Arsenal
New Member
Hello guys,
I understand there is already a thread ( https://vi-control.net/community/threads/2018-mac-mini-vs-refurb-mac-pro-cylinder.76726/ ) that has been solved but I am still undecided what would be the best solution for me.
Also I have been a secret reading lurker - This is my first post - I will introduce myself at another time or in a different thread.
Thanks to everyone participating : )
The current iMacs are still on gen. 7 intels but seem to have a lot to offer right now, also there will be a new Mac Pro released somewhen in 2019.
Right now I am torn between waiting for the new releases but during winter I will be able (or forced) to spend more time in my home studio as there are less out-side-of-the-house jobs for me in winter therefore a computer upgrade would come in handy.
Please note that I am currently not able to make a living from music production, my main income is still live audio engineering / event technician.
So i am not forced to upgrade per se but my current setup consisting only of my beloved 2012 mac mini i7 2,6 with 16 Gb Ram and external USB 3.0 SSDs in enclosures is really struggling (and getting too loud under load even with smcfancontrol).
Interface is a UA Apollo 8 thunderbolt and host most of my VIs in Vienna Ensemble (standard, not pro) - TB seems to be narrowing down the options. Selling the interface could be an idea but that would be extra headache.
-
1.)- Expand the current setup: with a second-hand offer Mac Pro 5,1 with single quad 2,8 Ghz SSD + Harddrives and currently on 11 Gb RAM for only 550 Euros used + 300 Euros for VE-Pro as a slave + 30 Euros for Dante. Seems to be a great solution but also as an unsexy one.
As long as I switched to Mac in 2013 I wanted to have an computer again that I can pimp myself kind of a project like back in back in the days but the lack of thunderbolt and need to upgrade for being a proper slave seem to make this solution outdated.
On the positive side there is additionally also using the Mac Pro 5,1 as a video slave.
-
2.)- Also keep the 2012 Mac Mini and: get an 2018 Mac Mini max specs (+RAM self-upgrade later-on) + 300 Euros for VE-Pro (and Dante or use my ancient second interface phonic 808 universal)
-
3.)- Sell the 2012 Mac Mini and get a refurbished Mac Pro 6,1 with 6-Core GHz / 64 Gb Ram / 512 SSD flash for 2400 Euros. Could be the perfect solution as I wont need any adapters for my screens (24" and 32" both DVI + HDMI) and any adapters. This deal would feature 6 months of warranty.
Still the Vader-Mac seems to be an already doomed product as the 2018 Mac Mini and the upcoming iMacs / new-new-Mac-Pros are already on the horizon.
For this deal there is no immanent need for a self-upgrade of the RAM as there is already 64 Gb RAM in it and 512 SSD will be more than plenty space for my system and DAW. Also I´d be basically done with upgrading etc for now.
-
4.)- Sell the 2012 Mac Mini and get a new current iMac 27" 4,2 Ghz i7 with SSD for 2900 Euros. Upgrade the RAM later-on.
Of course the screen is tempting but if I look into the mirror.. I can live without the 27" 5k screen and be satisfied with my current two screens.
I kinda like this solution because it (of course) seems to be the most future-proof.
Noise under load is my main concern for this option.
-
5.)- Keep the damn 2012 Mac Mini and buy a PC-slave + VE-Pro.
This the completely rational route it seems to me still I dont know why I want to refrain from it. Maybe Apple has already got my soul.
Thank you in advance for your input! : )
Also I am very sorry if that has been a bad read as english is not my native language.
Cheers
I understand there is already a thread ( https://vi-control.net/community/threads/2018-mac-mini-vs-refurb-mac-pro-cylinder.76726/ ) that has been solved but I am still undecided what would be the best solution for me.
Also I have been a secret reading lurker - This is my first post - I will introduce myself at another time or in a different thread.
Thanks to everyone participating : )
The current iMacs are still on gen. 7 intels but seem to have a lot to offer right now, also there will be a new Mac Pro released somewhen in 2019.
Right now I am torn between waiting for the new releases but during winter I will be able (or forced) to spend more time in my home studio as there are less out-side-of-the-house jobs for me in winter therefore a computer upgrade would come in handy.
Please note that I am currently not able to make a living from music production, my main income is still live audio engineering / event technician.
So i am not forced to upgrade per se but my current setup consisting only of my beloved 2012 mac mini i7 2,6 with 16 Gb Ram and external USB 3.0 SSDs in enclosures is really struggling (and getting too loud under load even with smcfancontrol).
Interface is a UA Apollo 8 thunderbolt and host most of my VIs in Vienna Ensemble (standard, not pro) - TB seems to be narrowing down the options. Selling the interface could be an idea but that would be extra headache.
-
1.)- Expand the current setup: with a second-hand offer Mac Pro 5,1 with single quad 2,8 Ghz SSD + Harddrives and currently on 11 Gb RAM for only 550 Euros used + 300 Euros for VE-Pro as a slave + 30 Euros for Dante. Seems to be a great solution but also as an unsexy one.
As long as I switched to Mac in 2013 I wanted to have an computer again that I can pimp myself kind of a project like back in back in the days but the lack of thunderbolt and need to upgrade for being a proper slave seem to make this solution outdated.
On the positive side there is additionally also using the Mac Pro 5,1 as a video slave.
-
2.)- Also keep the 2012 Mac Mini and: get an 2018 Mac Mini max specs (+RAM self-upgrade later-on) + 300 Euros for VE-Pro (and Dante or use my ancient second interface phonic 808 universal)
-
3.)- Sell the 2012 Mac Mini and get a refurbished Mac Pro 6,1 with 6-Core GHz / 64 Gb Ram / 512 SSD flash for 2400 Euros. Could be the perfect solution as I wont need any adapters for my screens (24" and 32" both DVI + HDMI) and any adapters. This deal would feature 6 months of warranty.
Still the Vader-Mac seems to be an already doomed product as the 2018 Mac Mini and the upcoming iMacs / new-new-Mac-Pros are already on the horizon.
For this deal there is no immanent need for a self-upgrade of the RAM as there is already 64 Gb RAM in it and 512 SSD will be more than plenty space for my system and DAW. Also I´d be basically done with upgrading etc for now.
-
4.)- Sell the 2012 Mac Mini and get a new current iMac 27" 4,2 Ghz i7 with SSD for 2900 Euros. Upgrade the RAM later-on.
Of course the screen is tempting but if I look into the mirror.. I can live without the 27" 5k screen and be satisfied with my current two screens.
I kinda like this solution because it (of course) seems to be the most future-proof.
Noise under load is my main concern for this option.
-
5.)- Keep the damn 2012 Mac Mini and buy a PC-slave + VE-Pro.
This the completely rational route it seems to me still I dont know why I want to refrain from it. Maybe Apple has already got my soul.
Thank you in advance for your input! : )
Also I am very sorry if that has been a bad read as english is not my native language.
Cheers
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