New Mac Mini Oct 2014

[Obsidian Dragon]

I know that many of us like using the small Mac Mini for Protools. I especially like that ability to have a quad core i7 processor along with hard disk drives or SSD drives (up to 2 internally). With todays announcement, it looks like Apple is using dual core processors only. We've seen this direction on the Macbook Air and 13" Macbook Pro. Most models come with a dual core i5 but then can be factory ordered with dual core i7 processors. I may have missed something but I specifically don't see a quad core i7 in the line up. So if you were considering a mac mini for Protools, it might be a good idea to snatch up one of the outgoing quad core i7 models now.

[Drew Mazurek]

http://duc.avid.com/showpost.php?p=2193971&postcount=3

[Drew Mazurek]

So, they're using lesser processors? Sorry, I'm not up on the latest Intel stuff.

But you get another TB port, and they're TB2.

[nst7]

Yes, there are no quad core options at all for this. Not even in the build to order options.

[Tim R.]

So can someone explain the real world impact (on Protools) of dual core instead of Quad core?

I have one of the previous Mac Mini models, and sorely need 2 TB ports (to get dual monitors with my HD Native TB- currently stuck with a USB to DVI adapter that is a little jumpy).

Am I really going to take a performance hit if I buy a (same model) computer that is basically 2 YEARS newer than the one I own?

[Drew Mazurek]

Originally Posted by Tim R.

Am I really going to take a performance hit if I buy a (same model) computer that is basically 2 YEARS newer than the one I own?

seems so.

http://browser.primatelabs.com/mac-benchmarks

Look here. 2 core i7s vs 4 core i7s.

[Marcel Risberg]

Originally Posted by Tim R.

Am I really going to take a performance hit if I buy a (same model) computer that is basically 2 YEARS newer than the one I own?

Wait for the performance benchmarks and then you'll see. There's actually no guarantee that a newer computer model is faster than an older one. My guess is that the newer Mini IS faster than the 2012 version - but only marginally on the CPU. The GPU (when picking Iris) would be a lot faster though.

I wonder what Avid will say about this one, if it will be certified to run Pro Tools 11 (and 12) ..?

[nst7]

For Protools purposes, I don't know if a newer Dual Core will be more practical than a slightly older Quad Core, on the previous Mini's.

[Darryl Ramm]

Sad news for anybody wanting to run serious work on one of these. We can hope that they ship a quad core i7 in future -- a current dual core is a lot slower than a current quad core. And look at what you can get with quad core-i7 in Windows land.

Maybe it was seen as too much competition to low-end configurations of the Mac Pro Trashcan?

And while it is great to see PCIe SSD in these Mac Mini (presumably also with at least a single SATA connection), I fear it will be an Apple borked version of an M.2 SSD locking you into Apple only drives. We'll see when somebody does a tear down. And maybe its possible to fit two SATA drives inside still with a kit.

[propower]

I suspect it is all about heat management. The 2012 quad mini was terrible for running hot as blazes with a mere 20% cpu load. I always thought it was a terrible thermal design. Would have been much more inspired to redesign the case for better thermal performance and put the Haswell Quad in.

Now - it really is a HTPC - maybe light DAW work - serious downgrade for audio folk - but a more sound fundamental design for what it is.