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 Post subject: mac mini questions
PostPosted: Tue Oct 18, 2011 12:07 am 
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Hey guys,

I am probably going to be buying a mac mini sometime in the next week -- so here is the question. Given that I am just getting into video work, and want the ability to work with video on the mac mini -- I assume that its better for me to consider the 2.5Ghz over the 2.3.... but is there really a huge difference between the two? I am going to start off with 4gig of RAM, and if I find it too sluggish, then I will consider an upgrade to 8gig. But for now, I have to watch my budget. Anyone have experience with the new mini's?


David


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PostPosted: Tue Oct 18, 2011 12:16 am 
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The one step up also has a dedicated video chip, so I would go with that one.

Memory upgrades direct from Apple tend to be over-priced. I see that they want $210 for 8GB, while crucial.com has it for $56US (where I've been going for memory for a while).

HD upgrade looks harder to do and still over-priced. I've learned to live with the odd external drive or two.


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PostPosted: Tue Oct 18, 2011 12:18 am 
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I just read a review that echo's exactly what you are saying .... they recommend getting the 2.5Ghz machine, and sticking with the stock drive and memory.


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PostPosted: Tue Oct 18, 2011 7:56 am 
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lxdesign wrote:
I just read a review that echo's exactly what you are saying .... they recommend getting the 2.5Ghz machine, and sticking with the stock drive and memory.


make sure that user installed RAM and HDD doesn't negate warranty... RAM modules and HDDs are known to be soldered into the board on some Apple computers (Macbook Air and the Mac Mini Server) so double check... 4GB for video processing seems low to me...


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PostPosted: Tue Oct 18, 2011 9:58 am 
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The Mac Mini has two RAM slots. This computer makes use of RAM interleaving so having the two RAM sticks be the same size will yield better performance. Order the computer from Apple with 4gb and then purchase the RAM from a third party such as CanadaRAM (see below). This will save you about $110+taxes.

Get the higher end model with the dedicated graphics chips. More and more software is harnessing the power of the GPU and in addition to the CPU. Also, the lower end model "shares" the main system RAM with the graphics chips.

8192 Mb Kit (2x4G)
$67 Certified 50228-1x2
$93 Kingston KTA-MB1333/4Gx2
$95 Mushkin 976647A
http://www.canadaram.com/apple_mini_intel_g4.htm


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PostPosted: Tue Oct 18, 2011 11:08 am 
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MustGoFaster wrote:
The Mac Mini has two RAM slots. This computer makes use of RAM interleaving so having the two RAM sticks be the same size will yield better performance. Order the computer from Apple with 4gb and then purchase the RAM from a third party such as CanadaRAM (see below). This will save you about $110+taxes.

Get the higher end model with the dedicated graphics chips. More and more software is harnessing the power of the GPU and in addition to the CPU. Also, the lower end model "shares" the main system RAM with the graphics chips.

8192 Mb Kit (2x4G)
$67 Certified 50228-1x2
$93 Kingston KTA-MB1333/4Gx2
$95 Mushkin 976647A
http://www.canadaram.com/apple_mini_intel_g4.htm


My credit card got compromise at CanadaRam.


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PostPosted: Tue Oct 18, 2011 6:13 pm 
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Thanks guys, I will probably be getting my computer at The Computer Systems Centre - at College street and Spadina. I have always had good service there, and we just bought an iMac and a powerbook for my company there, plus they are a certified mac service centre, so I was talking to them about RAM upgrades ... as I want to start out with the 4 gig for now, and in the future if I decide I want more - they do the upgrades for a very reasonable price vs. Apple.


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PostPosted: Tue Oct 18, 2011 6:28 pm 
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Other World Computing sells mac mini memory upgrades to 16GB

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/memory/A ... /DDR3_1333

Also, 2011 MBPs unofficially support 16GB..


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PostPosted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 8:15 pm 
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Might be a little late but if you put ram in since there are two slots put the largest you can afford in the one slot leaving the other for more. If you put 2 Gig in each slot for 4 Gig then you will have to throw them away if you want to go to 8 gig. Put 4 in one slot and then another 4 in the other slot if you need it. Better yet put 8 in one slot and then 8 in the other later when you can afford it.


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PostPosted: Wed Nov 02, 2011 12:03 am 
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don't quote me on this - but I believe having unbalanced RAM does not make the computer happy...

Anyhow, I had to hold off on the purchase until after the new year -- more important things to conentrate on right now.


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PostPosted: Wed Nov 02, 2011 11:16 am 
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lxdesign wrote:
don't quote me on this - but I believe having unbalanced RAM does not make the computer happy...

Anyhow, I had to hold off on the purchase until after the new year -- more important things to conentrate on right now.


Unbalanced in terms of size? No, that was the case in the 90s. As long as the RAM modules are the same speed you'll be fine.


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PostPosted: Wed Nov 02, 2011 11:27 am 
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Unbalanced in terms of size is fine, you just won't be taking advantage of "memory interleaving" which this computer is equipped to take advantage of (if both of your RAM sticks are the same size).

Is the performance to be gained from interleaving substantial? Good question.


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PostPosted: Wed Nov 02, 2011 11:34 am 
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i have a mac mini 2.66 core duo, with 4gb ram, and I would love to have a little more juice in it... believe me it does everything I want it to do and more, but a little more power is always welcome.

Ram from OWC (macsales.com) is awesome and well worth the price.


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PostPosted: Wed Nov 02, 2011 11:53 am 
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J__ wrote:
Ram from OWC (macsales.com) is awesome and well worth the price.


So are their SSD's!!! I bought a 60gb ($118) and use it just for my operating system, applications and Lightroom catalog. All of the data (photos) are stored on a regular (7200 RPM) drive. VERY fast!


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PostPosted: Wed Nov 02, 2011 4:35 pm 
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hopefully I will be getting my machine by March, and when I do -- I plan to put 8gig of RAM in it... two 4gig chips.


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PostPosted: Thu Nov 03, 2011 11:07 am 
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If you are looking for a mac mini, I have a discount from work.

Let me know what model you are looking for, and I can post the price for you.

FYI, for anyone looking to buy a brand new apple products, let me know, its cheaper, but not by too much. :P


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PostPosted: Thu Nov 03, 2011 11:11 am 
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I checked with the Geeks in Best Buy last nite and they confirmed that its ok to leave one slot empty if you only want to put in 4 gig at the moment. Later you can put the other 4 gig in. No loss of performance.


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PostPosted: Thu Nov 03, 2011 11:32 am 
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jackctk wrote:
If you are looking for a mac mini, I have a discount from work.

Let me know what model you are looking for, and I can post the price for you.

FYI, for anyone looking to buy a brand new apple products, let me know, its cheaper, but not by too much. :P


my crystal ball suddenly saw an iPad2 in my near future...


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PostPosted: Thu Nov 03, 2011 11:38 am 
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Bynx wrote:
I checked with the Geeks in Best Buy last nite and they confirmed that its ok to leave one slot empty if you only want to put in 4 gig at the moment. Later you can put the other 4 gig in. No loss of performance.


FYI...
These are the configurations that are available from Apple:
2GB 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2x1GB
4GB 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2x2GB
8GB 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2x4GB
Notice that when you order it with 4gb you receive 2x2gb (not 1x4gb)


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