Price/Hardware Advice.

[aajeevlin]

I'm running a Mac Mini 2009 as my main machine these days. It works well, but its slow at times. It takes about a minute or two to open a large >20MB power point files.

But anyways, I'm thinking to get a used Mac Pro either from 2012 or 2013, I won't mind getting one from 2010 or 2011 since they will be cheaper. Can you guys advice on 1) Is the 2010 or 2011 one, good enough for the next few years? in terms of the ability to update and/or getting left out by Apple's new OS X down the road? 2) What is the best online place to purchase a used Mac pro (I'd like to avoid ebay type of purchase, unless is a reputable store on ebay).

I found a Mac Pro 4,1 at my local university surplus the other day, and I was very tempted. But I'm also glad I didn't go for it because I realized after I got home that it will only take SATA II. So any advice?

 

[r0k]

I'm running a Mac Mini 2009 as my main machine these days. It works well, but its slow at times. It takes about a minute or two to open a large >20MB power point files.

But anyways, I'm thinking to get a used Mac Pro either from 2012 or 2013, I won't mind getting one from 2010 or 2011 since they will be cheaper. Can you guys advice on 1) Is the 2010 or 2011 one, good enough for the next few years? in terms of the ability to update and/or getting left out by Apple's new OS X down the road? 2) What is the best online place to purchase a used Mac pro (I'd like to avoid ebay type of purchase, unless is a reputable store on ebay).

I found a Mac Pro 4,1 at my local university surplus the other day, and I was very tempted. But I'm also glad I didn't go for it because I realized after I got home that it will only take SATA II. So any advice?

Have you considered SSD and more RAM? Those could get you a huge improvement in speed for (very likely) a LOT less than a used Mac Pro.

 

[aajeevlin]

Have you considered SSD and more RAM? Those could get you a huge improvement in speed for (very likely) a LOT less than a used Mac Pro.

I've maxed out the RAM on the Mac Mini, I put in a new 7200 RPM HDD couple years ago, it was fun but I don't know if I want to take apart the machine again. The older mac mini is just so much work to take apart.

I'm actually waiting to see if the new Mac mini will come out, or if giving the price point I can score a decent Mac pro to go with. I will go ahead and look into the whole SSD stuff though.

 

[phrehdd]

Kind of a tough place to be in. If its about opening largish files as you mentioned, a newer faster Mac Mini that is out presently might do the trick if you put in the 16 gigs RAM and perhaps an SSD drive.

I have owned back when a Mac Pro which did have some advantages. I had more RAM, better video (via card), put in a blu ray read/write player and of course 4 drives. The disadvantage was it drew way more power, was largish and for much of what I was doing, a present day Mac Mini does as well if not better.

Hope you figure what best fits your needs. It is often hard to be fully clinical when making purchases but best to consider what type of work you are doing, what type of files are you using and how do applications exploit CPU and GPU as well as RAM. Don't forget to get just a little bit more than you might need as you don't know what requirements will be needed a year down the line or so.

 

[phoenixsan]

Well, as an....

echo to some posts answering you, I would say also that you have to consider what usage do you expect with the Pro (stuff you dou, apps you use and so on). Another factor to account is your budget. I will no hesitate for a Mac Pro under $ 1000 by example (rare, but can appear...!......).

I will assume that any computer will be let in the cold or software-breaked in 3-5 years after original date of manufacturing (being in the safe side and no cutting-edge).

Also consider power cost$$ when thinking in a Pro. Price of upgrades to keep the thing running can be of concern in some moment too....

And I agree in the fact that a current mini can outrun an outdated Pro in some circunstancies....

 

[aajeevlin]

Kind of a tough place to be in. If its about opening largish files as you mentioned, a newer faster Mac Mini that is out presently might do the trick if you put in the 16 gigs RAM and perhaps an SSD drive.

I have owned back when a Mac Pro which did have some advantages. I had more RAM, better video (via card), put in a blu ray read/write player and of course 4 drives. The disadvantage was it drew way more power, was largish and for much of what I was doing, a present day Mac Mini does as well if not better.

Hope you figure what best fits your needs. It is often hard to be fully clinical when making purchases but best to consider what type of work you are doing, what type of files are you using and how do applications exploit CPU and GPU as well as RAM. Don't forget to get just a little bit more than you might need as you don't know what requirements will be needed a year down the line or so.

echo to some posts answering you, I would say also that you have to consider what usage do you expect with the Pro (stuff you dou, apps you use and so on). Another factor to account is your budget. I will no hesitate for a Mac Pro under $ 1000 by example (rare, but can appear...!......).

I will assume that any computer will be let in the cold or software-breaked in 3-5 years after original date of manufacturing (being in the safe side and no cutting-edge).

Also consider power cost$$ when thinking in a Pro. Price of upgrades to keep the thing running can be of concern in some moment too....

And I agree in the fact that a current mini can outrun an outdated Pro in some circunstancies....

Thanks for the replies. I guess I'll be on the look out for either the new mac mini or a newish mac pro. Since I'm not in a hurry I'll probably take my time.