Still new i7 Quad Mac Minis available
 

Just wanted to post a last thread regarding the prior Mac Mini i7 Quad.
Just in case somebody would still prefer to get one of these for Pro Tools instead
of the new Dual Core Minis.

There may be other stores too of course where one still can get those, I´m just
posting these links as there obviously is a range of offers at different prices and
those seem to be quite legit.
One can find those on Ebay too but be careful as there are some really dubious offers!

USA/International
http://www.themacstore.com/parts/code/PM_CN_MM
obviously all new products

http://www.amazon.com/Apple-MD388LL-.../dp/B007477COO
still a few new ones available

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-a...-hdd-md388ll-a

http://www.macmall.com/s/apple-computers?cc=3TEA,3TFC

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/apple-ma...2171&cp=1&lp=4

If not getting such one with a SSD and 16GB Ram originally, one should finally replace
the original stuff oneself to achieve an appropriate performance for Pro Tools.

This would be the right, most affordable yet good quality Ram.
http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Certif...+mac+mini+2012

Next are options for the original HD replacement and also for a second internal drive in the Mini.
The 2nd internal drive variant is highly recommended for the Mini as it can be set up by the user himself
and it offers a very convenient and much faster solution than any external drive variant.
A 2nd separate drive is needed for the use with Pro Tools anyway, so one either can use an external drive
or mount a 2nd internal drive in the Mini (cannot be done with the new 2014 Dual Core Minis anymore).

http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digita...+Black+Scorpio
this is the most affordable drive variant for both, the OS and the 2nd internal drive

http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Electr...amsung+840+Evo
this is the most affordable, good quality SSD for both applications

http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Electr...amsung+850+Pro
this is the recommended SSD model for all applications because of it´s high quality and reliability

http://www.amazon.com/iFixit-Mini-Du...ubler+Mac+Mini
This is the needed kit for a second internal drive in the Mini

https://www.ifixit.com/Device/Mac_Mini_Late_2012
this is a step-by-step-tutorial how to mount the 2nd drive in the Mini

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63WL3Q7UujI
this is a tutorial video showing how to do it

This 3 drive options of course can be combined in any way (OS drive SSD+HD for the 2nd drive,
affordable SSD for the OS+high quality SSD for the 2nd drive, etc.).
If money should really be an issue it is also possible to use only two 7200rpm HDs (which would be
only $160.- for 2x 750GB), Pro Tools will work with this configuration too.
However 1x 256GB SSD for the OS drive, 1x 512GB or 1TB SSD for the 2nd (audio) drive would be
recommended for the use with Pro Tools.

If one would prefer an external drive anyway and money would be an issue, these 2 for example
would be ones of the most affordable external solutions.
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other.../MS8U3H7500GB/
http://www.amazon.com/LaCie-Rugged-F...rugged+7200rpm

Here are the links for european users.
UK:
new Mac Minis i7 Quad Core
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Apple-Quad-C.../dp/B009XCJ7DM

http://www.misco.co.uk/product/20015...TB-HD-Graphics

the drives
http://www.amazon.co.uk/2-5-inch-SAT...pr_product_top

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Samsung-250G...amsung+840+Evo

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Samsung-256G...amsung+850+Pro

the kit
http://www.amazon.co.uk/OWC-OWCDIYIM...ubler+mac+mini

2 of the most affordable yet usable external drives for Pro Tools
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rugged-Tripl...Rugged+7200rpm
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Technology-D...+drive+7200rpm

Germany (and other continental countries via Amazon.de)
new Mac Minis i7 Quad Core
http://www.amazon.de/Apple-MD388D-De...c+Mini+i7+Quad

http://www.saturn.de/webapp/wcs/stor...+i7+MD388D%2FA

http://www.notebooksbilliger.de/appl...0-3fec481d4fce

http://www.conrad.de/ce/de/product/8...omSuggest=true

http://www.mac-speicher-shop.de/adva...d=&pfrom=&pto=

this would be a quite optimized Mac Mini Quad Core which one would have no replacement
to do at anymore (2,6GHz, 16GB Ram, 2x Samsung 840 Pro SSDs 256GB)
http://www.mac-speicher-shop.de/Prod...M-2x-256GB-SSD

The Ram
http://www.amazon.de/Crucial-memory-...c+Mini+i7+Quad

The drives
http://www.amazon.de/Western-Digital...+Black+Scorpio

http://www.amazon.de/Samsung-MZ-7TE2...amsung+840+Evo

http://www.amazon.de/Samsung-Basic-M...amsung+850+Pro

The kit
http://www.amazon.de/McS-Mini-Dual-H...i+Data+Doubler

Austria
new Mac Minis i7 Quad Core
http://www.redcoon.at/B419581-Apple-...cpc&xtor=CS1-5

http://www.e-tec.at/frame1/details.p...46167&shopart=

http://www.cyberport.at/?DEEP=1005-1...=66&STOREID=-1

http://www.saturn.at/mcs/product/APP...c_ori=Geizhals

http://www.conrad.at/ce/de/product/1...ricks?ref=list

The Ram, the drives and the kit can be bought from Amazon.de as well.
The tutorials are usable for all users.

