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What mac mini should I get?

P

p.helwig

macrumors member
Original poster
Sep 19, 2012
31
0
Hey there,

I'm planning on buying a mac mini soon but I'm not sure wich one to get....
I will be using it mainly for visual designing in programs like photoshop and illustrator also a little video editing but the render time doesn't have to be super fast. I was thinking about the 2,5-GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i5 model, I will buy it with a SSD and upgrade the RAM myself (8GB).

Any advice? maybe I should get the i7 processor?

Thanks!
 
I have the i7 processor and upgraded the ram myself to 8gb. It was more of a spur of the moment going with the i7 it was $100 more and I thought why not. I do not have an SSD though and looking back now I think I would have benefited more from taking the i5 and putting the $100 towards the SSD upgrade.

Overall for my use the mini has been great no regrets buying it.
 
Thanks for helping me out!

Yeah, I've been told that getting the i7 processor doesn't gain you that much (instead of an i5). I've seen videos of minis with a SSD and man... it's insane.

I want to upgrade the RAM myself but I live in the Netherlands, where did you get the modules?
 
p.helwig said:
Thanks for helping me out!

Yeah, I've been told that getting the i7 processor doesn't gain you that much (instead of an i5). I've seen videos of minis with a SSD and man... it's insane.

I want to upgrade the RAM myself but I live in the Netherlands, where did you get the modules?
Click to expand...

I went with these ones from Kingston, and purchased online through a vendor in Canada. If you go to the kingston website I believe it will show where they are available in the Netherlands. Crucial is another brand that works well.

8GB Kit (2x4GB) - DDR3 1333MHz
Part Number: KTA-MB1333K2/8G
Mfr Part Number: MD019G/A
HTS: 8473.30.1140, ECCN: EAR99

I have kingston modules in both my MBP and mini and have had no issues.
 
I looked up the price of the 2x4gb modules and they are about 48 euros.
It's the same price I would pay for them when I buy them with the mac mini.
But if I upgrade by myself I can sell the 2x2gb modules that come with the mini....

Do I lose my warranty if I install the RAM on my own?
 
p.helwig said:
I looked up the price of the 2x4gb modules and they are about 48 euros.
It's the same price I would pay for them when I buy them with the mac mini.
But if I upgrade by myself I can sell the 2x2gb modules that come with the mini....

Do I lose my warranty if I install the RAM on my own?
Click to expand...

No, that's the only thing that is allowed - user changeable.
 
p.helwig said:
Hey there,

I'm planning on buying a mac mini soon but I'm not sure wich one to get....
I will be using it mainly for visual designing in programs like photoshop and illustrator also a little video editing but the render time doesn't have to be super fast. I was thinking about the 2,5-GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i5 model, I will buy it with a SSD and upgrade the RAM myself (8GB).

Any advice? maybe I should get the i7 processor?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

I would suggest getting the "AMD Radeon HD 6630M" model with the i7 processor upgrade. You can save big bucks buying your own RAM and SSD. As indicated you can upgrade the RAM yourself. WRT the SSD, if your concerned about warranty, buy the drive and take it to an authorized Apple place to do the install. Still would be half the cost of what Apple charges for BTO SSD.
 
Thanks for your advice!

Wich SSD should I get? (I did some research but there're so many....)
 
I asked my dealer and he told me the SSD coming with the machine is a "Samsung SSD P830" is this any good? he also told my that next week they will be using Crucial instead. Should I wait, get this one or buy the Samsung 830 and install it myself?
 
p.helwig said:
I asked my dealer and he told me the SSD coming with the machine is a "Samsung SSD P830" is this any good? he also told my that next week they will be using Crucial instead. Should I wait, get this one or buy the Samsung 830 and install it myself?
Click to expand...

The Samsung 830 and the Crucial M4 (if this is the model they have selected) are not the absolute fastest drives on the planet, but their reliability and consistency are 2nd to none. You really can't go wrong with either device.
 
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