I got the 2.3 and I really like it. I figured that for $200 doubling the storage and processor power was worth it. The 2.6 is only about 10% faster so I didn't feel like that upgrade was worth the extra $.
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I got the 2.3 and I really like it. I figured that for $200 doubling the storage and processor power was worth it. The 2.6 is only about 10% faster so I didn't feel like that upgrade was worth the extra $.
Just ordered a 2.6 i7 mini with 4GB RAM & 256GB SSD from B&H. Saved over $50 just by checking out with Google Wallet! No tax, free shipping, will be here tomorrow. And I already have 2 4GB sticks of Cruical RAM to pop in when it arrives. Can't wait to say bye-bye to the 5-year old P8600 CPU in my current Mac mini.
Recently BTO a 2.6 i7 256 ssd and 4gb ram. Upgraded to 16gb crucial ram. Using a miniStack on USB3 for TM and CCC backups for DR. The 256 is plenty large for developing in a network environment.
Using this as my development workstation at work now. Has plenty of power to run two vms while I run an ide, multiple vms, consoles , mail client and office apps all at the same time.
Amazing how far ahead of software hardware is right now. This little box drives two 24 inch displays and handles everything I throw at it.
Using this as my development workstation at work now. Has plenty of power to run two vms while I run an ide, multiple vms, consoles , mail client and office apps all at the same time.
Amazing how far ahead of software hardware is right now. This little box drives two 24 inch displays and handles everything I throw at it.
Did I make the right call with a 2012 mac mini server?
I just picked up a refurbished i7 2.6GHz 2012 mac mini server from the Apple store for $1359. Its configured with a 256GB SSD and 16GB RAM. I went with the server version because I plan on adding another SSD. I realize all the mac mini's can technically accommodate two drives, but I went with the server edition thinking it would be an easier upgrade with less potential for warranty hassles since it "officially" specified for two drives by Apple.
So did I make the right call or should have saved some more dough and started with a striped down regular i7 2.6 and built it from there? I would love your thoughts on the subject. Thanks.
I just picked up a refurbished i7 2.6GHz 2012 mac mini server from the Apple store for $1359. Its configured with a 256GB SSD and 16GB RAM. I went with the server version because I plan on adding another SSD. I realize all the mac mini's can technically accommodate two drives, but I went with the server edition thinking it would be an easier upgrade with less potential for warranty hassles since it "officially" specified for two drives by Apple.
So did I make the right call or should have saved some more dough and started with a striped down regular i7 2.6 and built it from there? I would love your thoughts on the subject. Thanks.
Definitely wasted money, especially on the RAM. 16 GB is $150 and Apple charges $300 when you BTO and its the only truly user serviceable part on the computer. You won't get anything extra by getting the server model if you want to add a second hard drive. You'll still have to buy a kit that has the second cable.
Thanks for the reply. I knew about cost difference on the RAM, but there weren't any refurbs available that were configured with just 4GB. However, on adding a second drive Apple customer support had suggested it was easier to upgrade since the server version was already set up to support two drives. Are you saying its actually identical to the non server version and will require a full kit to upgrade? If that is the case, I will likely just return it.
I've noticed some variations reported here. Some have the OEM drive in the difficult to access bay, and the easy to get at bay is empty with cable included. Some have the opposite, so you have to pull the whole thing apart to add the drive. some have cables some not.
Seems if you want to assure both bays are wired, you order one with two HDs, ether two rotational, two SSDs. As others have said, it may make more economic sense to buy the CPU you want in the lowest cost non-server. Then add RAM and drives of your choice, and the OSX server software. OWC will do that for you for ~$100 labor.
For me, the sweet spot was the 2.3GHz quad-core Intel Core i7, 4GB memory and SSD. Buy 16GB memory for ~$140 and use external drive(s) ($120 for 4TB USB3) . If you need high performance disk, add the right thunderbolt RAID or thunderbolt SSD enclosure. Some of the$e are blindingly fast, just as fast as an internal drive. An SSD in a USB 3 enclosure is pretty close to an internal SSD in data rates.
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Great information. Thanks for the reply. I hadn't considered an external SSD, largely because I like the small foot print of the mini, but you've given me something else to consider. Even with the refurb pricing on the server, it seems I might be able to to get more bang for my buck by going with a regular i7 mini and configuring it myself.
Bought the same with a slight employee discount:
2.6GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7
4GB 1600MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2x2GB
256GB Solid State Drive
Going to pick up 2x8GB at the lcs when it arrives. My Early 2009 was starting to feel sluggish.
Took delivery yesterday of Mac Mini 2.6 i7, 4GB Ram, Fusion.
