Mac Mini vs iMac

[blanka]

As I said, compare the specs of the specific models.
i7 is not much faster than i5 per thread.
But remember this:
There are dual core i3's which are 2 thread CPU's
There are dual core i5's which are 4 thread CPU's
There are quad core i5's that are still 4 thread CPU's
There are dual core i7's (Mini 2.7ghz BTO 2011) that are 4 thread CPU's
There are quad core i7's that are 8 thread CPU's

Now you understand why the entry quad i5 iMac does not differ much from the dual core i5 Mini, and why the quad i7 is much faster than a quad i5.
Count the threads, not the cores.

[freshwaters]

I'm taking all your advice, I'm going to get the Mac Mini, $799. When you guys talk about putting in 16G Ram and a SSD... the Apples Sales told me if I do it the Warranty will be VOID. How do you guys handle that? I was planning on getting Apple Care. I want 16G Ram from OWC. If I get a SSD from OWC it's like wasting the drive that comes with the Mini since i have to remove it (and Void warranty)? Is this the point were I should just get the Fusion Drive from Apple on purchase of the Mini? Would you guys get the mouse, keyboard, monitor cables, a CD/DVD drive from OWC or Apple?

Thank you and MERRY CHRISTMAS!

[blanka]

Double post?
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1507551

[53x12]

Originally Posted by freshwaters

I'm taking all your advice, I'm going to get the Mac Mini, $799. When you guys talk about putting in 16G Ram and a SSD... the Apples Sales told me if I do it the Warranty will be VOID. How do you guys handle that? I was planning on getting Apple Care. I want 16G Ram from OWC. If I get a SSD from OWC it's like wasting the drive that comes with the Mini since i have to remove it (and Void warranty)? Is this the point were I should just get the Fusion Drive from Apple on purchase of the Mini? Would you guys get the mouse, keyboard, monitor cables, a CD/DVD drive from OWC or Apple?

Thank you and MERRY CHRISTMAS!

You can upgrade the RAM: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5475

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4432#1

SSD is a little different. I would keep the stock drive. If you don't damage anything during the install, I'm not sure how they could tell. If you have a problem or warranty issue, put the stock drive back in.

[freshwaters]

Originally Posted by 53x12

You can upgrade the RAM: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5475

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4432#1

SSD is a little different. I would keep the stock drive. If you don't damage anything during the install, I'm not sure how they could tell.

My Mac Pro 2005 had problems on delivery. The Tech line had me poking things with a screw driver. He specifically told me Apple does NOT void warranties and encourages users to get to know their machine. (I was used to Windows PC where all you did was break the label on the case and your warranty was void.) So I was happy to hear Apple say I can open it up. But on the line this morning with Apple it seems their policy has changed.

[blanka]

Originally Posted by 53x12

SSD is a little different. I would keep the stock drive. If you don't damage anything during the install, I'm not sure how they could tell. If you have a problem or warranty issue, put the stock drive back in.

Even better: ADD the SSD. You can leave everything inside as-is, and plug in a second SSD. Order the kit on iFixit (all covered) or on Ebay (without tools and bracket). At least for Europe I know this does not void warranty.

[53x12]

Originally Posted by blanka

Even better: ADD the SSD. You can leave everything inside as-is, and plug in a second SSD. Order the kit on iFixit (all covered) or on Ebay (without tools and bracket). At least for Europe I know this does not void warranty.

That is another option.

If it was me I would just keep stock drive tucked away somewhere safe, get a Samsung 840 250 GB SSD for $150 and a 1-1.5 TB for $80, install both. Then if I had to go to the Apple store for a problem, take the SSD and my 1-1.5TB drive out, put original drive in and all is good.

Won't have to worry about backing up files. Reformatting. Or any of that other stuff.

----------

Originally Posted by freshwaters

My Mac Pro 2005 had problems on delivery. The Tech line had me poking things with a screw driver. He specifically told me Apple does NOT void warranties and encourages users to get to know their machine. (I was used to Windows PC where all you did was break the label on the case and your warranty was void.) So I was happy to hear Apple say I can open it up. But on the line this morning with Apple it seems their policy has changed.

According to Apple's website RAM is still user replaceable on the 2012 mini.

[53x12]

Originally Posted by 53x12

New iMacs are being torn down now. Some are upgrading the HDD to SSD themselves. So depends how adventuresome you are. Will be curious if someone finds a way to upgrade RAM on 21.5.

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1507713

Never mind guess OWC already has an upgrade kit for the 21.5. Just need to be willing to do some work: http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/1600DDR3I16P/

[7enderbender]

Originally Posted by 53x12

You going with the 2.3 or 2.6 i7?

2.6 seems a reasonably priced upgrade. Memory and drive(s) I'll deal with later.

[53x12]

Originally Posted by 7enderbender

2.6 seems a reasonably priced upgrade. Memory and drive(s) I'll deal with later.

Sounds wise and what I would do.

[freshwaters]

Originally Posted by 53x12

You can upgrade the RAM: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5475

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4432#1

SSD is a little different. I would keep the stock drive. If you don't damage anything during the install, I'm not sure how they could tell. If you have a problem or warranty issue, put the stock drive back in.

I checked out the "How to install a second drive" on OWC.
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/DIYIMM11D2/
It's too much for me when the product warranty is void if I mess with it (besides adding memory). If I had a chance to practice or someone showing me one time, okay. Seems too much could go wrong. The 2012 may be different than the video?

I don't care about size, I wish Apple had a Mac Medium, double the size of the Mac Mini, with enough space to easily plug in new drives. I've done this with my Mac Pro, G5.

Apple is just too expensive to purchase/install the SSD by them. So now I don't know which HD to originally have with my new Mac Mini purchase? I guess the Fusion Drive.

53x12, thanks for the knowledge!

[LaunchpadBS]

Originally Posted by freshwaters

I checked out the "How to install a second drive" on OWC.
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/DIYIMM11D2/
It's too much for me when the product warranty is void if I mess with it (besides adding memory). If I had a chance to practice or someone showing me one time, okay. Seems too much could go wrong. The 2012 may be different than the video?

I don't care about size, I wish Apple had a Mac Medium, double the size of the Mac Mini, with enough space to easily plug in new drives. I've done this with my Mac Pro, G5.

Apple is just too expensive to purchase/install the SSD by them. So now I don't know which HD to originally have with my new Mac Mini purchase? I guess the Fusion Drive.

53x12, thanks for the knowledge!

There's always the Mac Pro if you want something bigger and easier to work with.

I personally don't understand people that are scared of taking things apart for fear of breaking them, remember they were assembled by drones, not tech pros, and if a drone can do it then most competent people shouldn't have a problem.