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I pulled the trigger...

C

Cape Dave

Contributor
Original poster
Nov 16, 2012
2,459
1,787
Northeast
Core i7, 16GB, 512 SSD, Apple Care.

I'll sell my current mini with 512GB Vector, 16GB Ram and core i7 2.3 for maybe around $1100 and that way the new one will cost me about $900.

For the next 2 years until the next mini update I should be fine. If I suddenly wake up one day and find I am a Videographer, I'll move it over to a media center and get the nMPro :)

My plan is to leave this as a sealed unit for as long as possible unless or until PCIe SSD's get reasonable and faster. In the mean time I will backup to my external 512GB Crucial MX100 and be very happy.

I love the mini.

I have looked at EVERY possible small computer out there including build my own and Windows and Mac,and for now, although not a perfect upgrade, I think it will bring me much joy over the next year or 2. But for someone who requires SPEED and SILENCE, the mini is the best thing out there still. Maybe not by much, but still the best.

If Apple comes out with a Skylake in 6 months, you can thank me because it was probably this purchase that helped finance Skylake :)

I obsessed over every possible detail and although I wanted the 1TB SSD, could not bring myself to pony up for it. Way too $$$.
 
Ahhhhhh. Man you are gonna regret not getting the 1TB SSD. Especially at those bargain prices.
 
Mcdevidr said:
Ahhhhhh. Man you are gonna regret not getting the 1TB SSD. Especially at those bargain prices.
Click to expand...

Bargain prices? Where? And why would I regret it? I could never fill it up, and I could update at some point in the future if I really had to, yes?
 
It's a joke. The prices for upgrading the drives are ridiculous. I am just getting the base model and upgrading the drive myself after warranty. Just gonna use it as a plex server and for crash plan back up. Yours should be awesome.

On another note I would have gotten what you got if I didn't get a 13.3 rMbp.
 
Mcdevidr said:
It's a joke. The prices for upgrading the drives are ridiculous. I am just getting the base model and upgrading the drive myself after warranty. Just gonna use it as a plex server and for crash plan back up. Yours should be awesome.

On another note I would have gotten what you got if I didn't get a 13.3 rMbp.
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LOL, I get it now :) Crash Plan is way cool. And so is an rMbp, congrats! I really wanted a Rentina iMac but hate all in ones more than I do low resolution. And that really says something becasue I REALLY hate low res. Oh well, maybe a monitor will come along that looks good and that the new mini can drive.

I hope Apple hurries the hell up with the next update. I could easily move this over to a media server and get the nice new quad core fanless magic mini :)
 
Cape Dave said:
LOL, I get it now :) Crash Plan is way cool. And so is an rMbp, congrats! I really wanted a Rentina iMac but hate all in ones more than I do low resolution. And that really says something becasue I REALLY hate low res. Oh well, maybe a monitor will come along that looks good and that the new mini can drive.

I hope Apple hurries the hell up with the next update. I could easily move this over to a media server and get the nice new quad core fanless magic mini :)
Click to expand...

I think you'll be very happy with your purchase. The PCI-E SSDs are fast as snot on a hot plate and immune to Apple's possible future breaking of TRIM on aftermarket SSDs, which *is* important.
 
BJonson said:
Seriously? Congrats on the downgrade.
Click to expand...

I keep feeling like someday the internet will learn that what is best for one person isn't always whats best for another. I keep being disappointed when it doesn't.

Something about posting in a forum or in a comment section makes people think they are the only consumer on Earth and that there is only one set of use scenarios.

If everyone used their computer the same way with the same priorities, there would be only one computer with one kind of CPU.

Just an example - I recently 'downgraded' my girlfriend's desktop from a GTX 780 to a GTX 750Ti. Why? She didn't need it. I used to use it as a backup gaming PC, but I didn't use it for that anymore. What she needed more was silence and low power use. I sold the 780 Ti, bought the 750 Ti, and pocketed the difference. The only reason I didn't just do iGPU was her mobo didn't have display port out and that was a need for 1440p on her monitor.

Please, internet, PLEASE remember its not all about you, your needs, your opinions, your use case. We live in a wide world with people having all kinds of crazy wants/needs for their stuff.

THINK DIFFERENT!
 
torquer said:
I keep feeling like someday the internet will learn that what is best for one person isn't always whats best for another. I keep being disappointed when it doesn't.

Something about posting in a forum or in a comment section makes people think they are the only consumer on Earth and that there is only one set of use scenarios.

If everyone used their computer the same way with the same priorities, there would be only one computer with one kind of CPU.