Migration from MBP late 2011 was really easy using TM back up, all settings, apps etc transferred in about an hour via USB2 ext HDD.
Really pleased with it, it runs silently, plenty quick enough for PS, LR5, MS Excel, iWorks etc.
As the Mini does not have a CD/DVD drive, i thought i would try my old Samsung ext USB DVD writer. Plugged in and worked straight off the bat
of course i can use the drive in my MBP but it was good to know the Samsung drive works.
Now to upgrade to USB3 ext HDD and 16GB ram.
Migration from MBP late 2011 was really easy using TM back up, all settings, apps etc transferred in about an hour via USB2 ext HDD.
Really pleased with it, it runs silently, plenty quick enough for PS, LR5, MS Excel, iWorks etc.
As the Mini does not have a CD/DVD drive, i thought i would try my old Samsung ext USB DVD writer. Plugged in and worked straight off the bat
of course i can use the drive in my MBP but it was good to know the Samsung drive works.Now to upgrade to USB3 ext HDD and 16GB ram.
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ate 2012 i5 2.5GHz / 240 GB SSD / 500 GB / 4 GB RAM
I'm the new parent of a Mac Mini. I'll update to 16GB RAM sometime in 2014 and likely update my Dell monitor. At the moment I feel satisfied with the purchase. After adding the additional RAM, I'll be under $1k. The Apple refurbs with similar specs were over $1k and would not include 16GB of RAM.
My transition to Mac has been a 10 year process. It started with the iPod and then the iPhone quickly followed by the iPad (mama bear and little boy bear). I've convinced myself that life will be better now that my gadgets are synchronized (iPhone, iPad, and Mac mini). I'm sure Apple is pleased now that I've succumb to the trinity.
As far as your experience, the OS (Mavericks) seems to follow the same simplicity of iOS. In one instance it's helpful and other times it can be a bit shocking for a life-long PC user. Yesterday, I was working in pages and could not figure out how to shift an inserted table to the left. It would not move at all *cries*. I think it will take some time to get comfortable with the OS and learn the shortcuts.
I'm also taking my time in app shopping. The app store is wonderful but I've purchased a ton of apps that were not used beyond a week for iOS.
I'm the new parent of a Mac Mini. I'll update to 16GB RAM sometime in 2014 and likely update my Dell monitor. At the moment I feel satisfied with the purchase. After adding the additional RAM, I'll be under $1k. The Apple refurbs with similar specs were over $1k and would not include 16GB of RAM.
My transition to Mac has been a 10 year process. It started with the iPod and then the iPhone quickly followed by the iPad (mama bear and little boy bear). I've convinced myself that life will be better now that my gadgets are synchronized (iPhone, iPad, and Mac mini). I'm sure Apple is pleased now that I've succumb to the trinity.
As far as your experience, the OS (Mavericks) seems to follow the same simplicity of iOS. In one instance it's helpful and other times it can be a bit shocking for a life-long PC user. Yesterday, I was working in pages and could not figure out how to shift an inserted table to the left. It would not move at all *cries*. I think it will take some time to get comfortable with the OS and learn the shortcuts.
I'm also taking my time in app shopping. The app store is wonderful but I've purchased a ton of apps that were not used beyond a week for iOS.
Just bit the bullet and ordered a base model refurbished Mac Mini for $509+tax. I figured I won my Fantasy Football League and that got me $250, then traded in some textbooks and got another $150, so I ended up only paying $150 out of my pocket to get this to use as my new HTPC. I really hope I don't regret this later on haha.
For now I'll hook up my 2tb and 3tb externals and run XBMC on this, but next on the list is building a server or getting a NAS to keep my media there and then stream it to my Mini and gonna buy a Roku for Plex.
For now I'll hook up my 2tb and 3tb externals and run XBMC on this, but next on the list is building a server or getting a NAS to keep my media there and then stream it to my Mini and gonna buy a Roku for Plex.
Okay...
After being on the fence (between i5 and i7), the mini is on order..
It's i7 base...
Apple, how about that mini refresh announcement tomorrow...
tomorrow? heck don't you really have 14 days?
I just bought a new i7 base mini from Best Buy, and a new Sharp 32" 1080p tv to use as a monitor. The mini will replace my late 2007 iMac 24" 2.4 c2d and will be a welcome upgrade of about 5x performance. I will also be using the tv with my work laptop (Windows 7) when I need to do work at home. Best Buy was having a 5x reward points offer this weekend so that amounts to about $80 off, not bad. I hope Apple doesn't upgrade the mini right after my return window!
Newbie
Recently got my first Mac OS device ever- Mac Mini 2.3GHz i7 1T 4GB RAM. I am a Windows person, but longtime user of iPhone, and iPad (silent majority!).
