Mac Mini questions.

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3puttssuck

744 posts

Ultimate Geek

#154198 20-Oct-2014 20:49

I am thinking getting the latest Mac Mini to replace an ageing Windows laptop that is being used as a desk top PC. I have an 11" 2014 Mac Book Air that I use for most of my day to day computing needs but we could do with a new family desk top unit. Don't want to spend too much for the amount of use it would get. Can any body who has a Mac Mini give me some feed back on speed etc. Is the SATA hard drive ok or is it slow. I have been spoilt with the speed of the SSD in my MBA so just looking for some general feed back on a Mini before dropping $$$.
Thanks in advance.

corksta

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#1158842 20-Oct-2014 21:33

I had a Mac mini until recently, the 2011 model. I ripped out the HDD and put in a SSD - once you go SSD you can't go back!

I don't know about the recently announced model, but the HDD on previous ones is 5400RPM so it felt really slow when you're used to using a SSD.

I guess it depends on what you want to use it for. If it were me and I was using it for general stuff I'd be pretty disappointed, and frustrated, with its performance.

Dunnersfella

4086 posts

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#1158845 20-Oct-2014 21:39

I have a 2011 MacMini with a SSD on board, recommended.

Yabanize

2350 posts

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#1158857 20-Oct-2014 21:52

New Mac Mini's were just announced the other day

BTR

1527 posts

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#1158998 21-Oct-2014 08:44

Running a few Late 2012 Mac Mini Servers at work, HDD speeds are fine although due to size limitation a couple of them have Promise Thunderbolt storage devices attached to them.

timmmay

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#1159012 21-Oct-2014 08:53

I did a quick google and you can replace SSDs on the older mac mini, but I don't know if you can on the new model. Make sure you know for sure if you plan to do that. Mac Mini's are generally reliable and quick, and relatively reasonably priced for a mac.

khull

1245 posts

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#1159017 21-Oct-2014 09:00

You could potentially upgrade to SSD but the RAM is definitely soldered onto the board - suggestion is to get the previous generation for cheaper and more upgrade options. I have a 2012 model and running SSD + 16GB ram just fine

gehenna

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#1159024 21-Oct-2014 09:10

Buy the model with the Fusion drive.

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nathan

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#1159100 21-Oct-2014 11:00

timmmay: I did a quick google and you can replace SSDs on the older mac mini, but I don't know if you can on the new model. Make sure you know for sure if you plan to do that. Mac Mini's are generally reliable and quick, and relatively reasonably priced for a mac.

you can replace HDD on the new one, but you'll void your warranty