Mac Mini for $300, or new C2D for $600, desperately need advice.

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JuicyDbase

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It's a long read, but if you could just take 5 minutes to read and add some advice on the matter, it would be extremely helpful.

I am just a junior college student at the moment and I am seriously fishing around and looking into getting a computer. I figure I better get one now living at home when I don't have many financial responsibilities as I will when I finally fly the coop (thank goodness). I also got to thinking about this because my b-day is coming up soon and I figure I could even pay less myself for one with a small amount of help from my parents. As much as I would love to have a macbook pro. I don't have enough money to go and buy one of the new imacs or whatever so I am sticking to mac minis. I'm also sticking to the minis because I am going into computer graphics/web design and engineering so I will need to run the mac os as well as a windows os on it. So please, no suggestions of pc's or other mac models. What I want to know is if the mac mini will serve my needs. I have done a lot of reading on these forums for a few days, finding some pretty old outdated and somewhat irrelevant information on my questions. Here is what my setup and needs are, pretty dang simple at the moment. Also, I know I'm probably squeezing the mini a bit, but I am on a fairly tight budget.

>Firestudio - I will be using all 8 inputs for tracking drums
>Using cubase le - I am 40% sure I will upgrade in probably less than a year from now to something worth upgrading to and reasonably priced.
>Being able to run windows and mac system on the mini, not necessarily at the same time because I can't think of any programs in windows that I would use for graphic design, vise versa for windows on programs like for instance AutoCAD.
>Being able to have at least 4 gorilla sized programs open simultaneously and not lag too much; Photoshop, illustrator, inDesign, Dreamweaver.

How do the new mac mini models do for performance and being able to keep up without lagging? Will the 5400rpm drive be okay? I was planning on getting an external 7200rpm firewire drive to make up for any lagging in that area. I am pretty sure that they would not have a problem with other programs and what not. It's the tracking ect. for my audio recording life that concerns me.

Now I found this mac mini that somebody is selling, but I am not sure if it is really slow for what I will be doing with recording and other uses. But I am looking into it because they are selling it for only $300! although it's very confusing because it appears to be a fairly old mac mini; yet for some reason Amazon sells used ones for even more than the cost of a brand new current model straight from apple. Anyway, sorry for the long chatter and questions. Here are the stats, info, ect. of the used mac mini.


So this person is saying that their mac mini has never really been used because their workplace is supplying them with a laptop. I'm not sure how fast or slow it is as I have not had too much experience trying out different processors ect.

1.42 GHz PowerPC G4 processor with 167 MHz system bus

512 MB DDR SDRAM (expandable to 1 GB), 80 GB hard drive, slot-loading Combo Drive (DVD-ROM/CD-RW)

One FireWire 400 port, two USB 2.0 ports, DVI output, and VGA output (adapter included)

Built-in 10/100BASE-T ethernet

Mac OS X version 10.4 Tiger, iLive '05, Mail, and more included

This is somewhat pure financial advice, but what do you think about purchasing a computer by payments per month. Is that one of those ways that it's fairly easy to build up credit as well.

Thank you.
Xièxie nǐ
 
okay, i sorta skimmed over your post a bit, but here's my impressions:


the specs on the mac mini you posted will not allow you to natively run XP, as it is the older model with PPC chip. Also, the PPC chips are not as powerful as the newer Intel Core Duo ships that are currently in the new macminis.

Also, I'm not convinced the macmini is a good computer if you're doing fairly heavy graphics work, but i wouldn't really know about that.


I own and run a new 1.8hgz Core Duo macmini, and use BootCamp to run XP on it, and this machine runs fast enough for me!
 
What do you use it for besides recording? And what type of setup are you recording with and how many channesl are you tracking?
 
in your situation (college student) i would scrape and save (sell a nut maybe?) as much as you can for a macbook (non pro). you will thank me later...


also, apple has student discounts. it think it is about 10% off...
 