Mini will be used as my media computer only- for the 10,000 mp3s and counting, films, pics, and synching my iOS devices. I am not a hater, Windows 8.1 on my Dell Venue 11 Pro is good, but also long time admirer on the Mac ecosystem. Awaiting bigger screen on iPhone before upgrading that! Come on Mr Cook.
Yes, the i7 Mini is a rather high end device for that purpose, bite me. Considering going to 8GB RAM- appears to me that 16GB RAM overkill, suspect limited improvement in specs over 8GB. Mavericks installed. Hey rather difficult to play .mkv movie files in Mavericks ;-(.
In the future, will consider adding in an SSD but for now it is great! I have it running beside my old Dell Studio. Small form factor desktops I believe will only get MORE popular in the future, as technology allows great miniaturization. Small factor unfortunately does open possibility of device being stolen however.
Was not sure how to hold all my mp3s, so put them all into iTunes.
Plan to get an external HD for backup, likely will get Seagate Expansion 2TB, $90 at Microcenter. Only a 5400RPM HD, but so what. I will need to format it via Apple disk manager I believe. Anyone know whether the disk will continuously spin when on or does it spool down, and increase longevity if not being used?
Contented in Boston.
PS MacRumors ROCKS. It does.
Recently got my first Mac OS device ever- Mac Mini 2.3GHz i7 1T 4GB RAM. I am a Windows person, but longtime user of iPhone, and iPad (silent majority!).
Mini will be used as my media computer only- for the 10,000 mp3s and counting, films, pics, and synching my iOS devices. I am not a hater, Windows 8.1 on my Dell Venue 11 Pro is good, but also long time admirer on the Mac ecosystem. Awaiting bigger screen on iPhone before upgrading that! Come on Mr Cook.
Yes, the i7 Mini is a rather high end device for that purpose, bite me. Considering going to 8GB RAM- appears to me that 16GB RAM overkill, suspect limited improvement in specs over 8GB. Mavericks installed. Hey rather difficult to play .mkv movie files in Mavericks ;-(.
In the future, will consider adding in an SSD but for now it is great! I have it running beside my old Dell Studio. Small form factor desktops I believe will only get MORE popular in the future, as technology allows great miniaturization. Small factor unfortunately does open possibility of device being stolen however.
Was not sure how to hold all my mp3s, so put them all into iTunes.
Plan to get an external HD for backup, likely will get Seagate Expansion 2TB, $90 at Microcenter. Only a 5400RPM HD, but so what. I will need to format it via Apple disk manager I believe. Anyone know whether the disk will continuously spin when on or does it spool down, and increase longevity if not being used?
Contented in Boston.
PS MacRumors ROCKS. It does.
Recently got my first Mac OS device ever- Mac Mini 2.3GHz i7 1T 4GB RAM. I am a Windows person, but longtime user of iPhone, and iPad (silent majority!).
Mini will be used as my media computer only- for the 10,000 mp3s and counting, films, pics, and synching my iOS devices. I am not a hater, Windows 8.1 on my Dell Venue 11 Pro is good, but also long time admirer on the Mac ecosystem. Awaiting bigger screen on iPhone before upgrading that! Come on Mr Cook.
Yes, the i7 Mini is a rather high end device for that purpose, bite me. Considering going to 8GB RAM- appears to me that 16GB RAM overkill, suspect limited improvement in specs over 8GB. Mavericks installed. Hey rather difficult to play .mkv movie files in Mavericks ;-(.
In the future, will consider adding in an SSD but for now it is great! I have it running beside my old Dell Studio. Small form factor desktops I believe will only get MORE popular in the future, as technology allows great miniaturization. Small factor unfortunately does open possibility of device being stolen however.
Was not sure how to hold all my mp3s, so put them all into iTunes.
Plan to get an external HD for backup, likely will get Seagate Expansion 2TB, $90 at Microcenter. Only a 5400RPM HD, but so what. I will need to format it via Apple disk manager I believe. Anyone know whether the disk will continuously spin when on or does it spool down, and increase longevity if not being used?
Contented in Boston.
PS MacRumors ROCKS. It does.
Download VLC to play your .mkv files, or if you want a Apple TV sorta look for your media, get XBMC and use the Quartz skin. The HDD will spin continuously but it will spin down when idle. 5400RPM will be fine for media storage, and probably better actually since you aren't constantly accessing the drive to load programs quickly.
Amazing! How did you get ssd speeds that fast on a mini? I thought those speeds were only possible with the PCIe SSDs in the new rMBP and MBA.
That is SWEET!