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Quad-core or discrete GPU?

M

macintoshBR

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jul 27, 2011
13
1
Hello,

I intend to buy the new mac mini. I want to play games casually, like CoD or WoW.

What configuration would please me better from
quad-core i7 2.0GHz with no discrete GPU or
dual-core i7 2.7GHz with the Radeon Chipset ?

Why ?

EDIT: When not playing (most part of time) I run videos, films, photos, music, sheets and docs intensively.
 
Go with the AMD standard config, don't bother with the i7 upgrade the extra performance you will get will be barely noticeable. Best to spend that cash on more ram.
 
macintoshBR said:
Hello,

I intend to buy the new mac mini. I want to play games casually, like CoD or WoW.

What configuration would please me better from
quad-core i7 2.0GHz with no discrete GPU or
dual-core i7 2.7GHz with the Radeon Chipset ?

Why ?

EDIT: When not playing (most part of time) I run videos, films, photos, music, sheets and docs intensively.
Click to expand...

The 2011 Mac mini, with the Intel HD 3000 inside, does not support the OpenCL framework. In other word, they do not support the "greatest and most advanced" Apple's "technical innovation".
The Apple is "shy" on this subject, they even mentioned it, but you must be aware of this problem, like an "informed consumer".
 
BlackMangoTree said:
Go with the AMD standard config, don't bother with the i7 upgrade the extra performance you will get will be barely noticeable. Best to spend that cash on more ram.
Click to expand...

I made the same choice.

Don't think the difference between the dual-core i5 and dual core i7 will be worth the extra $100. If it was the quad i7 than I definitely would have gone for it.
 
So many threads asking the same question... Wouldn't have been an issue if Apple would have just released a quad core i7 + discrete gpu option. Oh well.
 
BlackMangoTree said:
The $100 is miles better spent on extra ram.
Click to expand...

I spent $100 on the i7 upgrade, and $50 on 8gb of RAM (It'll be $40 if I get off my ass and do the MIR).

seeing as how the CPU would be the most *annoyingly difficult* DIY in the machine, It was easy to justify paying for it up-front.
 
ess5 said:
I spent $100 on the i7 upgrade, and $50 on 8gb of RAM (It'll be $40 if I get off my ass and do the MIR).

seeing as how the CPU would be the most *annoyingly difficult* DIY in the machine, It was easy to justify paying for it up-front.
Click to expand...

Paying for performance that won't be noticeable in the real world ?
 
BlackMangoTree said:
Go with the AMD standard config, don't bother with the i7 upgrade the extra performance you will get will be barely noticeable. Best to spend that cash on more ram.
Click to expand...

BlackMangoTree said:
Paying for performance that won't be noticeable in the real world ?
Click to expand...

"barely noticeable" or "won't be noticeable"? You're saying two different things here :)

Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't put it past Apple to offer a completely useless upgrade...I just don't agree that this one is it.

Plus, it's all of $100. My "barely noticeable" CPU bump ($100) & Amazon 8gb RAM ($50) still don't add up to the official $180 8gb RAM upgrade ;)
 
Can anyone, please, post a link to ebay international seller, who is selling RAM which will fit into new mini ? ( for normal price :)

Thanks in advance :)
 
Both have their uses though I'm going with the discrete GPU just to keep it separate from the main memory.
 
cragmr said:
So many threads asking the same question... Wouldn't have been an issue if Apple would have just released a quad core i7 + discrete gpu option. Oh well.
Click to expand...

A friend and I discussed this and agree it's probably due to heat. 35w dual-core vs. 45w quad-core.
 
Ice Dragon said:
A friend and I discussed this and agree it's probably due to heat. 35w dual-core vs. 45w quad-core.
Click to expand...

Heat arises from the power consumed. The difference between the amount of heat from a 35w dual-core and that from 45w quad-core should be negligible. Because a quad-core consumes 10 W more power than a dual-core, not sufficient power within the safety margin is left to drive a dedicated graphical card. Note that other components also consumes power. This also explains why Apple discourages a second HDD in the dedicated graphical card model by not providing a BTO option for two HDDs.
 
ess5 said:
"barely noticeable" or "won't be noticeable"? You're saying two different things here :)
Click to expand...

Benchmark programs will show a slight improvement in performance in real world use you won't notice it. The i7 is simply not worth it fir the MacMini, spend it on ram.
 
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