Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Wicked1

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Apr 13, 2009
3,283
14
New Jersey
Looking for something to act as a server, HTPC, basic computer for email, browsing, and doing some good photo editing, also some Video conversions.

What is the base model that is good for all of this, I do not need the latest and greatest as this one will last me 3 years.
 

Neodym

macrumors 68020
Jul 5, 2002
2,429
1,065
Your profile sounds more like a Mac mini to me than a Mac Pro (especially in the noise and power consumption departments).
 

InuNacho

macrumors 68000
Apr 24, 2008
1,998
1,248
In that one place
Maybe OP needs all the internal storage they can get and would prefer that over a mountain of externals and rat's nest of cables.

I think either the 2009 or 2010 base refurbs would work fine.
 

blunti

macrumors 6502a
Mar 15, 2011
541
21
Maybe OP needs all the internal storage they can get and would prefer that over a mountain of externals and rat's nest of cables.

I think either the 2009 or 2010 base refurbs would work fine.

A MP as an HTPC would be an overkill :) mini server along with a nice NAS would save him a lot of money and would work just perfect!
 

philipma1957

macrumors 603
Apr 13, 2010
6,362
248
Howell, New Jersey
I would tell you as an owner of a 2011 mac mini server with the oem option of 2 750gb 7200rpm hdds cost is 999 plus 100 for the drives total is 1099.

the machine is almost as fast as a 2010 quad 2.8 mac pro.



that mac pro as a refurb is 2119

http://store.apple.com/us/product/FC560LL/A?mco=MTkyMTM2MDM


a great nas is around 1 k.


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822108072


t-bolt is 1k



http://store.apple.com/us/product/H5184VC/A/Thunderbolt?mco=MjMwNjUyMjc




but the mac pro has a great quality the mini does not. the mac pro can boot snow leopard lion and windows.
 

Nostromo

macrumors 65816
Dec 26, 2009
1,358
2
Deep Space
I could never warm up to the refurbished "deals", which consists an older model (one or two generations back) at minimal savings.
 

alphaod

macrumors Core
Feb 9, 2008
22,183
1,245
NYC
I could never warm up to the refurbished "deals", which consists an older model (one or two generations back) at minimal savings.

You can always get the current models in the refurbished section; practically new.
 

ActionableMango

macrumors G3
Sep 21, 2010
9,612
6,907
I could never warm up to the refurbished "deals", which consists an older model (one or two generations back) at minimal savings.

They have both older and current models.

I bought a refurb current model Mac in October 2010 and it's still the current model today.
 

derbothaus

macrumors 601
Jul 17, 2010
4,093
30
Yeah man you usually get new models at 10-20% savings. Same 1 year or 3 year extended warranty with Applecare.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.