I'm running Windows 8.1.1 on my 2012 2.3 i7 mini. It runs really smooth. Given that Windows has run snappier and more responsive than OSX on every one of my Macs I can report that Windows is almost as responsive as Mavericks is on the mini. Mavericks is running on a 960GB Crucial M500 SSD. Windows boots off the crappy OEM 5400 rpm HDD.
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If you gave up waiting, what else did you get?
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I'm running Windows 8.1.1 on my 2012 2.3 i7 mini. It runs really smooth. Given that Windows has run snappier and more responsive than OSX on every one of my Macs I can report that Windows is almost as responsive as Mavericks is on the mini. Mavericks is running on a 960GB Crucial M500 SSD. Windows boots off the crappy OEM 5400 rpm HDD.
I got an 11" MBA to put in the role I wanted a Mac Mini for... an uncomplicated, relatively inexpensive Mac to plug into a monitor and sound system I already have. MBA plus stand hiding behind the monitor does the trick.
It doesn't matter to me that the 11" MBA is so small because I will rarely be using that screen anyway.
I already had the bluetooth keyboard and Magic Trackpad ready to go. Works great.
It doesn't matter to me that the 11" MBA is so small because I will rarely be using that screen anyway.
I already had the bluetooth keyboard and Magic Trackpad ready to go. Works great.
In theory .. and in use, what advantage does this have over the current (2012) Mini, if any?
There are a couple advantages that fit my use case. CPU speed wasn't a huge priority because I won't be doing CPU intense tasks on this machine. I have other computers for that. Mostly web surfing, etc. Because of that, I want a responsive desktop experience. That means SSD storage.
The MB Air has the fast PCIe SSD. If you get the Mini with the SSD then it will be more expensive than the base Air and it will have a slower SATA SDD.
The MB Air has a newer video chipset than the Mini.
The Mini will have a faster CPU (I think). The Mini also has more USB ports.
The MB Air has the fast PCIe SSD. If you get the Mini with the SSD then it will be more expensive than the base Air and it will have a slower SATA SDD.
The MB Air has a newer video chipset than the Mini.
The Mini will have a faster CPU (I think). The Mini also has more USB ports.
Funny when 90% of Aperture's features will be integrated into Photos.
Even funnier that you mention the apparent "lack of interest" in the mini from Apple. Didn't Apple not update the mini in 08? Meaning this is a repeat of 07 to 09.
Any body interested in a Hackintosh I5 NUC with Iris 5000 see :
http://www.tonymacx86.com/user-buil...well-i5-4250u-nuc-boxd54250wykh1-8gb-ram.html
Sounds like a nice build.
http://www.tonymacx86.com/user-buil...well-i5-4250u-nuc-boxd54250wykh1-8gb-ram.html
Sounds like a nice build.
I wanted a mini with updated graphics badly. But it never came out. I tried an iMac 27 inch for a while but didn't suit me. I tried a 15 RMBP but spending 2k on a laptop made no sense. So then I tried a smaller iMac 21.5 to wait it out for a new mini. I then moved to a brix pro system with windows. And eventually I stopped being dumb and thought about what I wanted. I wanted to play games some windows only and I wanted a machine to store all my media.
So I then got rod of the idea of a small box and built a custom tower. I put an i7 4790, a NVIDIA gtx 750ti (I don't do any crazy gaming) I got a crucial mx100 256gb SSD and I had a 2TB drive for my media. Set it all up and its great. Everything internal no crazy wire mess. I will be updating to a 4tb drive soon and that's it.
Maybe if they update the mini ill get one for hopefully a new 4k TV and ill steam stream my games to it.
So I then got rod of the idea of a small box and built a custom tower. I put an i7 4790, a NVIDIA gtx 750ti (I don't do any crazy gaming) I got a crucial mx100 256gb SSD and I had a 2TB drive for my media. Set it all up and its great. Everything internal no crazy wire mess. I will be updating to a 4tb drive soon and that's it.
Maybe if they update the mini ill get one for hopefully a new 4k TV and ill steam stream my games to it.
I bought a used 2011 model. The funny thing is, it's the exact same specs as todays base model, except for a more recent processor (i5-2.5GHz, but different generation) and I get 8gb ram instead of 4.
I have no doubt the upcoming model will be better than the one I bought, but I got it for half the price, and a mini in my hand is better than a better mini in "the bush".
Edit: Oh, and an AMD graphics card instead of Intel integrated.
I have no doubt the upcoming model will be better than the one I bought, but I got it for half the price, and a mini in my hand is better than a better mini in "the bush".
Edit: Oh, and an AMD graphics card instead of Intel integrated.
Any body interested in a Hackintosh I5 NUC with Iris 5000 see :
http://www.tonymacx86.com/user-buil...well-i5-4250u-nuc-boxd54250wykh1-8gb-ram.html
Sounds like a nice build.
