New mac mini purchase help

[nydennis]

Hi all,

I have a Mid 2011 Mini. Thunderbolt display. Recently my thunderbolt port stopped working. I have tested with with several thunderbolt devices and it will not work.

I am looking into getting something new and either repurpose or sell the 2011 mini. I first thought about the iMac 5k but that would be about 3200+ for the options I would want in it.

I was looking into the I7 3.0 mini with 512 PCIE and 16GB Ram. I then noticed that the 2015 Macbook pro 13 inch has the I7 3.1, the 512 pcie, faster ram, and the Iris 6100 for a few hundred more over the mini.

I would basically be keeping the Macbook pro connected to the thunderbolt display all the time.

Ideas? Thoughts?

 

[AlexMaximus]

Hi all,

I have a Mid 2011 Mini. Thunderbolt display. Recently my thunderbolt port stopped working. I have tested with with several thunderbolt devices and it will not work.

I am looking into getting something new and either repurpose or sell the 2011 mini. I first thought about the iMac 5k but that would be about 3200+ for the options I would want in it.

I was looking into the I7 3.0 mini with 512 PCIE and 16GB Ram. I then noticed that the 2015 Macbook pro 13 inch has the I7 3.1, the 512 pcie, faster ram, and the Iris 6100 for a few hundred more over the mini.

I would basically be keeping the Macbook pro connected to the thunderbolt display all the time.

Ideas? Thoughts?

In my opinion your best option is to go for a Mac Pro from 2010, 6 core model if possible.
Great for upgrades, great possibilities as you move along. Mac mini is a Very bad idea regardless which model. That is my advice.

 

[nydennis]

In my opinion your best option is to go for a Mac Pro from 2010, 6 core model if possible.
Great for upgrades, great possibilities as you move along. Mac mini is a Very bad idea regardless which model. That is my advice.

I am actually debating atm on just getting a new Mac Pro. Selling my mini to bring the cost down a bit and staying with that for 6 years or so.

 

[scottsjack]

In my opinion your best option is to go for a Mac Pro from 2010, 6 core model if possible.
Great for upgrades, great possibilities as you move along. Mac mini is a Very bad idea regardless which model. That is my advice.

Just remember though that the 2010 Mac Pros are getting on in age. I've got a 2012 3.46GHx six-core that performs great, essential the same machine as a 2010.

Slow USB 2 can be upgraded to USB 3 but see the Mac Pro Forum. It's a bit of a minefield. Whatever video you've got what you will probably stay with. OEM replacements seem to be used only though there are flashed versions for sale. Wifi is n, not ac, though there is another minefield to traverse if you are a hardware freak. There is no SATA 3 without installing a PCIe card. The Apricorn Velocity Duo x2 holds two 2.5" SSDs and works great on my machin. Just sayin'...

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I am actually debating atm on just getting a new Mac Pro. Selling my mini to bring the cost down a bit and staying with that for 6 years or so.

Many Mac Pro fans, me included, think of the current Mac Pro as a "Mac Pro mini" or " Mac mini Pro." If your old mini did about everything you wanted it to a referb current Mac Pro would be a fantastic upgrade.

You can probably find one with a 512GB SSD. Any amount of RAM would be fine relative to your old one.

 

[AlexMaximus]

Just remember though that the 2010 Mac Pros are getting on in age. I've got a 2012 3.46GHx six-core that performs great, essential the same machine as a 2010.

Slow USB 2 can be upgraded to USB 3 but see the Mac Pro Forum. It's a bit of a minefield. Whatever video you've got what you will probably stay with. OEM replacements seem to be used only though there are flashed versions for sale. Wifi is n, not ac, though there is another minefield to traverse if you are a hardware freak. There is no SATA 3 without installing a PCIe card. The Apricorn Velocity Duo x2 holds two 2.5" SSDs and works great on my machin. Just sayin'...

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Many Mac Pro fans, me included, think of the current Mac Pro as a "Mac Pro mini" or " Mac mini Pro." If your old mini did about everything you wanted it to a referb current Mac Pro would be a fantastic upgrade.

You can probably find one with a 512GB SSD. Any amount of RAM would be fine relative to your old one.

Well.. I think everybody will agree that the Tower Mac Pro is a bit on the geek side. But thats exactly what makes it so interesting for me and most of us on the forum.
Since you are looking for the ac upgrade, I have just the thing for you..

http://www.macvidcards.com/store/p33/Wifi_AC_and_Bluetooth_Airport_Card.html

It is sold out right now, but more will (hopefully) come around - thanks to macvidcards. Kudos for you buddy

 

[KeepCalmPeople]

The rMBP 13" is always going to be a few hundred more than a similarly-speced Mac Mini, because it includes the display and keyboard/track pad.

At the end of the day you have to decide what your usage currently is and what it might be a couple of years down the road, and what your budget is. The Mac Mini gets expensive very quickly once you go to 16GB of memory and 512GB SSD.

You'd be mad to get the rMBP 13" if you really are going to keep it connected to a display 100% of the time.

 

[nydennis]

The rMBP 13" is always going to be a few hundred more than a similarly-speced Mac Mini, because it includes the display and keyboard/track pad.

At the end of the day you have to decide what your usage currently is and what it might be a couple of years down the road, and what your budget is. The Mac Mini gets expensive very quickly once you go to 16GB of memory and 512GB SSD.

You'd be mad to get the rMBP 13" if you really are going to keep it connected to a display 100% of the time.

I do agree with you on that. It would be a waste to spend money on the MBP. I am still kicking around exactly what to do.

Mac Pro
Used 2012 Mini 2.6 Quad
Imac 5k 4.0

 

[Fishrrman]

OP:

Just wondering, have you tried resetting the PRAM, and an SMC reset, if that's available on your machine?

 

[nydennis]

OP:

Just wondering, have you tried resetting the PRAM, and an SMC reset, if that's available on your machine?

Yeah, I did all that several times. Oh well. Excuse to upgrade :-0