quick question on mac mini

[gprok]

Hi!!! I just need advice concerning mac mini.....I want to buy a mac mini and I am a little concerned about the ATA 5400 drive for the system and apps, I have read many suggestions but so far, I am still lost a bit. Should I go for ATA HD or fusion drives, or SSD or even boot up my system with an external firewire dive?? I am also aware that it's possible to add extra drives in the box but I won't be doing this, I'd rather pay. I am quite sure the mini would be a great computer for music making. I am also aware that audio is running from an external fast drive, I am just a little concerned about running Kontakt and plugins and pro tools on that machine....any thoughts?? sugestions??

I am also very sorry if this question as been asked many times, I am new here on the forum and obviously didn't have time to read everything. apologies!!

Scuse my english which is wierd sometimes, I am french :P

gprok

[Chief Technician]

You will want a 7200 RPM drive in the Mac Mini. Apple's Fusion Drive is a combination of both an SSD and a hard drive. I have read many reports of SSD performance being awesome.

Get an external hard drive for making a backup/clone of your Macintosh HD and boot from it when necessary. Don't use it as your everyday startup volume.

[gprok]

Ok thanks a lot chief technician, so if i got this right, i have to buy the mac mini with a 7200 rpm drive?? I am not sure they offer that option on the apple site, I think it's either, ata 5400, fusion drive or SSD...hummm confused a little!!!

gprok

[Chief Technician]

Originally Posted by gprok

i have to buy the mac mini with a 7200 rpm drive??

That is advisable.

Originally Posted by gprok

I am not sure they offer that option on the apple site, I think it's either, ata 5400, fusion drive or SSD...hummm confused a little!!!

When compared to a the performance of a 7200 RPM drive, a fusion drive should meet or exceed it, and an SSD will exceed it.

[nst7]

It's actually not an option anymore to order it with a 7200 rpm drive.

However, you could see about ordering one from OWC and installing it yourself, if you don't want to pay the higher price of the SSD or Fusion drive.

Here is a kit you can buy that includes a 1TB 7200 rpm drive, the tools to install it, and an external enclosure to install the existing drive in (you can use it for backup or something):

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/HGST/Y0J1TB7200/

[gprok]

Originally Posted by nst7

It's actually not an option anymore to order it with a 7200 rpm drive.

However, you could see about ordering one from OWC and installing it yourself, if you don't want to pay the higher price of the SSD or Fusion drive.

Here is a kit you can buy that includes a 1TB 7200 rpm drive, the tools to install it, and an external enclosure to install the existing drive in (you can use it for backup or something):

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/HGST/Y0J1TB7200/

Thanks a lot nst7!!!! Like i read, if the fusion drive is fast and reliable enough for running pro tools and kontakt iI won't bother installing a 7200 rpm, my concern was more about if the fusion drive is a bugger in the MINI I'll pick an Imac or a pro.....I don't feel to comfortable re configuring a brand new computer and void my warranty because it's been open!!!!

gprok