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Mac pro 2010 2.8 vs Mac mini 2012 i7

Y

Yurtal

macrumors member
Original poster
May 8, 2009
99
4
Hey guys, I've got a question that I'm really stuck on. I have the option of buying either a mid 2010 Mac pro 2.8ghz with 8 gb ram and a normal hdd, or a 2012 mini with i7, ssd, second hdd and 16gb ram. I'm using them for audio work in pro tools using lots of virtual instruments and plugins.
Thanks so much for your help on advising which I should go for. They are both the same price.
Cheers, Ryan.
 
Yurtal said:
Hey guys, I've got a question that I'm really stuck on. I have the option of buying either a mid 2010 Mac pro 2.8ghz with 8 gb ram and a normal hdd, or a 2012 mini with i7, ssd, second hdd and 16gb ram. I'm using them for audio work in pro tools using lots of virtual instruments and plugins.
Thanks so much for your help on advising which I should go for. They are both the same price.
Cheers, Ryan.
Click to expand...

I got the 2012 Mac Mini without knowing I can get an "old" Mac Pro for about the same price, I just hated the Mac Mini, the graphics are really bad.

Get the Mac Pro!
 
both intel 4000 and 5100 are really bad...using 1 thunderbolt display and playing a 1080p video, makes doing anything else completely horrible.

now my mac pro with the gtx980 handles 3 27 apple cinema displays and does any task with a breeze.
 
Sounds like a short term vs long term choice. In the short term, the Mini has a slightly faster CPU, will feel peppier with that SSD, and will have twice as much memory for all those virtual instruments in Pro Tools.

But the Mini is also maxed out.

The MP can be upgraded with a faster CPU, more cores, a much better GPU, faster SSDs, larger HDDs, and way more memory.
 
Rock and Roll! Thanks for the help, really appreciate it. I landed on the Mac Pro, can't wait to get it!
 
The model you're looking at is the one I originally bought. Have since upgraded to a hex 3.46Ghz, 32Gb RAM, RAID SSDs and a GTX980. Definitely a better buy for your needs.
 
Yurtal said:
Rock and Roll! Thanks for the help, really appreciate it. I landed on the Mac Pro, can't wait to get it!
Click to expand...

Good decision.

Mac mini is not suitable for long time intensive CPU or GPU tasks.
Its GPU is rubbish, and CPU becomes very hot very quickly (fan screaming)....just after few minutes of rendering.....I am talking from experience with that machine. It is quick, it has 8 threads, you can put 2 drives in it.....but that CPU is too hot for Mac mini cooling capabilities. i5 model is much much cooler, but of course slower.
 
go Mac Pro

Well done for choosing the Mac Pro. The new mini's are a sad state of affairs. I have a 2009 mini, and have been waiting to upgrade for a while. In the end, I opted for a 2008 Mac Pro. Been a long time user (1993ish) but I'll never buy a new apple machine again. The consumer machine are a disgrace, imho.

Cheers,

Ray
 
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