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My Mac Mini Purchase Options, good or bad idea?

2macORnot2mac

2macORnot2mac

macrumors regular
Original poster
May 14, 2010
176
62
How's this option? I looking at keeping my cost down, but maximize what I get.

I'm think getting the 2.3GHz, 4 GB & 1 TB fusion drive.
I'm thinking the fusion drive would be better thank paying for the 2.6GHz and the 8GB. I can always update to 8 GB is I needed.

My use: Family pictures and video editing. Photoshop picture touch ups.

(I just hope I don't buy this and 30 days later an update comes out)
 
MiltonThales

MiltonThales

macrumors member
Jan 12, 2008
46
22
Suwanee, GA
Alternative to Fusion Drive

Instead of Apple's Fusion Drive option at $250, consider an Other World Computing DIY kit (about $35) plus a 240 GB SSD drive (about $239). It gives you double the amount of SSD storage. You can follow easily found instructions to create a Fusion drive out of partitions on the SSD and internal hard disk drive.

OWC has how-to videos on their web site http://www.macsales.com so you can decide if you can handle the upgrade. ;)
 
B

Bear

macrumors G3
Jul 23, 2002
8,088
5
Sol III - Terra
1TB Fusion is a good idea.
2.3GHz vs 2.6GHz - unless you're doing a lot of video editing you probably won't notice the difference in processors that much.
And as for memory, Definitely buy it with 4GB from Apple, and then figure if you want to buy 3rd party memory to go to 8 or 16GB. 16GB of third party memory is running about $110 to $120 right now.

If you decide to go to a do-it-yourself fusion drive, you will want to make sure your Mac is in good working order for a few days. I probably wouldn't bother going the do-it-yourself route, but that is me.
 
W

willdog123

macrumors newbie
May 14, 2013
20
0
Australia
Buy ur own 256Gb SSD and OWC data doubler

The mac mini is one of the easiest to take apart and upgrade, that was the reason i bought it, same processor as top of the line 15" macbook pro but cheap

and you can put ur own ssd and max out the ram without paying huge apple prices, also applecare for mac mini is heaps cheaper than for macbook pros

I reckon by not upgrading the hdd and ram ur self, you won't be getting the most bang for ur buck.

also the owc data doulbler is pretty easy to install but if YOUR AN ABSOLUTE NOOB DON'T DO IT, if not then its freakin awesome cos u get a BEAST for like ~$1000
 
philipma1957

philipma1957

macrumors 603
Apr 13, 2010
6,367
251
Howell, New Jersey
buying and building a diy fusion is not for the faint hearted. i would not buy a fusion drive either.

I would read this thread first

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1280118/


if using this with mods seems like a project you want to do the item is on sale for 160 see link


http://www.macmall.com/p/LaCie-External-Hard-Drives/product~dpno~9423692~pdp.iaeadcd


if you don't want like it. this also works


http://www.macmall.com/p/LaCie-External-Hard-Drives/product~dpno~9237532~pdp.hhbeafj these solutions are just better.

And i have 2 diy fusion setups and I have 3 mac minis have repaired modified and upgraded hundreds of minis. My go to machine has a 1.96tb diy fusion drive with the 4tb lacie thunderbolt attached.

the thunderbolt uses 1 2tb hd as a time machine the other 2tb drive as a cloned backup of the diy fusion.
 
Last edited:
raniel

raniel

macrumors regular
Jan 2, 2011
152
190
Ph
philipma1957 said:
buying and building a diy fusion is not for the faint hearted. i would not buy a fusion drive either.

I would read this thread first

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1280118/


if using this with mods seems like a project you want to do the item is on sale for 160 see link


http://www.macmall.com/p/LaCie-External-Hard-Drives/product~dpno~9423692~pdp.iaeadcd


if you don't want like it. this also works


http://www.macmall.com/p/LaCie-External-Hard-Drives/product~dpno~9237532~pdp.hhbeafj these solutions are just better.

And i have 2 diy fusion setups and I have 3 mac minis have repaired modified and upgraded hundreds of minis. My go to machine has a 1.96tb diy fusion drive with the 4tb lacie thunderbolt attached.

the thunderbolt uses 1 2tb hd as a time machine the other 2tb drive as a cloned backup of the diy fusion.
Click to expand...

Is the $160 LBD the new version? sata III?
 
B

blanka

macrumors 68000
Jul 30, 2012
1,551
4
For video editing the 2.6 is also nice. The 2.6 also has a speedier HD4000.
Always start with maxing out the stuff you can't change. You can even start with an external USB3 SSD.
Also DIY max the ram to 16Gb right away. It is silly to buy 2x4 when 2x8 is just a few beers more.

So: for the price of Fusion: get a 256Gb USB3 SSD, buy 16Gb RAM and upgrade to 2.6. About the same money.
And NO SAMSUNG 840 (non pro) if you do video, that is a useless SSD for video.
 
philipma1957

philipma1957

macrumors 603
Apr 13, 2010
6,367
251
Howell, New Jersey
raniel said:
Is the $160 LBD the new version? sata III?
Click to expand...

no sata II, but sata II vs sata III really only matters with very long reads and writes.

Your post said bang for the buck had meaning. this is bang for the buck. my second setup is a slower mini with a lbd as the booter and a booter clone they are toshiba ssds see screen shot. note temps of the ssd's
 

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raniel

raniel

macrumors regular
Jan 2, 2011
152
190
Ph
philipma1957 said:
buying and building a diy fusion is not for the faint hearted. i would not buy a fusion drive either.

I would read this thread first

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1280118/


if using this with mods seems like a project you want to do the item is on sale for 160 see link


http://www.macmall.com/p/LaCie-External-Hard-Drives/product~dpno~9423692~pdp.iaeadcd


if you don't want like it. this also works


http://www.macmall.com/p/LaCie-External-Hard-Drives/product~dpno~9237532~pdp.hhbeafj these solutions are just better.

And i have 2 diy fusion setups and I have 3 mac minis have repaired modified and upgraded hundreds of minis. My go to machine has a 1.96tb diy fusion drive with the 4tb lacie thunderbolt attached.

the thunderbolt uses 1 2tb hd as a time machine the other 2tb drive as a cloned backup of the diy fusion.
Click to expand...

I find suggestions above very useful, but I live outside US so claiming warranty for DOA items will be painful.

question:
I bought the 2012 i7 mini and I plan to add my own ssd to the other slot, does the disk utility will force me to do a fusion drive?

I've seen it before but I cant find it. Can you also give me a link where I can find your steps on how to create a fusion drive? Thanks
 
Last edited:
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