Old (2009) Mac Pro or new Mac Mini?

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Level 1

12 points

Old (2009) Mac Pro or new Mac Mini?

I'm looking for some advice on getting another computer for editing in Lightroom and working on Photoshop images....but price is an issue!

I currently have a Mac Book Pro (2011) 2.8Ghz i7 16Gb Ram and , I also have an old Mac Pro (2009) with 3.46 6 core Xenon 32Gb Ram. The old Mac Pro is vastly faster at opening and saving large layered files (eg. a 1.6Gb file opens in about 50s on the laptop and 15s on the old Mac Pro!).

Based on this I'm thinking of getting a second Mac Pro for a second location I work at (looking at a 2009, 8 core 2.26Hhz one, with 32Gb ram) but also wondering if I'd be better to spend a bit more and maybe get a new Mac Mini (the 3.6 Quad core i3 w 8Gb ram) for about $800...

I know there are a lot of variables here, but I'd love if anyone has advice on this based on a limited budget. I'd only use this for Photoshop, and I have an SSD drive I could put in the MacPro if I went that route.

Thanks!

Mac Pro

Posted on Jan 20, 2019 12:11 PM

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Answer 1

lllaass

Level 10

210,411 points

Jan 21, 2019 12:49 AM in response to Mitteos

Mitteos, the Terms of use of these Apple Support Communities

Apple Support Communities Use Agreement - Apple Community

says do not ask for points and that is what you are doing in your reply:

Do not ask for points. If you feel the system is not clear to users, please provide feedback to Apple; do not instruct other users unless they ask.

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Answer 2

Mitteos

Level 1

83 points

Jan 20, 2019 1:24 PM in response to a1short

“based on a limited budget”

With that being the ultimate circumstance for what choices to make for this purchase, here’s what I would consider, if it were me, in my line of work.

COMPATIBILITY: This is what seems to be up the utmost concern, in relation to budget. Usage of an older Mac in today’s technical world, isn’t the best. Speeds become faster, Wi-Fi is dualband, you name it. So, that is why a newer Mac would be best for me, in my line of work.

Photoshop: Is that what you are required to use? If not, as an alternative to using and spending loads on that particular piece of software, consider using GIMP. It is a free alternative, and is not as confusing for those just wanting to edit their images and create designs:

— https://www.gimp.org/

— https://www.gimp.org/release-notes/gimp-2.10.html

Mac: As for deciding which Mac to purchase, if you do not want to spend a load, but need something a bit more higher-end than that $800 one you mentioned, then consider purchasing a refurbished Mac — particularly from a few years back. Get it directly from Apple — not from a reseller who you know nothing about. Ultimately, note that a 2009 Mac would not be compatible with 10.14 (Mojave) and beyond.

SSD: Being newer in technology, their prices are still typically much, much more than those of an HDD. Whichever drive you decide to purchase, if replacing it, consider a new, rather than used one.

— Hope this Helps! 😊

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Answer 3

lllaass

Level 10

210,411 points

Jan 20, 2019 1:37 PM in response to a1short

I myself would get a 2018 Mini. I would not buy a 10 year old machine.

I have a 2103 MP, 2012 Mini and 2009 MP. The 2009 MP has an NVMe SSD as the boot drive via PCIe card that contains the NVMe blade SSD. It also has a PC Radeon RX 580 and firmware upgraded to the 2010-2012 and I run Mojave.

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Answer 4

a1short Author

Level 1

12 points

Jan 20, 2019 10:10 PM in response to lllaass

llllaass,

If I understand correctly, you have a flashed 2009 Mac Pro (to make it 5,1) and you're running Mojave ok on that? Do you think the basic new Mac Mini would be faster than that, even with the 2009 Mac Pro having 32Gb Ram?

Thanks,

Alan.

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Answer 5

lllaass

Level 10

210,411 points

Jan 21, 2019 1:02 AM in response to a1short

The i3 Mini should be a little better (multi-core) or same as your 2009 MP. For single-core the Mini really bets it. See the following:

https://browser.geekbench.com/macs/262

https://browser.geekbench.com/macs/435

The firmware in your 2009 must have been flashed to a 5.1 (210 MP) since that is the onoly way to get a 2009 to use a 6 core processor.

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Answer 6

Jan 21, 2019 3:00 AM in response to a1short

With Photoshop and Lightroom, I would not get any system with less

than 32 GB for the size files you speak of as both apps will suck up

RAM in a hurry.

While the new Minis do have "replaceable RAM", it requires a major

teardown to replace it which brings into question warranty issues.

You could of course purchase the Mini with RAM, but Apple charges

quite a premium for additional RAM.

Also, the internal SSD on the new Minis is soldered to the logic board

and is not upgradeable, so what you buy is what you will live with.

With that in mind, the entry model has a quite small SSD.

From what I have read in terms of Lightroom and Photoshop, their

performance on the base model is just okay but nothing to write home

about, especially if you are working with large files.

FWIW, I would suggest, for your use, is to scape up the extra bucks

somewhere and go for at least the next step up with the 6 core i5

and also has and SSD double the size of the base model.

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Answer 7

lllaass

Level 10

210,411 points

Jan 21, 2019 7:19 AM in response to woodmeister50

Replacing the memory in the 2018 Mini is no harder/complex than replacing the upper HD in the 2012 Mini. I have done that on my 2012 Mini and did not think it was that hard.Here is how to do in the 2018 Mini

https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Mac+mini+Late+2018+Memory+(RAM)+Replacement/115309

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Answer 8

a1short Author

Level 1

12 points

Jan 21, 2019 11:09 AM in response to lllaass

Illaass,

Yes firmware in my 2009 Mac Pro is flashed to 5,1.

I guess I'm struggling with the fact that (as your links to the Geekbench tests show) a 2009 or 2010 Mac Pro, maybe replacing the processor (upgrading to a 3.46 6core Xenon) seems to perform at least as well, or better, than the new Mac Mini. I also have the option of easily adding a larger SSD, and more RAM...and all for much less money than the Mac Mini...?

Alan.

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Answer 9

a1short Author

Level 1

12 points

Jan 21, 2019 11:12 AM in response to woodmeister50

Woodmeister50,

Thanks, yes, the ram on the Mac Mini is a concern. If I did go for the bigger Mac Mini I'd be up over $1,000 and I'm still thinking I might be able to get the same performance from an old 2009 or 2010 Mac Pro for about half the money.

Alan.

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Answer 10

Jan 21, 2019 12:02 PM in response to a1short

I had a MacPro for 8 years, upgraded it and it did very well until the motherboard failed. I bought a Mac Mini with 32 GB of RAM and eGPU. Just as fast as the Mac Pro. Nowadays an upgraded Mac Pro costs a fortune. I wouldn't invest all that money anymore in a 10 year old computer. But that's me ; other people will.

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