Hey guys, so I was all set to make an upgrade from my 2012 Mac Mini (which, for some reason, is borderline unusable despite not being used for almost anything but production). I was going to go with the 2014 Mac Mini, but I've read some people online, specifically with the context of music production, saying the 2014 version is a downgrade from the 2012.
To begin with, there's a couple of things I feel are important:
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I have to get it through Best Buy, so I can't max out any models (have like $500 in Best Buy gift certificates). The best model they have is a 2.4 ghz i5 with 8 GB ram and a 1 TB HD.
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I'm not sure right now if my current 2012 Mac Mini is an i7 or i5 (will check when home and edit the post).
I like the Mac Mini as it's cheap and portable, and I'm not paying for a monitor, which I already have. I don't use the computer for anything except music production, and at times, Adobe Creative Suite.
I'm constantly using Maschine and Push together, and am looking to also use my SLZero... so I have a good amount of controllers (although I'll probably get a powered USB hub to compensate).
I know I can upgrade the RAM in my 2012 model (it's currently only at 4 GB), but the computer is running so slow, even when I'm not producing and nothing is open, that I'm not sure upgrading RAM will even really bring it back to where it's supposed to be.
It isn't that it's burning through CPU though, it's that it takes FOREVER to open programs, or open the browser in Ableton. Maybe this is the result of not having an SSD drive. I'm really confused about what the issue is, since I've done a repair disk permissions on it recently.
So I'm stuck between the options of upgrading the RAM and hoping for the best, going to a 2014 and not seeing massive improvement for the $600+ I'm about to spend (and having a new one come out soon), or maybe backing up my system and wiping the harddrive (though if the issue is software related, not sure if this will even help).
This came out a little more unfocused than I wanted it to, but I'd really appreciate any input or advice from those in similar positions. I'd be open to getting a PC, but a lot of the VSTs I've purchased are already setup for Macs, and I don't want to lose them.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Submitted May 04, 2017 at 05:45PM by bearvsshaan https://www.reddit.com/r/edmproduction/comments/69a80b/want_to_upgrade_from_2012_mac_mini_unsure_whether/?utm_source=ifttt