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sdilley14 · Jul 9, 2006, 06:30 AM

Ok, so I'm currently in the market for another Mac. When it's all said and done, I'd like to have a notebook and a desktop. I've all but decided to go with the black MacBook for my notebook. Now I'm trying to figure out what to get for a desktop. I've entertained the idea of getting a 20" iMac G5, OR maybe getting a Mac Mini plus a 20" Apple display (from the refurb store of course).

With that being said, I intend to use the desktop for web design, light Photoshop work, DreamWeaver, lots of iTunes, watching lots of music videos, DVDs, lots of format conversions for my video iPod, and MAYBE use it as a small multimedia server for my house eventually, etc. It isn't essential that my desktop has a dvd burner (since my notebook will), however, it would be nice. Graphics really aren't an issue to me. I don't do ANY gaming on the computer, period (that's what the 360 is for!). I have an external hard drive I'll be storing or backing up most of my media on. I'm just wondering if the graphics card in the Core Solo Mini (or Core Duo) will be adequate enough to power the 20" display? I'm not really sure how that works? Or should I just go with the G5 iMac? I think it'll be nice to get a cheaper, yet powerful desktop, and pick up the 45% discount on the Apple monitor, that way my price will still be around the $1200-$1300 range when it's all said and done, and I'll have a really nice monitor to use for years down the road if I ever decide to upgrade towers.

So what does everyone think? Core Solo? Core Duo? Again, I'm not going to be doing ANY gaming, video editing, or dual booting...I just want a system that will multi-task decently and have a great looking display and a nice form factor. I'm leaning towards the Core Solo with the 20" Apple display because of money reasons, but would I be making a huge mistake?

p.s. I run EVERYTHING on my 12" PB 1.5Ghz G4 right now and it runs as well as I need, I just need more display, something a bit more bad ass looking sitting on my desk, and a tad more power for the future.

Thanks guys!

mduell · Jul 9, 2006, 11:22 AM

The mini's graphics card should be fine for a 20" display.
If you're not absolutely in love with the 20" Apple, Dell has a 20" with the same panel and a few more features for about half the price.

If Core Solo is good enough for you today, go ahead and get that. In a year or three when your warranty runs out, you can drop in a much faster chip (currently up to 2.33Ghz dual). The only usage that would really benefit from Core Duo today would be the video conversions for your iPod.

imitchellg5 · Jul 9, 2006, 11:43 AM

I would buy the Mac mini Core Duo. The Core Solos that I have used where slooooooooooooow, and the Core Duo does a lot better job with Rosetta. The mini can power a 23 inch Cinema Display fine.

stwain2003 · Jul 9, 2006, 12:23 PM

Get a core duo with a 1 o r 2 GB of ram. WAYYYYYY too slow with 512. i cant imagine a core solo

imitchellg5 · Jul 9, 2006, 01:10 PM

Oh yeah get more ram.

ChrisB · Jul 9, 2006, 01:38 PM

I agree. A core solo with at least 1GB of RAM should suffice. I have an older Mini with the 1.4Ghz G4 and 1GB of RAM doing all of the tasks you've listed and it is pretty speedy as it is. I hooked up an external 7200RPM hard drive to act as my Photoshop scratch disk and Photoshop CS hums right along.

sdilley14 · Jul 10, 2006, 04:13 AM

When it's all said and done, I'd like to have a Mini (prolly Core Solo to optimize cash for what I'm getting), and I'll drop in 2 gigs of RAM (I imagine 2 gigs is the max?). Also, I want it to have BT and AE. So on my desk I'll have a Mini, 20" Apple display, BT kb and mouse, and I'll prolly eventually get that external HD that mounts flush underneath the mini and has the extra USB ports.

Anyone know how much those particular external HDs run? Where to find one? How well do they match the mini cosmetially? How exactly do they work (like just as a standard external HD with extra USB ports, or in some other way?)

Sorry about all the random questions. I'm really working on maximizing my value while still getting a reasonably powerful and bad ass looking machine. I would think this set up sitting on my desk next to my black video iPod and my PowerBook (hopefully BlackBook soon!) would look pretty sik.

mduell · Jul 10, 2006, 05:39 PM

Originally Posted by sdilley14

When it's all said and done, I'd like to have a Mini (prolly Core Solo to optimize cash for what I'm getting), and I'll drop in 2 gigs of RAM (I imagine 2 gigs is the max?). Also, I want it to have BT and AE. So on my desk I'll have a Mini, 20" Apple display, BT kb and mouse, and I'll prolly eventually get that external HD that mounts flush underneath the mini and has the extra USB ports.

Anyone know how much those particular external HDs run? Where to find one? How well do they match the mini cosmetially? How exactly do they work (like just as a standard external HD with extra USB ports, or in some other way?)

Intel says the chipset (945GM) supports 4GB, but I haven't seen any confirmation that the Intel Macs support 2x2GB.

The external USB enclosure that matches the mini is $47 (less $10 MIR). You can put any IDE drive you want inside: 250GB for $80, 400G for $200, or 750GB for $420. It's just an external enclosure that fits the footprint of the mini and looks the same; it doesn't have any extra ports.

Dillon-K · Jul 14, 2006, 05:28 AM

Don't forget they have the "MiniStack v2" from www.macsales.com

stefanicotine · Jul 14, 2006, 09:49 AM

If you're looking to maximize your value then I wouldn't go with a cinema display. They're nice and all, but they aren't any special. You're basically just paying for the brand. If you don't mind having a non-Apple display then you should go with something else for much cheaper. I'm getting a Samsung Syncmaster 205bw 20" widescreen. It has better specs then the cinema display does, it's height adjustable, pivots on the stand, and looks just as good as any cinema display I've ever seen (image quality wise). The backlighting on it is alot nicer then my intel iMac's. It runs for roughly $400 Canadian ($350 American)

ajprice · Jul 14, 2006, 10:34 AM

Originally Posted by stefanicotine

If you're looking to maximize your value then I wouldn't go with a cinema display.

What he said.

A Dell screen is cheaper, and has more adjustment (height, rotating screen etc) and more ports for less money. The price difference in a Dell and a Cinema display would probably work out as a Core Duo and Dell being the same price as a Core Solo and Cinema. If you get an external hard drive, install the system onto that instead of the internal drive, it gives a bit more of a speed boost, especially if you get a 7,200rpm hard drive.

sdilley14 · Jul 14, 2006, 02:18 PM

Thanks for the tips. I'll prolly go with a different LCD.

abbaZaba · Aug 3, 2006, 09:11 PM

will the Solo be ok to act as a server and use Front Row to connect it to a TV as a media center? I'm trying to decide between a Solo and a Duo and if I can I'd like to save some money.

mduell · Aug 4, 2006, 02:45 PM

Originally Posted by abbaZaba

will the Solo be ok to act as a server and use Front Row to connect it to a TV as a media center? I'm trying to decide between a Solo and a Duo and if I can I'd like to save some money.

Yes. However if you're going to be doing a lot of encoding as a HTPC, the Duo may be worth it.