New $499 Mac Mini or $419 Refurb?

[foem]

It seems, on paper, that the older one is faster? Which will be better? This is for my mom, who doesn't do much processor intensive stuff.. mostly just reading emails and youtube... Does the new one have better wifi capabilities?


2014 Mini:
1.4GHz dual-core Intel Core i5
4GB memory
500GB hard drive
Intel HD Graphics 5000
OS X Yosemite

2012 Mini:
2.5GHz dual-core Intel Core i5
Originally released October 2012
4GB memory

500GB hard drive

Thunderbolt port (up to 10 Gbps)
HDMI port supports multichannel audio output
Intel HD Graphics 4000

 

[fa8362]

In a couple of weeks you can buy the $499 mini from B&H and pay no sales tax unless you're in NY.

The $419 refurbished mini will more than cover your mother's needs. The $499 mini almost certainly will too.

Since $419 plus tax will do the same job as $499 with or without tax, I'd get the $419 refurbished because it costs less.

 

[monkeybongo]

The new model does have faster wireless as long as you have a newer AC router but won't really make a difference in most internet speeds.

In terms of performance, they are about the same. $419 is a good price and you can save the rest for an SSD upgrade later on.

 

[cfedu]

If you need a HDMI to DVI Adapter, they 2012 mini comes with it. If you buy from apple it will cost you 29$ for the hdmi to dvi adapter

 

[foem]

Does the new one have better wifi range? That's important to her as the airport extreme is not close by.

 

[fa8362]

Does the new one have better wifi range? That's important to her as the airport extreme is not close by.

Maybe, but BOTH the Mini and the airport have to have the new wireless tech. Not just the Mini.

 

[foem]

She does have the newest Airport.

 

[Oracle1729]

I don't understand the question. Even if they were both $499, take the 2.5 GHz i5 Ivy Bridge over the 1.4 GHz i5 Haswell.

Considering that the better machine is also cheaper, what exactly are you asking?

 

[Tinmania]

I don't understand the question. Even if they were both $499, take the 2.5 GHz i5 Ivy Bridge over the 1.4 GHz i5 Haswell.

Considering that the better machine is also cheaper, what exactly are you asking?

The GHz difference is misleading: in fact they are about equal, with the updated graphics considered.

The newer CPU will consume less power and presumably run cooler as well.


Michael

 

[873089]

I'd get the new one,

because of faster graphics, ac wireless and less power consumption! ;-)

 

[Oracle1729]

The GHz difference is misleading: in fact they are about equal, with the updated graphics considered.

The newer CPU will consume less power and presumably run cooler as well.

Read the other threads where they talk specs. Not even close. And it's a desktop. If you think 5-10 watts matters, you're drinking too much kool-aid. Do you unplug all your devices when not using them? That wastes a lot more power than a 2012 mini.

 

[Tinmania]

Read the other threads where they talk specs. Not even close. And it's a desktop. If you think 5-10 watts matters, you're drinking too much kool-aid. Do you unplug all your devices when not using them? That wastes a lot more power than a 2012 mini.

I don't need to read "other threads" I know the CPUs perform about the the same. And, yes, it is a low power CPU.

Yea they don't offer quad core anymore. I get that. Don't take it out on the base model. The base model is marginally better than its predecessor and $100 less expensive. Its biggest downside is the soldered RAM.

Don't exaggerate.


Michael

 

[Oracle1729]

I don't need to read "other threads" I know the CPUs perform about the the same. And, yes, it is a low power CPU.

Yea they don't offer quad core anymore. I get that. Don't take it out on the base model. The base model is marginally better than its predecessor and $100 less expensive. Its biggest downside is the soldered RAM.

Oh, I see, you know magically without even looking at benchmarks. Got ya.

The 1.4 is a joke. It's a bad joke in the iMac and a bad joke in the mini. That chip belongs in the MBA where you have a tiny battery. Not in a desk top where you have a power cord to the grid.

 

[iceperson]

The GHz difference is misleading: in fact they are about equal, with the updated graphics considered.

The newer CPU will consume less power and presumably run cooler as well.


Michael

That GPU only really makes a difference in 3d gaming, and even then it's still crap for gaming. That 1.4GHz CPU though, that's going to hurt all the time...

 

[ElectronGuru]

Pretty funny. For the last 10 months or so, all anyone could talk about was how outdated the gpu was on the 12. Now that it's the only way to get max CPU, gpu is no big deal!