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i5 2.3ghz Mac Mini vs. iMac (2011)

cardude280 said:
as far as i know it should be fine, and thats a very good idea if you don't want to go the external route.
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I don't mind the external route. Just that I purchased 2 HP 2311x monitors a few months back but still contemplating whether or not I want to use dual monitors. Was thinking if I could get a deal on a SATA III SSD that's $1/gb, it would be worth the investment in putting the extra $$$ towards a 256 instead of a 128.

Question regarding external HDD's though, do you just leave your external plugged into your mini all the time? Or do you uplug it when you don't need it, and replug it back in? I never used an external as a main storage device since I had an internal 2TB in my old desktop.
 
Is the crucial M4 128gb for $150 a good deal? Or can I find better?
 
jeremyshaw said:
You may be able to find better with time, however, that is a good deal, as it's standing right now.
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The best deal would basically be around $128 right? I haven't seen anything under $1/gb for the good SSD's.
 
150-160 seems to be the going rate for decent sata6 ssd's and I personally just leave it plugged in all the time sitting under my desk, I even have my steam games installed to it.
 
Thanks for the responses guys! I'm just gonna keep an eye out for a SATA III 128gb over the next few months. Hopefully I can snag a crucial M4 (those seem to get good reviews everywhere) for $1/gb
 
dlim said:
Thanks for the responses guys! I'm just gonna keep an eye out for a SATA III 128gb over the next few months. Hopefully I can snag a crucial M4 (those seem to get good reviews everywhere) for $1/gb
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I have a Mac Mini Core i5 2.3Ghz myself that I bought refurbed by Apple over at the online store and then souped it up with 8Gb of Crucial ram for $39. Then just in luck over Christmas, I got both 60Gb Patriot Pyro and 60Gb OCZ Agility 3 SSDs for $39 each; that's like $80 for both! I had to pay about $100 Canadian to get the iFixit dual drive kit, so I put in both SSDs inside my mini and move the slower 500Gb stock drive into a FW800 enclosure I have sitting around, which I bought also on sale for like $29. The performance is simply phenomenal! Aperture, Photoshop CS 5.5, DXO Optics Pro Elite 7, HDRElite etc and iMovie dealing with HD video clips from my HD cam no problem. The second SSD drive inside the mini is used as a fast scratch read and write drive.
 
dlim said:
Thanks for the responses guys! I'm just gonna keep an eye out for a SATA III 128gb over the next few months. Hopefully I can snag a crucial M4 (those seem to get good reviews everywhere) for $1/gb
Click to expand...

specs for a 128gb crucial m4 a sata III ssd:


SpecificationS
Mfr Part Number: CT128M4SSD2
Capacity: 128 GB
Form Factor: 2.5 inch
Interface: SATA3
NAND Flash: MLC
Performance:
Sequential Read Rate: 415 MB/s (max)
Sequential Write Rate: 175 MB/s (max)
Random 4k Read: 35,000 IOPS
Average Access Time: <0.1 ms
Shock Resistance: 1500G
MTBF: 1,200,000 hours
Data reliability: Built-in EDC/ECC function
Power Comsuption:
Active Power: 150 mW
Idle Power: < 85 mW
Dimensions: 3.95 x 2.75 x 0.37 inch
Weight: 0.17 lbs


specs for a samsung 256gb series 470 a sata II ssd

Performance
Max Sequential Read
Up to 250MB/s
Max Sequential Write
Up to 220MB/s
4KB Random Read
Up to 31,000 IOPS
4KB Random Write
Up to 21,000 IOPS
MTBF
1,500,000 hours



do you realize the most important number is 4kb random read which is 35000 iops for the sata III crucial

and 31000 iops for the sata II samsung? I bring this up if you use the drive for osx they are virtually equal in speed.

I have seen some samsung sata II"s for 250 for a 256gb ssd. just another way to approach buying an ssd for a mac mini. If I had a choice of a 256gb samsunf series 470 or a 128gb crucial m4 in my mini I would use the samsung . Of course you need price points to be 1 a gb.



this samsung is 300 for 256gb not quite low enough.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Samsung-256...aultDomain_0&hash=item43ac9d51dd#ht_980wt_930
 
I would get the Mini over the iMac, but wait a few months for Ivy Bridge. Sandy Bridge seems to run hot, all the mini's I saw in the Mac store were pretty warm! Ivy will run cooler and have better graphics....
 
Personally I would get an iMac over the mini. I prefer one monitor with huge resolution than two monitors and I love the screen even though it is glossy.

If you buy it with Applecare as I always would then it doesn't matter about bits going wrong. Just get it repaired. Then sell it with 6 months Applecare after 2.5 years and it will still be worth a lot.

I have a quad core i7 2011 iMac and it is awesomely fast. No way would I go back to a dual core processor now. iMac with SSD all the way.

