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Mac mini (june 12) creative desktop

S

solidsponge

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jun 16, 2013
27
0
Considering getting a pc desktop but would prefer mac mini, but I only have £500-600max.

2.5GHz dual-core Intel Core i5
4GB memory
500GB hard drive1
Intel HD Graphics 4000
OS X Mountain Lion

Usage:

(80-90%)
- Illustrator cs6 - vector graphics, small files
- photoshop cs6 [can use cs5 if needed] - website design, under 10mb files.
- Light photo editing

(10-20%)
- photoshop cs6 4gb files, massive files (generally only getting things from them, willing to wait..)

Would upgrade to 8gb or maybe 16gb (easy to do?) and get an SSD (might not though as voids warranty)

Itd be:

2.5GHz dual-core Intel Core i5
8GB memory
500GB hard drive (swapped to SSD out of warranty time or right away if too slow)
1tb usb 3 drive.
Intel HD Graphics 4000
OS X Mountain Lion

Concerned about fan noise and lack of graphics card, anyone got the current model and have similar usage?
 
Last edited:
solidsponge said:
Considering getting a pc desktop but would prefer mac mini, but I only have £500-600max.

2.5GHz dual-core Intel Core i5
4GB memory
500GB hard drive1
Intel HD Graphics 4000
OS X Mountain Lion

Usage:

(80-90%)
- Illustrator cs6 - vector graphics, small files
- photoshop cs6 [can use cs5 if needed] - website design, under 10mb files.
- Light photo editing

(10-20%)
- photoshop cs6 4gb files, massive files (generally only getting things from them, willing to wait..)

Would upgrade to 8gb (easy to do?) and get an SSD (might not though as voids warranty)

Itd be:

2.5GHz dual-core Intel Core i5
8GB memory
500GB hard drive (swapped to SSD out of warranty time or right away)
1tb usb 3 drive.
Intel HD Graphics 4000
OS X Mountain Lion
Click to expand...

Can't give you a guarantee on perfect/smooth results performance wise.

Upgrading your RAM is very easy. The HD on the other hand ... can be perfectly done but you might just want to watch a youtube tutorial video because it requires taking everything out of the mini chassis.
 
Yes im unsure how well itd work, I was thinking cs5 photoshop would be better as less of a system hog. I mainly use illustrator really.

Also itd be on a 23" full hd screen (samsung).

I think I might just have to buy it and see really, then sell on ebay if no good :)
 
Can't comment on the i5, but I use the i7 2.3GHz, 16GB RAM with Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign CS6, plus Final Cut Pro X and Premiere Pro CS6 driving a Cintiq 22HD and a 23" HD monitor without any problems whatsoever. I'm sure it's not always as fast on certain tasks as some of the latest, much more expensive computers with separate video cards, but it's more than fast enough for my needs.
 
solidsponge said:
Cool thanks for the info, I'm still bit unsure really.

Cheers.
Click to expand...
Well, the i7 is above your stated budget, but if you're willing to spend some extra $ then clearly, yes, go for it. The work you're going to have your mac mini do is very processor intensive so choosing the i7 quad-core would make perfect sense and won't give you any struggles.
 
I run illustrator CS5 on a 2x2GHz Single core PowerMac G5 from 2004. Runs perfectly. I also run it on a 2010 Mini with 2.4Ghz Core 2 Duo. Perfect aswell
You will have no problem whatsoever running it on that Mac Mini.

Cant comment on photoshop. Hardly use it.
You can also look for a the model with discrete Graphics card from the previous generation. You would have to look for a used model.

Also, check the refurbished section of the apple online store. Link at the bottom of the online store (refurbished & clearence)
 
This is what I have. It works flawlessly and stays very cool to the touch.

picture.php
 
solidsponge said:
2.5GHz dual-core Intel Core i5
8GB memory
500GB hard drive (swapped to SSD out of warranty time or right away if too slow)
1tb usb 3 drive.
Intel HD Graphics 4000
OS X Mountain Lion

Concerned about fan noise and lack of graphics card, anyone got the current model and have similar usage?
Click to expand...
Mavericks requires 1024 MB (1 GB) RAM for the Integrated Graphics Processor (IGP, Intel HD Graphics 4000), and at least 2 GB for the OS and caches. I recommend 16 GB, if you work with large files.

People reported that the i5 is fast enough for the HD video encoding with HandBrake (the i7 is of course always better). So the i5 should not have a problem with large images.

----------
ipsychedelic said:
That is incorrect.
The HD 5000 will probably be better than the 6630m, but the HD4000 is worse than the 6630, so

HD3000 < HD 4000 < 6630m < HD 5000
Click to expand...
Your problem is, that Apple updates the drivers for the Intel HD 3000, the Intel HD 4000 and the Intel HD 5X00, but not for the AMD 6630M.
 
Mr. Retrofire said:
Your problem is, that Apple updates the drivers for the Intel HD 3000, the Intel HD 4000 and the Intel HD 5X00, but not for the AMD 6630M.
Click to expand...
I don't see the problem.
Cheesy drivers are no replacement for good hardware.
Apple can update the kexts all they want, but they'll remain sub-par integrated chips (they won't improve over time).
Not that the 6630m is quite the beast (it's also extremely crappy) but...
 
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