Mac Mini vs. PC

[nutritious]

The PC build would be much better, but I'd go with something else besides the noctua fans. Noiseblocker fans would be much better and quieter than them. I was never impressed with noctua fans.

I'd personally just go with the PC build. And IMO, any Lian Li case looks nicer than a mac mini.

 

[nutritious]

The Mac Mini will last you 3 years. People still use PPC Macs which are around 4-7 years old. The Mac Mini can handle what you do, just get 4GB of RAM, and a 500GB Scorpio Blue Hard drive or a SSD.

Um, a pc can easily last 3 years, too. Do you have anything of value to contribute?

 

[MacMini2009]

Um, a pc can easily last 3 years, too. Do you have anything of value to contribute?

I was answering his question if a Mac Mini will last 3 years, not a PC. I know PC's can last 3 years, but not without viruses, and having to do system restores. I am a careful person, I had CCleaner and Mcafee AntiVirus on my Dell E1705, but it got a virus, the only thing I could do was a system restore. Read my earlier post.

 

[Jabbamk1]

Not true mate, my old pc which i and other family members still use from 2003 has not got a virus and has not had an anti virus installed on it. i run one from a usb to do a scan everynow and then and nothing comes up. You obviously did something dodgy or didnt have an antivirus installed.

i agree with nutritious about the pc being much better but the mac will beable to do what he wants it to do. 4GB of ram is enough to run windows and everything it needs. granted its not that good a system and may not be used as much in three years time but the OS is good and you could always buy a cheap pc after this one becomes slow or not usable for the OP.

 

[Matej]

No

Well I was looking for (I know this is Mac forum forgive me =):

ASUS Rampage II gene X58
Core i7 920
3x1GB TeamGroup 2000Mhz
150GB Velociraptor
Radeon 4870 Matrix
Lian Li PC-V351

This PC is monster in compare with Mini (laptop CPU and GPU) and again I don't like Hackintosh.

Only Mac Pro would be as god as this PC. But the first price for him is 2100€ I'm app. 800€ to short. Even if I ordered it from USA i will pay tax and transport so in the end it will be the same and nobody don't want to sell his Mac Pro for about 1500€.

In the end looks like I will finish with PC even if I don't like this too much (also Win 7 GUI is terrible and all those commercial trials ).

 

[Jabbamk1]

you could always mod it to look like how you want.

i have 3 accounts on my packard bell iMax. 2 are mine. One has the original windows vista layout. One has a mac transformation pack that copys the exact look of leopard.

Here is a quick screen. I also have expose and spaces installed (win version) and i like it a lot. but i use my iMac most of the time so i find it a bit fustrating not being able to activate expose with the mouse.

http://i481.photobucket.com/albums/rr180/jabbamk1/mac.jpg

 

[Matej]

It's nice, but I strictly prefer default theme (why installing theme to get a filling of something else that this PC isn't?).

Look's like this will be harder than I thought

 

[alphaod]

2) In August I'm planning to buy new home computer for myself and after 15 years of Windows this one might be Mac. So I was thinking, because I already have 20" AS-IPS Nec monitor to buy Mac Mini. Pro is too expensive, iMac don't have such a good display as my Nec.

Well to be fair, the 24" iMac has a very good panel (H-IPS). Though the mini is sufficient.

There they are:

Mac Mini:

2,23Ghz CPU
2x2GB DDR3 RAM
upgrade HDD to 500GB WD blue edition
Nvidia integrated 9400 GPU

TOTAL: 900€

PC:

Intel E8400
2x2GB DDR2 RAM
HD 4670 Radeon
Lian Li HTPC case with silent Noctua vents
Enermax PSU
Aftermarket cooler for CPU
WD 640GB HDD

TOTAL: app. 800€ (I don't mind for 100€)

I would suggest you just buy the base model with a 2.26GHz processor and then separately buy and upgrade the HDD and RAM.

As for the PC, the stock heatsink should be sufficient. But you did forget the price of Windows (if that's what you are planning to get).

3) It's obviously that PC would be faster, but considering running antivirus, antispyware, disc defrag and performance drop in few months due to software issues Mini might be good solution too. Especially because drivers and software for Mac is almost perfect I guess.

If by PC you're implying Windows, then yes you may need to defrag, etc., but OS X is bloated as well in many terms. Besides you could always run Linux instead.

4) I want to buy iPod Touch too, so Mac would be better platform for it, than Windows (more simple!?)

For this it actually doesn't really matter.