Due to the better graphics I can even hook up the imac to a TV with an XBox controller and play games as if it were a console.
 
mankymanning said:
Personally I would get an iMac over the mini. I prefer one monitor with huge resolution than two monitors and I love the screen even though it is glossy.

If you buy it with Applecare as I always would then it doesn't matter about bits going wrong. Just get it repaired. Then sell it with 6 months Applecare after 2.5 years and it will still be worth a lot.

I have a quad core i7 2011 iMac and it is awesomely fast. No way would I go back to a dual core processor now. iMac with SSD all the way.

Due to the better graphics I can even hook up the imac to a TV with an XBox controller and play games as if it were a console.
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I've thought about all that too, as I would of course get Applecare with the iMac. But now I'm leaning towards just picking up a TBD to use with my MBA :]
 
eutexian said:
Are you serious?
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That wasn't a very useful comment. How about some specific examples - Vendor, brand, specs? I ended up buying a samsung if memory serves - a 24" and the display was horrible compared to my 27" imac.. My new Toshiba laptop at work has a horrible screen too. When I researched screens with the same quality and specs as the mac screen it seems to me that it would make no sense to buy a mini and a nice screen (assuming you need both) vs. getting an iMac... The only mini advangate as a "normal" computer is if you already have a screen/mouse/kbd seems to me.....
 
Spinnetti said:
That wasn't a very useful comment. How about some specific examples - Vendor, brand, specs? I ended up buying a samsung if memory serves - a 24" and the display was horrible compared to my 27" imac.. My new Toshiba laptop at work has a horrible screen too. When I researched screens with the same quality and specs as the mac screen it seems to me that it would make no sense to buy a mini and a nice screen (assuming you need both) vs. getting an iMac... The only mini advangate as a "normal" computer is if you already have a screen/mouse/kbd seems to me.....
Click to expand...

Glossy glossy glossy!
For some (myself included) staring at that glossy screen becomes a real strain real quick. On my campuses' computer labs I often walk right past the newer 27" iMacs and sit down in front of the older ones with the matte screens because the glare melts my brain after just a few minutes. I believe the glass also melts the screens as a fair amount of iMacs I've seen all have that yellow tint to them.
Also the new iMacs cannot be used as Target Displays UNLESS what they are connected to are Thunderbolt enabled Macs.

I'd rather get a Mini today and hook it up to a Dell U2410 which has built in Component, Composite, VGA, DVI, HDMI, and MiniDP. 4 years down the road the Mini can sit on the side of my desk and write video all day while the new main machine occupies the monitor/s.
 
Based on what you describe, the least expensive Mini is MORE than you need.
 
I am in a similar position as the individual that started this thread but I don't own any decent sized monitors and I don't have a mac keyboard or mouse. Thus, I would need to buy all of this as well as CD/DVD drive and a godo webcam for ichatting/skyping with my daughter at school.

I also plan to do some video editing - basic stuff associated with digitizing VHS tapes and editing the, afterwards. I am comfortable replacing parts and the like in PCs.

Would you all still recommend a mini? And which one - 2.3 or 2.5ghz? I'll bump the RAM up to 8GB asap as well.

Thanks!
 
HF7035 said:
I am in a similar position as the individual that started this thread but I don't own any decent sized monitors and I don't have a mac keyboard or mouse. Thus, I would need to buy all of this as well as CD/DVD drive and a godo webcam for ichatting/skyping with my daughter at school.

I also plan to do some video editing - basic stuff associated with digitizing VHS tapes and editing the, afterwards. I am comfortable replacing parts and the like in PCs.

Would you all still recommend a mini? And which one - 2.3 or 2.5ghz? I'll bump the RAM up to 8GB asap as well.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

this is harder choice. if you are usa based an imac from the apple online refurbished may be your best choice
look at the link below



http://store.apple.com/us/product/FC309LL/A
 
Thanks. I saw that for $999. I've seen a refurbished base mac mini for $519 and the 2.5 for $699. Price wise, it becomes very close if not more expensive than the Imac since i have "nothing". Part of my concern is that I am patching together a system since I would like the webcam, need the drive, etc.

I know the Imac is faster although it's probably more than I need. My current WIndows stuff is P4 3.06ghz and 3GB Ram with a 4x3 Dell 20inch screen (too small). VERY SLOW (win XP).
 
HF7035 said:
Thanks. I saw that for $999. I've seen a refurbished base mac mini for $519 and the 2.5 for $699. Price wise, it becomes very close if not more expensive than the Imac since i have "nothing". Part of my concern is that I am patching together a system since I would like the webcam, need the drive, etc.

I know the Imac is faster although it's probably more than I need. My current WIndows stuff is P4 3.06ghz and 3GB Ram with a 4x3 Dell 20inch screen (too small). VERY SLOW (win XP).
Click to expand...

in your case if you can deal with the glossy screen the iMac may be a little better fit.
 
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