2011 Mac Mini

[Burninator]

http://images.apple.com/ca/macmini/images/overview_hero.png

http://www.apple.com/ca/macmini/

Drops the optical drive and a hundred dollars. Can be upgraded to an i7 and a SSD.

- 2.3 GHz Intel Core i5, 500 GB hard drive, 2 GB RAM, Intel HD Graphics 3000 processor with 288MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory: $599

- 2.5 GHz Intel Core i5, 500 GB hard drive, 4 GB RAM, AMD Radeon HD 6630M graphics processor with 256MB of GDDR5 memory: $799

Apparently the mini can access the optical drive on another computer, not sure how that works or how often I would need it, but neat. Is it worth the extra $200 for the slightly faster processor, graphics and RAM? I'm not really sure what the difference is with the graphics processor. I don't plan on gaming, just the usual computing needs. If I got the $599 model I would upgrade the RAM myself.

[sclitheroe]

OS X uses the graphics processor to accelerate a number of system tasks, and the GUI in general, like Windows 7, benefits from being able to offload graphical processing. For $100, on a system that you can't upgrade, I'd go for the better graphics chip.

A Mac with 4 GB of RAM, a Core iX CPU and a decent, if unspectacular GPU is going to be good for many years yet, that $100 will be nothing amortized over 4-5 years.

[Devils'Advocate]

Okay. I've decided that I'm gonna order one of these mac minis.

However, I'm wondering if buying the $999 is worth it over the $799 one.

For $799 you get 2.5 GHz dual-core Intel Core i5
For $999 you get 2.0 GHz quad-core Intel Core i7

That, of course, is gibberish to me. From my internet readings, unless you are using programs that use multiple threading, it's not worth the $200. So the only real benefit is that the $999 one has 2 500GB hard drives and I already have plenty of external USB and firewire storage.

Is there something else that I am overlooking that would make the $999 worth the extra money?

http://store.apple.com/ca/browse/home/shop_mac/family/mac_mini/select?mco=MjMzOTQxMTc

[underGRADFlame]

Okay. I've decided that I'm gonna order one of these mac minis.

However, I'm wondering if buying the $999 is worth it over the $799 one.

For $799 you get 2.5 GHz dual-core Intel Core i5
For $999 you get 2.0 GHz quad-core Intel Core i7

That, of course, is gibberish to me. From my internet readings, unless you are using programs that use multiple threading, it's not worth the $200. So the only real benefit is that the $999 one has 2 500GB hard drives and I already have plenty of external USB and firewire storage.

Is there something else that I am overlooking that would make the $999 worth the extra money?

http://store.apple.com/ca/browse/home/shop_mac/family/mac_mini/select?mco=MjMzOTQxMTc

The $999 is the server mini, personally I would go for the $799 one, and upgrade to the i7 2.7 processor for $100, then max the ram out after i got it.

[sclitheroe]

The $999 is the server mini, personally I would go for the $799 one, and upgrade to the i7 2.7 processor for $100, then max the ram out after i got it.

The faster dual core is probably better for most people, plus the better graphics as I already mentioned.

If you are doing lots of video encoding/transcoding, though, those 4 cores are gonna smoke the dual core system.

Edit: Personally, I'd stick to the i5 and put the $100 towards the 3 year Applecare warranty, but either way, the basic advice to get the faster dual core machine and load up on RAM afterwards is sound advice.

[Devils'Advocate]

I guess if I were to get the faster CPU, I would need to purchase from the Apple Store as Future Shop nor Best Buy can customize? RAM I hear is upgradable later on, but I assume the CPU is preinstalled by the manufacturer?

[underGRADFlame]

I guess if I were to get the faster CPU, I would need to purchase from the Apple Store as Future Shop nor Best Buy can customize? RAM I hear is upgradable later on, but I assume the CPU is preinstalled by the manufacturer?

Odds are that Futureshop and Bestbuy won't have the upgrade, but Apple store or online will. NEVER EVER buy ram from Apple, way over priced. Page 40 here... upgrading the ram is easy. (http://manuals.info.apple.com/en_US/mac_mini_mid2011_ug.pdf) Ram from MeEx (http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/PID-MX34046(ME).aspx)

[Hack&Lube]

I guess if I were to get the faster CPU, I would need to purchase from the Apple Store as Future Shop nor Best Buy can customize? RAM I hear is upgradable later on, but I assume the CPU is preinstalled by the manufacturer?

You could always upgrade the CPU yourself. It's just a standard Intel processor.

[MarchHare]

You could always upgrade the CPU yourself. It's just a standard Intel processor.

This will void your warranty. The only internal component Apple allows end-users to install is RAM.

[Devils'Advocate]

I was under the impression that the CPU is soldered to the motherboard.

[Hack&Lube]

I was under the impression that the CPU is soldered to the motherboard.

Ah, you are correct. http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Mac-Mini-Mid-2011-Teardown/6131/3

http://guide-images.ifixit.net/igi/UuK6ToHeOjZWinZ4.medium

[QuadCityImages]

This is Apple we're talking about... I'm surprised they let you upgrade the RAM yourself.

That said, the Mini has always been the only Mac I've ever been tempted by, simply because I could see installing it in some sort of car computer system. I suppose a dash-mounted tablet would probably be just as useful for that though...

[Devils'Advocate]

That's not true at all. With the Mac Pro, G5s and G4s you can upgrade pretty much everything you want. And I have always stuck with those models for exactly that reason. However, due to financial limitations AND the absolute need for an intel based Mac, I purchased the Mac Mini. The mini isn't meant to be upgraded. You pay less now knowing that you can't upgrade much on it, meaning needing a new computer sooner than later.

BTW - I took the advice of buying the $799 mini and adding the $100 upgrade for the i7 processor. However, even the Apple store doesn't carry these. You *HAVE* to purchase off the web if you want the $100 upgrade. And it says that it won't arrive until at least the 16th. *grumble*

[Titan]

If you want to make it a media centre here is a guide:

http://osxdaily.com/2010/03/22/how-to-setup-a-mac-mini-as-a-media-center-server-and-remote-torrents-box/

[MickMcGeough]

How difficult is a hard drive upgrade in these?

[underGRADFlame]

How difficult is a hard drive upgrade in these?

http://www.ifixit.com/Device/Mac_Mini_Mid_2011

[silentsim]

How are those using this as a HTPC liking it? Currently using an Apple TV But eyeing a Mini Purchase on Monday.

[MickMcGeough]

How are those using this as a HTPC liking it? Currently using an Apple TV But eyeing a Mini Purchase on Monday.
I've used a custom-built HD-PVR PC, an XBMC Windows media center, and an Apple TV 2, and a Mac Mini with Plex is by far the best media center I've used yet.

I've got Transmission & Automatic set up to download all my shows within a half hour of them being posted online, and Plex picks them up as soon as they're complete, pulls in all the metadata, and adds it to my Plex libraries. It's almost 100% automated. I set up movie downloads through the Transmission web interface from my iPhone and they get picked up by Plex the same way.

Plex's iOS app is pretty awesome too. It'll transcode anything on the fly so I can watch on my iPad from wherever. It's a pretty good setup.

I'd have liked a bigger HDD in the Mini or an easier upgrade method but that's the only con I can find.

[silentsim]

Sounds intense :). Im buying the base model Monday- just went to Memory Express and picked up the 8GB Ram kit. Since the vid card is shared, 8GB of ram on the base model gives the onboard video 512MB of memory.

Not to shabby!

BTW, The kit is 59.99 at memex. Price matched to newegg (47.99) was about 47$ after tax!