5) I want to use my new computer 2-3 years (then as secundary computer), I mainly use PC for programming in Eclipse/NetBeans, movies (also HD but just on my monitor, not TV), large music library, chatting, photo library (and simple foto editing), torrent, virtual machines (specially for programs that don't work on OS X), I don't play games, for Mathematica (Wolfram), Office and PDF.

The Mac mini can run these just fine.

6) Final question, Mac Mini or PC At the moment I prefer Mini because of OS X, but would he be powerfull enought for the next 2-3 years if I compare it with classic PC his configuration is low-mid range at the moment and sooner or later there will be more and more powerfull PC-s.

It's hard to say if it'll be enough for the next 2-3 years because unfortunately (and fortunately), technology improves very quickly.

6.1) Is Mini with this configuration good enought for normal running OS X?????

Yes it will work fine and it will run Snow Leopard (next version, slated for release in September) as well.

I can't work from my Mac because my company bought a crap firewall without Mac VPN support. So I have to use a PC to do stuff at home.

Yeah get your company to buy a Cisco router.

 

[nutritious]

I was answering his question if a Mac Mini will last 3 years, not a PC. I know PC's can last 3 years, but not without viruses, and having to do system restores. I am a careful person, I had CCleaner and Mcafee AntiVirus on my Dell E1705, but it got a virus, the only thing I could do was a system restore. Read my earlier post.

I've NEVER had a virus or had to do a system restore on ANY of my PCs. It's all on the user...

 

[MacMini2009]

I've NEVER had a virus or had to do a system restore on ANY of my PCs. It's all on the user...

Good for you.

 

[nutritious]

Good for you.

Thanks, so you can stop spreading the whole "mac will run longer" nonsense. Let's take a look at his build. PCs and Macs both use the same hardware and they'll last just as long. If I had to bet, I'd bet the Mac Mini fails before the PC because of questionable reliability of Nvidia chipsets.

 

[MacMini2009]

Thanks, so you can stop spreading the whole "mac will run longer" nonsense. Let's take a look at his build. PCs and Macs both use the same hardware and they'll last just as long. If I had to bet, I'd bet the Mac Mini fails before the PC because of questionable reliability of Nvidia chipsets.

Only the 8600M GT has the defective GPU, not the 9400M in the current Macs. Did I ever say "Macs will run longer than PC's?" I said they both can last long, you will just have problems along the way.

/thread

 

[Matej]

Well, loks like this is road to nowhere (if I write this right )

I was looking and found out that 24" iMacs have better matrix than 20" (24" have Samsung PVA panel).

What do you think if I nevertheless buy the cheapest 24" iMac with 2,66Ghz CPU (6MB) and still the same Nvidia 9600M, HDD I think would be OK, probably WD whit 2 platters (2x320GB) and ofc 7200rpm??

Would this be a good computer for next 3 years? How's with overall build quality on iMac-s? (Over)Heating because CPU/GPU in so close to panel? On the paper looks much more powerfull than Mini.

I found out that i7 would be overkill for me. I can get iMac with discount (for students) for 1320€, I could get so much money if I don't buy iPod at this moment, but in September.

Do you also think (like me) that this would be the best solution or this iMac is still to slow (one good think would be additional 4" of desk space and performance boost in compare with Mini, I think it wouldn't be such a diffrence if I buy an iMac for 1800€ with 2,92 and GTS120)?

 

[MacMini2009]

The 20in iMac uses TN panels, while the 24in iMac use IPS panels, which have better viewing angles, etc. The 24in iMac 2.66GHz comes with the integrated 9400M graphics chip, not the 9600M. The 2.93GHz iMac with the ATI 4850 is great.

 

[Matej]

Yes my bad, 9400M.

I was reading this:

http://gizmodo.com/5165335/imac-2009-review

I think this is not so bad for 1300€ (OK, we skip the GPU, I don't play games). But overall its equal or faster than MBP.

PS: Do you think any new iMac will came or why Apple lower the prices for 24" iMac (I remember that almost equal model cost 1800€) - besides recession?

 

[Jabbamk1]

The GPU is the same for the Mac Mini and that iMac model. It will be more powerful than the mac mini and can accept up to 8GB Memory rather than the mini's 4. However i recommend you upgrade later when you need it and when the price is cheaper.

The HD is much bigger and is 7200RPM. the iMac supports a seperate display so as well as the lovely 24" display you can hook up your 20" display.

The iMac costs a lot but it will be quite powerful in the future with the 8GB memory as most of things you are doing (especially Virtual machines) need more memory and rely on that rather than CPU power.

