2011 Mac Mini vs 2006 Mac Pro

[applereviewguy]

Ok so here's my dilemma, mac mini or Mac pro. So here's the specs of both:

Mac Mini Server - Apple $999
2.0GHz Core i7
8GB RAM $65.99 at crucial.
2x500GB (maybe an SSD later)
Intel 3000 512MB
1xSamsung 24"
1xAsus 24" $199
Magic Trackpad $69

So that comes out at about $1350 w/ tax.

Mac Pro '06 - PowerMax $1099
2x2.66Ghz Dual Core Xeon
8GB RAM $223.99
1x250GB
1x1TB $59.99
NVIDIA 8800GT 512MB
NewerTech USB Wifi $15.99
Vakkos USB Bluetooth $7.99
USB PCI card for wifi+bluetooth $28.99
1x Samsung 24"
1x Asus 24" $199
Total comes to almost $1640

So I'm not sure which'll be better. Oh, almost forgot! I use my Mac for final cut pro x. I do 1080p YouTube videos with loads of picture in picture, cuts, bloopers, text and lots of other stuff. Thanks in advance.

 

[MrCheeto]

Mac Mini for raw power, size, and practicality.

Mac Pro for expandability.

The choice is yours.

 

[applereviewguy]

Mac Mini for raw power, size, and practicality.

Mac Pro for expandibility.

Okay, so sounds like the mini is the winner, also thunderbolt graphics cards are gonna be out soon, so that'll be fun to try. Maybe. If there are no kernel panics from speed limitations. . Well I also found a 2009 Mac Pro used on eBay. Here's the specs:
1x2.66GHz Intel Xeon Quad Core
3GB RAM
GT 120 512MB
GTX 285 1GB
2x1TB
1x640GB
1xSamsung 24"
1xAsus 24" $199
All that for the $1700. Bit more than the mini but it may be a bit more powerful though.

 

[MrCheeto]

ThunderBolt graphics cards? Says who?

The new Mac Mini comes with ThunderBolt. There won't be any option to get it in the Mac Pro as far as intel has said...

 

[applereviewguy]

Graphics

Here: http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/04/external-thunderbolt-graphics-card-for-macs-to-be-developed-soon by Village instruments. Not sure if its true or not. Let's hope

 

[englishman]

Mac pro for lifetime cost.

When you come to sell you will lose little with the MP.

You will lose a heap as soon as you walk out of the store with the new Mini.

 

[steve knight]

another year or so that mp may not even be able to run the new os's or not well anyway. a 5 year old computer is nto a good choice no matter what you can upgrade on it.

 

[The-Pro]

id say the 2009 mac pro, well worth the price. graphics cards are cheaper to upgrade in the MP than a TB GPU would be for a mini I guess (unless the check in at under 250$.). Plus you wont have all that cabling because you wont need external drives.

You definitely wouldn't regret getting the Mac Pro although its slightly more expensive.

 

[applereviewguy]

Solved

okay, thanks. So some said mini some said pro, but I did take into consideration what The-Pro, englishman and stevenight said, so I think the 09 Mac pro is the winner, thanks.

 

[The-Pro]

damn, i just noticed the 2009 has a GTX 285 with it aswell, and three HDD. Thats a damn good deal. Go for it. You might want to upgrade the RAM though, add a couple GB. Ge tit from newegg or OWC.

 

[toxic]

the 2006 Mac Pro is old, slow, incompatible with certain new hardware, and much more power-hungry than the new Mac Pros, which already suck up something like 5x the power of a Mini.

if you don't need high-end graphics, buy the new Mini. if you do need high-end graphics, the 2006/2007 Pro is a compromised solution anyway.

the 2009 Pro is worth considering, just remember to factor in electricity costs.