Quick questions about high end Mini.

[InuNacho]

Hey all I have a few questions before getting an i7 6630M Mini in the summer.

This machine will mainly be used for everyday tasks we're all used to seeing: web browing, iTunes, Skype, Office, the usual. On top of doing that usual stuff I'll be doing a fair amount of FC7 switching between SD and HD footage in addition to some pretty low level Photoshop although there will be a few decent sized projects on a regular basis.
As far as games go I'll probably only be playing Unreal 2004 and the GTAs on the Mac App Store.

How well do dual monitors work on the Mini? I've read people have had issues working the HDMI and Thunderbolt together. I plan on having the Thunderbolt connect to maybe a Dell U2410 or one of the other 1920 x 1200 monitors and the HDMI going to a cheapo $100 monitor used primarily for timeline probably through VGA. Would I have any issues?
Despite Unreal 2004 being an older game would I take an performance hits from having the VRAM across two screens?

Does adding a second HD and replacing the stock one void warranty or 3 year Applecare?

I figure the i7 and 6630 should handle all of the above quite sufficiently right?

Are there or will there sometime in the summer be a Thunderbolt splitter cable or something like that with Thunderbolt to Thunderbolt/MiniDP? I ask because at the moment there are no affordable TB drives but adapters like the Sonnet Echo where I can plug in an eSata drive.

 

[MacForScience]

If you are editing HD video and doing lots of conversions etc I would go with an iMac with core i7. The mini is a dual core i7 proc vs the iMac with a quad core, for video this will be a huge difference.


Cheers

 

[philipma1957]

you should consider an imac


http://store.apple.com/us/product/FC309LL/A

this machine is pretty good

you get a quad core and you get a better gpu price is okay.


better yet buy this one

http://store.apple.com/us/product/FC814LL/A

far better cpu far better gpu and you get two t-bolt ports. if a new imac comes out in a month this unit will drop in price on the apple refurb link and be an amazing piece of gear.

 

[InuNacho]

I cannot use the iMac mainly because of that super annoying glossy screen. Yea sure, I can take it off but then I'd be worried about dust or the glass getting messed up if I have to haul it back in to get the HD replaced.

This lands me in a rather pecular spot. The Mini may not live up to my expectations, the Pro is too expensive and with the older ones I'd be worried about hardware failures, and the iMac has that stupid chunk of glass in front of it and is even less easy to open up than the Mini.

 

[aComicBookFan]

Are there any aftermarket replacements for the glass front? I haven't searched for it on Google yet but I imagine you're the only one who cringes at the glass.

-=- Boris

 

[JAT]

If you are editing HD video and doing lots of conversions etc I would go with an iMac with core i7. The mini is a dual core i7 proc vs the iMac with a quad core, for video this will be a huge difference.


Cheers

The server mini is a quad core. Although slower.

 

[no3tic888]

I cannot use the iMac mainly because of that super annoying glossy screen. Yea sure, I can take it off but then I'd be worried about dust or the glass getting messed up if I have to haul it back in to get the HD replaced.

This lands me in a rather pecular spot. The Mini may not live up to my expectations, the Pro is too expensive and with the older ones I'd be worried about hardware failures, and the iMac has that stupid chunk of glass in front of it and is even less easy to open up than the Mini.

You could always buy a anti-glare screen film for the iMac. If you plan on doing video work on a Mini. I would use 3.5" firewire external drives to edit your stuff. Much faster to process than the notebook drive. Thunderbolt would be better of course.

 

[radiogoober]

Hey all I have a few questions before getting an i7 6630M Mini in the summer.

This machine will mainly be used for everyday tasks we're all used to seeing: web browing, iTunes, Skype, Office, the usual. On top of doing that usual stuff I'll be doing a fair amount of FC7 switching between SD and HD footage in addition to some pretty low level Photoshop although there will be a few decent sized projects on a regular basis.
As far as games go I'll probably only be playing Unreal 2004 and the GTAs on the Mac App Store.

How well do dual monitors work on the Mini? I've read people have had issues working the HDMI and Thunderbolt together. I plan on having the Thunderbolt connect to maybe a Dell U2410 or one of the other 1920 x 1200 monitors and the HDMI going to a cheapo $100 monitor used primarily for timeline probably through VGA. Would I have any issues?
Despite Unreal 2004 being an older game would I take an performance hits from having the VRAM across two screens?