If you can afford it go for the iMac. Next i would recommend the i7 or E8400 build as that will last longer and is much more compatible with everything you will be running (not that the mac isnt but windows will run better on a HD then a virtual machine).

If you can't afford the above go for the MacMini as it is a great machine but maybe not in the future as technology advances. Trust me the iMac is good.

I would say it is equal to the MBP. but everything you are doing is not GPU intensive. only get the GT120 or 4850 if you will be playing games or doing 3d modelling. most of things you are doing are cpu intensive and ram intensive. the iMac is fine for this. mine runs fine and i use it everyday. (look at my sig)

If you are really strapped for cash but want the iMac look on the refurb store and buy a refurb for quite cheap. (make sure it has at least 4GB memory.

 

[Jabbamk1]

There are rumours circulating that the iMac will get a speed bump and price drop just as the MBP has. However this will either happen just after september or early 2010.

I dont know yet but i would wait till SL before buying it. only 2 months left.

 

[note235]

get the i7 based
faster than any imac or macmini ---if you need the power

 

[The Hammer]

It depends if you need that power. the MacMini already comes with iLife which is much better so if those / office are really the only programs you need get the macmini. but bear in mind you need to buy windows separately to install on the mac. Or you could download it. you could also download OS X for windows as well (I do not support piracy though)

Also dont use NOD32. AVG free is much better and i can stream HD vids/burn a disc/browse the web/edit photos on my pc whilst running a virus scan quite easily. A mac does not need a virus scan at all really but i do recommend using oynx every now and then.

I am still with the Wintel system but the MacMini could be a good choice if you dont use many resource intensive apps.

Having used both AVG and NOD32 V4 I'd have to disagree as to which is better. My old pentium 3 with 512 mg of ram runs very well with NOD. I agree with your Mac comments though.

 

[alent1234]

Been building pc's since 1998 and looking at a mac mini. All macs except for mac pro and the servers use the same laptop parts. The larger iMacs use desktop hard drives.

with a pc for the same money you get more raw performance. Mac mini looks better and smaller electric bill

 

[Skuman]

You've spent 15 years with Windows, maybe it's time for a change and to see what OS X is like? You can always go back to a PC if you decide it's too expensive. The 'problem' with PC's is that they are so inexpensive to upgrade. I've only bought one PC, which lasted from 1990 to 2005 when I bought a laptop. Only the power cord is original. Everything else got changed at least once, usually one component at a time. So if you buy a PC, you might end up just upgrading it (like I did) and never get around to actually trying a Mac for ages. I'm guessing that 10 years from now, differences between Apples and PC's will just mainly be build quality.

 

[nutritious]

Only the 8600M GT has the defective GPU, not the 9400M in the current Macs. Did I ever say "Macs will run longer than PC's?" I said they both can last long, you will just have problems along the way.

/thread

I wasn't talking about graphic cards dude. I did not mean the 9400m specifically. The motherboard is an NVIDIA board, which is what I meant by chipset. I'll simplify for you (oversimplification), motherboards made by Nvidia are historically not as reliable as Intel motherboards. The Mac Mini does not have an "intel" motherboard. You should see how many people with 650i, 680is, even 780s had to deal with their board dying.

The 8600M is a mobile GPU which were on motherboards with Intel chipsets. It's completely different.

Second of all, you can have problems with either Macs or PCs. Makes no difference.


double /thread

 

[MacMini2009]

I wasn't talking about graphic cards dude. I did not mean the 9400m specifically. The motherboard is an NVIDIA board, which is what I meant by chipset. I'll simplify for you (oversimplification), motherboards made by Nvidia are historically not as reliable as Intel motherboards. The Mac Mini does not have an "intel" motherboard. You should see how many people with 650i, 680is, even 780s had to deal with their board dying.

The 8600M is a mobile GPU which were on motherboards with Intel chipsets. It's completely different.

Second of all, you can have problems with either Macs or PCs. Makes no difference.


double /thread

Wow I never knew that, thanks for the lesson.

 

[sukanas]

IMAC

it will be best in the long run... I promise
w/ applecare, you'll save headaches from worrying about separate monitors, insides, etc..

 

[J&JPolangin]

...get yourself a refurb prev gen iMac or whitebook if you want to try OS X = that's what I did (see my sig) and I'm happy (with both machines)... if I decide to go back to win7 when it becomes stable/bug free then the i7 will be a more main stream machine in a year...

FYI, I have 4 other winXP machines all between 10+ (oldest) and 2 yrs (netbook) old, they all run well and the sporadic virus I caught were easily cleaned with SAV corporate edition...