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Mini vs. iMac

Currently we are running some old Mac Pro/2's (beasts), their configuration is:


Aluminum case, Dual Core 2.66, 20" monitors, 1GB RAM, 250 GB HD. ATX Radeon X1900 video card.


I have 20 or so Mac's to swap out over the summer. I need the Mac's that I am going to get be able to do the following:


Perform on a network, basic movie editing, handle CS6


Thoughts on go with the Mini vs the 21.5" iMac's?


Thoughts on bumping the RAM to 4GB and running 500GB SSD's in the old Pro/2's?


Let me know what you think.


-Jeff

Mac mini

Posted on Apr 11, 2014 11:50 AM

Reply
4 replies

Apr 11, 2014 1:48 PM in response to HelpDesk-MU

Premiere CS6 runs OK on a Mini. Even with 16Gb RAM it "chugs along" rendering MP4 at 1080p, though. Also, AfterEffects has to resort to software rendering of 3D because of the HD4000 GPU. The iMac won't have either of those shortcomings.


While a RAM upgrade and SSDs would help the old MacPros, I think you'd get better performance with a Corei5 iMac and 16Gb. Even if you stick with the OEM 8GB and do the SSDs, you'll see a marked improvement, just because of the discreet GPU and the quad core processor.

Apr 12, 2014 2:33 AM in response to HelpDesk-MU

I would think in your case the second tier 21.5" iMac,

the one with the NVIDIA graphics and maxed out to

16GB, would be the better choice for both performance

and the long term. May even consider the lowend 27" iMac,

which has a faster HDD as stock option.


Your situation seems like long term would be an issue and

the iMacs I think would be more suitable.

Mini vs. iMac

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