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Will I regret buying Mac Mini to use for my 4k TV?

N

NICKXXXXXX

macrumors regular
Original poster
Oct 9, 2014
215
29
So i'm moving to a single bedroom apartment which don't have enough space really for me to keep my iMac. I was planning on selling my iMac and buy a mac mini and hook it up to a 4k tv instead. The problem is though is that it apparently only supports 30hz at 4k. Do you think this will be a big problem for me? All I ever do is surf the web and watch downloaded movies. For netflix i'll use the tv's in built smart tv.

The other alternative would be to buy a macbook pro or the macbook and use that, but it would look better with just a mac mini since i never have the need to take the computer with me anyways.
 
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Yeah, 30Hz is terrible.

There might be a new Mac Mini this year and if so there's a good chance it will support 4k@60Hz. So I'd put up with the iMac and cramped space for a few months until I can see what the new Mini can do.
 
ActionableMango said:
Yeah, 30Hz is terrible.

There might be a new Mac Mini this year and if so there's a good chance it will support 4k@60Hz. So I'd put up with the iMac and cramped space for a few months until I can see what the new Mini can do.
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When would it probably be announced then? Any rumors at all? tried to google but couldn't find anything. Might just get the latest macbook pro.

Edit: also i really can't have it in there. There is literally not enough space. But what do you think about living with the cheapest mac mini and then hope for a better one to release and then sell it and buy the new one?
 
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I lived in a 427sqft studio with my Power Mac G5 and dual monitors. I struggle to envision a situation where an iMac is too big. I would hold onto it until the mini you want comes out.
 
tobefirst said:
I lived in a 427sqft studio with my Power Mac G5 and dual monitors. I struggle to envision a situation where an iMac is too big. I would hold onto it until the mini you want comes out.
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It's the desk I have for it. The desk is like 2,5 iMacs 27" next to each other. Also what if they never release a new mini? This is also the best time to sell my iMac because the resell price will go down when new computers comes
 
NICKXXXXXX said:
When would it probably be announced then? Any rumors at all? tried to google but couldn't find anything.
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MacRumors keeps a summary in their Buyer's Guide. Check out "What's Next" here: https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/mac-mini/

NICKXXXXXX said:
But what do you think about living with the cheapest mac mini and then hope for a better one to release and then sell it and buy the new one?
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I don't know how to answer that. It's a personal preference. If you hate 30Hz, it will be awful. But if you don't mind 30Hz, it will be fine. I guess you could hook up your iMac to the TV and see if you can force it to 30Hz to test out if you can live with it or not.

Personally, I hate 30Hz with the fury of a thousand suns. I'd stick with the iMac until a new Mini came out. There are arm mounts that can connect to a desk, shelf, or any other furniture, so the iMac can literally not take up any desk space at all. There are also wall mounts.
 
ActionableMango said:
MacRumors keeps a summary in their Buyer's Guide. Check out "What's Next" here: https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/mac-mini/



I don't know how to answer that. It's a personal preference. If you hate 30Hz, it will be awful. But if you don't mind 30Hz, it will be fine. I guess you could hook up your iMac to the TV and see if you can force it to 30Hz to test out if you can live with it or not.

Personally, I hate 30Hz with the fury of a thousand suns. I'd stick with the iMac until a new Mini came out. There are arm mounts that can connect to a desk, shelf, or any other furniture, so the iMac can literally not take up any desk space at all. There are also wall mounts.
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Can I possible force the iMac to use 30hz now? Without hooking it up to a tv? And like I said earlier how are we so sure we will get a mini?
 
NICKXXXXXX said:
It's the desk I have for it. The desk is like 2,5 iMacs 27" next to each other. Also what if they never release a new mini? This is also the best time to sell my iMac because the resell price will go down when new computers comes
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So it is really that you don't have room for the desk? Am I understanding that right?

I'd sooner spend $100 on a new desk. That would be the most fiscally responsible way to go, especially when you consider depreciation and all that.

But I do understand that isn't as fun as getting new tech. (;
 
tobefirst said:
So it is really that you don't have room for the desk? Am I understanding that right?

I'd sooner spend $100 on a new desk. That would be the most fiscally responsible way to go, especially when you consider depreciation and all that.

But I do understand that isn't as fun as getting new tech. (;
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Hehe yeah! But it does look better with Mac mini and a tv. Apparently next event is in June
 
NICKXXXXXX said:
Can I possible force the iMac to use 30hz now? Without hooking it up to a tv? And like I said earlier how are we so sure we will get a mini?
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With most Macs you can force the refresh rate. I don't know about the iMac though since it is so integrated with its screen. You're the one with an iMac, go try it! :)

Is there some reason you think there's never going to be another Mini? I think it is extremely likely there will be a new Mini this year.
 