I am actually leaning to this with a Hackintosh build. There was a roadmap leaked not that long ago suggesting broadwell would come to these for late 2014. Since you can bring your own components that Apple charges up the rear for (RAM, SSD), it seems very powerful and cost effective if you can live with a dual core. I also like that it has displayport 1.2...
It's a worth a try once in your life
I added a drive to my pc and turned it into a hackintosh just for fun. It works so well and it's so fast that I enjoy being back on the desktop more than I did before.
Well, with the Broadwell news suggesting the parts the Mac Minis need may be delayed as much as July next year, I'm now looking at the hackintosh route.
Anyone running a Zotac ZBox with a Haswell i7 as a hacktinosh? I'm curious to know what compatibility is like; I don't really need wireless so as long as ethernet, USB and displays work it could be a viable option if Apple is determined to remain silent
Anyone running a Zotac ZBox with a Haswell i7 as a hacktinosh? I'm curious to know what compatibility is like; I don't really need wireless so as long as ethernet, USB and displays work it could be a viable option if Apple is determined to remain silent
Take a look at this FYI Hackintosh.
Dedicated graphics I5GTX760 Brix with excellent video from Newegg.
http://www.tonymacx86.com/general-hardware-discussion/136533-brix-gaming-i5g760-testing-thread.html
I somehow figure that is not a quiet machine. Any experience with sound levels?
they claim in the comments it's a lot more quite with the dedicated graphics .
Fan on CPU and Fan on DGPu
From my reading the i5 isn't too bad with both noise and heat. The i7 models are the bad ones .
Hmm, those are some good results; today I've actually been trying to investigate how hard it would be to buy a Brix Pro (or this) and simply move the components to another case with better cooling; they really shouldn't make those so small as it leaves them with tiny, noisy fans. The Brix Pro seems like it'd be really easy to do as it has a heatsink with a blower on top, just remove the blower (looks to be PWM) and swap for a big traditional fan with a grille or vent over it and the thing should run much cooler and quieter. I imagine the same could apply to the gaming versions, except if they have a ribbon cable the GPU could be spaced out in a wider case.
I might be crazy, but I think I'm about ready to just bite the bullet and spend $999 to get the i7 and the 256sd. Have no clue where to start building a hachintosh.
keep a eye out on the refurb site. they sometimes have them at a good savings.
I have true sympathy for those stuck in this waiting game as I too was thinking I wanted to wait for Haswell, but decided to get the i7 2.3 Mini. That was 16 months ago and I can't imagine how disappointed I'd be if I had waited. For me, I really wanted to move to the next OS X version and couldn't with my 2009 Mini so the choice was made. BTW, I'm really happy with it, but right now, I'd wait. If for some reason you have need to run Yosemite (say to run Xcode) there's an i5 Mini on the refurb store for $500 that I'm pretty sure you could sell in a few months for $400.
I caved and did what I said I wouldn't. But I'm pretty happy with my decision for my usage.
I've been waiting on the new mini planning on grabbing an updated i7 with 16GB RAM. But I walked out of Best Buy with a new 13" rMBP in the 8GB/256GB config. Added a 4TB USB 3.0 drive for media and storage, and she runs like a champ at the desk running dual monitors and the external drive, and has the portability when on the go
While I could have gotten more for the buck with the mini, this thing is an engineering achievement to marvel.
I also had my old Dell Precision T3400 from 2007 hackintoshed for a while, but nothing beats a real
as far as stability goes. But it can be a fun learning experience.
I've been waiting on the new mini planning on grabbing an updated i7 with 16GB RAM. But I walked out of Best Buy with a new 13" rMBP in the 8GB/256GB config. Added a 4TB USB 3.0 drive for media and storage, and she runs like a champ at the desk running dual monitors and the external drive, and has the portability when on the go
While I could have gotten more for the buck with the mini, this thing is an engineering achievement to marvel.
I also had my old Dell Precision T3400 from 2007 hackintoshed for a while, but nothing beats a real
as far as stability goes. But it can be a fun learning experience.
I don't understand, why could you not move to the next operating system with your 2009 mini 16 months ago?
My 2009 mini runs Mavericks like a champ.
Was going to buy ~10 Mac Minis for home automation/media streaming if they were going to be updated. Got tired of waiting.
Going to wash my hands of iTunes/Apple media and get a Kaleidescape system.
Completely ridicules I cannot get an update Mac Mini or AppleTV.
And the sad thing is I ***really really really*** want to invest in upgrading my current Mac Mini infrastructure. However, I have come to the point where I need to buy home automation products (or products alone) from a manufacturer who has a clear upgrade path and continues to push it.
Going to wash my hands of iTunes/Apple media and get a Kaleidescape system.
Completely ridicules I cannot get an update Mac Mini or AppleTV.
And the sad thing is I ***really really really*** want to invest in upgrading my current Mac Mini infrastructure. However, I have come to the point where I need to buy home automation products (or products alone) from a manufacturer who has a clear upgrade path and continues to push it.
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