Need advice about buying a mac mini

[BizoDent]

Hi every one
I decided lately to enter the Mac world after 15 years of using windows PCs, I am totally new to the mac
I setteled for the mac mini but I need advice about what to buy
I use my PC for browsing, watching movies, playing games, statistical analysis and some medical and dental programs. Of course I will need to install windows xp or 7 on the mini as the complete transition to mac will be a slow process
I dont do a professional work that requires high specs
So do I need to go with the i7 or the base i5 model will be enough for my needs??
Thank you

 

[radiohed]

Hi every one
I decided lately to enter the Mac world after 15 years of using windows PCs, I am totally new to the mac
I setteled for the mac mini but I need advice about what to buy
I use my PC for browsing, watching movies, playing games, statistical analysis and some medical and dental programs. Of course I will need to install windows xp or 7 on the mini as the complete transition to mac will be a slow process
I dont do a professional work that requires high specs
So do I need to go with the i7 or the base i5 model will be enough for my needs??
Thank you

I would go for the i7 version with fusion drive, and add your own memory upgrade. I have an SSD drive in my 2010 mini, and it makes a huge difference in the speed. If you get the i7 with fusion and upgrade to 8 or 16gb of ram, you will have a solid platform that will serve you well for years.

 

[Weaselboy]

The i5 is pretty powerful and I think would be fine for your needs.

The only thing that concerns me is gaming. The Mini only uses a relatively modestly powered integrated GPU for graphics, and that will limit gaming performance. You might be better off with one of the iMac models that have a dedicated GPU. Depends of course on the type of games you play, but if you are looking at some of the newer games running at high res., an integrated GPU like in the mini is not going to run those very well.

 

[Fishrrman]

If you can afford the i7, get it.

If you can afford the 2.6 CPU upgrade, get it.

If you can afford the Fusion drive, you might want that as well.

BUT -- don't pay Apple for RAM, buy and add that yourself.

 

[BizoDent]

Thank u all for ur reply
Concerning the gaming, the games I play is not that high res and RAM demanding. The most important thing to me is to run windows smoothly in the machine and to save as much as possible of my money

 

[cmeisenzahl]

Hi every one
I decided lately to enter the Mac world after 15 years of using windows PCs, I am totally new to the mac
I setteled for the mac mini but I need advice about what to buy
I use my PC for browsing, watching movies, playing games, statistical analysis and some medical and dental programs. Of course I will need to install windows xp or 7 on the mini as the complete transition to mac will be a slow process
I dont do a professional work that requires high specs
So do I need to go with the i7 or the base i5 model will be enough for my needs??
Thank you

I think the i5 is fine for all but gaming and very heavy consistent video work.

 

[philipma1957]

windows 7 and parallels on an i7 with 16gb ram is pretty nice. some would say bootcamp not parallels but you are new both parallels and vmware fusion allow the windows and the mac osx to run at the same time. you need more ram and a better cpu thus the i7 and the 16gb ram. i will find a link

 

[BizoDent]

windows 7 and parallels on an i7 with 16gb ram is pretty nice. some would say bootcamp not parallels but you are new both parallels and vmware fusion allow the windows and the mac osx to run at the same time. you need more ram and a better cpu thus the i7 and the 16gb ram. i will find a link

I found Crucial Kingstone and Crossair, which one is the best? And is it easy for me to change the RAM by myself?

 

[Che Castro]

I found Crucial Kingstone and Crossair, which one is the best? And is it easy for me to change the RAM by myself?

Go with crucial & follow the steps on there website to order the correct ram

Is very easy to change the ram , what I'm afraid to do is the SSD

 

[michael_aos]

I have the 2.6Ghz i7 w/Fusion & 16GB HyperX RAM.

In Parallels, the Windows Experience Index is:

Processor - 7.6
Memory - 7.7
Graphics - 5.9
Gaming graphics - 5.1
Primary hard drive - 6.3

With my old 2006 Mac Pro 1,1 & 5770, it was:

Processor - 7.1
Memory - 7.1
Graphics - 6.0
Gaming graphics - 6.0
Primary hard drive - 5.9
--

 

[philipma1957]

I found Crucial Kingstone and Crossair, which one is the best? And is it easy for me to change the RAM by myself?

the kingston is the best but cost more. the crucial is very good. for my use I get a lower grade kingston

the best hi end kingston

http://www.amazon.com/1600MHz-PC3-1...804&sr=8-1&keywords=kingston+16gb+plug+n+play


cost 135


lower grade kingston'' 55 a stick = 110

http://www.amazon.com/Kingston-Valu...1363021881&sr=1-12&keywords=kingston+16gb+ram

crucial = 90

http://www.amazon.com/Crucial-PC3-1...d=1363021958&sr=1-2&keywords=crucial+16gb+ram


if you want max speed the high end kingston.


the low end kingston is equal to the crucial. so the crucial is better for the low end brands.

most users can get away with the crucial and pay 90 bucks.

 

[SoCalReviews]

I am not sure if this is what you meant but in my opinion there are many brands that I would consider lower end but I wouldn't consider Crucial a "low end brand". Maybe you meant "lower end or standard performance memory" compared to higher performance memory available. Crucial has always been known premium quality brand for standard performance memory. Crucial is the Marketing name for Micron Technology which is one the oldest, largest and most respected manufacturers of ICs and memory products. Crucial is the brand that Apple used for their OEM memory in the past. If you order directly from them as long as you follow their recommendations they guarantee their memory will work your system and it has a lifetime warranty. Kingston has always been known as a premium quality brand and they also have a lifetime guarantee but they are usually more expensive. If you want better than stock performance then I would agree that Kingston HyperX brand is both a premium quality and a higher performance memory.

 

[BizoDent]

Thank you all very much for your help. I think I made my mind, will go with the i7 2.3 with 16 GB RAM

 

[philipma1957]

I am not sure if this is what you meant but in my opinion there are many brands that I would consider lower end but I wouldn't consider Crucial a "low end brand". Maybe you meant "lower end or standard performance memory" compared to higher performance memory available. Crucial has always been known premium quality brand for standard performance memory. Crucial is the Marketing name for Micron Technology which is one the oldest, largest and most respected manufacturers of ICs and memory products. Crucial is the brand that Apple used for their OEM memory in the past. If you order directly from them as long as you follow their recommendations they guarantee their memory will work your system and it has a lifetime warranty. Kingston has always been known as a premium quality brand and they also have a lifetime guarantee but they are usually more expensive. If you want better than stock performance then I would agree that Kingston HyperX brand is both a premium quality and a higher performance memory.

I use crucial and only meant it to be lower in performance then the more expensive kingston. I consider it to be one of the best ram companies in operation.

Internet postings can be too short and misunderstood. My apologies to Anyone that thought I meant crucial is not good.

 

[QWERTYMac7]

Thank u all for ur reply
...The most important thing to me is to run windows smoothly in the machine and to save as much as possible of my money

As far as saving money:
http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/mac/mac_mini

There are some really good refurbs on the Apple store right now.

Instsalling 16 GB of memory is EASY!

I like Parallels for Windows - I got a Windows 7 System Builder copy of Windows 7 for <$100 at Amazon.

Also just installed 16 GB ram, Parallels 8 and Windows 7 on a friends MBP 13" last week - she's very happy with the two operating systems.

Hope you enjoy!

 

[SoCalReviews]

I use crucial and only meant it to be lower in performance then the more expensive kingston. I consider it to be one of the best ram companies in operation.

Internet postings can be too short and misunderstood. My apologies to Anyone that thought I meant crucial is not good.

It's all good. That's what I thought you meant. I was just clarifying.