I mainly posted links for the 2,3GHz i7 because there are more units available,
they are cheaper yet powerful enough (if maxed out-16GB Ram, fast drives) to run
Pro Tools 11 with ease.
Everyone is free to look for the 2,6GHz model himself.

Anyway I hope this will be helpful for people who intend to get a Quad Core Mini for Pro Tools before it´s gone.

The best of success to everyone,


cheers, VRW





Mac Mini i7Quad, 16GB Ram, MBP Mid 2012 2,5GHz i5, 16GB Ram, MacOS 10.10 Yosemite, Apogee Quartet+Duet 2, Genelec Active,
Yamaha NS10, Pro Tools 11.2.1, Logic 10.0.7, Waves, MCDSP, Duende Native, Softube, HOFA, IK Multimedia, NI etc.

Re: Still new i7 Quad Mac Minis available
 

Thats a comprehensive post VRW… appreciate the work.

Re the drive you listed above in the quote.
At the foot of the page, they list another model. (its cheaper but thats not important) …
http://www.amazon.co.uk/2-5-inch-SAT...dp_ob_title_ce

Looks like it an older model…apart from that,its the same from what i can see
WD7500BPKT Scorpio Black June 2011
WD7500BPKX Black July 2003
http://www.wdc.com/wdproducts/librar...879-771435.pdf
cheers
J

Re: Still new i7 Quad Mac Minis available
 

@ VRW: This is awesome!

Guys like you rock the DUC!

Re: Still new i7 Quad Mac Minis available
 

Thanks a lot, guys! :-)

btw thanks for clearing it up regarding the newer model.

Re: Still new i7 Quad Mac Minis available
 

I just bought one from B&H. about $780. with 4 gig of ram and a 1T regular drive.

Note: I think the Crucial 16 gig ram upgrade is about $140. right now.

I plan to put OX 10.9.3 on it and run PT11.2 on it. That seems like a stable combo to me.

I have an external drive I use for my recording media. Eventually, I may replace the internal drive with an SSD drive. But I'm concerned about heat build up. I know the mini's run hot. And I think the SSD drive is hotter than a spinning drive. But I *do* love the quiet-ness of the SSD drive.

Re: Still new i7 Quad Mac Minis available
 

Really?? I would expect an SSD to generate less heat as it has no moving parts:o

Re: Still new i7 Quad Mac Minis available
 

+1
I have used my i7 Quad Mini with a 7200rpm Black Scorpio at first, then with a Samsung 840 Pro
and now I´m using it with a Samsung 850 Pro and I definitely can confirm from my personal experience
that it gets less hot with the SSDs, it´s even a slight difference between 840 and 850.

I really recommend a 256GB Samsung 850 Pro for the OS drive in a Mac Mini!
It´s enough space for the OS drive, it´s less than $190.- now at Amazon (which is affordable IMO) and
it´s the best "behaving" and working SATA SSD by far. It´s noticeably better even than the 840 Pro. Really worth the money.

http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Electr...amsung+850+Pro

Cheers!




Mac Mini i7Quad, 16GB Ram, MBP Mid 2012 2,5GHz i5, 16GB Ram, MacOS 10.10 Yosemite, Apogee Quartet+Duet 2, Genelec Active,
Yamaha NS10, Pro Tools 11.2.1, Logic 10.0.7, Waves, MCDSP, Duende Native, Softube, HOFA, IK Multimedia, NI etc.

Re: Still new i7 Quad Mac Minis available
 

Gosh, I stand corrected about the heat. It was based on my experience with an SSD I put into my MBP. I'll check out what you suggest and probably put the SSD in. I *love* it in my MBP.

Re: Still new i7 Quad Mac Minis available
 

Sounds like there was something wrong with your ssd. I have had many different brands the past 3-4 years and none of them have had heat issues. There shouldn't be any heat coming from them.

Re: Still new i7 Quad Mac Minis available
 

Thanks for all the tips. I got the 2012 i7 quad mini mac all working this weekend. OS 10.9.4 and ProTools 11. put in 16 gig of ram. updated my plug-ins. All working great. I love it. I'll eventually get the SSD, but for now, just using the stock drive with an external Glyph firewire drive and it all seems to hang together just fine. Again, thanks for all the info.