Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Retire Mac Mini (Mid-2011) for New Mac Pro?

bdsmith63

bdsmith63

macrumors regular
Original poster
Dec 19, 2009
102
18
I purchased a new Mac Pro that will ship sometime in February. I bought a new Thunderbolt Apple Display to go with my new Mac Pro. I have been running my Mac Mini (Mid-2011) with Mac OS X 10.9.1 and Parallels 9 to run Windows 8.1.

So with the new Mac Pro coming on board, what ideas or options should I consider for my Mac Mini? I really don't have a need for it in any other area of my home at this time.

Thanks for anyone suggestions or ideas? If I were to sell it, what price range would be suggested? I bought the base model in 2011 for $599, but have upgraded the Ram to it to 8GB.

Thanks!
Brian
 
1) Keep it and experiment with it
2) Turn it into a server by purchasing the (relatively cheap) server OSx ($20). Drop in a second hard drive and use it to manage some of your external storage you will need with the nMP.
3) Use it to help you render files with FCP and or compressor.

**You could do 2 and 3 both!
or, Sell it and take a loss...Maybe you get 500 for it.....MAYBE, if you find a sucker (not that it isn't worth it, it's a great machine, but it is a USED machine). What will you do with that 500? If you really need it to pay off something, then sell it....but if not, I'd keep it for sure! It's still a great machine!
 
It would make a great headless household media server, for one thing. OS X Home Sharing is pretty cool and dead easy to set up. In my case I can never have too many render nodes so that's where I'd stash any spare Minis I had.
 
Spinland said:
It would make a great headless household media server, for one thing. OS X Home Sharing is pretty cool and dead easy to set up. In my case I can never have too many render nodes so that's where I'd stash any spare Minis I had.
Click to expand...

Agreed, it works wonders as a media/file server and can handle time machine backups of your new Mac Pro. It's a great companion Mac :)

2128506 said:
There're Synology boxes for that. :)
Click to expand...

Why buy a Synology when the OPs trying to find a use for the mini :confused:
 
Time Machine Backups

neilmacd said:
Agreed, it works wonders as a media/file server and can handle time machine backups of your new Mac Pro. It's a great companion Mac :)



Why buy a Synology when the OPs trying to find a use for the mini :confused:
Click to expand...

So, would need to partition the Mac Mini drive in order to store the Time Machine Backups on this unit? I am sure I understand how that would work.

----------
CH12671 said:
1) Keep it and experiment with it
2) Turn it into a server by purchasing the (relatively cheap) server OSx ($20). Drop in a second hard drive and use it to manage some of your external storage you will need with the nMP.
3) Use it to help you render files with FCP and or compressor.

**You could do 2 and 3 both!
or, Sell it and take a loss...Maybe you get 500 for it.....MAYBE, if you find a sucker (not that it isn't worth it, it's a great machine, but it is a USED machine). What will you do with that 500? If you really need it to pay off something, then sell it....but if not, I'd keep it for sure! It's still a great machine!
Click to expand...

I like the idea of turning it into a server. Basically, I wouldn't have any other users except myself and one other person who is on an iPad only. But from what I've read you can control or access the server from the iPad as well? are you familiar with that process?
 
It's quite straightforward to install the second drive kit inside that generation of mini to host a second 2.5 inch drive for time machine backups of your new can.
 
I like the idea of turning it into a server. Basically said:
I'm not familiar with that process, but i'm sure it's easily searchable. You won't be sorry, and it's so cheap to drop in a second hard drive!
Click to expand...
 
You could also donate it to an organization that needs it? I mean if you're having to brainstorm to come up with uses for an extra computer, chances are you could probably make do pretty easily without it.

(Sorry, not to get preachy, just throwing it out there)
 
Could you point me in the direction of where to buy a second drive for the Mac Mini and installation instructions? Could I install a SSD drive as the second drive to run the OS X Server on, then use the 500GB drive that came with the Mac Mini as the backup drive for Time Machine backups?
 
http://www.ifixit.com/Store/Mac/Mac-Mini-Dual-Drive-Kit/IF171-005

840 evo SSD, or as a server maybe an 840 pro. Move to first bay and use as primary and the old drive moved to the second bay.

All the instructions on the website, comes with all the tools. I've got five sets of them! :D

Went to mention OWC if you are in the states but someone beat me to it, though the ifixit guides are easier for the novice and should be identical. Both use the genuine apple parts.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back