Yeah, I was in my web design class this morning and the snowball I was working on had a g4 processor 1.24ghs and man that think was so not the fastest thing. Normally they aren't that slow, but when I have those running a lot of large programs, they suck. I definitely want to stick with the C2D's, or even the DC's. I was thinking with a payment plan I might as well go for a macbook pro. I would not be able to stand those little toaster oven 13 inch screens on the macbooks. I guess it is just due to the lack of portability, but I do not like the imacs for that reason. I would feel like I would brake it or scratch it while it was riding with the seat belt on it in the car (although if you take one of the older imacs that look like a desk lamp and ride with it in the car buckled in, it's pretty hilarious to watch it as it becomes quite animated with the screen's arm swinging and nodding around). I guess I am sort of ignorant about some things, and this is not related to recording, but how do qualify and everything for a type of payment plan?

Also, what is the life span of notebooks? 2 years? because if that is the case that will definitely hinder my decision on what computer to buy.

Also, having given little to no deliberation I had come to the immediate decision not to trade or sell body parts.
 
JuicyDbase said:
What do you use it for besides recording? And what type of setup are you recording with and how many channesl are you tracking?
Click to expand...


Only general home use - internet, videos, music, lightweight photo manipulation, etc.

I've tracked up to 8 tracks at once, no more.

For mixing i run PTLE w/ mbox 2.
 
foreverain4 said:
in your situation (college student) i would scrape and save (sell a nut maybe?) as much as you can for a macbook (non pro). you will thank me later...
Click to expand...


actually I would've said the opposite, unless you need portability. You'll save money on a MacMini+screen over the macbook and you'll have a machine of - roughly - equivalent power (the mini will be slightly underpowered). however, i have yet to max out the computer, and i generally run at least 30 audio tracks + aux's with plenty of plugs on each of them, and thats in XP, so i'd expect OSx to be slightly more powerful..
 
MessianicDreams said:
actually I would've said the opposite, unless you need portability. You'll save money on a MacMini+screen over the macbook and you'll have a machine of - roughly - equivalent power (the mini will be slightly underpowered). however, i have yet to max out the computer, and i generally run at least 30 audio tracks + aux's with plenty of plugs on each of them, and thats in XP, so i'd expect OSx to be slightly more powerful..
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What are the stats on your mac mini?

Also, I came across another deal for a mini for $425 in box 1.66ghz core duo. I looked on amazon and supposedly it has 512mb ram, and a 60gb hard drive. Again I would just get an external at some point anyway, but would this be able to hold many programs? And most importantly, with the 1.66ghz core duo, would this still be fast and able to keep up with audio tracking without lagging? I am not sure what the stats of messianic dreams mini are to compare this to.
 
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JuicyDbase said:
What are the stats on your mac mini?

Also, I came across another deal for a mini for $425 in box 1.66ghz core duo. I looked on amazon and supposedly it has 512mb ram, and a 60gb hard drive. Again I would just get an external at some point anyway, but would this be able to hold many programs? And most importantly, with the 1.66ghz core duo, would this still be fast and able to keep up with audio tracking without lagging? I am not sure what the stats of messianic dreams mini are to compare this to.
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I would definitely go with a Core 2 Duo over a G4 any day. Beyond that, though, I'd probably suggest a Macbook as others have. It's just a lot more flexible.
 
Yeah... the resale value on the Mac machines is shockingly high... used G4 mini's for 300 when the new Core Duo's are 500 (I think).

I have a powerBook G4 17", the processor is a single 1.5Ghz PowerPC (i.e. non Intel) - 1Gb of RAM... it runs Cubase LE, but after about 8 tracks with plugs and everything, it starts to lag a bit.

I'd say at the very least, try to go for a newer Mini + screen.
 
cusebassman said:
Yeah... the resale value on the Mac machines is shockingly high... used G4 mini's for 300 when the new Core Duo's are 500 (I think).

I have a powerBook G4 17", the processor is a single 1.5Ghz PowerPC (i.e. non Intel) - 1Gb of RAM... it runs Cubase LE, but after about 8 tracks with plugs and everything, it starts to lag a bit.
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That's awful. My PowerBook G3/233 could do three times that with basic EQ in BIAS Deck under Mac OS 9. That was back in a day when 6 MB/sec. SCSI throughput was considered fast and seek times were several times what they are now.

