Mac Mini: alot of questions!

The Core 2 Duo will be wayyy faster, but more so because it has double the RAM that the Core duo has.

I have a G4 mini, and it's been always on since I got it. Every now and then it goes off, or goes to sleep... but it's nice. My dad has a Core 2 Duo at work and it's (almost) just as silent.

Very nice machines, you'll like it.

Yes, the Core 2 Duo Mini will be faster and smoother than the 1.66 CD machine.

I had a 1.66 CD mini upgraded to 2GB RAM and I ran it 24/7. It was a great machine. I used it via Apple Remote Desktop to have it rip and encode DVDs as well as for a bittorrent machine. I never had a single problem with it and it was at 100% CPU around 40 hours a week. I could only hear the fans when it was working hard, but if it was just downloading it was practically silent.

As far as fan noise is consern. The Mini is dead silent.

I upgraded my Mini to 2Gb ( a lot easier than it looks on first reading the instructions ) in under 15 minutes.

I used it as my primary machine and ran WoW for long periods and never heard a peep from it. It would quite happily rip DVDs for hours on end and again it was whisper quiet.

For your requirements, it sounds like the perfect answer.

If you are concerned about heat, it might benefit you to wait a few weeks. Hopefully, the new MacMini will be coming out soon. It should have the Penryn, which runs much cooler.

The mini is one of my favorite devices in the apple lineup. With a pair of large USB/Firewire disks, it's the best 24/7 home server that I can think of. The price seems a little high for the specs until you realize it's only pulling 20watts at idle and can have an instant on sleep mode schedule at 2watts. Even at full load it pulls a mere 45watts. Basically if you leave it on all the time, you'll save a good chunk of change in your power bill.

I use mine for: TM backups of my media and two laptops/DVD ripping/batch transcoding/iTunes host for ATV/Media streamer for xbox360/usenet agent/torrent agent/file server/print server/scanner host/iPhone dock/G wifi router*/desktop computer...

And with the optical out it could also be a HTPC if need be.

BTW - keep an eye the refurb store. I got a refurb 2Ghz C2D 1G 120HDD Superdrive a month ago, but they aren't listed all the time.

*for my iPhone and guest use, since my AEBS is set for N only

The mini usually nearly silent.

But when doing heavy duty tasks (using both cores to convert a DVD to MP4 for example) the fan can spin up and you will hear it.

ADent said:

The mini usually nearly silent.

But when doing heavy duty tasks (using both cores to convert a DVD to MP4 for example) the fan can spin up and you will hear it.

Click to expand...

Run HandBrake and then you'll find out how loud the fan is. It's nowhere near the nails-in-a-coffee-grinder that my PC desktop is, but it's a little hum.

As a former Mini owner, they're really good entry-level machines. I sold mine to someone on a very old Dell when I got my MBP. But in the future I may buy another to do server-type stuff. Luckily, I can use the AEBS as a file server, although I'm having issues with 802.11n on the MBP.

TK B$K said:

The only place in my setup that i want it to be is on top of my Xbox 360 which i play daily, will these two on top of each other create a dangerous amount of heat?

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If the 360 is in an VERY well ventilated spot, you should be OK. I'd have very few qualms with having the mini on top of my 360. but my setup is not typical. I have my 360 in a closed cabinet with the exhaust going through a tight fitting hole in the back. This why the 360 itself is always in ambient room temps with the cabinet closed to reduce the sound.

I have my Mini output via HDMI to my new 42" HDTV alongside a separate optical audio cable. Now I've in heaven! Good luck and forget about waiting for the new mini.

Mac Mini

I purchased a Mac mini 1.66Ghz Core Duo earlier this week.

They are quiet and I have my Mac Mini connected to my 37" HD TV via PC input and I have no problems with the display @ 1024x768 @ 60Hz. The only item in the Mac Mini that could do with being upgraded/replaced by Apple on a future Mac Mini is the Intel Graphics card.If the machine is only to be used for every day Office type work(Surfing/Typing/playing DVD's) then you should not have any problems. But don't expect it to play 3D games.

The max memory these machines can have is 2GB.

http://support.apple.com/specs/macmini/

TK B$K said:

ALSO again haha i got the wireless mighty mouse and keyboard but on the box it says i need an apple keyboard to set it up is that true? or can i turn them both on before i FIRST turn on the mini and they will set up? i thought i heard that somewhere. THANKS!

Click to expand...

Nah just start the Mini and you'll be asked in the setup to turn on your keyboard and mouse for pairing. No need for any other keyboard for setup.

I agree with everyone else. Core 2 Duo will be much faster. I want to get a mac mini as a 24 hour machine as well. Input a bigger hard drive on it and stream my movies to my Apple TV.