iMac 27" Top end or Mac Mini i7 Server with Display??

Status
Not open for further replies.
F3niX

F3niX

TechH0LiC
Explorer
Hi Guys,
I am right now in a Dilemma...
I want to buy either the iMac 27" top end(i5 Quad) or the Mac Mini Server(i7 Quad) and some LED TV..
I am a Student so Apple Student discount is applied on iMac(If I am not wrong)
Dunno where to post this,so posted in this thread... Mods please move if its in wrong thread..

Usage:
Programming and Web Designing(Photoshop,Flash, Java, PHP, HTML etc..)
Movies and Music
Light Gaming(Mostly Counter Strike 1.6)..
Lots of Browsing..

Open to other options.. Please specify
BTW this will be my first Mac.
I can get a Beast PC at this price, But considering the Space constraint and I AM HELL BENT ON BUYING A MAC NOW!!!
Please don't suggest any Windows Config..

Budget:
The Cheaper the better ... It will be taken in EMIs at Croma Mostly. Consider Max as 85K for mac Mini+ Display...
 
Both are cool options dude.

Both having there own pros and cons.

But personally I'll prefer iMac over Mac-Mini. Reason is I prefer the iMac display.

While on other hand i7-processor is a long term bet. More longer it will sustain, with its performance-pros.

One big problem with iMac is, you can't use that display for any-other thing, while good thing with other option is...you can buy a 32' or even bigger screen and in-future you can plug it with cable-tv, xbox etc. Perhaps you can also have HDMI and other ports.
 
I am leaning toward mac Mini + 32" LED TV... So that I can even connect my Xbox to whenever I wanna game..

BTW do you think Ivy Bridge update is worth waiting?

I am in no hurry now as I have my Dell XPS 15 and Quad core desktop....
 
teja92 said:
I am leaning toward mac Mini + 32" LED TV... So that I can even connect my Xbox to whenever I wanna game..

BTW do you think Ivy Bridge update is worth waiting?

I am in no hurry now as I have my Dell XPS 15 and Quad core desktop....
Click to expand...

Or how about the Mac Mini for the more powerful machine and a Dell U2711 for the display? Same high resolution IPS panel as in the iMac and has HDMI/DVI inputs for your game console. Added benefit of being a matte screen.
 
considering your usage the imac sounds the best option.but if you own a console and plan to use it as well on the screen than as whatsinaname suggested a mac mini and a dell u2711.

i dont really think you need to wait as the imac update wont come out for a long time now.so you are talking about 6 months of wait which is not worth it.and anyways the performance of the current imac's is incredible.
 
Well, since you will use the integrated IGP's in the mac mini, waiting for IB seems sensible as long as it comes within 6 months max. else nope.
 
^ the mac mini which he is talking about sports a discrete amd6630m.no need to wait for ivy or any other offerings since its likely iMac is going to get model refreshed and that means a lot more wait,possibly 8 months and availability in india in another 2 months.so basically 10 months!
 
Um, the i7 quad server edition uses the IGP: Apple

--- Updated Post - Automerged ---

Also, as vantheman pointed out, it will take some time for the refresh~ 10 months, so better to go with the current i7 quad mac mini server.
 
^^^ didn't see the server at all lol!

Yep take the plunge on the iMac if you are ok with a non server.
 
I am OK with Non Server...

My only problem is that I need it to be faster than my Q6600 and I am considering the option of mac Mini More as I also tend to use my Xbox With it..

I will wait till March for IB Refresh of Mac Mini,as that seems to be a more sensible option and easy to upgrade, since its too small...
 
^^ who said mac mini is going to be refreshed in march?

mac mini just refreshed 3 months ago and its going to get another refresh in july and if apple continue their max out on hardware strategy than you are looking at 9 months with another 2 months for availablity here in india so overall its estimating around a year.and you know what? i am pretty sure its going to contain sandy and not ivy.this is just a hunch i have because afaik these guys always max out on the hardware part before upgrading to something else.sandy bridge is anyways an incredibly powerful processor and i do not believe the ivy will be an insanely high bump.

waiting with such a scenario does not make much of a sense imho.
 
Mac mini will not get refreshed so fast. Apple gives mini step motherly treatment IMO, they do not upgrade it as fast as the rest of the mac line up.

Also TBH, if its space constraint which is stopping you from buying a windows PC, then you are in for a surprise as with mini ITX cabbies, these are only around as big as your old DVD player, and performance wise much better than the mini. and best of all, why have a 32 inch tv? go with a 40 incher!
 
^^Thanks dude..

The reason I said mac Mini was that I want to Move to MAC Totally..

My Desktop will be replaced, next year or so to iMac or mac Pro

Reason: Fed up of Windows.. xD Wanna try something new.

Regarding sandy bridge, right now my XPS 15 is undergoing replacement process, so I may get the Sandy Bridge XPS 15..

So, I want to wait for Ivy as it will be a Solid upgrade..

Else, Will go for iMac then in March/April(If it Gets Sandy Bridge)..

As the current scenario goes, iMac is almost more than half way through the cycle and IB arrives in Feb

So, I think it will definitely be an upgrade..
 
^^ I bet you 100 bucks they will still stay with Sandy!

If I were you I do get the most low end macmini which will cost you like 30 k and that's as good a machine you get.This will handle almost all of your needs for a good few years.

One of my friend has been using his c2d macmini for 4 Years now and boy this machine is stable.the guy mostly uses it for low key rendering and professional stuff.
 
See, if you are fed up with windows machines or so....and looking for a change, than I will suggest Buy a Apple MacBook Air and a powerful desktop-rig, and offload your DELL.

The reason behind this is....buy Apple for daily and everyday work(dont includes games).

You have to understand one thing, very clearly that Apple Machines are not powerful machines or gaming machines. It's like royal-enfield, which is not a powerful sports-bike(CBR250), it's a charm to drive enfield, not at 100+ but at 40+, similarly its a charm to work on Apple for regular-work and not for games. So better buy a simple machine, and dont wait or look for hardware-upgrades.

And for your hadware-hungry requirement, go and do experiments with your desktop.

Once you get onboard your Apple Machine, you can rest in peace for next few years. With Apple you never need to be hardware hungry. Again a good example is recent release of OSx-Lion isn't like Win-Vista/7, having min-req of so..so hardware. It works absolutely great even on 2006MacBooks. So change your mind-set.

And yes, if you are looking to work with CS5 or some Pro-tools(like Logic Studio or some CPU-intensive applications) as a daily routine, than stick with high-end hardware...else change your mind-set.

One more thing, if you pocket allows you, than you can go for good Mac machines, like iMac/Mini..whatever you are planning.....above I was just trying to economize the whole-deal.
 
Dude

I am not looking to game..

Please read my requirements clearly..

I use PhotoShop Daily and also code a few programs..

I just want a system that does these tasks daily for atleast 3-4years..

I will only change then...

Thats the reason I was waiting for IB.

I need the Integrated GPU to drive Higher res and play 1080p Video with ease..

In near future I plan to add another display too.. Thats why I am so much interested in IB
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top Bottom