ActionableMango said:
With most Macs you can force the refresh rate. I don't know about the iMac though since it is so integrated with its screen. You're the one with an iMac, go try it! :)

Is there some reason you think there's never going to be another Mini? I think it is extremely likely there will be a new Mini this year.
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I'll google how to! Well it seemed like the latest Mac mini was a surprise release? Or not surprise, but people didn't really expect it!
 
Well throw this idea out of the window. Just heard they announced a new macbook. Gonna read what they updated. Praying for a second usb c
 
MrWillie said:
Hook a mid ranged mini up to a 4K tv and run it at a lower resolution.

How big is the TV ???
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But the thing is the mini would be my only computer in the household. I don't know how it would be do do my everyday surfing with lower resolution. It's a 55 inch. Also i've been thinking if it would be pleasant to use the tv as a computer screen regardless. I'd have to sit bent over on the couch to use the desk and mouse all the time. I'm thinking it would be way more pleasant to buy a macbook and be able to have it in the lap when i'm surfing and then hook it up to the tv when i'm gonna watch a movie or something
 
NICKXXXXXX said:
But the thing is the mini would be my only computer in the household. I don't know how it would be do do my everyday surfing with lower resolution. It's a 55 inch. Also i've been thinking if it would be pleasant to use the tv as a computer screen regardless. I'd have to sit bent over on the couch to use the desk and mouse all the time. I'm thinking it would be way more pleasant to buy a macbook and be able to have it in the lap when i'm surfing and then hook it up to the tv when i'm gonna watch a movie or something
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I have the mid range mini as an iTunes server, hooked up to a 41" 1080P set via an AV system. I use an iPad for general use. When I did my taxes, I logged on as a different user pulled up the cat bed (ottaman ) and went to town. I have a third gen ATV that I use for AirPlay.

Basically an iPad and an ATV (for streaming AirPlay from the iPad ) might be a better choice, if you don't have a lot of local media.
 
MrWillie said:
I have the mid range mini as an iTunes server, hooked up to a 41" 1080P set via an AV system. I use an iPad for general use. When I did my taxes, I logged on as a different user pulled up the cat bed (ottaman ) and went to town. I have a third gen ATV that I use for AirPlay.

Basically an iPad and an ATV (for streaming AirPlay from the iPad ) might be a better choice, if you don't have a lot of local media.
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I personally think the best choice would be to buy a macbook pro. Hopefully they'll make it lighter now as well. Then in the future i'll buy an apple tv when it supports 4k
 
ActionableMango said:
A MacBook Pro would certainly do the job. Quite a bit more money though.
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That's no issue. I'll sell my iMac and just need to add a little money. Also i'll probably buy the current macbook pro since the price will be lower than the new one. It depends though if the new macbook pro that is coming will have a huge design difference
 
NICKXXXXXX said:
That's no issue. I'll sell my iMac and just need to add a little money. Also i'll probably buy the current macbook pro since the price will be lower than the new one. It depends though if the new macbook pro that is coming will have a huge design difference
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Sounds great.

You might look into B&H Photo. They are an authorized Apple reseller and they have discounted prices almost as low as Apple's refurb prices. I've bought a couple of Macs from them and it's been good.
 
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ActionableMango said:
Sounds great.

You might look into B&H Photo. They are an authorized Apple reseller and they have discounted prices almost as low as Apple's refurb prices. I've bought a couple of Macs from them and it's been good.
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I'll have to check them out. I bought a Nikkor lens for my FM2 from them, back in the day.

I wonder if there is anyplace left that can use my darkroom skills ???
 
MrWillie said:
You do understand that probably 90% plus of stuff you feed your tv is not 4K, but depending on the TV maybe upconverted from 1080P or whatever the source is. Some HD tv is only 720p.
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Yes i'm fully aware. The only thing i'll do when I hook up the computer to the tv is watch downloaded movies. And those will be in 1080p until they start releasing 4k bluray movies. But I was thinking to be future safe you know? I really want macbook though. Not pro. I felt on it in the store and it's perfect. I could live with the single port since all i do is surf the web and watch movies anyways.
ActionableMango said:
Sounds great.

You might look into B&H Photo. They are an authorized Apple reseller and they have discounted prices almost as low as Apple's refurb prices. I've bought a couple of Macs from them and it's been good.
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We don't have that store here in Sweden!
 
If you want to be future proof (sorta), and movies is your thing, I'd suggest waiting for a device that can flawlessly play 4K HEVC videos, and has an HDMI 2.0a so you can have 4K60Hz 4-4-4 output.

That's what I'm waiting for anyways. But since it is something you need right now, I suggest you buy something cheap, second hand, until the real deal comes out, like a Mac Mini with Kaby Lake.
 
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