Does adding a second HD and replacing the stock one void warranty or 3 year Applecare?

I figure the i7 and 6630 should handle all of the above quite sufficiently right?

Are there or will there sometime in the summer be a Thunderbolt splitter cable or something like that with Thunderbolt to Thunderbolt/MiniDP? I ask because at the moment there are no affordable TB drives but adapters like the Sonnet Echo where I can plug in an eSata drive.

Man, the mini will be fine. It is freaking fast. I have the i7 with 8 gigs of ram. I went with the 7200 RPM HD, but not the SSD which would have been even faster.

As for dual monitors, the Mac mini does it perfectly. In fact I run 3 monitors. Plug one in to the HDMI, the other in the MiniDP/Thunderbolt port. You do NOT need a thunderbolt monitor in the Thunderbolt port. It is the same port as the MiniDisplayPort. So I use:

In the HDMI port: A HDMI -> DVI connector to connect a 25" monitor
In the Thunderbolt/MiniDP: A MiniDP -> DVI connector to connect a 25" monitor
And on a USB port: USB -> DVI convertor to connect a 25" monitor

 

[shortcut3d]

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Are there any aftermarket replacements for the glass front? I haven't searched for it on Google yet but I imagine you're the only one who cringes at the glass.

-=- Boris

There are optical matte films you can get for the iMac screens. However, installation is very very difficult.

 

[philipma1957]

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There are optical matte films you can get for the iMac screens. However, installation is very very difficult.

THE only way to put a matte film on correctly is to pull the glass off and then add the matte screen this will give you a bubble free install.

 

[Killerbob]

...or get it done professionally. That way you can complain to someone if there are any air bubbles.

And, it can't be impossible. I mean, I have after-installed toning on my car windows, and that looks great. It is all about skill and equipment.

Bo

 

[chickenwingfly]

Man, the mini will be fine. It is freaking fast. I have the i7 with 8 gigs of ram. I went with the 7200 RPM HD, but not the SSD which would have been even faster.

@InuNacho, don't worry, for what you ask for I think the high-end mini (non server) will be fine.
I've seen benchmarks of people running the BASE 11" MacBook Air and yes, it's not the panacea, but it works better than one would think (and those are ULV underclocked processors in there, even a Core i5 in the base model).

I had the problem of deciding between the Quad i7 @ 2.0 vs the Dual i7 @ 2.7... and I decided to get the non server version, because of the 6630m, which should be better than the HD3000 for some tasks, including light gaming.

 

[InuNacho]

As for dual monitors, the Mac mini does it perfectly. In fact I run 3 monitors. Plug one in to the HDMI, the other in the MiniDP/Thunderbolt port. You do NOT need a thunderbolt monitor in the Thunderbolt port. It is the same port as the MiniDisplayPort. So I use:

In the HDMI port: A HDMI -> DVI connector to connect a 25" monitor
In the Thunderbolt/MiniDP: A MiniDP -> DVI connector to connect a 25" monitor
And on a USB port: USB -> DVI convertor to connect a 25" monitor

I'm glad to hear thats working out, I was thinking of only going dual monitors but I do have an older Dell monitor that could work nicely for Screensharing with my older G4.

I had the problem of deciding between the Quad i7 @ 2.0 vs the Dual i7 @ 2.7... and I decided to get the non server version, because of the 6630m, which should be better than the HD3000 for some tasks, including light gaming.

Yea I was looking at both the 3000 and 6630 and I can't imagine the 3000 having that much fun with even light gaming and for sure light gaming on multiple screens.

 

[MacForScience]

The server mini is a quad core. Although slower.

You are correct, I forgot about that. The only objection to that idea of course is the GPU on the Mini server is not nearly as good. But if the iMac is not a viable option the server would probably do fine.

Cheers

 

[philipma1957]

If you do buy the i7 with discrete gpu let us know how it works out for you.



if you are usa based you can return the mini in under 2 weeks. I wonder if you wait til the 2012 comes out if the graphics will see a decent improvement.