5 reconditionné
4 Go de mémoire

Disque dur de 500 Go

Port Thunderbolt avec prise en charge de résolutions jusqu'à 2 560 x 1 600 pixels
Port HDMI avec prise en charge de résolutions jusqu’à 1 920 x 1 200 pixels
AMD Radeon HD 6630M


Price is 579 euros, with the mention "save 220 euros (27%)". However, when I chech the prices, that same model is sold at 629 euros on the regular store, which means the deal on the apple store is only 50 euros, not 220.

Why is it written save 220 euros then ?
 
That was the mid level 2011 unit selling for $799. That also threw me off when I was debating which model to get.

Anyways, I know there was a thread a year ago debating whether to get the mid level 2011 or the entry level 2012. If I can get a mid-level 2011 (with AMD) and 8GB RAM for $500, would you recommend that over getting a new entry level 2012 for $549? I'm really confused. I'm upgrading a mid-2007 iMac and mostly use the computer for web-browsing.
 
jetblast said:
That was the mid level 2011 unit selling for $799. That also threw me off when I was debating which model to get.

Anyways, I know there was a thread a year ago debating whether to get the mid level 2011 or the entry level 2012. If I can get a mid-level 2011 (with AMD) and 8GB RAM for $500, would you recommend that over getting a new entry level 2012 for $549? I'm really confused. I'm upgrading a mid-2007 iMac and mostly use the computer for web-browsing.
Click to expand...

i'd say that the mid 2011 model is much better than the entry 2012. both run i5s but the dGPU in the 2011 is much better than the HD4000. That being said the mid 2012 the quad i7 is much better thann the mid 2011 for CPU intensive tasks. so it really depends on what you plan to use it for. If more for video stuff the 2011 wins if more for CPU stuff get a refurb 2012 i7 quad…. :D

good luck :D
 
Which Mini to get for HTPC use ?
I want to be able to display 1080p high quality video files with DTS sound and eventually, 3D.

Would that be a CPU-intensive task ?
How much RAM would I need for that ?
 
FrenchPB said:
Which Mini to get for HTPC use ?
I want to be able to display 1080p high quality video files with DTS sound and eventually, 3D.

Would that be a CPU-intensive task ?
How much RAM would I need for that ?
Click to expand...

for that purpose either would do just fine. I am running my MBP 13" i5 HD4000 8 gig ram (same config as a base mode mac mini) as a htpc with a 50" Samsung LED TV and have no problem outputting 1080p or 3D movies, all running great. With ML i get my fan running up quite fast but with MAV that does not happen. If i were you though and if HTPC is the only need you have i'd go with the 2011 as the GPU there is better. Get 8 or 16 gig ram but i wouldn't buy apple ram get corsair sicks. you can get 16 gig for 180 CAD or so online amazon/newegg. If you do go with the 2012 mini and decide to upgrade the ram yourself i would avoid OWC ram as i have been seeing people hiving issues with OWC ram and black screen on 2012 mini. Those have ben resolved when switching to different ram manufacturer. also from what i understand that is not an issue at all on the 2011 so there is another reason to get the 2011.
 
mvmanolov said:
i'd say that the mid 2011 model is much better than the entry 2012. both run i5s but the dGPU in the 2011 is much better than the HD4000. That being said the mid 2012 the quad i7 is much better thann the mid 2011 for CPU intensive tasks. so it really depends on what you plan to use it for. If more for video stuff the 2011 wins if more for CPU stuff get a refurb 2012 i7 quad…. :D

good luck :D
Click to expand...

Thanks! I just landed that i5 2.5 2011 model on eBay for $449. I'll buy some RAM and call it a day. The 2012 model I have now is going back to Best Buy. I doubt I'll notice that much of a difference in anything, but psychologically, I have NEVER purchased a new Apple product (and I have about 12) and did not want to make the Mini the first one, especially with these specs. I'll report back once it arrives.
 
jetblast said:
Thanks! I just landed that i5 2.5 2011 model on eBay for $449. I'll buy some RAM and call it a day. The 2012 model I have now is going back to Best Buy. I doubt I'll notice that much of a difference in anything, but psychologically, I have NEVER purchased a new Apple product (and I have about 12) and did not want to make the Mini the first one, especially with these specs. I'll report back once it arrives.
Click to expand...

congrats. 499 is a pretty good deal. the 2011 will do all you want just fine, personally i need the cpu power so i'm ordering the 2.6 i7 next week.

what TV are you going to run with yours?
 
mvmanolov said:
congrats. 499 is a pretty good deal. the 2011 will do all you want just fine, personally i need the cpu power so i'm ordering the 2.6 i7 next week.

what TV are you going to run with yours?
Click to expand...

It was $449. Its going to be used as an every day computer, so 27" HP IPS is what I picked up for now. Still looking for a 1440p display though.
 
This just shows the demand for the Mini to have a BTO option for a nice GPU.

The weak GPU is the main thing holding back the Mini from a lot of potential use cases.
 
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