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Mac mini configuration: i7 / 16GB / 256 flash storage / Iris

L

lasniko

macrumors member
Original poster
May 24, 2015
97
6
Hi there,

I would like to ask your opinion about how future proof do you find this mini configuration (i7 / 16GB Ram / 256 flash storage / Iris )?

It is mostly used for coding, office tasks, photo editing (not heavy mainly lightroom), 1080p rendering (using Adobe After Effects but not very often), gaming (mainly CoD :p ) and of course daily tasks like browsing the internet etc.

Thank you!
 
Macs become obsolete when Apple stops porting the latest operating system to them. When that happens, software vendors stop writing updates for the machine, and all the software on it becomes frozen. Presently the oldest mini that runs OS 10.10 (Yosemite) is the macmini3,1 introduced in early 2009, or six years ago. The present macmini7.x will probably last as long. Macs become partially obsolete when Apple introduces new connectivity hardware---imagine thunderbolt 3 or some new wireless syncing system for your iphone or whatever. This can happen at any time, but the older machines are still fine but minus the new gizmo. I should mention that Apple has a hard policy of stocking replacement parts for seven (7) years. After that, no more parts, but you shouldn't need them anyway.
 
lasniko said:
Hi there,

I would like to ask your opinion about how future proof do you find this mini configuration (i7 / 16GB Ram / 256 flash storage / Iris )?

It is mostly used for coding, office tasks, photo editing (not heavy mainly lightroom), 1080p rendering (using Adobe After Effects but not very often), gaming (mainly CoD :p ) and of course daily tasks like browsing the internet etc.

Thank you!
Click to expand...

Don't bother with the i7, it's only 5% more powerful than the 2.7GHz i5 at best, because the i7 is only a dual core part, just like the i5.

Stick to the i5/8GB/256GB configuration. You'll be happy with that.

You might also want to consider a 1TB FD instead, which works almost as fast as an SSD. Personally, I'd stick with the 256GB SSD for pure speed and reliability.
 
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yjchua95 said:
Don't bother with the i7, it's only 5% more powerful than the 2.7GHz i5 at best, because the i7 is only a dual core part, just like the i5.

Stick to the i5/8GB/256GB configuration. You'll be happy with that.

You might also want to consider a 1TB FD instead, which works almost as fast as an SSD. Personally, I'd stick with the 256GB SSD for pure speed and reliability.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the info. I didn't know that there is no substantial difference between the two CPUs (i7 and i5).
 
DynaFXD said:
IMO, buy for what you need _today_. Don't worry about tomorrow. Focus on today. A million things may happen to derail your carefully laid plans.
Click to expand...
I agree with this in principal... with the caveat that a 1-2 year "plan" often makes sense.

When I see people talking about "future proofing" 5 or more years, or buying for resale value, that's doesn't make sense to me. I've seen it happen a million times, and it's a TERRIBLE approach.
 
ixxx69 and DynaFXD you have a point for sure. However sometimes it is a good idea to have a plan just in case. As ixxx69 said a 2 year plan is a good idea :)
 
lasniko said:
ixxx69 and DynaFXD you have a point for sure. However sometimes it is a good idea to have a plan just in case. As ixxx69 said a 2 year plan is a good idea :)
Click to expand...

Why not make a fusion drive with the 256 SSD and a 1TB Spinner. More space, the same speed and small extra cost.
 
The fusion drive upgrade mentioned above -IS- your best option at extending the overall life of the computer.

It will make a NOTICEABLE improvement in performance, now and in the future.
(of course, you wouldn't actually "notice" it unless you had used one with a platter-based drive beforehand!)
 
I'd have to agree that the i7 sounds like a stretch to argue that it's a value for future proofing. With the number of Apple devices I have to keep up to date (eight including phones, iPads and computers) I look at things from cost per year of ownership point of view. Usually I use them until they are obsolete. As an example: 2007 MacBook, $1200/8yr = $150/yr. If you were to do the same with a Mac Mini and try to justify the $300 price for the i7 upgrade, you would need to get two more years of life out of it and I don't think that's going to happen. Alternately, you could sell it four years in. Assuming you should only expect to get half your upgrade price back (or less), that would translate to $150 on the resale market. Maybe. To me, the performance bump isn't worth it.
 
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