Just an example - I recently 'downgraded' my girlfriend's desktop from a GTX 780 to a GTX 750Ti. Why? She didn't need it. I used to use it as a backup gaming PC, but I didn't use it for that anymore. What she needed more was silence and low power use. I sold the 780 Ti, bought the 750 Ti, and pocketed the difference. The only reason I didn't just do iGPU was her mobo didn't have display port out and that was a need for 1440p on her monitor.

Please, internet, PLEASE remember its not all about you, your needs, your opinions, your use case. We live in a wide world with people having all kinds of crazy wants/needs for their stuff.

THINK DIFFERENT!
Click to expand...

Thats a great story but the 2014 is half as slow as a 2012 quad and both make no noises. I think the 17watt power draw difference is negated by the fact the 2012 works twice as fast. But heh, thanks for the post.
 
BJonson said:
Thats a great story but the 2014 is half as slow as a 2012 quad and both make no noises. I think the 17watt power draw difference is negated by the fact the 2012 works twice as fast. But heh, thanks for the post.
Click to expand...

Well technically you're wrong. If you were talking about a 2.3 dual core from the same generation with half the cache then you would be correct.

He opted for the i7, which is 700MHz faster and you gain 8-10% in IPC from the generation change. I'd guess its more like 25-35% slower assuming you're looking purely at a thread limited application(s).

Obviously he felt the benefits of the 2014 outweighed the reduction in total theoretical multithreaded performance. One man's downgrade is another man's upgrade.

Man I'd hate to live in a world where there was only one version of every single thing. One kind of house, one kind of car, one kind of computer. Puke.
 
torquer said:
Well technically you're wrong. If you were talking about a 2.3 dual core from the same generation with half the cache then you would be correct.

He opted for the i7, which is 700MHz faster and you gain 8-10% in IPC from the generation change. I'd guess its more like 25-35% slower assuming you're looking purely at a thread limited application(s).

Obviously he felt the benefits of the 2014 outweighed the reduction in total theoretical multithreaded performance. One man's downgrade is another man's upgrade.

Man I'd hate to live in a world where there was only one version of every single thing. One kind of house, one kind of car, one kind of computer. Puke.
Click to expand...


Huh? He is paying $900 for a slower machine (if I read that right, going from a quad 2.3ghz to a 2014) and that my friend is a poor decision no matter what hes saving in electricity which will never approach $900. Sorry but you are dead wrong. The going from a 2012 to a 2014 is every mans downgrade. $2,000 for a mac mini. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
 
If it sucks, I'll do what everyone else does, I'll return it. But since I am not in any way shape or form hung up on cores, I think it will be substantially faster for what I do.

It think it does hyperthread, so I can fantasize about 4 cores if I feel the need.

I am fairly new to Apple, and believe me, I considered EVERY possible option available to me at this time up to a retina iMac. BUt at the end of the day it was these factors that helped me pull the trigger:

Much faster SSD.

Faster CPU. Clock wise.

Faster graphics.

T bolt 2, for what I do not know but possible future proofing.

TRIM

The fact I know it and love it.

The fact my cat knows it and loves it as a heater (I have photos to prove this)

The fact it is SILENT. As silent as any computer I have ever used/seen/built/owned.

The fact that I can run OSX. I like Windows, and I bet Win 10 will be awesome. But you know, I have come to really like OSX. And no other computer can run it. So building my own Win 10 machine was not in the picture. Hackintoshes do not count because they are inherently unstable.

Time will tell.

I am not worried. I do what I want to do. I considered leaving this forum because of the insanity over the latest mini upgrade. It was embarrassing. But in the end the good friendly folks and great knowledge won out :)

I am still here.

And I think there is just a touch of irony that it might very well arrive on... Halloween :)
 
Cape Dave said:
If it sucks, I'll do what everyone else does, I'll return it. But since I am not in any way shape or form hung up on cores, I think it will be substantially faster for what I do.

It think it does hyperthread, so I can fantasize about 4 cores if I feel the need.

I am fairly new to Apple, and believe me, I considered EVERY possible option available to me at this time up to a retina iMac. BUt at the end of the day it was these factors that helped me pull the trigger:

Much faster SSD.

Faster CPU. Clock wise.

Faster graphics.

T bolt 2, for what I do not know but possible future proofing.

TRIM

The fact I know it and love it.

The fact my cat knows it and loves it as a heater (I have photos to prove this)

The fact it is SILENT. As silent as any computer I have ever used/seen/built/owned.

