Am I Overdoing it on my Mac mini Collection?!?!

[im_to_hyper]

Hey guys --

Here's my current Mac mini collection!!!! I highlighted in bold the more recent upgrades to some of the machines. Am I overdoing it!?

Mac mini 2018:

• Core i3-8100B (4 Core / 4 Thread) (3.6GHz)
• 32GB DDR4 2666MHz (OWC)
• 1TB factory SSD
• Razer Core X eGPU w/RX 5500 XT 8GB
• macOS Catalina 10.5.4
• This is currently used as my main desktop computer, VM host, and is connected to a 24" Samsung QLED 144Hz monitor for daily usage as well as gaming purposes.

Mac mini Server 2012:

• Core i7-3615QM (4 Core / 8 Thread) (2.3GHz / 3.3GHz Boost)
• 16GB DDR3 1600MHz
• 4TB Fusion Drive
  • 1TB Samsung 850 Evo SSD + 3 TB Seagate HDD
• Sonnet Breakaway Puck eGPU w/ RX 560 4GB (via Thunderbolt 2-->3 adapter + Purge-Wrangler Script)
• macOS Catalina 10.5.4
• This is currently mostly used as a (hardwired) household file server; but is connected to the living room TV for guests to play League of Legends or Civ when they are over. I am thinking of using it for ripping my Blu-Ray collection as well but need to find a drive for that to work...

Mac mini Server (late 2009)

• Core 2 Duo P8700 (2 Core / 2 Thread) (2.53GHz)
• 8GB DDR3 1066MHz
• 1.25TB Fusion Drive
  • 256GB Budget SSD (can't think of the brand off the top of my head. TeamGroup maybe?)
  • 1TB Apple 5400RPM HDD from 2012 Mac mini server
• 256GB nVidia 9400M GPU (Integrated)
• OS X El Capitan 10.11.6
• This is currently connected to a 24" Apple ADC LCD Display via a Mini-DVI --> DVI Adapter + DVI --> ADC Adapter. Also has an iSight camera using a Firewire 400 --> 800 adapter. This is used as my "work from home" machine with Office 2016 and for Zoom meetings and is located in my "Home Office" (Aka the kitchen). I may or may not use this device for torrenting things before screening those downloads and migrating the files to the 2012 server...

 

[0128672]

Can't say whether you're overdoing it, but it does look like you have a lot of fun doing upgrades.

 

[Partron22]

Where are your 2005 and 2007 models? Gotta have those!

 

[im_to_hyper]

Can't say whether you're overdoing it, but it does look like you have a lot of fun doing upgrades.

Yeah, that's pretty much it. I love taking "lower spec'd" things and upgrading them over time. Makes me sad that most newer Macs are non-upgradeable. I don't get that "tinkering thrill"

I mean, the 2018 Mac mini can have the RAM upgraded -- and if I were into soldering could probably put in a bigger Ssd -- but definitely not into soldering!

 

[iAssimilated]

You can never overdo a Mac mini collection, ever!

 

[im_to_hyper]

Where are your 2005 and 2007 models? Gotta have those!

My G4 just arrived!!!

 

[im_to_hyper]

Where are your 2005 and 2007 models? Gotta have those!

sadly... the G4 has a rattle. I need to take it apart but something is loose 😔

 

[Alexis Noel]

I also have 3 minis.

2014 i5 1.4GHz 4GB RAM 1TB SSD (SanDisk)
2014 i5 2.6GHz 8GB RAM 1TB Fusion Drive
2018 i5 3GHz 32GB RAM (OWC) 256 GB SSD

Considering looking for a 2012 2.3GHz or 2.6GHz i7 mini.

I say you should gt on of every gen. lol

 

[Kaida]

can never overdo a Mac mini collection, ever!

ditto!

 

[Boyd01]

I have...

2012 2.6ghz i7/16gb Mini Server with original Apple 256gb internal SSD - for video, audio and website development
2014 2.8ghz i5/8gb Mini with original Apple 128gb internal SSD (split from fusion) - iTunes server with 4tb media SSD
2014 1.4ghz i5/4gb Mini with 500gb hard drive - currently unused

Perhaps there's a 2018 Mini in my future?

 

[esbardu]

Not overdoing, you have a good collection, covering the three different cases/colours. I have seen that now you got the 2005 G4 .
2006/2007 are not that special (I like them because a 2006 was my first mini).

Good thing about Minis is that they can be easily stored on shelf, same space as a book or two. I have:

• Mac Mini 2005: G4 1.5Ghz 1Gb Mac OS 9.2 -macos9lives- (only reason to have it)
• Mac Mini 2006: Core Solo 1.5 upgraded to Core 2 Duo 1.83 2Gb SuperDrive, HDD 320Gb. Running Tiger
• Another Mac Mini 2006: Not working :-( for spare parts
• Mac Mini 2009: Core 2 Duo 2.26Ghz 4Gb 500Gb running Snow Leopard and Yosemite (to be fully compatible with old iMovie versions)
• Mac Mini 2012: i7 2.3 16Gb 500Gb SSD + 1TB HDD running Catalina

I need some newer Minis and I will probably buy another G4 and another 2009. I like 2009's because they have the classic case but are really "powerful".

 

[mdgm]

I have two 2009 Minis and a 2011 Mini. All still in stock configuration, though the early 2009 Mini I did order a CTO 4GB RAM upgrade for. Booting the early 2009 Mini off a FW800 SSD and the 2011 off a TB3 NVMe SSD.

I’m thinking about picking up one or more 2018 Minis with 64GB RAM.

 

[Fravin]

Hey guys --

Here's my current Mac mini collection!!!! I highlighted in bold the more recent upgrades to some of the machines. Am I overdoing it!?

You should buy one of the M1s Mini out there.

It is a beast of a machine. And runs dead silent. And it is a milestone in Apple's history.

 

[Apple_Robert]

You should buy one of the M1s Mini out there.

It is a beast of a machine. And runs dead silent. And it is a milestone in Apple's history.

Many of the people that have the older minis have them because they are efficient servers (at minimal cost when headless) and can be upgraded / repaired when needed, unlike the M1.

 

[Fravin]

Many of the people that have the older minis have them because they are efficient servers (at minimal cost when headless) and can be upgraded / repaired when needed, unlike the M1.

True!

👍