IMHO, that sounds like Cubase and/or your plug-ins just suck. That hardware ought to be able to handle 32+ channels with modest (i.e. NOT convolution reverb or pitch correction) plug-ins without breaking a sweat... unless by plug-ins, you mean soft synths, in which case, yeah, I'm not at all surprised you're hitting a wall. :D
 
go with the new Core 2 Duo Mac Mini. with student discount I believe it's $579 in the stock configuration. you'll want to upgrade the RAM to at least 2 GB (not through Apple).

2 GB matched pairs should be less than $100 at crucial.com or newegg.com

it will be plenty powerful for what you're doing unless it involves gaming and 3d rendering/modeling because of the lack of a dedicated video card. I don't believe any of the programs you listed would have a problem with this
 
I know the core 2 duo is the best at the moment, but how do you think the 1.66ghz intel core duo would do with those programs, also while having the 2gb upgrade? Because $425 is very appealing for a core duo with 80gb hd and keyboard and mouse are included too! I guess the main question is would I be disappointed with it running those programs? I want it to just keep up well and not have the lagging to where it eats at you after awhile.
 
JuicyDbase said:
I know the core 2 duo is the best at the moment, but how do you think the 1.66ghz intel core duo would do with those programs, also while having the 2gb upgrade? Because $425 is very appealing for a core duo with 80gb hd and keyboard and mouse are included too! I guess the main question is would I be disappointed with it running those programs? I want it to just keep up well and not have the lagging to where it eats at you after awhile.
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I have a friend who runs the 1.66ghz CD with PTLE too and says its real fast, i had to mix a few things on is system and didn't run in to any problems, had loads of power to spare..


i tell ya, these machines are small but they do the job great :)
 
dgatwood said:
That's awful. My PowerBook G3/233 could do three times that with basic EQ in BIAS Deck under Mac OS 9. That was back in a day when 6 MB/sec. SCSI throughput was considered fast and seek times were several times what they are now.

IMHO, that sounds like Cubase and/or your plug-ins just suck. That hardware ought to be able to handle 32+ channels with modest (i.e. NOT convolution reverb or pitch correction) plug-ins without breaking a sweat... unless by plug-ins, you mean soft synths, in which case, yeah, I'm not at all surprised you're hitting a wall. :D
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The only thing I can think of is that for one thing, I am not using an external hard drive, and the 80GB internal is a 5400rpm, getting used by everything at once. This example was on a heavy electronic experimental track, which involved at the most a ring modulator on top of reverb and compression on each channel. Not sure then why it would run so slow... I'm thinkin about one of those Core2 minis now myself :D

With 2GB of RAM, even without student discount, the faster processor-based one I priced out was only $1050. Granted, I already have a 23" Cinema Display so I don't need to buy a monitor, but still :p
 
JuicyDbase said:
I know the core 2 duo is the best at the moment, but how do you think the 1.66ghz intel core duo would do with those programs, also while having the 2gb upgrade? Because $425 is very appealing for a core duo with 80gb hd and keyboard and mouse are included too! I guess the main question is would I be disappointed with it running those programs? I want it to just keep up well and not have the lagging to where it eats at you after awhile.
Click to expand...

Don't cut that corner. Core 2 is 64-bit-capable. Core isn't. That's likely to be a pretty important feature going forward.
 
I think I am beginning to agree with you after more researching and reading. I presume even the current base model at C2Duo 1.8ghz 1gb ram (and then with a 2gb upgrade)would greatly suffice? Maybe it's worth the extra $130 (with a student discount and sticking with 1gb ram....dang, forgot about warranties :-X)

Maybe I'm destined to get a core 2 duo, lol, as all these deals just sell like biscuits at pop eyes. Their like gold Jerry, gold!
 
why would we be looking at macs when budget is an issue?

Is there some mac only software you need to run on it?
 
pipelineaudio said:
why would we be looking at macs when budget is an issue?

Is there some mac only software you need to run on it?
Click to expand...

Yeah, I am going into Graphic and Web Design. And for that you can't go into it without a mac, unless you wanna deal with a bunch of compatibility issues, anyway. If I weren't going into that, I would totally just build a pc for A LOT cheaper, lol.
 
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