The fact that I can run OSX. I like Windows, and I bet Win 10 will be awesome. But you know, I have come to really like OSX. And no other computer can run it. So building my own Win 10 machine was not in the picture. Hackintoshes do not count because they are inherently unstable.

Time will tell.

I am not worried. I do what I want to do. I considered leaving this forum because of the insanity over the latest mini upgrade. It was embarrassing. But in the end the good friendly folks and great knowledge won out :)

I am still here.

And I think there is just a touch of irony that it might very well arrive on... Halloween :)
Click to expand...

Ignore the internet noise from trolls and immature miscreants trying to rain on your parade. You work for your money, you made a decision based on your needs. Who the hell cares what I or any other iDiot on the internet thinks?

When we start paying your bills, we can start dictating your buying choices.
 
Cape Dave said:
If it sucks, I'll do what everyone else does, I'll return it. But since I am not in any way shape or form hung up on cores, I think it will be substantially faster for what I do.

It think it does hyperthread, so I can fantasize about 4 cores if I feel the need.

I am fairly new to Apple, and believe me, I considered EVERY possible option available to me at this time up to a retina iMac. BUt at the end of the day it was these factors that helped me pull the trigger:

Much faster SSD.

Faster CPU. Clock wise.

Faster graphics.

T bolt 2, for what I do not know but possible future proofing.

TRIM

The fact I know it and love it.

The fact my cat knows it and loves it as a heater (I have photos to prove this)

The fact it is SILENT. As silent as any computer I have ever used/seen/built/owned.

The fact that I can run OSX. I like Windows, and I bet Win 10 will be awesome. But you know, I have come to really like OSX. And no other computer can run it. So building my own Win 10 machine was not in the picture. Hackintoshes do not count because they are inherently unstable.

Time will tell.

I am not worried. I do what I want to do. I considered leaving this forum because of the insanity over the latest mini upgrade. It was embarrassing. But in the end the good friendly folks and great knowledge won out :)

I am still here.

And I think there is just a touch of irony that it might very well arrive on... Halloween :)
Click to expand...


Cool. In that case I have a sweet video for you.

LOL.
 
torquer said:
Ignore the internet noise from trolls and immature miscreants trying to rain on your parade. You work for your money, you made a decision based on your needs. Who the hell cares what I or any other iDiot on the internet thinks?

When we start paying your bills, we can start dictating your buying choices.
Click to expand...

Amen. Precisely. Life is too short not to please myself.

And hey, if I am wrong, and it is a slow pig, believe me I will have Apple pick it up :) But I do not think I will be wrong at all.
 
Cape Dave said:
Amen. Precisely. Life is too short not to please myself.

And hey, if I am wrong, and it is a slow pig, believe me I will have Apple pick it up :) But I do not think I will be wrong at all.
Click to expand...

Well I have one unlike the haters and its quite fast for everything I do, much more so than my 2.3 i5 from 2011.

Congrats on thinking for yourself and making up your own mind rather than following the sheep who would suppose to tell you what to do, what to think, and how to feel.
 
torquer said:
Well I have one unlike the haters and its quite fast for everything I do, much more so than my 2.3 i5 from 2011.

Congrats on thinking for yourself and making up your own mind rather than following the sheep who would suppose to tell you what to do, what to think, and how to feel.
Click to expand...

Roger that. I have been using computer for 25 years and the mini comes as close the the perfect computer for me as I have ever seen.

I wanted an 8 core dual video 8 lane PCIe SSD 32GB mini upgrade as much as the next guy. But it didn't happen. Many of my other hopes and dreams, usually involving 25 year old blondes do not happen either. Somehow I must manage to get on with my life :)
 
I agree, ignore the people that just want to complain. That machine is fine and will be fast. Yea crash plan is great. I want a retina iMac but can't drop 2900 on a computer right now. That is probably going to be my next computer unless apple comes out with a solution for laptop and screen. I hope the base mini can run plex and crash plan for a few years.
 
Cape Dave said:
Many of my other hopes and dreams, usually involving 25 year old blondes do not happen either. Somehow I must manage to get on with my life :)
Click to expand...

You know there a places you can get those right? Don't give up man.
 
Surrounded by those at my college which features a 65% ratio of women. They are off limits however.
 
With so many upgrades in your future... You should have just gone with the Mac Pro and been done with it. The new one will probably be fine for your needs although likely it's not going to be faster. Next upgrade is Broadwell.
 
You're right apple should drop every solution but Mac pro and that expensive sharp screen. One size fits all starting at 5949.

Oops. Make that 6449
 
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