Replace early 2008 Mac Pro with 2011 Mac Mini server?

[joelvh]

My 2.8Ghz 2008 Mac Pro has 14gb of RAM and has become my media server streaming movies to my WDTV.... I don't do all the photo/video editing I used to. Now I just convert videos using Handbrake.

I'd like to move the computer to my TV and run Plex (or something similar) directly into the TV. (My movies are stored on an Addonics RAID connected via eSATA.)

Would replacing the Mac Pro with a Mac Mini (either 2.7 i7 or server version) give me the same performance, particularly if I do photo/video editing from time-to-time? (I know I'm going from 8 to 4 cores, but improvement over 3 years is substantial, no?)

 

[fa8362]

Well, a mini definitely won't suck power and be noisy.

 

[philipma1957]

the server version with a pair of 750gb 7200 rpm hdds installed by apple cost 1099 with no deals. go out and get 8gb ram for 50 bucks. total cost about 1150. this machine will geek bench at about 9500 it will approach your model mac pro . it will also burn a third the power of your mac pro.

 

[indg]

be aware that the mini does not have an esata port. aside from that, i think you would be pleasantly surprised by the performance of the mini server. that said, you might even be able to get by with the dual i5 model for $799 (as long as your video editing projects sit on a faster external drive).

 

[iBookG4user]

Well, a mini definitely won't suck power and be noisy.

I have a Mac Pro sitting next to me and I cannot hear it, in fact even when I'm stressing the Mac Pro it is rare that it makes its presence known.

To the OP: The Mac Mini will still be slower than the Mac Pro that you have right now, although it'll be reasonably close in performance.

 

[fa8362]

I have a Mac Pro sitting next to me and I cannot hear it, in fact even when I'm stressing the Mac Pro it is rare that it makes its presence known.

Time for that hearing checkup. Either that or your room is noisy.

 

[iBookG4user]

Time for that hearing checkup. Either that or your room is noisy.

I'm glad that you are right next to me in my room and can hear my Mac Pro

 

[joelvh]

Selling my early 2008 Mac Pro

Time for that hearing checkup. Either that or your room is noisy.

Thanks for all the great feedback! I'm going to have to side with @iBookG4user and say that the Mac Pro is amazingly quiet. It's a beautiful piece of machinery. It's just huge, heavy, and not being used to its full potential.

At this point, I think I will switch to the Mini. Any suggestions on where to sell the Mac Pro? Everyone sell their stuff on eBay around here? Thanks!

 

[indg]

the mac pro is quiet because it has numerous large fans spinning at low rpm (600?). compared to a small single fan in the mini that spins at 1800rpm (dual core models) or 2300rpm (server). but at least the mini uses nearly 4x less power, so that might save you a few bucks on your monthly electric bill.

sell on:
ebay
craigslist
macrumors marketplace
gazelle

 

[cat3600]

Thanks for all the great feedback! I'm going to have to side with @iBookG4user and say that the Mac Pro is amazingly quiet. It's a beautiful piece of machinery. It's just huge, heavy, and not being used to its full potential.

At this point, I think I will switch to the Mini. Any suggestions on where to sell the Mac Pro? Everyone sell their stuff on eBay around here? Thanks!

You guys without a Mac pro have no idea how quiet it is, I can burn handbrake for hours without a sweat on my 2008 2.8 Mac pro, the mini will be a toaster by then. The Mac pro is one of the quitest machines, I don't think any movie or recording studios would use it otherwise. Please get your facts right, this is to the person who thinks a Mac pro is loud!!!!

 

[iBookG4user]

You guys without a Mac pro have no idea how quite it is, I can burn handbrake for hours without a sweat on my 2008 2.8 Mac pro, the mini will be a toaster by then. The Mac pro is one of the quitest machines, I don't think any movies or recording studios would use it otherwise, please get your facts right, this is to the person who thinks a Mac pro is loud!!!!

I agree completely, if you've never used one you wouldn't know just how quiet and cool the Mac Pro runs. That fa8362 has no idea what they are talking about.

 

[rockinrocker]

Yeah, you've got be in a super quiet room to hear an '08 at all.

I have mine in a cabinet but I only bother closing it when I'm tracking something with really low volume like finger style acoustic guitar or something.